Nintendo Switch: That's Why The Console Should Never Get A Virtual Console

This is not to say that I do not appreciate the many pearls from Nintendo's treasure chest or that I am fed up with them. In fact, many games that I played as a Nintendo kid from the very beginning are now (again) within reach on the shelf, right next to the Switch and Playstation titles. It feels good and right. Nevertheless, I am now very happy that I can not all play the classics on my switch. Why?

Let's imagine that in a very practical way: Let's say that an indie studio brings a small, fine game onto the market, a game in the style of Celeste, Katana Zero or 198X. The team worked on it for years, a lot of passion went into it, and now the finished product is finally playable. It should cost 14.99 euros in the eShop. And then, yes, then Nintendo comes and hits Donkey Kong Country 1 to 3, Hagane and Super Mario RPG for the Virtual Console. Each of these SNES hits is now available in the eShop with one click. And none of them cost more than 9.99 euros. At the latest now our indie newcomer has a real problem.

Katana Zero was a real indie insider tip in 2019! Click here for the test

Would you prefer the new, unknown title - or the games that captivated you as a child? I know how I would choose: nostalgia pulls. And almost always. There is nothing wrong with that either. There's no question about it: being able to relive old favorites is something great. But with a virtual console full of classics and curiosities, the Nintendo Switch would hardly have had the career path that we have seen in recent years - thanks in part to many new, cool indie games.

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How the switch became an indie darling

The Switch has now become a real indie machine. In contrast to most AAA games, most indie titles appear naturally on the Nintendo hybrid today. Older indie hits like Shovel Knight or Undertale have found a completely new audience here and were able to celebrate an extensive second spring. Nintendo itself is fueling this development with regular Nindie Directs, which point to upcoming indie releases.

And the classics? They still live on. You simply score elsewhere and in a different form. Many games from the NES and SNES era are now upgrading Nintendo's online service, where they are made available exclusively to subscribers. Many a classic also gets a completely new look and a re-release, like Zelda: Link's Awakening.

Are you in the mood for nostalgic action? Here's Zelda: Link 'Awakening for your Nintendo Switch

Other long-running favorites make the leap on the hybrids in the well-known look: in the eShop there are compilations compiled lovingly for Mega Man, Castlevania, Street Fighter or Secret of Mana. My personal favorite is Capcom's Beat 'em Up Bundle, which brings old-school arcade spanking action to my switch screen. Would there have been such publications with a virtual console in the background? At least that can be doubted.

And so the lack of the Virtual Console is at least the best proof for me that less is sometimes more in the gaming world. Hopefully Nintendo sees it the same way. Given the success so far, the chances are good.