Nintendo may have dropped the ball with the Wii U hardware, but the company developed and published some excellent games during that era. In the years that have followed, Nintendo has released most of these as souped-up Switch versions.
This strategy has worked well for the most part, injecting new life into old games and sharing an excellent back catalog with a huge number of people. But there are still some games missing that I’d like to see.
6
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD
I know what you’re thinking, does a remaster of a game that initially marked the transition from GameCube to Wii really count? I’d say so, considering how hard it is for most people to play what is arguably one of the best Zelda games ever made. I’m probably biased since this was the first Zelda game I really clicked with (having not owned Nintendo consoles when I was younger), so I’d really love to experience the magic again.
For the uninitiated, Twilight Princess was originally released in 2006, bridging the gap between Nintendo’s outgoing purple cube and the incoming motion-controlled must-have. It controls a lot like the N64 classic Ocarina of Time, with the usual Zelda arsenal of sword, shield, bow, boomerang, and bombs to play with. On the Wii, the game had some motion controls that allowed you to hack at the air to attack.
The plot tells the tale of a teenage Link who, on attempting to save Ordon Village’s abducted children, encounters a form of corruption known as the “twilight.” He soon encounters Midna, a fairy-like creature who promises to help him as long as he does as she says. From here it’s a case of removing the twilight from Hyrule’s various regions until the job is done. Oh and did I mention you play through a large portion of the game as a wolf?
With the arrival of The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker on Nintendo Switch Online, we could yet see the GameCube version of Twilight Princess arrive on Switch 2 via emulation. I’d take anything at this point.
5
NES Remix 1 and 2
The NES Remix series marked the start of something new for Nintendo. This is a collection of vintage NES games, remixed and freshened up, with a long list of challenges to work through. The first entry features 16 games including Ice Climber, Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong, and The Legend of Zelda. The second showcases 12 classics with hits like Super Mario Bros. 3, Metroid, Dr Mario, and Wario’s Woods. A spin-off was released on the 3DS called Ultimate NES Remix, and none have yet to arrive on the Switch.
The closest Switch owners have is Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition, which scratches the same itch but falls short in a few key areas. To start with, the NES Remix Wii U series features a total of 28 games, whereas World Championships only pulls from 13. There are no online leaderboards in the Switch release, something that was unlocked in NES Remix via “Championship Mode” by owning both compilations. The challenges in World Championships also feel a little stale in comparison, lacking the more exciting remix aspect seen on the Wii U.
Nintendo could easily repackage both NES Remix titles as a single product, sell it for a reasonable price (maybe even as just a digital download), and offer a rejuvenated online experience for all players. It could make for an on-brand pack-in for Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack owners, considering how seriously the company is taking its classics these days.
4
Yoshi’s Woolly World
Yoshi’s Woolly World is a charming little platformer that didn’t exactly set the world on fire. Gameplay-wise, it’s an accessible and cutesy romp that sees you take command of a woven Yoshi with a few tweaks to the usual formula. Eggs are replaced with balls of yarn, which could be used to defeat enemies, collect power-ups, and reach different parts of the level. Throughout the game, you’ll encounter various transformations that let you do things like fly through the level, with mini-games to enjoy between courses.
By all accounts, Woolly World is a fine 3D platformer. What made it so special was the art style, since everything looks like it has been crafted from wool. This includes our eponymous mascot but also enemies, power-ups, and perhaps my favorite part of all: green pipes. The effect is striking, even on the disappointing Wii U hardware, and demonstrates that good art trumps raw power any day (a lesson that Nintendo learned a long time ago).
I’d love to see Woolly World receive the remaster treatment on the Switch 2. A higher render resolution would allow us to really appreciate the level of detail that went into the game, plus additional hardware overhead to avoid some of the stutters that marred the original version would be great. It would also be nice not to have to reach for a Wii U any time I wanted to relive it.
3
Art Academy: Home Studio
It’s a shame that the Art Academy series hasn’t seen a new release since the 2016 Disney-themed 3DS exclusive. 2015’s Home Studio marked the first time the series came to a home console, relying on the tablet-like Wii U GamePad for touch input. The series has also earned its fair share of fans with portable releases on the 3DS.
Art Academy is more than just Nintendo’s take on a digital canvas, it’s an educational tool. Fans of the series fell in love with the lessons that enabled them to learn basic drawing techniques in the game and take them into the real world. Given Nintendo has embraced concepts like LABO on the Switch, it’s strange to see Art Academy (or even Mario Paint) left to languish.
I’ve picked Home Studio because it seems like the most fitting Art Academy title to quickly slap on the Switch 2, but even I know it’s unlikely to happen. That said, some sort of Art Academy revival that puts the Switch 2 touchscreen to good use in portable mode could be a hit. Even in tabletop and TV mode, the title could be the perfect fit for the Switch 2’s new-fangled mouse support. Bonus points if Nintendo implements some proper social features to share your creations too!
2
Star Fox Zero
Star Fox Zero might be one of those bad games that are worth a second chance. I say “might” because I wouldn’t know, since the effort involved in fishing out my Wii U (yes, I bought one) and tracking down a copy of the original game seems too much. We’re not quite talking kusoge levels of bad here, but it’s no secret that the last Star Fox game was a commercial flop that received middling reviews.
The game was criticized for a variety of reasons, including being a rehash of Star Fox 64 that feels stuck in the past. The controls, which rely heavily on the Wii U GamePad, force the player to split their attention between the screen they’re holding and the TV on which the action takes place. In addition to the somewhat schizophrenic approach to input, the game was described as “awkward” to play.
Zero could present Nintendo with the perfect opportunity to patch up the game, fix some of the most glaring issues (notably the controls), and actually do something with it. While there’s no hiding the fact that this is a fairly generic space shooter, it could be a generic space shooter that controls well and features iconic Nintendo characters. This could lead to a brand new Star Fox game, or at least let Nintendo assess how much interest is left in this once-beloved franchise.
1
Devil’s Third
However you slice it, Devil’s Third is an incredible video game. The game itself has a storied past, originally beginning life as an Xbox 360 exclusive to be published by Microsoft. The game was then shifted to publisher THQ and set for a multi-platform release but then the publisher went bankrupt. Eventually, Nintendo picked up the pieces, going on to publish the game as a Wii U exclusive in late 2015.
There was good reason for Nintendo to be interested. Devil’s Third is the project of legendary Japanese producer Tomonobu Itagaki who earned his stripes with directing and producing roles on respected Tecmo franchises like Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden. The game itself is a fairly straightforward action adventure with cover mechanics and features melée and projectile combat. It includes a whole multiplayer mode, with a built-in level editor and everything.
Unfortunately, Devil’s Third quickly earned the nickname “Devil’s Turd” following a series of poor critic reviews and lackluster reception among Wii U owners. The game was criticized for being “offensively bad” by Digital Spy for its bugs, microtransactions, and bizarre design decisions. Fans and critics alike panned the game for its outdated design, repetitive combat, underwhelming visuals, uninspired writing, and at times hilariously bad voice acting. The multiplayer aspect lasted a little over a year, with servers shutting down in December 2016.
Make no mistake, this is a bad game. But why should it be a bad game that I have to reach for my Wii U to play? I can’t be alone in thinking a limited digital release would be a fun curio for those willing to wade waist-deep into the quagmire. We could even fix the pay-to-win multiplayer elements, or just omit them altogether.
Realistically, I’d be happy with a Twilight Princess HD release if I had to pick a single game on this list. Art Academy should come back, but as a fresh title that’s designed from the ground up for the Switch. And Yoshi’s Woolly World feels like an easy win during those months when Nintendo needs something to fill a gap.
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