Kinopio-kun graduated, no more Nintendo LINE wallpapers

As you may have noticed, I haven’t published another LINE calendar wallpaper from mobile lately, specifically one for this month. That’s because Kinopio-kun has now “graduated”. In other words, he has retired from the Nintendo LINE account.

Unfortunately, that means that the Nintendo LINE account is now just a generic contact providing general social network posts and news, similar to their Twitter account. So there’ll be no more monthly wallpaper calendars from Nintendo as well.

SNES vs Super Famicom Switch online apps – Launch games

Welp, it took me a while but here it is. The blog post related to the launch games included in the SNES and Super Famicom Nintendo Switch online apps.

I’m not going to mention the list of games that were added since it’s big and you can see all of them in action in the video below. Also, there’s only one different game between the two apps (which I’ll mention later). Overall, though, it’s an interesting list of games in which there’s expected good classics and a few unknown but fun games.

Below is the video for the western version of the app.

Yep, Super Puyo Puyo 2 is completely untranslated since it was never released outside of Japan. And the menu navigation isn’t easy. XD

Here’s the video for the Super Famicom version of the app.

There’s only one game that is completely different. Japan got Super Family Tennis instead of Super Tennis. Both are hard games but I prefer the one Japan got instead of the western one. The gameplay feels better and the game a bit more fun, IMO.

Also, the videos ended up longer than I thought because of how many games were recorded. ?

NES vs Famicom Switch Online apps – August 2019 update

For August, Nintendo has updated both applications with the same number of games. The only difference is the swap between Vice: Project Doom and Downtown Nekketsu.

Below is the list of games added to the NES app:

  • Kung-Fu Heroes
  • Vice: Project Doom
  • (SP) Gradius (Starts at the beginning of the 2nd playthrough)

And here’s the list of games added on the Family Computer – Nintendo Switch Online app.

  • Super Chinese (aka, Kung-Fu Heroes)
  • Downtown Nekketsu Kōshinkyoku: Soreyuke Daiundōkai
  • (SP) Gradius (Same change as NES app)

The oddest thing about this month’s update is that it arrived very late and didn’t add much. Still, Vice: Project Doom is a really nice surprise and Downtown Nekketsu is fun too.

NES vs Famicom Switch Online apps – July 2019 update

For this month’s update, Nintendo has added the usual number of things to the app. The big difference is that, instead of a third game, they decided to add a feature this time: Rewind. Rewind feature functions a bit similar to found on the SNES Classic, except that you can’t view a playback of your actions, only snapshots.

Anyway, below is the list of games added to the NES app:

  • Donkey Kong 3
  • Wrecking Crew
  • (SP) Mighty Bomb Jack (Starts you on the last section of the game with everything set up for the best ending.)

And here’s the list of games added on the Family Computer – Nintendo Switch Online app.

  • Donkey Kong 3
  • Wrecking Crew
  • (SP) Mighty Bomb Jack (Same change as NES version.)

So even though the western app only got two new games this month, it was the exact same thing for the Japanese version. It really seems like Nintendo counted the Rewind feature as a replacement for a game. Also, there’s an odd blank space on the NES app if you’ve left the default order on the games.

NES vs Famicom Switch Online apps – June 2019 update

For June 2019’s update, Nintendo has released the exact same content on both applications. The only differences are in localization but the games’ contents are the same overall. Below is the list of games added to the NES app:

  • City Connection
  • Double Dragon II
  • Volleyball
  • (SP) TwinBee (Starts all powered up at the beginning of the game’s “2nd quest”)

Here’s the list of games added on the Family Computer – Nintendo Switch Online app, which is exactly the same.

  • City Connection
  • Double Dragon II
  • Volleyball
  • (SP) TwinBee (Same changes as above)

Even though Volleyball was Famicom Disk System in Japan, the game has no differences besides the usual localization ones.

Related to the gameplay videos, I recorded the NES one first and then the Famicom one. I think it’s pretty noticeable in the Volleyball section, XD . Honestly, it surprised me how fun it can be and the matches can last a lot. It was so enjoyable that the Famicom video ended up being 1 hour long. welp. XD

NES vs Famicom Switch Online apps – May 2019 update

For May 2019, both apps have received the same games. Still, there is a difference in one of them when compared between the western and Japanese versions. First, here’s the list of games added to the NES app:

  • Donkey Kong Jr.
  • Vs. Excitebike
  • Clu Clu Land
  • (SP) Star Soldier (Starts you with full upgrades at stage 8)

And here’s the list of games added on the Family Computer – Nintendo Switch Online app.

  • Donkey Kong Jr.
  • Vs. Excitebike
  • Clu Clu Land
  • (SP) Star Soldier (Same as above)

As you can see, the list is exactly the same. Vs. Excitebike was a Famicom game that was originally never released outside of Japan. But, since the game has no Japanese text, there was no issue in also making it available on the NES app.

Clu Clu Land, though, seems to have really options and levels when compared between the two releases. The music also seems to be different.

NES vs Famicom Switch Online apps – April 2019 update

The update for April 2019 brings things back to how they started. Both NES and Famicom get the same number of games. Still, though, there’s an important difference in Kid Icarus.

Below is the list of games added to the NES app:

  • Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
  • Punch-Out!! Featuring Mr. Dream
  • Star Soldier
  • (SP) Kid Icarus (starts off in the final level with everything powered up)

And here’s the list of games added on the Family Computer – Nintendo Switch Online app.

  • Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels (aka, Super Mario Bros. 2 in Japan)
  • Punch-Out!! Featuring Mr. Dream
  • Star Soldier
  • (SP) Kid Icarus (Famicom Disk version – Same start as above)

As expected, Kid Icarus in Japan is based on the Famicom Disk version. Besides the difference in sounds, though, there’s a huge difference in gameplay as well. The final level in the Japanese version is not an auto-scrolling one, but one where you can actually move the screen at your own pace. Also, you need to press the A button if you want to keep flying.

NES vs Famicom Switch Online apps – March 2019 update

March update brings the biggest difference between the two apps. For the first time, the NES app gets something that the Famicom app wont, StarTropics. The reason for this is the fact that StarTropics never got released in Japan. So instead, Japanese users get a game that was never released outside of their region, Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light. And then there’s also the usual extra game that Japan has been getting recently.

Below is the list of games added to the NES app:

  • Kid Icarus
  • StarTropics
  • (SP) Kirby’s Adventure (Starts with the first file finished with 100%)
  • (SP) Zelda 2 (Starts at the beginning but all powered up and with all the magic spells)

And here’s the list of games added on the Family Computer – Nintendo Switch Online app.

  • Yie Ar Kung-Fu
  • Kid Icarus (Famicom Disk version, features save files)
  • Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light
  • (SP) Kirby’s Adventure (Same changes as the NES app)
  • (SP) Zelda 2 (Famicom Disk version, same changes as the NES app)

Yie Ar Kung-Fu was never released outside of Japan and is simply ignored in this month’s NES app update.

NES vs Famicom Switch Online apps – February 2019 update

Welp, Nintendo has done it again. The NES app only gets two new games while the Japanese version gets three. It’s also interesting to note that this is also the first time there’s a second Special version for a game that already had one before (Metroid). Below is the list of games added on the NES version.

  • Kirby’s Adventure
  • Super Mario Bros. 2
  • (SP) Blaster Master (Starts fully powered up on area 8)
  • (SP2) Metroid (Starts fully powered up right before the final area)

And here’s the list of games added on the Family Computer – Nintendo Switch Online app.

  • Kirby’s Adventure
  • Tsuppari Oozumou [つっぱり大相撲]
  • Super Mario USA (aka, Super Mario Bros. 2)
  • (SP) Blaster Master (Same changes as NES app)
  • (SP2) Metroid (Famicom Disk Version, same changes as NES app)

The sumo game from Tecmo was never released outside of the region. So, once again, instead of replacing the game for a different one, Nintendo simply decided to skip it.

NES vs Famicom Switch Online apps – January 2019 update

January has arrived and with it comes the biggest difference yet between the NES and Famicom apps of the Nintendo Switch. On November, the Famicom version of the app got one more SP version that NES didn’t get, but it was also because it didn’t need it. This time, though, Japanese users will get one extra game.

Below is the full list of games added on the Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Switch Online app.

  • Blaster Master
  • Zelda 2
  • (SP) Ninja Gaiden (Starts on stage 6-4, right before the final boss.)
  • (SP) Ghosts’n Goblins (Starts on stage 6 of the first run.)

And here’s the list of games added on the Family Computer – Nintendo Switch Online app.

  • Blaster Master
  • Joy Mech Fight [ジョイメカファイト]
  • Zelda 2 (Famicom Disk System version)
  • (SP) Ninja Gaiden (Same as above.)
  • (SP) Ghosts’n Goblins (Same as above.)

As you can see, Japan got the usual three games, but one of them was never released outside of the region. So instead of replacing the game for a different one, Nintendo simply decided to just omit it and leave it to just two new games for the people using the NES version.