Nintendo Switch Online may be getting GBA games soon as a recent leak suggests Game Boy Advance games will soon be added to the service. This presents fans with an exciting prospect after the unsuccessful launch of the Nintendo 64 emulator through the service's Expansion Pack. While many are lamenting the missed opportunity that the NSO Expansion pack seems to be, more virtual console exclusives could still be in the works. With the possibility of a GBA update coming to NSO, Nintendo has a chance to regain the trust of Expansion Pack owners and recapture the interest of Nintendo fans by offering them the library of one of the most promising platforms it's ever maintained.
When Nintendo first revealed the Expansion Pack, its price point was already a subject of controversy. At $50 per year, fans felt the addition of the N64 games were not enough to justify a $30 price hike. Once the N64 games launched on Nintendo Switch Online, things got even worse for the company, as fans' criticisms of their overall quality set the narrative surrounding the Expansion.
Though a lot of blame was accordingly placed on Nintendo for its poor execution, some of the responsibility for the failure lies with the N64 console itself. The N64 was revolutionary for its time, and its contribution to gaming with its original 3D graphics cannot be understated. However, it has not aged well in many ways; it lacks in crucial areas that make it an awkward choice to serve on a modern console with no modifications other than HD textures. A faithful Game Boy Advance Nintendo Switch Online addition could offer even more than the N64 did on NSO because of the console's extensive collection of games, 2D aesthetic, and easily replicable gameplay.
Game Boy Advance's Library Outshines Nintendo 64's
The range of games offered by the Nintendo 64 presents a major weak point for the system's broader appeal. While the N64 has a few of the most iconic Nintendo titles, such as The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Super Mario 64, and Star Fox 64, these games comprise the identity of the system. There are only 393 games in its library, which is very low for a major gaming console. Moreover, most players will get the full experience simply by playing through the Nintendo 64's top 25 games. This lack of variety might also be a reason for the particularly slow rollout Nintendo has been orchestrating for its N64 releases. The company knows the N64's assets will look less impressive when spread thin, so it is delaying the release of each of its mainstays to generate as much hype as it can for each title on Switch.
By contrast, the Game Boy Advance has an extensive library. The GBA contains 1,538 games, and within those, there are platform staples like Pokémon Emerald, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, and Metroid: Zero Mission, games that defined a generation, but there are also loads of unique sleeper hits like Astro Boy: Omega Factor and Kuru Kuru Kururin, and even more creative branches of main franchises like Mario vs. Donkey Kong and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team. Rather than relying solely on the largest performers, Nintendo could revive plenty of quality titles that players haven't seen before. This would allow Nintendo to release more games within a shorter timeframe.
Nintendo 64's Graphics Don't Hold Up As Well As The Game Boy Advance's
Given that the Nintendo 64 was the first 3D console, it carries a lot of the baggage that comes with pioneering new territory. Its overall graphical output was impressive for its time, but in a modern-day environment, the N64 graphics don't fare as well. While Nintendo did upgrade textures in its HD emulator, in some areas it hurt to try to sharpen background art and remove some of the intentionally blurred areas. This was most evident in Ocarina of Time's Water Temple on the Switch, where the fog obscuring the water was lifted, removing the reflection in it and the haze that made the room appear endless. While this problem was largely fixed, the issue also persists throughout each game's unpolished background art, as the games' artwork clashes with the HD textures that have been placed over them.
Comparatively, Game Boy Advance pixel art is timeless. Unlike the polygonal look of the Nintendo 64, the visual medium of gaming has not evolved completely past the 2D graphics offered by the GBA - if anything, the style has become more endearing. Countless indie games strive to match the style of the GBA titles, and their simplistic art styles are something many players praise. Most GBA games also look very similar to SNES games, which have aged remarkably well on Nintendo Switch Online. The GBA's games won't bear scars the same way the N64 titles do because the process of updating them with HD textures will highlight rather than hinder their visual style.
Game Boy Advance Should Offer Smoother Gameplay Than Nintendo 64 Games
One of the main problems plaguing the Switch's Nintendo 64 emulator is its performance. Games like Super Mario 64 lag considerably on the Switch, deterring many players from experiencing them in this form. These are already older titles whose controls are bound to feel a bit dated, but when there's input delay on every action a player takes, it's like playing the game with restraints. It constantly breaks immersion when gameplay feels sluggish and unresponsive. When paired with the N64's awkward control scheme, which has the A button below B, and four C buttons as well as a Z button inaccessible on the Switch, these factors make it very difficult to play the console's games as originally intended.
Given the similarities between the hardware used in the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and the Game Boy Advance, and the success of the SNES' performance on the Switch, there's hope that Nintendo could better optimize GBA titles on its platform as well. If the GBA could offer those same seamless platforming controls in games like Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, it could create the ultimate GBA experience, available to play both on players' TVs and on the go, fulfilling the console's original purpose. Lastly, the control layout on the GBA will be easier than ever to replicate on the Switch, consisting of only two core face buttons and left and right triggers, meaning there should be no need for extensive controller remapping like with the Nintendo 64.
If the Game Boy Advance games finally make their way to the Nintendo Switch, they'll have plenty to offer Nintendo Switch Online. Players being able to sift through a vast selection of quality games on Nintendo's premier console would fit more in line with the aspirations fans have for a Nintendo subscription service. And, in a time when Nintendo has been moving further and further away from 2D, the GBA's classic games offer a perfect dose of nostalgia. Its charming titles deserve to be preserved in a way that makes them accessible in the modern age.