The Nintendo Switch Online service has been operational for almost two years, although it was still late. Competitive services like Xbox Live or PlayStation Plus have been around for years, offering many online benefits for Nintendo Switch players who subscribe at a monthly or annual fee in addition to the cost of a console.
Two years later, we still hadn't seen these long-awaited SNES games, but there is still a fairly large library of retro NES classics that you can play with the Nintendo Switch Online emulator - the full list here. down as it rises like the cloud. record and play online.
This is Nintendo's first paid online service, although the basic subscription of € 3.99 per month (€ 3.49) is well below that of Xbox Live or Playstation Plus. (You can check out these Nintendo Switch Online subscription prices for the best deal.)
As new games and features are added every month, Nintendo Switch Online is increasingly becoming a must-have service for any committed Switch owner, or anyone paying attention to the upcoming Nintendo Switch Lite, just a dedicated model. to a handheld and released on September 20, or to a new one. Nintendo Switch model that could come later. But what exactly does Nintendo Switch Online offer to players that they don't have yet?
Nintendo Switch Online: What can I play online?
Nintendo Switch Online gives you the online opportunity to play, compete and cooperate with players from around the world, which means that the service does not prevent you from accessing all of those things.
If you don't sign up for the service, you can still play all your games in solo or offline mode. Change the game the way you want: you don't need to play Breath of the Wild or play local multiplayer with friends in your living room. But many gamers will want a Nintendo Switch Online subscription to get the most out of their purchases.
Online play was free until mid-September and competitive games like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate proved extremely popular. There is also a smartphone app that provides players with in-game battle statistics, a voice chat feature, and additional information on certain titles, including Splatoon 2 and other proprietary titles like Smash Bros and Mario Tennis Aces.
Super Smash Bros Ultimate
(Image credit: Nintendo)
Unfortunately, there is no dedicated server yet. Players will have to settle for less reliable P2P (peer to peer) hosting for online matches. On the other hand, free online games like Fortnite, Paladins or Warframe do not require a paid subscription to the service.
Or, if you're into loot, there's a members-only outfit to wear in Splatoon 2 and the ability to purchase Nintendo's NES wireless controllers to play these retro games in style.
Nintendo Switch Online Games NES
Latest NES gamesJuly: Donkey Kong 3, demolition crew
June: Double Dragon II: Revenge, Volleyball, City Connection
Seniors: Punch Out !!, Star Soldier, Super Mario Bros. 2, Blaster Master, The Legend of Zelda II, Lolo Adventures, Ninja Gaiden, Wario Woods, Metroid, TwinBee, Mighty Bomb Jack, NES Open Tournament Golf, Salomon Key, Super Dodgeball
If you haven't been able to support the spirit of support of your favorite video game publisher, your extra pennies each month will also give you access to a library of classic and retro games, via the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) emulator.
However, this is not the Wii and Wii U virtual console. Rather than a marketplace for one-time game purchases, Nintendo Switch Online members can read certain titles contained in their subscription.
At launch, you have won 20 NES titles, including Ice Climber, The Legend of Zelda, Ball Fight, Football, Tennis, Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros., Dr. Mario, Super Mario Bros. 3, Donkey Kong, Ghosts & # 39; n Goblins. , Excitebike, Tecmo Bowl, Yoshi, Double Dragon, Gradius, Ice Hockey, Ransom River City, Pro Wrestling and Baseball.
Each title was "remastered" in 4: 3 HD, but with the ability to play in a more "authentic" arcade display mode with a "CRT" (cathode ray tube) style display.
These are followed by two or three additional titles each month, see the box to the right, which will certainly include more recent console games like the SNES, N64, and (as you see fit) the GameCube.
Practical features include the ability to pause each NES game at any time, or save and reload your own checkpoints, making the experience much more forgiving than arcade cabinets of the past. The online feature also allows you to play two-player games that compete with friends or switch from one controller to another from one device to another.
Because custom buttons are missing, you cannot use the A and B buttons on a real NES controller, unless you purchase the NES wireless NES controllers, available only for sale to Nintendo Switch members online.
Nintendo Switch Online Cloud Backup
Skipping cloud backups for your games has been a sore spot for Switch users, meaning that a crashed Switch console will track all of your hard-earned progress. To avoid having to start over Breath Of The Wild, the paid service will keep all your backup files on Nintendo's servers for security reasons.
This is consistent with the backup data from Sony's Playstation Plus program, although any Xbox One owner can access free cloud backup. If your Nintendo Switch Online subscription becomes obsolete, your backup files are protected for up to six months before they disappear from the cloud.
Although Nintendo Switch Online Cloud Backup is enabled by default for most titles, developers can choose not to participate in online cheating. In fact, reloading an old backup file could restore items someone had traded with another player or even reset their online rankings.
Games like Splatoon 2, FIFA 19, and Pokemon Let's Go miss the feature. So once you've changed this event, you won't be able to reload a previous backup.
(Image credit: Game Freak)
Nintendo Switch online pricing and subscriptions
Pricing plans1 month: € 3.99 (€ 3.49 / AU € 5.95)
3 months: € 7.99 (€ 6.99 / AU € 11.95)
12 months: € 19.99 (€ 17.99 / AU € 29.95)
Family (12 months): € 34.99 (€ 31.49 / € 54.95)
Individual users can sign up for $ 3.99 per month, at reduced rates for longer subscription options (see box, right). There is also a separate "Family" option that allows 8 Nintendo accounts to use the same subscription for € 34.99 (AU € 31.49 / AU 54.95).
Naturally, there is a seven-day trial to test products online before purchasing, while Amazon Prime subscribers can claim up to 12 months of Nintendo Switch Online for free.
Players will also be able to purchase a subscription with My Nintendo Gold Points, a rewards service that will give you spending tokens when you buy games on the eShop Switch and it takes effect earlier this year.
In comparison, an Xbox Live subscription costs € 24.99 (€ 14.99) for a three-month subscription, while Playstation Plus will give you € 24.99 (€ 19.99 / € 33.95).
Nintendo Switch Online is the winner, but its limited features and lack of dedicated servers don't match the services on offer. But if you have a switch, you may be able to get the most out of your console.