My fellow Nintendo enthusiast, do you feel that excitement in the air? There‘s nothing quite like it – the buzz of a new Nintendo Direct presentation followed swiftly by a wave of nostalgic gaming magic being added to the Nintendo Switch Online library. If you‘re someone who grew up in the 90s obsessing over classic consoles like the N64, or even niche but beloved ones like the Sega Genesis, September 2022 has been a dream come true.
In this monthly update, you and I will dive deep on the iconic retro games newly available to play, explore their development legacies, see how reviewers judged them decades ago, and speculate on why Nintendo is expanding their premium Expansion Pack service with these particular masterpieces at this point in time. I‘ll be your guide across this digital preservation tour – no tedious lecture, just good old games appreciation among friends!
Nintendo Switch Online 101
First, a quick refresher. The Nintendo Switch Online (NSO) service grants access to online multiplayer, cloud saves, smartphone app bonuses and a selection of NES and SNES titles for $20/year.
The Expansion Pack (which stacks on top of a standard NSO subscription) offers a significantly bigger lineup of nostalgia-fueled gems. For $50/year, you unlock libraries of Nintendo 64, Sega Genesis and even some classic SEGA handheld games too.
I‘ve put together an at-a-glance feature comparison in this table:
| Membership Level | NES Games | SNES Games | N64 Games | Genesis Games | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic (NSO) | 100+ | 30+ | ❌ | ❌ | $20/year |
| Expansion Pack | 100+ | 30+ | 10+ (growing each month) |
15+ (growing each month) |
$50/year |
Clearly, we‘re getting tremendous bang for buck here as subscribers. And Nintendo has been working overtime signing new deals and porting games to add even more value. Case in point – September 2022‘s out-of-left-field Sega Genesis additions plus a stacked lineup of soon-to-come N64 classics formally confirmed in the latest Nintendo Direct video showcase.
Let‘s explore what was unveiled…
Surprise Sega Genesis Gems
I don‘t know about you, but seeing legendary Genesis games added to the Expansion Pack catalog just gives me goosebumps. The rivalry between Sega and Nintendo defined an entire era of gaming innovation through the 1990s. So to now see these former competitors collaborating to preserve iconic Genesis experiences via Nintendo‘s subscription service puts a smile on my face.
Here are the trio of superb titles added on September 20th:
Alisia Dragoon – Lightning Strikes (1992)
This early 90s side-scrolling fantasy platformer might seem like a generic anime-style affair at first glance. But in reality Alisia Dragoon is dripping with personality thanks to the involvement of Gainax – the famed Japanese animation studio behind Neon Genesis Evangelion and Gurren Lagann.
You play as Alisia, a mage who wields lightning bolts against cryptic cultists and ghastly demon bosses. Each encounter shapes a rich, ominous narrative full of secrets waiting to be uncovered across multiple endings. Backed by a sweeping orchestral score, the presentation was truly cinematic for its time.
Underneath lies a smart risk vs reward mechanic – drain Alisia‘s magic to unleash charged attacks, but leave her vulnerable until it recharges. This created deep strategy despite straightforward run-and-gun action.
Unfortunately, Alisia Dragoon was written off as an ugly duckling on its initial Japan-only launch. Yet the global release reworked the graphics and gameplay to great effect. Gainax‘s talent brought anime flair to the characters and promotional artwork as well. Critics universally praised this version, and its legacy has only grown stronger over the years.
Beyond Oasis – A Lush Arabian Nights Adventure (1994)
Also appearing on Genesis under its Japanese name The Story of Thor, this top-down action-RPG undoubtedly wore its Zelda influences on its sleeve. You play as Prince Ali bearing an enchanted Gold Armlet, exploring forests, towns and dungeons while mastering elemental powers to solve puzzles and battle various threats.
Yet rather than a cheap clone, Beyond Oasis carved out a whimsical personality all its own thanks to a unique ancient Persian setting. Swords and sorcery made way for scimitars and magic carpets. Sprawling Arabian vistas mixed with screen-filling boss battles against ginormous genies and devious wizards.
Reviewers adored the tactile combat, brains-over-brawn magic systems and gorgeously animated sprites that practically popped off the screen. It represented a polished alternative to Link‘s adventures, weaving middle-eastern mythology into its storytelling. Commercially it couldn‘t compete with Zelda‘s juggernaut cachet, but Beyond Oasis earned a dedicated cult following for good reason.
Earthworm Jim – Groovy Gaming Icon (1994)
No words can properly explain the weird and wonderful phenomenon that is Earthworm Jim. Our hapless annelid hero finds himself transformed by a super-suit into a blaster-wielding warrior battling evil across the cosmos. But in an extra metatextual twist, Jim‘s bug-eyed exploits take place in a deliberately surreal and humorously self-aware universe filled with outrageous characters that satirize other video games and pop culture.
At every turn Earthworm Jim subverted expectations through sheer creative madness. The animation stretched Jim‘s flexible invertebrate body for super-fast gameplay bursting with color. Environments ranged from mundane backyards to alien planets to hell itself as our hero clashed against villains like Psy-Crow and Evil the Cat. Each level reveled in unpredictable absurdity – battling fire-breathing cows in a barn, racing snot bubbles through nostrils, hanging onto rockets as they soared past flaming monkeys… this game had it all!
Critics and fans alike were floored by just how fun and downright hilarious Earthworm Jim was upon its 1994 debut. Its stellar run-and-gun platforming mechanics, unforgettable art direction and joke-a-second writing earned countless Game of the Year awards. Numerous ports, sequels and even a TV cartoon followed, cementing Jim‘s place as a true original for the ages. Revisiting the game today charms just as much now as it ever did thanks to timeless presentation. We may never see Jim‘s like again.
I don‘t know about you friend, but replaying these three unsung Genesis classics takes me back to the 90s in the best way. We were blessed to experience such bold and trend-defining games the first time round. Having them so easily accessible again through Nintendo Switch Online almost feels too good to be true. I‘ll certainly be recommending the Expansion Pack to everyone I know!
GoldenEye – Rare‘s Timeless FPS Reborn (coming soon to N64)
If those Genesis surprise arrivals rekindled fond memories of retro gaming‘s 2D heyday, then September‘s main event planted our feet firmly into 64-bit 3D interactive worlds. I‘m speaking of course about the latest Nintendo Direct broadcast confirming availability of the seminal 1997 first-person shooter GoldenEye 007 on Nintendo 64 Nintendo Switch Online.
Rareware was already world-renowned in the mid-90s for critical smashes like Donkey Country and Killer Instinct. But GoldenEye‘s slick blend of James Bond theatrics with pioneering shooter mechanics aimed straight for Hollywood blockbuster crowd-pleasing. Oscar-worthy set pieces from the film were translated into sprawling levels supporting objectives-based missions or straight deathmatch carnage.
Slick controls let players peer down iron-sights for targeted hits, quickly strafe sideways during firefights, and even employ stealth tactics to sneak past oblivious enemies. It was unprecedented freedom compared to clunky contemporaries like Doom or Duke Nukem. Reviewers marvelled at the authenticity of recreating GoldenEye‘s story while expanding its scope as a game.
Most legendary of all was the groundbreaking 4 player local multiplayer mode. Late nights spent trash-talking friends over Goldeneye Deathmatches are etched into the memories of a generation. Its signature maps like Facility, Complex and Stack overflowed with possibilities for both tense shootouts and hilarious surprise attacks.
As rare as the game itself these days, GoldenEye cartridges can fetch over $200 due to very limited print runs back in 1997 before digital distribution. Even recent HD remasters never materialized thanks to archaic rights issues tied to the Bond license, amongst other factors like outdated control schemes. Do not underestimate what a monumental feat it is for Nintendo to finally bring back this crown jewel of gaming for online play in 2022! Industry veterans at Rare could not be more excited:
“This is genuinely exciting because that game was very much of its time, but to be able to go back and play it again in its purest form on Nintendo Switch will be a mega blast of nostalgia” said James Thomas, Rare‘s Environment Director.
I echo James‘ sentiments wholeheartedly here. Truly a lost relic reborn anew. Teasing out every last tactical possibility across GoldenEye‘s sprawling maps in my youth represent cherished memories. My friends and I certainly didn‘t grasp the boundary-pushing genius we were experiencing at the ripe young age of 10 years old!
Yet here Nintendo is handing the next generation an iconic masterwork on a silver platter. I sorely hope online multiplayer revitalizes GoldenEye mania for the 2020s era. Spread the word far and wide – a revolution lies in wait!
Further Classic N64 Titles Confirmed
Believe it or not, GoldenEye wasn‘t the only mega-ton announcement for Nintendo Switch Online‘s N64 library. A veritable buffet of first-party excellence got name-dropped during September‘s showcase. Let‘s quickly recap the icons-in-waiting:
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Mario Party 1-3 – Mascots driving fierce friendships and rivalries like no other franchise. Countless dorm rooms echo with memories tied to these multiplayer madness milestones!
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Pokémon Stadium 1+2 – We‘re gonna need to call a full restore on those N64 controllers after intensely strategic creature battles leave control sticks stirred and shaken!
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1080° Snowboarding – Carving white powder has never looked so smooth and serene as in this sports title.\
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Excitebike 64 – Over-the-top extreme racing fuelled by unpredictable course chaos.
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Pilotwings 64 – Showcase supreme aerial navigation skills across this game‘s blue skies.
I don‘t know about you friend, but that lineup reads like a golden age greatest hits compilation! And it makes savvy business sense too – these evergreen Nintendo franchises continue marching forward decades later, continuously birthing new fans. Offering easier access to back catalogue classics trains a nostalgia spotlight directly on current Switch releases.
Just imagine booting up the Expansion Pack‘s Pokémon Stadium before diving into November‘s hotly anticipated Pokémon Scarlet and Violet editions. Or getting friends together for Mario Party triple-header marathon session leading up to Mario Party Superstars year-end DLC!
Cloud gaming competitors like PlayStation Plus Premium may boast bells and whistles, but no one curates legacy content better than Nintendo. What system could be more appropriate to play these games than Switch in both handheld and docked modes? Nintendo Switch Online is clearly learning lessons from past Virtual Console missteps.
Once again, I stand supremely impressed by September 2022‘s perfect storm heralding a new golden age for N64 preservation and playability. Considering industry whispers suggest Game Boy, Game Boy Color and other platforms could receive similar treatment down the road, the future shines bright for rediscovering hobby-defining Nintendo classics!
Well, my gaming friend, that concludes this grand tour of Nintendo‘s September surprises. I dearly hope you share my child-like enthusiasm about revisiting these extraordinary Genesis and N64 games in 2022 and beyond. Truly the stuff which memories are made of!
Did I miss any intriguing details about this iconic wave of retro goodies? Which lost classic are you most eager to fire up when they hit Nintendo Switch Online? Let me know in the comments down below! And stay tuned here each month for the latest additions once they launch.
Happy gaming until then! Your friend,
Dan the Nintendo Maniac
