Bring the Rest of Their Major Franchises to the Switch
The Switch is still pretty new, but it inherits a rich gaming history from the Nintendo consoles that came before it. The Wii U didn’t honor that tradition as well as it could have, and Nintendo can regain a lot of favor by bringing back some of their major franchises and putting them on the Switch. Currently, only Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda have made their way on to the Switch, so Nintendo should use 2018 to get a few more on the console.
2017’s Metroid: Samus Returns was positively received, but plenty of gamers wished that the game had launched on both the 3DS and Switch. It’s nice to know that a fourth Metroid Prime will come to the console eventually, but 2018 sounds a lot better than 2019. Gamers can look forward to a new Kirby game on Switch this year as well titled Kirby Star Allies, but what about Nintendo’s other major franchises like Star Fox and Donkey Kong? And although Pokkén Tournament is technically a Pokémon game, the Switch deserves something more along the lines of what players have gotten on the 3DS the past few years. We know that a new Pokémon RPG is coming to Switch eventually too, but, just like Metroid Prime 4, it would be way better to learn that the game is coming in 2018. It also would be nice to hear about a new Mario Kart, Mario Party, Animal Crossing, and F-Zero as well.
Stop Re-Releasing the 3DS and 2DS
Please Nintendo. No more. Your handheld no longer needs any more iterations (or at least for awhile). There are currently five versions of the 3DS on store shelves: the 3DS XL, 2DS, New 3DS, New 3DS XL, and New 2DS XL. That last one came out just last year.
Apple’s current iPhone 8 doesn’t even come in five iterations, and that company is a shining example of redundancy. I understand that Nintendo wants their players to have the choice of 2D or 3D, regular screen or large screen, and one joystick or two. But unless Nintendo has something revolutionary to add to their handheld, it really doesn’t need to be re-released yet again. As is, these current choices are minor, with the largest difference between the handhelds being the price.
Nintendo should cool their jets in 2018. If they want to continue showing support for the 3DS, then they should release more games for the handheld, especially ones that utilize the handheld’s unique use of two screens. Using the second screen as a map and a means to easily switch between weapons was a genius move for Metroid: Samus Returns that helped the combat in the game perform faster than any other handheld Metroid game.
Nintendo has created the 3DS’s biggest competition with the Switch. If they want both to exist side by side, then more variations of the 3DS isn’t going to help the handheld’s chances. More games that innovate on the 3DS’s tech is the way to go.
Improve Online Play Before Nintendo Switch’s Paid Online Service Launches
Nintendo has always been more partial to couch co-op than online play. Both PlayStation and Xbox are years ahead of them when it comes to finding other players online, adding them as friends, and chatting with them. For both Xbox and PlayStation, players just search for another player’s ID (or review a list of recommendations), press the button to add them as friends, and then another one to invite players to their party. It can be done in seconds.
Nintendo, on the other hand, requires that you already know the other player, because you need to search for their specific “Friend Code” to find them online. Even then, to actually talk with other players, both players need to download and use an app on their phone that’s… less than stellar. It’s slow and clunky, and more trouble than it’s worth. I have dozens of acquaintances on Xbox and PlayStation who I can jump into a game with at the press of button. I’d be much more inclined to play Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Splatoon 2’s online multiplayer if it was easy to find people to connect with. The online infrastructure for both the 3DS and Switch need to be overhauled, and there’s no time like the present.
Nintendo is going to start charging for their online service this year. Such a subscription should come with perks (similar to what Xbox does with Games with Gold), but before they get to that they need to give their online service a solid foundation. Free games are nice, but players will be buying into Nintendo’s online service primarily to keep playing games like Mario Kart 8 and Splatoon 2 with other players. The current friend systems’ only saving grace is that its free. If Nintendo is going to start charging for it, then the least they can do is streamline the process.
Keep Porting Old Games
There are quite a few games that are finding new life on the Switch (like Stardew Valley). It’s cool to see that Nintendo is continuing to outfit their console’s eShop with third-party games like The Escapists 2, but the Switch could always use a few dozen more. Games like Dead Space or Mass Effect are old enough that they’d work fine on Switch.
Games that came out for the Wii U would be a good fit too. Considering how many gamers skipped the Wii U, it’s nice to see games like Mario Kart 8 and Bayonetta 2 come to Switch. It’s giving players, like me, the opportunity to play games we never thought we’d have the chance to. I’m sure there are plenty of gamers who want to see more Wii U games, like The Wind Waker HD and Twilight Princess HD, come to Nintendo’s newest console.
Don’t Let Up on the Nindies
Games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey are the major draws for players looking to pick up a new Switch. But the eShop rankings don’t lie. Games like Golf Story and Battle Chef Brigade have held spots in the top 10.
Back in 2017, the Switch proved it has what it takes to be the best way to play indie games. Project Octopath Traveler is shaping up to be another incredible Nindie, but we’re a little worried about the apparent lack of Nindies in Q1 2018. Nintendo can’t let up on these games. Getting half a dozen quality indie titles on the eShop in 2018 will go a long way. It helps keep gamers playing the Switch in-between the larger triple-A titles.
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