Nintendo Adds 4 More NES & Game Boy Games to Switch Online
▼ Summary
– The November update for Switch Online’s Nintendo Classics service has been released with four new games.
– Two NES titles were added: Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos and Battletoads.
– Two Game Boy titles were added: Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters and Bionic Commando.
– Japan’s Nintendo Classics service received the same four games in this week’s update.
– An active base-tier Switch Online subscription is required to access these new titles.
Nintendo has just expanded its Switch Online library with a fresh batch of classic games, giving subscribers four more retro titles to enjoy. This November update brings two NES favorites and two Game Boy adventures to the service, ensuring there’s something for every fan of old-school gaming.
For the NES selection, players can dive into Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos and the notoriously difficult Battletoads. On the Game Boy side, the lineup includes Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters and Bionic Commando. These same four games have also been added to the Japanese version of the service, keeping the offerings consistent across regions.
In Ninja Gaiden II, released in 1990, players once again step into the shoes of Ryu Hayabusa. This time, he confronts the demon emperor Ashtar, who was secretly controlling the events of the first game. New mechanics allow Ryu to climb walls more freely and even perform attacks while clinging to surfaces. A standout feature is the “Alter Ego Technique,” which summons up to two shadow clones that mimic Ryu’s attacks, significantly widening his offensive reach.
Battletoads, which hit the NES in 1991, is a cooperative action game starring the super-powered frog warriors, Rush and Jitz. Their mission is to rescue Princess Angelica and their captured comrade, Pimple. The game spans twelve wildly varied stages, including side-scrolling brawls, vertical climbs, and high-speed chase sequences on air bikes and space boards. Each level demands different strategies and reflexes, contributing to the title’s legendary challenge.
Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters debuted in 1991 for the Game Boy in North America, though it never saw a Japanese release. The angel Pit is tasked by the goddess Palutena with securing the “Three Sacred Weapons” by defeating bosses across three distinct worlds. Gameplay shifts between upward scrolling in the “Hades” and “Sky” realms and horizontal movement in the “Earthly World.” Along the way, players can visit shops to purchase items and enter special rooms to train and upgrade their arsenal.
Bionic Commando arrived on the Game Boy in 1992, featuring hero Rud Spencer, who is armed with a gun and a versatile bionic wire. Players can choose from several firearm types, including a three-way Wide Range Rifle and a powerful Grenade Launcher. The bionic wire is crucial for navigating levels, allowing Rud to hook onto surfaces, climb to great heights, and swing like a pendulum. Communication rooms scattered throughout the game provide opportunities to gather intel from allies or eavesdrop on enemy plans.
To play these newly added classics, an active base-level Nintendo Switch Online membership is required. This update continues Nintendo’s pattern of regularly refreshing its retro catalog, following October’s addition of the GameCube title Luigi’s Mansion to the service.
(Source: Nintendo Life)
