Released earlier this year, the Nintendo Switch has taken the gaming world by storm, having sold 4.7 million units within the first three months alone. Aside from the overall uniqueness of the console, another thing Nintendo has done successfully has been catering the Switch to gamers of all ages. With the retro gaming scene becoming more popular than ever, we’re now seeing old franchises revived on Nintendo’s latest console.
Most importantly, we’re seeing them released in their classic form. When people think of the classic Sonic the Hedgehog games, for example, they think of the fast-paced side-scrollers that were released for the Sega Genesis almost 30 years ago. (We appreciate the effort, Sega, but no one ever asked for the later abominations like Shadow the Hedgehog or Sonic R, which were weak attempts at recreating the magic of Mario Kart.)
So rejoice, gamers! With games like Sonic Mania and Street Fighter being released for the Nintendo Switch, along with other great franchise revivals like Blaster Master, with Blaster Master Zero, there’s hope that we’ll see other classic reboots make their way back to your living room soon (this time on an HDTV).
Here are five incredible and often-forgotten gaming franchises that need a reboot on the Nintendo Switch, but in their classic style!
#5 – Castlevania
Netflix just released an anime series of the forgotten franchise this year, so this one seems like a no-brainer. Originally developed by Konami and released for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in 1986, Castlevania was a horror-themed action-adventure game in which Simon Belmont slayed vampires, ghosts, and even Dracula himself with whips, holy water, and daggers. It sounds wild because it was. In its side-scrolling form, the franchise would see multiple releases, including three on the NES, followed by Super Castlevfania IV on the Super Nintendo. The 3D-graphics era brought us some lackluster titles more in line with the Devil May Cry series, but we’re long overdue for the next installment of side-scrolling action!
If we don’t get a new game for the Switch, fans of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (famous for classic lines like “What is a man?!”) should check out a new game by the same producer, Koji Igarashi. It’s called Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night.
#4 – Mega Man
One thing is clear: It’s time for a new Mega Man game. Developed and published by Capcom, the series saw six installments released on the NES between 1987 and 1993. The games were groundbreaking at the time because they required more strategy than most side-scrolling platformers. You would receive new weapons by defeating bosses, which you could take into the later stages. Think of it like a game of rock-paper-scissors, except one where you’re shooting snakes, flames, and saw blades out of your arm instead.
Also, the Mega Man series is known for the amazing soundtracks, so who wouldn’t want another one?
#3 – Dr. Mario
How has a Tetris game been released for the Nintendo Switch, but not this? Come at me if you wish, but Dr. Mario is one of the greatest puzzle games of all-time, originally released for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in the summer of 1990. The object of the game is to destroy viruses, which is important, because if Mario were to get deathly ill, there’s definitely no chance of us getting another one of these games. (We may never have gotten Mario Golf, and no one wants to live in a world without that.) Excluding ports of the game to other consoles, the game only saw one true sequel over the years, with Dr. Mario 64 on the N64 in 2001. That’s just unacceptable, Nintendo.
#2 – DuckTales
Just like with Castlevania, there’s another reboot happening. Disney recently shared the pilot episode of their reboot of DuckTales, which originally aired from 1987 to 1990. As was the case with most TV shows and movies from the 80s, the franchise had a game released on the NES. The difference, however, was that the game was actually amazing, which can’t be said for others, like Friday the 13th or Back to the Future. The original game was released for the Wii-U as DuckTales: Remastered, but it was essentially the original game. (But, hey, if a game is getting remastered almost thirty years later, it has to be good, right?) It’s time for a new adventure on the Nintendo Switch!
#1 – Bubble Bobble
When the NES Classic Edition was released in late 2016 and sold by scalpers everywhere for seven times the retail value, it had 30 games on it. Since the NES library consisted of more than 650 games, only the best could be featured, and Taito’s Bubble Bobble was rightfully one of them. Released in 1986, the focus of the game is to travel through 100 different stages as a dragon while you trap robots and fruit in bubbles. Its fun, addictive gameplay also makes for one of the best multi-player games on the NES. Sounds like a trip? It is, and it’s also a travesty that there hasn’t been a home console release since Bubble Bobble Part 2 in 1993.
What are some classic gaming franchises that you would like to see make a comeback on the Nintendo Switch?
Punch Out!!