For me, the biggest part about the latest Nintendo Direct was the long-awaited release of Gameboy/GBA games on Switch. As soon as the direct finished up, I download the games on my switch and began playing Mario+Luigi Superstar Saga, my most wanted-to-play game of all time. Yesterday I finished it, the whole thing took 11 hours! For me, it was a 10/10. But in addition to this game, I have been playing The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, WarioWare MegaMircrogame$, Mario Land 2, and Kirby’s Dream Land. I just wanted to give a little highlight on the most exciting new additions to the NSO+Expansion pack, and maybe convince more people to invest in the Expansion.
GameBoy and GameBoy Color Games (Base NSO)
Tetris: The very first version of this now classic game is simple, yet addictive. It’s nice to be able to see the origins of this timeless game.
Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins: I have finished this game already too, and it is a quirky one, but fun. It’s quick and simple, yet very fun to play. It is surely an underrated entry in the Mario series.
The Legend of Zelda: Links Awakening DX: Another amazing Zelda game now on Switch. I have played the remake, so I most likely won’t spend too much time on the original, but it is nice for those who don’t have the remake but do have NSO to be able to play this game. And with the Gameboy Color filter, you can play the extra Color Dungeon and get Links Blue is Red garb. It’s also my personal favorite 2D Zelda game.
Metroid II: Return of Samus: Super Metroid is one of my favorite games on the SNES, and getting to play this Gameboy classic is neat. Now that this is on Switch, only Metroid Fusion needs to be added to Switch to have every 2D Metroid game on Switch. But we’ll talk about that later.
Wario Land 3: Another game I have been playing quite a bit since its release. It’s a spin on a puzzle-platforming game, which I find very enjoyable, if not a bit short.
Kirbys Dream Land: The very first game in my all-time favorite game series. I have already played this one all the way through, and it is really neat to see how the series has evolved from this game.
GameBoy Advance Games (Expansion pass)
Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3: Not only is this the definitive way to play Super Mario Bros. 3, but it also includes 32 levels from the E-Reader accessory, which is near impossible to get nowadays, which I think is kind of neat.
WarioWare MegaMicrogame$: The original MicroGame action now comes to Switch. I played this one all the way through and found it very addictive, and incredibly fun. If you like fast-paced games I would give this one a try.
Mario Kart: Super Circut: The very first Mario Kart game for portable systems. I have not yet given this one a try, but I hope it is as fun as it looks. As a huge fan of the Mario Kart series, I am always eager to see what else this high-action racing series has to offer.
Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga: This game was the most exciting for me, as you know by now. I have already played this one all the way through and I can say for sure that it was a 10/10 game for me. THe music, the battle system, the massive world. Everything about it was charming and engaging and left next to nothing to be desired. If you’re a fan of RPGs with a twist, you should 100% play this game.
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap: Another fantastic addition to the console. I have played this game about halfway through at this point, and it offers another awesome Zelda experience, complete with a shrinking mechanic and legendary items. A must-play for any Zelda fan.
Games Coming in the Future:
At this point, these are all the games planned for the future of these great new additions to the NSO expansion. I won’t be going as in-depth or else this article would be too long. At any rate, here they are:
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages and Seasons / Pokemon Trading Card Game / Kirby Tilt ‘n’ Tumble
Metroid Fusion / Kirby and the Amazing Mirror / Fire Emblem / F-Zero Maximum Velocity / GoldenSun
I hope that for some people, these new additions add more value to the Expansion Pass, as it has gotten a pretty bad rap throughout the years. I really believe that this will make the NSO tremendously worth it. Now, go enjoy these retro games!
Awesome article Luke!