Nintendo Switch Onlinehas had a bit of a mixed reception since its soft launch in 2017. When the Nintendo Switch first came out, its online service was free for everyone, which made the severe latency issues and bizarre communications system feel a little more acceptable. But after a year, Nintendo announced that Switch Online would cost $20 per year. This decision wasn’t met with too much backlash, as fans had been warned about this well in advance, and the price tag was significantly lower than both Xbox and PlayStation’s online services. But from the start, there’s been one feature that’s madeNintendo Switch Onlinea must-have subscription: its catalog of NES and SNES games.
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Fighter’s History
July 21 saw three SNES/NES titles head to Nintendo Switch Online, the first of which isFighter’s History,a 2D fighting game. Taking just one look at aFighter’s Historyscreenshot tells the player everything they need to know about the game, with itlooking eerily similar toStreet Fighter 2.In fact, uponFighter’s History’s release in 1993, Capcom sued the developer, claiming that the game had directly copied assets and core elements from its iconic fighting franchise. However,Fighter’s History’s developer, Data East, actually won the case, with the court deciding that those elements were necessary to depicting the fighting game genre.
Gameplay-wise,Fighter’s Historyis essentially justStreet Fighter 2, using a similar button configuration, and having very similar gameplay mechanics. Players will face off against a series of opponents in one-on-one fights, eventually claiming victory in a tournament. However,Fighter’s Historydoes haveone unique mechanic that sets it apart fromStreet Fighter.
During a match, the player will be able to reveal a weak spot on their opponent. This is often indicated by a colored piece of clothing, like a headband or a vest. If the player strikes their opponent’s weak spot multiple times in a row, then their opponent will be staggered for a few moments, allowing the player to get some free hits in. Striking this weak spot after their opponent’s been staggered can lead to massive amounts of damage, and will often end the fight pretty quickly.Fighter’s Historyisn’t themost unique fighting game on its era, but its tight controls and unique weak point system makes it worth a quick download.
Kirby’s Avalanche
Known in Europe asKirby’s Ghost Trap,Kirby’s Avalancheis 1995 SNES game that’s also just come to Switch via its online service. The background behindKirby’s Avalancheis actually fairly interesting, as the game is actually just a re-skinned version of the Japanese titleSuper Puyo Puyo, a puzzle game not dissimilar toTetris. For the Western market, Nintendo decided to swap outSuper Puyo Puyo’s colorful blob characters for fan-favoriteKirbycharacters, and changed the original’s forest setting toKirby’s Dream Land, where King Dedede has challenged Kirby and his friends to compete in the Avalanche Competition. Along the way, players will face off against franchise staples like Meta Knight, Kracko, and Whispy Woods.
The gameplay ofKirby’s Avalanchewill be very familiar to those who have played aPuyo Puyogame before, and fairly familiar toTetrisfans. The gameplay ofKirby’s Avalanchesees connected, colored blobs drop into a box. Players need to navigate and connect blobs together based on their color. When players connect four blobs of the same color, they disappear, and the blobs above them take their place, just like inTetris. At the same time, an opponent on the other side of the screen is also trying to rid their own box of blobs. If the player manages to pull-off a high enough combo, they’ll send a barrage of rocks into their opponent’s box, making it more likely for them to lose the match.Kirby’s Avalanchemay not bethe most complex SNES gameon Nintendo Switch Online, but it’s a fun, colorful game to sink a few hours into.
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DAIVA Story 6: Imperial of Nirsartia
Daiva Story 6: Imperial of Nirsartiais the last of the three games recently added to Nintendo Switch Online, and may just be the most unique of the lot. Released in 1986,Daiva Story 6is an NES game. Interestingly,Daiva Story 6is actually one of sevenDaivatitles, all released simultaneously. Most releasing for PCs, theDaivaseries shows the same events from seven different perspectives, and offers slightly differing gameplay mechanics.Daiva Story 6is primarilya 2D side-scrolling action game, but it also features some of the first examples of turn-based strategy in the gaming landscape.
Daiva Story 6: Imperial of Nirsartiasees players try to conquer opposing planets, first by taking down any enemy fleets, and then manually capturing the planet with a mech suit. Space battles are controlled with turn-based mechanics, allowing the player to direct their flagship and fire in turns. Once the opposing ship has been destroyed, they’re then thrust into a side-scrolling action game, where they need to pilot their mech to the end of the stage. It’s obviously quite dated now, with some rough visuals and some unforgiving missions, butDaiva Story 6: Imperial of Nirsartiamay just be one of the most uniqueNES games available on Nintendo Switch Online.
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