Super Smash Bros.
Like Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros. is one of Nintendo’s most popular party series, and the latest entry was one of the Wii U’s best selling titles. The roster for the fighting series was expanded more than ever before including some surprise hits like Shulk from Xenoblade Chronicles and Duck Hunt Dog. In addition, there’s a staggering amount of stages and modes to play, while Smash Bros. looked gorgeous on the HD power of the Wii U.
With some truly monumental DLC characters like Cloud and Bayonetta, a Switch port of the latest Super Smash Bros. has a ton of possibilities. There’s still plenty of unused Nintendo characters that could be added on like the Inklings from Splatoon, or Ridley from Metroid. Additionally, you could even add back in the fan favorite Ice Climbers, or pick another character from the Smash Poll that Bayonetta won.
Porting over Super Smash Bros. wouldn’t just give the Switch one of the best Wii U games ever, it’d give it a chance to really make some improvements and additions just like Nintendo did with Mario Kart.
Hyrule Warriors
Hyrule Warriors was a bit of a surprise from Nintendo, a brand new Zelda game developed by a third party, and a Dynasty Warriors-style game no less. Still, Koei Tecmo managed to impress with a frantic and fun hack-and-slash game, that still stayed true to the spirit of the Zelda series.
The title had a huge selection of characters from multiple entries in the Zelda series, with more added on later as DLC. Truthfully, Hyrule Warriors seems more fitting as a handheld game in some aspects, and luckily Nintendo ported it over to the 3DS. However, only the New Nintendo 3DS runs the game well, with the standard 3DS model really taking a technical blow to run it. The Switch would be the perfect system for Hyrule Warriors, letting owners take the full glory of massive battles with them on the go. Of course you’d get a definitive edition with all of the DLC released for the game, and maybe even a couple new characters or features. While Switch owners wait for Fire Emblem Warriors, this would be the perfect title to tide them over.
Super Mario 3D World
Mario’s first expedition on the Switch is still a while away, however, one of his very best titles still remains on the Wii U. Super Mario 3D World continued the platforming trends setup with 3D Land, this time adding on a four player co-op option. It’s definitely one of the best couch co-op games ever released, with some brilliant level design and tight controls. New options like the wall-climbing Cat Suit add even more options than ever for Mario and his pals.
With the portability of the Switch a co-op Mario game seems like a no brainer, and 3D World is just about the best at that. The updated hardware could make the game’s visuals pop more than ever, and there’s no reason Nintendo couldn’t add on a couple new levels or playable characters as well. Since we won’t be getting Super Mario Odyssey until this Winter, Mario 3D World could be the perfect summer title to fill the gap with.
Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE
With hype for Persona 5 at an all-time high Atlus has a lot of attention right now, making it the perfect time to give more players the ability to grab Tokyo Mirage Sessions. This vibrant JRPG combines elements of both Shin Megami Tensei and Fire Emblem, although in truth it feels most like a Persona game. There’s a lighthearted nature to the title’s story, which focuses on a band of teenagers trying to break into the Japanese entertainment industry, while also saving the world from a dark, malevolent force.
Tokyo Mirage Sessions does a lot to emulate anime style and Japan, taking place in a colorful version of Tokyo. Sadly, the niche JRPG didn’t get the audience it deserved since it was launched as a Wii U exclusive. The Switch presents a great opportunity to get the title more attention, especially since the handheld nature of the system could make a huge RPG more digestable in smaller chunks of playtime. Even just a standard port would do the trick, although you could certainly update the visual presentation or add on some new features or story events.
The Wonderful 101
Platinum Games may be best known for games like Bayonetta and Metal Gear Rising, but the Wonderful 101 was an incredibly unique title that released early on for the Wii U. The game almost functions like a combination of superhero action and Pikmin, requiring you to take control of a group known as the Wonderful 101. As you engage the alien menace threatening Earth, you have to draw different symbols on the Wii U’s touchpad to create different formations for your team. Each symbol corresponds to a different weapon combination, forcing your team to form into a giant fist, sword, or other weapons.
While the Wonderful 101 did rely heavily on the Touchpad, a Switch port could easily change up the control options. The stylish Saturday morning cartoon vibe already looks brilliant, and the Switch could give it that extra pop. Add on some new challenge maps, or even an extra campaign and you’ve got a port that more people should get to enjoy.
Super Mario Maker
Super Mario Maker is one of the most inventive titles Nintendo has released in years, giving players the ability to craft their very own Mario levels. Some truly remarkable creations were there right off the bat, and fans continue to create impressive levels to this day. Nintendo did release the title on 3DS with some unfortunate drawbacks, like not being able to share your own creations online.
The Switch is the perfect system for something like Mario Maker, with the sleek tablet that would make it easy to design levels. You could, of course, change up control schemes to focus on using controllers for designing. The portability of the system makes it easy to share your creations with friends, or even collaborate on new levels with friends. There’s always new items, options, and graphical styles that Nintendo could choose to add onto the game as well. Being able to build and play an infinite stream of Mario levels both at home and on the go is certainly a tantalizing possibility.
Bayonetta 2
Platinum Games’ headlining series contains two of the best character action games ever created. At this point, Bayonetta herself has almost become a pseudo-mascot for Nintendo, getting featured in Smash Bros. and getting her very own amiibo. While the first Bayonetta released on multiple systems, Bayonetta 2 was a Wii U exclusive, although it still performed fairly well. Bayonetta 2 even garnered multiple Game of the Year awards in 2014, no easy feat by any standard.
While the Switch has a decent offering of titles so far, it’s in desperate need of some offerings from big third parties. It’s likely that many people never had the chance to experience Bayonetta 2, and some Nintendo fans didn’t play the first Bayonetta. Bundling the two titles up would serve as a fantastic rerelease on the Switch, giving you two stellar action games to take on the go. There’s plenty of other Nintendo franchises that could make cameos in Bayonetta 2, although there isn’t much that needs to change about the core experience. Platinum might be teasing something related to Bayonetta 3, making this the perfect time to bring the Umbra Witch onto the Switch.
Star Fox Zero
More than any other Wii U game, Star Fox Zero needs to be ported over to the Switch as a way of improving the experience. The major complaint with the title revolved around the frustrating motion controls that you’re forced to use, with absolutely no way to remove them or turn them off. Combine this with a relatively short experience, and you had a title that disappointed some fans on the Wii U, even if the game had some solid level design and space battles.
The Nintendo Switch is Star Fox Zero’s chance to come back, and more closely resemble the vision Nintendo had. Motion controls could still stay in the game, but as an option. Let players choose what control scheme they want, with the option of playing it traditionally like Star Fox 64. You could even add on new areas and story missions, giving players more incentive to play through multiple times to see everything. Throw in a Switch version of Star Fox Guard, and you’ve got a title that might redeem itself in the eyes of Nintendo fans, and fill the gap while we wait for the big holiday games.
Published: Apr 25, 2017 10:26 am