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 – 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.

NES vs Famicom Switch Online apps – December update

A bit late but still in time as it’s still December (and 2018) while I’m publishing this. ? Anyway, this time there wasn’t much difference between the two apps.

The main difference this time is that the Famicom app got (for obvious reasons) the Famicom Disk version of SP Metroid instead of the cartridge version. So you have enhanced sound effects in the Japanese version compared the NES one. (Including Ridley sound effects whenever he’s hurt)

Besides that, the differences are simple. Adventures of Lolo levels seem to be harder in the Famicom and SP Dr. Mario starts from a slightly different save state due to the random nature of the game.