It’s been a year since Nintendo launched a higher-tier expansion pack service for Nintendo Switch Online, which brings a select library of Sega Mega Drive/Genesis games and Nintendo 64 titles to the Switch along with access to access to other paid DLC like Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Happy Home Paradise.
Priced at $49.99USD / £34.99 for an individual annual subscription – an extra $30 / £17 over the standard annual Nintendo Switch Online subscription – affection among Switch owners at launch was particularly warm, with criticism directed at a handful of early N64 titles, many of which were distracting (and, in some cases, hindering gameplay) competition problemand there is a general feeling that this new tier does not offer enough value for money to justify the higher asking price.
However, in the past year, we have seen Nintendo Slowly and steadily add value to subscriptions. Emulation issue, while still present in some casesto be being resolved To some extent, and a small monthly stream of 16 and 64 bit games, has resulted in a fairly extensive library of classic games for both the Mega Drive and the N64.
Of course, there are loads of great titles that are missing for one reason or another (mostly licensing issues or because they’re available in classic packages elsewhere – Hello, Konami/Capcom!), but it’s hard to argue with the quality on offer, especially looking at Genesis’ selection. You get standards like Sonic 2 and Streets of Rage 2but you also get Musha, Opposite: Hard Legion, Beyond Oasis, Hero Gunstarand Castlevania: Bloodline. No, there’s no shortage of ways to play these games, but having them on the Switch is certainly convenient.
