In a recent and somewhat perplexing trend, the Nintendo Switch Online service has been adding sequels to notable games, but not their originals. While most of the attention has been focused on the new console libraries being added through the Expansion Pass, Nintendo has also continued its slow drip feed of additions to the NES and Super NES game selection included with a base Switch Online subscription. The most recent game drops for these legacy consoles included Dig Dug 2 for the NES and Earthworm Jim 2 for the SNES, but notably the original Dig Dug and Earthworm Jim are not available through the service. There are no clear answers for why the sequels were prioritized over the originals, at this time, and the decision raises questions as to what exactly the thought process is behind Switch Online game selections.
It is already a well-established fact that Switch Online is better in Japan than Western territories. The most recent update was no exception, as Japanese subscribers received the original SNES Harvest Moon instead of Earthworm Jim 2. The Earthworm Jim games hold nostalgia for many veteran gamers, but the fluid animation which was impressive for the 16-bit era was paired with clunky controls and awkward movement that has aged poorly. Harvest Moon remains relevant with recent releases under its new Stories of Seasons title, and the farming simulator genre has grown bigger than ever thanks to success stories like Stardew Valley. An early take on the farming simulator genre likely commands more interest than an SNES run-and-gun side-scroller with sluggish movement, but if Nintendo was going to add Earthworm Jim games to Switch Online, starting with the original certainly would have seemed more logical.
The two 16-bit Earthworm Jim games are regarded roughly equally, broadly speaking. The original Earthworm Jim has been available in a multitude of formats over the years: it received various ports, the Sega Genesis version was sold on the Wii Virtual console, and Earthworm Jim appears on the obscure Piepacker platform. This makes the choice of Earthworm Jim 2 over its predecessor appear to be a conscious choice on Nintendo’s part, rather than a consequence of licensing struggles or other issues, given the ubiquitous availability of the first Earthworm Jim game. Early gaming classics like Dig Dug were not big on storytelling or world-building, essentially existing on gameplay alone with just enough premise to give the game a sense of coherency. Some fans prefer the gameplay of Dig Dug 2, making it arguably a better choice for the Switch Online service.
Earthworm Jim 4's Development Doesn't Explain Switch Online's Sequel Choice
There have been recent attempts to revive the Earthworm Jim franchise, and Earthworm Jim 4 footage for the Intellivision Amico helped soften the blow of the quirky console’s delays, before it evidently became an indefinite delay. With Amico’s apparent failure to launch, it is possible Earthworm Jim 4 will be released on more established consoles and PC at a later time, giving the series some added relevance, but this does little to explain why Nintendo opted for Earthworm Jim 2 on its subscription service instead of the original. It is entirely possible that this is simply an experiment on Nintendo’s part to see how subscribers respond to sequels being offered in lieu of series starters.
The franchises themselves seem like good fits for Switch Online, which is as much a legitimate gaming subscription as it is a growing museum of video game history. Dig Dug is a retro throwback even by NES standards, but the series still has some name recognition and importance to gaming as a whole. There certainly are examples of games where the sequel is viewed more favorably than the original. Shadow Hearts 2: Covenent is a cult classic JRPG, but the first game is less memorable. English territory gamers were exposed to EarthBound well before its NES predecessor Mother was officially localized. Some fans question why Nintendo waited so long to release EarthBound on Switch Online, but when they did it was added alongside EarthBound Beginnings, the Wii U-era localization of the first game in the series. Adding sequels and omitting the originals, therefore, seems to be a new tactic on Nintendo’s part, and time will tell if this move was a one-off, or if Switch Online will see this trend repeated.