Following The Legend of Zelda’s enhanced port on Nintendo Switch, we thought now was the perfect time to spitball some other titles that we’d love to see published under the “Enhanced” banner. It wasn’t easy to narrow down. After all, the NES has a stellar library of iconic games. Below you’ll find our best attempt.
10 More Nintendo Classics That Need a Switch Enhanced Release
Super Mario Bros. 3
While Super Mario Bros. 3 is already reported to have a Switch Online port, the game really deserves an enhanced release. Widely lauded as the best iteration of 2D Mario games, it acted as a prime example of the series strengths. Releasing in 1988 on the NES, the game diversified the Mario palette, bringing new suits, power-ups, and generally a more intensive level design philosophy. As everyone knows, Mario is perfect for almost any control scheme or portable play, so an enhanced edition would shine on Switch.
An enhanced edition of Mario Bros. 3, designed to make it more accessible, could improve power-up frequency while offering tools for speeding up play, opening up the map, allowing the warp whistle from the start, and streamlining the title for handheld play.
10 More Nintendo Classics That Need a Switch Enhanced Release
Mega Man 2
Picking the greatest Mega Man game is no easy challenge, but Mega Man 2 still stands as perhaps the most complete and cohesive overall experience. Its blend of precise controls, tricky but rewarding platforming sequences, and tough as nails boss battles were perfectly balanced. A testament to that sentiment is just how well the games still hold up today despite their antiquated graphics. We do, however, have reservations as to whether modern gamers would have the patience for its often punishing difficulty level.
Sure, tampering with the game’s difficulty, as in The Legend of Zelda’s enhanced port, could risk sullying the experience, but a little alteration might also go along way to modernizing it for new audiences. Perhaps the option to pick up certain items in earlier locations, for example, would make for a more streamlined playthrough for newcomers?
10 More Nintendo Classics That Need a Switch Enhanced Release
Contra
Contra is a brutal game. Channeling the mid to late 80s cinematic trend of war stories in developing countries, the game was more than just a reference point to films like Rambo. Releasing in 1987, the game was a pacy display of 2D shooting and platforming, demanding shmup-like reflexes on times. An enhanced edition could up the game’s frame rate while making stronger weapons easier to obtain and toning down the end game’s ridiculous difficulty spike.
A lot of the game’s punishing difficulty could be eased by an optional easy mode in the enhanced edition or by merely opening up the end-game’s weapon variety earlier.
10 More Nintendo Classics That Need a Switch Enhanced Release
Ninja Gaiden
These days, Ninja Gaiden is more synonymous with its 3D iterations. Completing Ninja Gaiden: Black or Ninja Gaiden 2 on Master Ninja difficulty still remains as a hardcore rite of passage, yet the earlier titles in the series still offer an even greater challenge. Assuming the reigns of the series protagonist Ryu Hayabusa, players are frequently tasked with dodging, platforming, and fighting their way through almost absurdly difficult levels, often culminating in frustration-inducing boss battles.
The game truly took ninja levels of dedication to excel at it, so toning down the difficulty too much in an enhanced version may tamper with its charm too much. However, a little polishing of the boss battles, as well as offering an easy mode, may do the trick. A new game plus mode, too, would be a nice modern feature to add.
10 More Nintendo Classics That Need a Switch Enhanced Release
Metal Gear
People tend to think Solid Snake’s escapades began in 1998’s Metal Gear Solid, but his sneaky missions began with the first game in the series. Stealth games weren’t too popular at the time, but Kojima managed to blend stealth with a small dose of combat successfully. The game lacked the sort of meta-commentary and humor of later titles, but the series’ charm is certainly there in gameplay.
For an enhanced version, some work can be made on the game’s visuals, mostly. Difficulty-wise, Metal Gear was comparatively easy by NES standards, especially once players got used to the control scheme. Opening up the game’s equipment options earlier may ease any teething issues modern gamers may have, as well as an option to up the overall pace of traversal and gameplay.
10 More Nintendo Classics That Need a Switch Enhanced Release
Metroid
Metroid’s release was a watershed moment for action-adventure games, managing to create a whole sub-genre with its partner in crime Castlevania. While the game isn’t exactly as difficult to play as other games on this list, a graphically-enhanced version on Switch would be a delight. The game takes place on the fictional planet of Zebes, an open-ended world with areas connected by doors and elevators. The game’s backtracking was incredibly creative at the time, plus the game is perfect for handheld and portable play.
Aside from needed graphical changes, Metroid’s Enhanced Switch release would benefit from gaining the Long Beam and Screw Attack early on. A New Game Plus mode with all of Samus’s perks, power-ups, and weapons would be a nice touch, too, as well as opening up new speedrunning avenues.
10 More Nintendo Classics That Need a Switch Enhanced Release
Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse
Similarly to Metroid, Castlevania III helped refine the Metroidvania genre. Releasing in 1989 before the SNES took the gaming industry by storm, Castlevania III perfected the NES formula. Arguments have raged online for years regarding the best NES Castlevania title, but III is generally regarded as the best. For a Switch enhanced release, little should really be changed, we just want a functional port to play on the console.
If players find the game’s punishing longevity between stages too difficult, however, Nintendo, much like Legend of Zelda, could offer up a way to grant players weapons earlier, particularly the Morning Star whip. With Symphony of the Night a shoe-in to come out on PlayStation Classic, then Nintendo needs to shore up the next best Castlevania title on the Switch.
10 More Nintendo Classics That Need a Switch Enhanced Release
Kirby’s Adventure
Despite releasing in 1993, Kirby’s Adventure came out on the NES, even though the SNES was already years into its cycle. The game pushed the console to its limits, offering a colorful adventure through mechanics that took a spin on the Mario formula. Kirby’s Adventure refined the mechanics from Kirby’s Dream Land on the Game Boy. For an enhanced version, all Nintendo has to do is up the graphical fidelity of the game to allow the NES colors to shine. Optionally, a mode to increase the game’s dreamy pace would be a benefit, as it’s a little slow by modern platforming standards.
10 More Nintendo Classics That Need a Switch Enhanced Release
Punch-Out!
How hasn’t Punch-Out been revived on the Switch yet? Sure, there was ARMS, but the console is crying out for a Punch-Out! re-imagining or clone. However, a Switch enhanced version would certainly go a long way in curing our want for a revival. For those not blessed with Punch-Out’s charm, players assume the role of a boxer called Little Mac, the player must climb the ranks of the World Video Boxing Association.
Players fend off real boxers, eventually culminating in Mike Tyson, who is one of the toughest end bosses ever. For an enhanced version, Nintendo just needs to integrate joy-con controls, as they’ll feel right at home on Punch-Out’s punishing difficulty.
10 More Nintendo Classics That Need a Switch Enhanced Release
Duck Hunt
Duck Hunt, with its attempted integration of third-party controllers, tried to push the boundaries of gaming. It may seem silly to see now, but the game’s control scheme and ambitions to move beyond a traditional controller should be admired. Nowadays, though, similarly to Punch-Out!, Duck Hunt would shine on joy-con controls. An enhanced version could flesh out the game’s multiplayer capabilities, too, ensuring an endless end of banter, laughing dog notwithstanding.
About the author
