Nintendo hasn't had the best track record when it comes to their online services, but with Nintendo Switch Online, especially the new Expansion Pack level, I think they've cracked it. Or at least found a happy middle ground...
The addition of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and Splatoon 2 DLC was not only an extremely smart move, but the library of N64 and Sega Genesis games continues to grow at a surprisingly steady rate.
From Banjo-Kazooie and Mario Golf to the recent additions of Sonic The Hedgehog Spinball and Dynamite Headdy, Nintendo gives subscribers true classics to play every month, many of which have been brought to new life through online multiplayer support. (Seriously, if you haven't played Mario Tennis against a friend yet, I implore you to do so. It's so much fun.)
Nintendo also responded to early complaints about the state of the Switch emulation, which was criticized early on.
3 Classic SEGA Genesis Games Newly Available to #NintendoSwitchOnline Members + Expansion Pack! - Space Harrier II - Shining Force II - Sonic The Hedgehog Spinball pic.twitter.com/uhD21PEChk Apr 22, 2022
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The games come thick and fast.
Crucially, though, Nintendo has also dodged the previous trap that plagued the Wii U's Virtual Console. With a Nintendo Switch Online membership, you don't need to shell out any money to play The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask for the umpteenth time.
There's obviously no guarantee that Nintendo will continue this encouraging start, but it's still good to see. The fact that there are now over 100 SNES and NES games available, something even regular Nintendo Switch Online subscribers can access, also gives me hope that the Switch will at least come close, or at least provide an alternative. actual to the Wii. legendary virtual console.
The long-running Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance additions would certainly help, of course. If Nintendo can add three new platforms to its service and include online multiplayer as expected, the value of the Nintendo Switch online expansion pack becomes even more clear. The Analogue Pocket has shown that there is still a very real desire to play Game Boy and GBA games, and having them all on the Switch would be much more convenient and cost-effective to boot. After all, collecting retro games doesn't come cheap.
More than a shot of nostalgia
But it's not just the lure of playing legendary games from Nintendo's past that's helping Switch Online establish itself. The Kyoto-based company has made a very clear commitment in recent years to include online multiplayer in virtually all of its flagship titles, something it was previously reluctant to do.
Nintendo Switch Sports is a great example of this and has all the ingredients to be a huge success when it comes to competitive online gaming. Throw in Mario Strikers: Battle League, Splatoon 3, and Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp, and suddenly you have an extremely strong case for playing your Switch online that doesn't just include Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Super Smash Bros. Final.
More mushrooms to improve
That said, there's no denying that Nintendo's online offering still pales in comparison to what we're used to on PS5, Xbox Series X | S and PC. Voice chat requires the frankly useless Nintendo Switch online app, you can't instant message or share content directly with your friends, nor will you find Nintendo games using super-fast dedicated services.
To make matters worse, even the Wii U had a stronger online component than the Switch. You didn't need friend codes for one, you could video and voice chat using the Wii U GamePad, and it was home to the greatest social network of all time: the wonderful and missed Miiverse.
And when it comes to pure value? Well, your mileage will vary based on your affinity with Nintendo's catalog of older titles. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is unlikely to be dethroned as the current value champion, even by Sony's new PS Plus.
However, while it took a few more years than I would have liked, it is now clear that Nintendo has an online strategy for the Switch. By including proper online support in its first-party titles, DLC for its most popular games, and a huge library of retro games that also let you play with friends, the company manages to chart its own course in the per-line space in a single path. Nintendo way.