Video settings have gotten more complicated in the recent years. To be more precise, since HD TVs started to appear, there’s been more settings to configure.
The easiest part to configure is the resolution, as that’s pretty much done automatically and in the right way. The real confusion comes with another setting in the video, the RGB Range. Setting this part correctly is as important as the resolution, specially if you are going to take screenshots, record video, or stream. It’s even more important if you’re going to do any kind of graphic comparison.
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.
Defense Grid 2 is coming to Switch and we recently had the chance to see it in action through an exclusive Mixer stream. Now with a review code, you can see my first play in the video below.
Considering the game was originally made for Xbox One and PS4, the game runs pretty well on Switch. It’s not completely smooth but it seems to barely drop frames when it does. Other information I got from the previous stream was that the game runs at 1080p when docked and 720p when in portable. Also, from the time I got to play it, the game looks good, sharp textures and graphics.
As for the gameplay, it is a well made tower defense game. In a good way, it knows what it is, does well that aspect, and doesn’t try to be anything else. It’s easy to pick up and play and the controls make sense. There’s a story of aliens to give it context too that you’ll be hearing or reading, even though there doesn’t seem to be any real cutscene.
As for other technical details that you may be wondering about, the game does support Cloud Save Backup and Switch Video Capture. There’s online highscores which can be filtered between friends or worldwide and the game features new missions on Switch that were previously only available on the VR version of the game. The file size is also not that big, which is great.
So far, it seems to be a great game if you are into strategy or, more specifically, tower-defense games. By the way, I also asked during the Mixer stream and, apparently, they seem to be planning some sort of physical release too. (or at least trying to get one)
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.
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.
Feels like the demo was rushed in some parts, like the way it suddenly just ends. At the same time, they added enough funny text that makes it feel like not everything was rushed and there was time for a bit of special attention.
With the latest update of the NES and Famicom applications on Nintendo Switch, the first noticeable difference has actually appeared. Previously, most of the differences were just in the language. This time, though, the Japanese application got one more game that is not available on the NES application.
The November update for the NES Nintendo Switch Online included the following games:
(SP) Gradius: Gradius but, by default, it loads a save state in which you are fully powered up and start on stage 5 (if I recall correctly)
Metroid: Regular NES Metroid, password functionality works the same way to the point that you can crash it with the right code.
Mighty Bomb Jack: Another regular NES game.
TwinBee: Regular NES TwinBee.
You can see each of the games in action in the video below:
In Japan, though, they got the following:
(SP) Gradius: Same special version as above, just in the Japanese release.
Metroid: The Famicom Disk version of Metroid. This includes enhanced music and a save file system similar to The Legend of Zelda.
Mighty Bomb Jack: Same as above, just in the Japanese release.
TwinBee: Same as above, Japanese release.
(SP) Mario Open Golf: A special version of the Japanese release of NES Open Tournament Golf. This version starts by default with a save data where everything is already unlocked.
As you can see, the Famicom Nintendo Switch Online application actually got one more game in the latest update compared to the NES version. The biggest reason why this happened is because Mario Open Golf is quite different to NES Open Tournament Golf in its contents.
The first difference and main reason why there’s no SP version is that NES Open Tournament Golf has everything already unlocked by default. In Mario Open Golf, Japan is the only course available at the start and the rest need to be unlocked. There’s also the fact that the Japanese version has a few more courses available and the overall game is harder. Similar to Super Mario Bros. 2, it was one of those games that Nintendo thought it would be too hard for players outside of Japan. In this case, they did release the same game but with a simplified and lower number of courses.
