The Switch’s Fatal Launch Flaw

Well, we finally got our big look at the Nintendo Switch we have been craving. Some of us stayed up until midnight to catch the festivities happening in Tokyo and many were pleased with what they saw. There was everything from Mario, Zelda and Splatoon 2 to Shin Megami Tensei and Fire Emblem and even unexpected news like Xenoblade 2 and a new No More Heroes game. There were new IPs shown off, price and spec details, translators that clearly were up too late or jet-lagged; it really reminded me of the days of E3’s past.

That’s the good. Unfortunately, there always seems to be a bad…

Many argue that no one should be complaining about what was shown and that we should all be grateful for what we saw and in a way I totally understand that. One of the things that makes Nintendo so fantastic is the nitty-gritty they get down to, otherwise known as “Nintendo Polish”. They put so much love and care and imagination into their games that you can’t help but be grateful for the magical experiences they create. Many may say criticism of the Switch event is being spoiled, but in all honesty the critics are frustrated because they love this company.

By far, the biggest flaw in the entire presentation was the lack of launch games the Switch has so far. While this is obviously subject to change within the next 4-5 weeks until launch, not many signs point towards something to turn the tide. “BUT WAIT!” I hear you yell at you phone/computer, “Aren’t you forgetting about Zelda: Breath of the Wild? You know? The game voted most anticipated at last year’s E3.”

It’s true, the latest Zelda title is surrounded with a ton of hype. I love the Zelda series and have played every game except Skyward Sword (not sure the reaction I’ll get for that but I’ll brace for hate anyway). Breath of the Wild looks to push the series in an incredible direction by combining modern gaming staples such as an open world, crafting and a rich story with voice acting with traditional Zelda elements that truly make it feel like it belongs in the Zelda universe. So how could I possibly think that this game isn’t the perfect launch game? Two words: Lasting Appeal.

Let’s not kid ourselves. The majority of gamers, especially casual gamers that Nintendo aims to recapture, are not completionists. Most regular gamers would not take more than a quarter of the year to get through the main campaign. However, a quarter of a year is how long it seems it is going to be until the next wave of games comes out for the Switch. All other games listed for launch are either niche titles or big names that are already on other higher-performance consoles (I applaud 1-2 Switch’s effort but it’s no Wii Sports). I would not be shocked if Breath of the Wild received 10s across the board and is hailed as a masterpiece, but that doesn’t correlate to general lasting appeal. So if one of the deepest and most immersive Zelda titles ever made isn’t going to cut it…what will? To find the answer, all you have to do is look at the Wii U…wait what?

In all seriousness, upon observing sales for the Wii U, it is shown that Mario Kart 8 and Super Smash Bros. Wii U accounted for about 50% & 40% respectively of the total ownership of Wii U consoles. In English: If you own a Wii U, there is a 50% chance you own Mario Kart 8 and a 40% chance you own Smash, aka these games move units off the shelf. But why are these better than one of the greatest Zelda games we’ve seen in years? Easy, these games define the “one-more-game” effect. The endless replayability that has only become more addictive thanks to online play, where you almost always have someone to square off with when your friends arn’t around to crush in person. These kinds of games simply don’t get old. The Switch may look a bit more like its targeting an older demographic, but it’s obvious that the element of playing with friends is still a major focal point. While Smash has not been announced and may take a bit more time to develop, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has been shown and appears to have a large portion of it done and playable at the various Switch Demo Events. Mario Kart 8 could be the perfect launch game and a bundle (a la Wii U) would only make Nintendo Switches fly off the shelves faster. But you know what else never gets old? Old Stuff!!!

As the hysteria of the NES Classic illustrates, there’s a reason they call these games classics. These games endure the test of time and their solid gameplay never fails to disappoint. If Zelda is going to be the big draw launch title, I think it would be incredibly beneficial for Nintendo to have a solid Virtual Console line-up ready for Day 1. The Nintendo Wii had classics such as Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda and Mario Bros. readily available for purchase as soon as you were finished setting up your console. If the Switch could have a solid stock of classics from the NES, SNES and GB/GBA era, this could perfectly fill that gap players may come across after finishing Breath of the Wild. I believe the aforementioned platforms could be a solid enough strategy, but if I can get a little delusional for a second, expanding beyond those would be a game changer.

Since the original PSP, we have been able to take our 90s nostalgia with us on the go with their library of PS1 Classics. Yet to this day, the only instance of being able to play our favorite N64 games has come in the form of remakes. To be able to play N64 games portably could evoke that same nostalgic frenzy the NES Classic saw. I personally would be ecstatic if I could play Kirby 64 or Yoshi’s Story wherever I want (No?…just me with those choices? ok). But why stop there? If we’re in this rabbit hole, why not see how far d0wn this hole goes. (While I don’t know if it would move units, I think the hole finally ends if one of the GBA Virtual Console games is Mother 3).

There have been rumors going around that the Switch will be capable of playing Gamecube games through the Virtual Console. Mock all you want, joke and detail how the Gamecube sold poorly, but if you claim the Gamecube didn’t have one of the finest libraries in gaming history, I draw the line. If playing N64 games on-the-go is enticing, portable Gamecube games would be downright seductive by Nintendo.

With Gamecube games on Switch, how would Nintendo love thee? Let me count the ways games:

Mario Sunshine

Luigi’s Mansion

Zelda: Wind Waker (My Fav Zelda)

Metroid Prime

Mario Kart: Double Dash

Paper Mario: Thousand Year Door

Tales of Symphonia

Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance

Mario Golf/Tennis/Strikers/Baseball

KIRBY AIR RIDE!!!

and of course the game that would raise eyebrows, perk up ears, and light a fire across the gaming universe: Super Smash Bros. Melee. (The deepest I’ll go down this rabbit hole would be Nintendo following Playstation’s lead of upscaling PS2 games for GC titles. Sorry, that’s the closest to Melee HD I think we’ll see).

If reading that list has you bouncing up and down in your chair with uncontrollable excitement, I think you get my point.

So to wrap it up, I think just Zelda: BotW at launch may lead potential buyers to hold off. I am a die-hard Nintendo fan and even I am hesitant to pick one up. All signs point to Mario Kart and Smash further down the line, but a stocked fridge of Virtual Console goodies ripe to be played anywhere you want…that may SWITCH things in Nintendo’s favor. (I suck)

Think I’m dead wrong? Probably! So be sure to comment or share to let everyone else know how you feel about the Switch’s launch.