Based on the recent Super Mario 3D All-Stars reveal we got a good idea on how Nintendo is likely to handle legacy versions of games should we see more. Sunshine had previously never seen a port or re-release on any other platform making it a first while Galaxy had the advantage of being playable on the Wii U with the original disc. All three titles have seen a nice HD face lift that makes them more pleasing on the eyes based on released footage. Super Mario 64 is also a unique case as it did have a remake on the DS which saw the inclusion of more content. Clearly this means they wanted to go with the original, but it does make one wonder if we’ll see another version of Super Mario 64DS released in the future as well. While the strong focus is also just on Mario right now, it’s good to keep in mind that 2021 marks the 35th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda as well, which has easy ports from the Wii U in waiting in addition to improved versions of Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask that could see upgrades to Switch if this anniversary or collection approach is Nintendo’s new angle.
It’s unlikely that we see every first title entry on the Switch, as I doubt most fans are clamoring for Link’s Crossbow Training, but if we could manage to hit all the iconic ones across the board it would make the Switch feel extremely well rounded in representing Nintendo’s history on one of their best consoles to date. Some titles seem uncertain, likeYoshi’s Woolly Worldor the inclusion of other Paper Mario titles, but these are the ones that would highlight just how far Nintendo is seemingly willing to go with their backlog. It’s not a stretch to say Nintendo has the best first party lineup of titles of any console developer but fans can only hope that Nintendo feels it’s just as important for the old titles to be readily available to play as the new ones. Will we see more Nintendo Switch Online consoles represented or are there more plans to release them as HD remasters down the line? If the Switch lifetime lasts around as long as the average console, that’s another 3 or 4 years to continue building up a fantastic library before feeling the need to heighten the power capabilities of the system.
There’s a caveat with the Switch that many have pointed out with the next generation of Sony and Microsoft consoles coming. The Switch is unlikely to be able to support big third party PS5 and Series X titles on its hardware unless devs make a strong push for a port, so Nintendo will be relying on first party more than ever since its launch back until they see a next system. This is why legacy support to their extensive backlog could and should be a huge point of interest for Nintendo as the Switch continues on. There’s precedent for the Switch to have an outstanding first-party library and make it the best they have ever released. The upcoming collection of Super Mario 3D titles gave a lot of hope to this idea that we’ll see more support moving forward. Nintendo is in the best position right now to be gambling on their backlog of games to continue to push sales amid other large titles, so why not go all in and really see the Switch become a great example of how first-party support is not only important to players but should be maintained throughout every generation.
