The Switch Virtual Console Question

It ain't broke, but please fix it

One notable exception from the Nintendo Switch experience so far is the Virtual Console, and well, that’s OK. From every corner I have heard people pining for the Virtual Console to return to Switch. In its current state, I don’t particularly care if it ever comes to the Switch. Now, it has been a pretty integral part of the Nintendo experience for the past decade. With the exception of the Nintendo DS, every system since the Wii has had the Virtual Console. It has been a service that I have used quite often, and it has exposed me to games I wouldn’t have played otherwise. I would not have gotten to play many of the titles from the 8 and 16 bit eras if I had not been able to buy them digitally. Still, as Nintendo released more systems and put the Virtual Console on them, they did not update the service.

Super Metroid is a great game,
but it is already available on
3 systems, does it need to be on
a fourth?

Over those ten years, the Virtual Console has stayed stagnant. The pricing structure, catalogue, and storefront have stayed virtually the same. During that time and across three systems, I’ve had plenty of opportunities to buy all the classic titles that I want. If I wanted to play a classic Nintendo game, I’ve played it at this point. I don’t feel the need to repurchase Super Mario Bros. 3, Pokemon Blue, or A Link to the Past on my Switch. Nearly any first-party title that released from 1985-2002 is already accessible digitally. Thus, does the Virtual Console even need to be a priority for the Switch when the majority Nintendo’s catalogue is present elsewhere? Nintendo needs to do a drastic overhaul of the service to make me interested in, once again, spending money on classic titles.

Star Fox would make an interesting
addition to the Virtual Console,
and it has never been available on VC

The Virtual Console has mostly canvassed Nintendo’s catalogue in its entirety. However, there are some notable exceptions. Such as Star Fox for the SNES. Certain games, such as Star Fox, have never been re-released digitally for various reasons. If Nintendo put in a bit of effort they could get this game running on Switch, and that would a game I’d be happy to purchase. Nintendo could even put Star Fox 2, the unreleased SNES game, onto the Switch. These would both be games worthy of an $8 dollar Virtual Console release, even in 2017, whereas a game like Super Mario World has outstayed its welcome at that price point. An even bigger gap in coverage however, is the total lack of Gamecube support.

It would be a big deal if
Melee was on the VC

It’s very surprising to me that Gamecube games have never been a part of the Virtual Console, and the Switch can fix that. Games likes Super Smash Bros. Melee, Super Mario Sunshine, Animal Crossing, and so many more have been trapped on disc. I would be very much willing to pay up to $20 for a Gamecube title. These games are still rare and valuable, with many still costing near full-price, even to this day. This is a market that Nintendo could tap into and find great financial success, and gain a lot of fan support. Gamecube is my favorite Nintendo console, but I unfortunately no longer own hardware to play these games on. I’d love to be able to play games like Super Mario Sunshine and Mario Kart Double Dash again. Furthermore, I’d love to play games I missed before like the aforementioned Animal Crossing, F-Zero GX, and Mario Power Tennis. If the majority of Gamecube library was to hit the Switch’s Virtual Console, that would not only satiate me, but would provide a good way to fill the gaps in the release schedule of current-gen games. Still, while these games are notable additions to the Virtual Console, Nintendo also needs a solution for the games that are already available.

Some people say that Gamecube Virtual Console support is impossible
because the Switch has digital triggers, but like this Reddit user suggests,
Nintendo could release specialty Joy-Cons with the proper analog triggers

All the titles mentioned above still command an asking price individually. In my eyes, the remaining NES, SNES, N64, Gameboy, and Gameboy Color titles no longer do in a digital marketplace. An NES game that was worth $5 dollars in 2006, especially one that I’ve bought in the past, no longer holds that value. To me, the solution is a streaming service. Some might argue that the likes of A Link to the Past and Super Mario World are too valuable to be put in a Netflix-like package. To counter that, look at what Xbox is already doing. When you look at the Xbox Game Pass, the games you get for the price are much more valuable individually than a retro Nintendo game. For $9.99 you are getting 100s of titles, including such games as Halo 5 and the Mega Man Legacy Collection. Those games alone command a price higher than $10. Thus, this price point and idea is not too far fetched. I would be more than willing to pay $9.99 a month for full access to Nintendo’s back catalogue. This would be a good solution for everyone. Those pining for classic Nintendo games to come to the Switch would have them. For others like myself, with no interest in repurchasing games individually, we’d have an affordable way to play these classic titles on the Switch.

This is a good concept, as long as we are able to download the games to avoid
lag issues is precision games, such as Mega Man

Upon the return of the service, it needs to get better. The Wii U’s Virtual Console wasn’t nearly as successful because of poor game roll-out and a lack of innovation. Nintendo can no longer get away with the model that worked on the Wii. Modern Nintendo seems capable of such an overhaul. They’ve already made great strides, such as the Switch’s online service. Nintendo has gone radio silent about the Virtual Console, and I think that means good things when it finally gets announced. If Nintendo was simply planning on dumping a copy of the Wii U’s service onto the Switch we would have seen it by now. I’m confident that this extra time is Nintendo working to fix a rusty system.