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Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Special Save File Versions of NES Games in Nintendo Switch Online!

By LUDWIG VON KOOPA - Another Nintendo Switch Online surprise benefit?

Just last week, I wrote about an unexpected and surprise gift from Nintendo's subscription service, Nintendo Switch Online — a 7-day free trial that lasted longer than 7 days.

Today, Nintendo offers another surprise: The Legend of Zelda SP, or The Legend of Zelda - Living the life of luxury! Alternatively, it's just The Legend of Zelda with a special hacked save file, and isn't another game at all so it shouldn't get italics or be treated as a new or different release. It's not differentiated at all on Nintendo's page for Nintendo Switch Online's NES games on their website. The Nintendo press release makes no big deal of it, but mentions that “[s]pecial save data for other NES titles will become available in the future, offering fun new entry points into fan-favorite games.”

The Legend of Zelda SP Special Nintendo Switch Online NES games ribbon tag
It's the same game, but with a SPECIAL ribbon on it.

To be exact, the special save data provides for Link to start the game with the White Sword (second strongest sword), the Magical Shield (the best shield), the Power Bracelet (not a big deal like in other The Legend of Zelda games), and the Blue Ring (pretty big deal, raising Link's defence substantially), and a full rupee count. That essentially makes it an easy mode, which isn't a comment meant to be demeaning in any way.

I admit that I have only played The Legend of Zelda through The Legend of Zelda: Collector's Edition compilation disc on the Nintendo GameCube. I got all the way to Ganon's final dungeon, but never could quite complete it. It doesn't sound like playing through the game with this special save file would make the end-game experience easier — it will just make the start of the game substantially more friendly.

I would think that if Nintendo expects people to successfully pass through the beginning of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, then they can pass through the beginning of the NES The Legend of Zelda. Or if they, you know, expect people to get through most of the other NES games in the collection. They don't tend to explain their controls in the game (and it doesn't look like Nintendo has any controls or mechanics explanation anywhere in the games’ out-of-game menus), but fortunately, there's only two buttons you need to work with.

Some of the NES games want you to press A and B together to perform an action, though, so be careful of that.

In honour of Zero being the subject of today's Super Smash Blog (actually, I was thinking about this comparison today before the blog update, so the fact that it happened to be about Zero is eerie), this save file is sort of like the Mega Man Zero Collection's Easy Scenario that took you through all four Mega Man Zero games, but with many of the power-ups already unlocked from each game's beginning.

The Mega Man Zero games weren't that hard with these power-ups, but a large part of the game is collecting those power-ups as the game progresses. Therefore, a lot of the reward and feeling of game progression was removed in this Easy Scenario. On the other claw, I can't get anywhere near beating Mega Man Zero on the normal difficulty included in the collection. And for whatever reason, being bad in Mega Man Zero games in early stages actually screws you for the rest of the game by locking you out of obtaining certain power-ups/techniques that are very handy.

Easy Scenario has a reason for existing, then, to counter the fiendish difficulty of what the game normally is.

By comparison, The Legend of Zelda for NES isn't that punishing and brutal and doesn't really need this treatment. One wonders if Nintendo is trying to “dumb down” the hard NES games so Nintendo Switch Online subscribers feel like they're getting more value.

However, if future SP versions fix design flaws (let's call that “smart up” the hard NES games) present in the original games, then that's actually really valuable. I suggest giving Popo and Nana horizontal momentum in Ice Climber as their next project. Then it won't be that awful a game. That's a game that does need some changing, and since the SP versions co-exist with their non-special counterparts, idiots purists can still have fun with an Ice Climber that plays like this:



Anyway, kudos to Nintendo for adding unannounced special stuff to the subscription relationship. Maybe they'll get it right after all. ...Then again, their “special offer” of overpriced and low-functionality special NES controllers still needs a lot of work.


Ludwig tried the new NES games available today (besides The Legend of Zelda SP) and he doesn't anticipate playing any of those ever again. Anyway, can you dream up of some cool SP file ideas for the other NES games on the service? Or are you still not impressed with the unannounced value that Nintendo is generating through Nintendo Switch Online? (And if you're not impressed, can you at least admit they're trying?) Also, if you think Ice Climber isn't awful, let KoopaTV know so the staff can question your taste.

6 comments :

  1. I'm just hoping that SNES games will be added sometime soon. Most of the NES selection currently available is mediocre besides the couple of core games most people have played dozens of times already. Once can only play Ice Climbers so many times before not ever wanting to replay its dull and frustrating stages again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Once, for me.

      I think an SP version of Zelda II: Adventure of Link would make the game actually playable. Still don't know if it'd be fun.

      Delete
  2. This is an interesting idea that has been severely underutilized. But what else is new. I noticed that they had one of these for Mario kart and it sounds neat but I'd like to see what other concoctions they can concoct for the other Nes/Snes games. It would be wonderful and easy to release all the old Satelleview games they had in the 90s. Which were essentially remixed versions of their older games anyway. But whatever, one can dream.

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    Replies
    1. I don't think it's that underutilised. Maybe under-advertised. It seems like whenever there is a new game added to the service, they add one of these SP things too. Seems like they just did three for Kirby a couple of weeks ago.

      Delete
    2. Under-advertised for sure. I’m guessing Kirby super star just starts you off at meta knightmare already unlocked but I’m curious what dance with Kirby in Kirbys dream course is all about. That’s one of the big spin offs that I still haven’t played, air ride too but that’s strictly ‘cause I don’t have the console.

      Dreamland three might be my favorite. There’s just an instant feeling of happiness for me whenever it gets brought up. Love those animal buddies. Especially when they get kidnapped and stuffed into bags and……… well anyway I like animals. Thanks for letting me know, I’m gonna check out those Special games later today.

      Delete
    3. ...Alrighty, lemme know how you like them.

      Dream Course is way too difficult for me.

      Delete

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