Nintendo continues to bolster its Switch Online retro library and today it's added three more titles to the Super Nintendo collection.
This line-up is a little bit different as includes a few Japan-only Super Famicom releases. This includes Wrecking Crew '98 - a sequel to the original NES title, and Sunsoft's 1994 Hebereke fighting spin-off Amazing Hebereke. Last but not least is IREM's Super R-Type, which originally debuted on the Super Nintendo in 1991.
Here's a bit about the latest releases for the Switch Online Super Nintendo library:
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Wrecking Crew ’98 – Mario picks up his Wrecking Crew hammer in this action puzzler previously only available in Japan. In this game you can play either the original Wrecking Crew or the updated Wrecking Crew ’98, each version featuring its own challenges to puzzle through. Wreck your way across 100 stages as Mario in Wrecking Crew and dodge enemies while knocking down walls and ladders. Then out-wreck the competition in Wrecking Crew ’98 by destroying and arranging panels to line up matching colors. Clear four or more panels at once to launch an attack on your opponent – the more panels you clear, the more powerful your attack! Do you have what it takes to bring the hammer down and claim victory?
Amazing Hebereke – Developed by SUNSOFT and originally released for the Super Famicom system in 1994, Amazing Hebereke is about to make its U.S. debut! Engage in cute and chaotic battles in single-player mode or with up to four players** in VS. mode. Select your character, then tussle on stages littered with items and traps to make use of (or fall victim to)! Unleash your character’s special attack and try to be the last one standing.
SUPER R-TYPE – A galactic battle begins! The evil BYDO Empire of mutant extraterrestrials is back and poised to launch a new attack on Earth. Only the revolutionary R-9, the planet’s most advanced form of defense, stands between it and certain doom. Fight through seven challenging stages against foes with advanced fire power – picking up power-up items as you progress – before taking on powerful level bosses. You’ll need lightning reflexes and a big dose of cosmic luck to hold your own. Luckily, several difficulty options are available to adjust the experience, from NOVICE all the way up to the ultimate challenge of PRO mode. “R” you ready to battle across the vast frontiers of space?
Japan's line up this week is also slightly different. Alongside Wrecking Crew '98 and Super R-Type, it's received Battletoads in Battlemaniacs (already available locally for the Switch Online service) and the 1996 Eiji Aonuma-directed title Marvelous: Mōhitotsu no Takarajima (Marvelous: Another Treasure Island).
This was the Zelda producer's first title he ever directed a game. It draws inspiration from A Link to the Past and also happens to run on the same game engine. You can check it out in the footage below. To play this one, you'll need to download the Japanese Super Famicom application.
Will you be checking out any of the latest Switch Online retro releases? Let us know in the comments.
Comments 86
Nice to see Wrecking Crew ‘98 be re-released.
As for the other 2, they’re here too I guess.
Who needs the rest of the year when we have April
Wrecking Crew '98? That's a game I've been waiting for years.
It is not the traditional Wrecking Crew (which is also included) or VS. Wrecking Crew (the arcade game), this one is a competitive puzzle game, much like Panel de Pon or Puyo Puyo.
This game is also notable for having a sentient onigiri as an unlockable character in the Vs. Mode.
If this trend of getting Japanese first-party games for the first time continues, maybe one day we can finally have Sutte Hakkun, the Famicom Grand Prix games, F-1 Race Famicom in the west.
So far we have had Mario's Super Picross in North America (it was previously available in Europe on the Wii and Wii U Virtual Consoles), Panel de Pon, Kirby's Star Stacker SFC, Joy Mech Fight, Devil World in North America.
While in past Virtual Consoles we got The Mysterious Murasame Castle, VS. Excitebike and the unreleased localization of MOTHER/EarthBound Beginnings, all of which are also available on the NSO.
EDIT: I was hoping Japanese players got some of our western-exclusive games, particularly Kirby's Avalanche or Killer Instinct.
While this certainly isn't the most stunning lineup ever, it really does reinforce just how awesome it is that Nintendo is finally willing to provide previously Japan-only titles overseas for the very first time; Joy Mech Fight, Kirby's Super Star Stacker and now Wrecking Crew '98 are all games that would've been impossible to get outside of Japan during the Wii/Wii U VC days and I find that insanely cool personally 🥰
As for the games themselves then, Amazing Hebereke looks absolutely hilarious (in a good way), Super R-Type is definitely the NSO game of all-time and Wrecking Crew '98 is a brilliant surprise (especially so for me as I had no clue it even existed prior to this announcement XD). Definitely checking these out as soon as possible!
Gauntlet Legends is my dream NSO add
Definitely an offbeat bunch of games, but not a bad one. Super R-Type is a solid entry in the series, Wrecking Crew 98 is certainly an overlooked game a lot of people have not been able to play, and any Hebereke game is a good time. Marvelous is also really good and influential (it's the first game directed by Eiji Aonuma!) but it's a full-on adventure game so I get why it only came out in Japan.
You had me at SUPER R TYPE!
I have a collection with RT 1 and 2, they're fantastic, is this significantly different to those?
I keep wanting Nintendo to bring back the Wrecking Crew franchise and make a new game 😅 I'll definitely play the NSO title. R-type games are usually fun so I'll try that one also.
Edit: I just played Amazing Hebereke and it is adorable. But... I just beat what I assume was story mode (it's in Japanese) in like 10 minutes 😆 I can fight with other characters too (I did all the levels with the cat), but the npcs are impossibly bad. Would probably be a pretty hilarious game to play with real people though.
Decent line up. Looking forward to playing Super R-Type again.
Cool update. A bit of a history lesson and always wanted to play R-Type.
As a gamer from the 80’s these updates are genuinely exciting. I still think of these as $60 games, so NSO is a great deal for me.
@StarryCiel I really want to get around to playing Marvelous at some point myself as it not only looks like a super charming spin on a Zelda-styled adventure game, but is also, as you said, the directorial debut of one of the most legendary figures at Nintendo, making it insanely memorable from a historical standpoint as well. Maybe I'll find a fan-translation of it down the line, who knows 😛
Always thought Wrecking Crew '98 looked intriguing, especially when Foreman Spike got a Waluigi-like redesign, but I could never get into the original. Always nice to see Japan-only games come West though.
So does the NSO emulator emulate multitap or can you only have two human players in that one?
@Mz3player Based on what I've seen on Twitter, multitap doesn't seem to be possible on NSO unfortunately. It does make me wonder if four players could be feasible via NSO's built-in online play though 🤔
Gameboy NSO needs more Pokemon.
Especially since I know you can trade Pokemon!
Well... I have found out that they have re-added the Pokemon TCG trade, battle, and card pop features!!!
@Fizza Dang, I guess they never really had a need to add it in to this point, but it would be really great if they made it work, given how old the service is. Thanks for the answer!
Sooooo
I never did SF Hebereke, but R-Type is excellent and I imported Wrecking Crew 98 in high school and played the absolute poop out of it.
Looks like this should be a fun evening! 🥰
I didn’t know there was an R Type game on the SNES. I’ve played the one on the Turbo Grafx Mini a few times so I may check this out.
Whoa cool! It’ll be nice to play Super R-Type again, and I’ve never tried the others before. Seems like a decent addition this time.
@andyg1412
If I remember right, Super R-Type is like arcade R-Type 2 slightly reworked for the SNES? Maybe the difficulty was toned down a little. It’s been half a lifetime since I played. 😅
Still waiting for rock n roll racing...
Japan got Battletoads In Battlemaniacs, Super R-Type, Wrecking Crew '98, and an RPG that I don't recognize. Does anyone know about that RPG that was just added?
@Saints Sure! I’d love gauntlet legends in the 64 lineup but doubt we’ll see it. I loved unlocking the wizard character from the main hub area as a playable character.
Super rtype I never could make progress on but found it fun. I love the music in it I find it odd we got hebereke here since I believe I saw the original on the eshop to purchase. That’d be a first right?
@WiiWareWave It is called Marvelous (full title: Marvelous: Mōhitotsu no Takarajima), it's a Nintendo game directed by Eiji Aonuma.
I haven't played it, but from what I can gather, it's more or less the Zelda gameplay minus the characters. It even uses the same engine as A Link to the Past.
This is actually the second re-release of the game, it was previously only available on the Japanese Wii U Virtual Console. It hasn't had a western release, but I read there's a fan translation.
The most prominent representation of this game is the Spirit of Dion, Max and Jack (the characters on the cover) in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. That and the fact that apparently The Legend of Zelda: Tri-Force Heroes is considered its spiritual successor.
glad to see super r-type. had it back in my 20's, why i got rid of it??
Is an English patch really too much to ask for?
@WiiWareWave it's the first game directed by Eiji Aonuma and lead to his role on the Zelda series; it's fantastic and plays like A Link to the Past crossed with The Lost Vikings. Play with an English patch if you can.
Hebereke! Hebereke!
With the lack of first party Switch games this month, it would've been an ideal time to release stuff like Donkey Kong 64, Diddy Kong Racing, Wario Land 4, Metroid Zero Mission, etc.
Oh well, Japanese games are better than random shovelware at least.
I'll try them out after work I suppose!
Now that we're getting closer and closer to the Switch successor though, I do wonder if all of these NSO games will carry over to the new system. They better, starting over from scratch AGAIN would be incredibly annoying.
@rvcolem1 I can’t imagine they’d ever add Rock ‘n Roll Racing to NSO. But, it’s already on the Switch eShop currently, within the Blizzard Arcade Collection.
Interesting to see Hebereke on here, especially the even more obscure multiplayer party game. I wonder if this means Switch Online will allow for four players, and if so, if we will get some Super Bomberman games in the future on the service.
Super R-Type was crippled with slow down on the original hardware but looked great . I bought it at launch then sadly sold this with the rest of my snes collection when I swapped out for a Megadrive.
Hope they've removed the slow down that would be great.
I discovered Marvelous a while ago, and really wanted to play it, because it looks like a fun and innocent adventure. Hopefully it will be localized one day.
Huh. This is pretty cool. I also didn’t know that wrecking crew had a sequel. Although I do really wish that the exported games get english translations.
@Fizza They could have the decency to translate or localize them. Most of us can’t read Japanese…..tbh it ruined my enjoyment of some of those games where the text is required.
My reaction:
Super R -Type: Cool addition, even emulates the slow down the early SNES games were known for….😤
Amazing Hebereke: Feel my wrath Nintendo. Lazy addition by not providing the language change. Hopefully it’s intuitive enough……
Wrecking Crew ‘98: Neato, a pseudo sequel to the original game! Once again, another Super Famicom title, but hoping it’s intuitive enough as well. I loved the first one.
This is a great month!
That wreckibg crew looks like a very weird and pretty awesome hidden gem! (I love a good puzzler! 🤎)
R-type may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I believe it's regarded as one of the best shooters ever.
And that brawler looks absolutely cute, hectic and a lot of fun! Can't wait to play when I get home!! 🤎🤎🤎
Genuine question: Did the remove the slowdown from Super R-Type. Because, seriously, it doesn't stand the test of time without that at least being fixed.
@Teksetter It is essentially R-Type 2, but has some exclusive stages added as well. Of course it also infamous for having some of the worst slowdown of any game in the SNES library. I think R-Type III: The Third Lightning is the better game by far.
I never even knew Wrecking Crew '98 existed! Cool new addition. The Japanese trailer really does a much better effort of showing good footage from the games, though. R-Type's in particular looks a lot more exciting in the Japanese trailer.
Translate Marvelous? Remove slowdown from Super R-Type?
Asking Nintendo to do either of those is asking them WAY too much!
@Fake-news The slowdown is part of the game. If it's originally part of the game then it can't be change unless remake or remaster.
Nintendo only cares about its legacy when they can use it to fool ‘consumers’ into thinking they’re getting a good deal. By holding the carrot in front of the turtle and sitting on its shell 🥕 🐢
I’m so glad that after all those years, I can play the games I paid for on WiiU + some forgotten mediocre filler.
They added Marvelous to the Japanese app? Haha, I played a fan-translated version of Marvelous on emulator last year, it was pretty good actually. A nice little point-and-click adventure game, which is a genre you don't see from Nintendo very often.
Here's a bizarre fun fact: Did you know that there exists unused character models from Marvelous hidden in the ROM for Zelda Four Swords Adventures? Seems like there may have been plans to bring the IP back that were scrapped. Oh well!
Nice, didn't expect Wrecking Crew ’98 (will finally have a chance to properly play it and officially), but even less so a Hebereke game and both outside of Japan!
Not as interested in Super R-Type but still, a nice addition nonetheless - fingers crossed they fixed the slowdown as mentioned by some comments.
Also happy that at least the Japanese app got Marvelous, will definitely play it at some point!
@PinderSchloss was gonna say how glad I was that this comment section finally wasn't filled with snarky remarks untill yours showed up.
Let people enjoy things, my dude.
I was expecting Marvelous: Another Treasure Island at least on the Japanese NSO, because it was already available on the Japanese eShop of the Wii U. An excellent adventure game (looking like a point'n click) which is the first directed by Eiji Aonuma, I love it. Sadly, it is only in Japanese (there is an unofficial English translation patch though).
@EarthboundBenjy In fact, the Japanese exclusive "Tetra Navi Trackers" mode is supposed to be inspired on one of the games of the "Marvelous" series released on Satellaview. That's why there are unused character models, I suppose.
@HammerGalladeBro In fact, Marvelous has not a "Zelda gameplay" at all, rather a point'n click gameplay (fights are extremely rare on this game, except some bosses and some enemies that we have to avoid instead of fight).
@Fizza Besides, in Marvelous, we can find some elements that first appeared before being used in some Zelda games. But if you want to play it, I won't spoil you. Anyway, you should definitely play it (but only if you undestand Japanse, or else you should try the unofficial English translation e.g. on PC).
Fizza wrote:
I embrace all of the curios! The weirder the better!
@Yosher i wouldn't be surprised if they completely started over. Nintendo makes odd choices with these things.
Previously region-locked rarities are always among the service's top highlights. I didn't even learn about Wrecking Crew having a sequel until last week (guess I haven't brushed through the romset as hard as I boastfully assumed), and it's coming westward now! Amazing Hebereke is also something to notice - reportedly Sunsoft's first fighter and already wacky enough to remind you that the same company would go on to create Waku Waku 7 later.🍻
@andyg1412 There is a lot of slowdown in this entry and it's more difficult as there's no checkpoints. Take a hit and it's back to the beginning of the stage. Thing is with arcade R-type though, it is almost impossible to recover from checkpoints anyway. You might as well restart. I'd say save states are the way to go if you want to see it through to the end without spending many hours mastering the game.
@vio
Thanks, and oh yeah! That slowdown! How did I forget about that? I guess because as much as I hated it, it made the difficulty of the game more manageable.
But yeah, I think if the game was optimized better back then, I would have bought it instead of just borrowing from a friend. As it was, I played a lot more of R-Type on my old Master System.
With the additon of Super R-Type, all the launch games for the SNES in Europe are currently available through NSO.
Did Japan finally get Thracia?? No? Okay whatever, I'll check back at the next update.
Still hoping for StarTropics 2.
is there some reason that rtype III is left out of every conversation, compilation, rehash, subscription, et al, even though it's the best rtype game and a top 20 or even 10 snes game easily?
@jkirchgessner07 I looked that up, may get it. As a kid I got pretty far in lost vikings when I rented it, may be worth 20 doll hairs
Meanwhile I'm still waiting for PAL versions of previously released SNES titles such as Zelda: A Link to the Past, DKC 1 and Yoshi's Island.
As a French-speaking player I'd like to play them as they were translated at their original release, especially after how the N64, GB and GBA catalogs allow subscribers to play to the US and PAL versions of their games.
Weirdly excited to get a dose of Super R-Type nostalgia, even at 4FPS.
Nice to see more Japan only games released, that’s been a real plus of the NSO.
@rvcolem1 I got it the day it released and haven’t regretted it. But—just a heads up—I have seen it drop to 9.99 on sale. Makes it a much better deal.
@FinalSmashGamer Even PAL versions of some NES games would be appreciated (because Kirby's Adventure was available in French, which was very rare at that time on NES).
We can also play PAL versions of some Mega Drive games.
@-wc-
The third lightning is my favorite R-type game by far. If I remember, the reason we don't see it anywhere else is something weird about publishing rights held by Irem, who is now defunct.
There's a sequel to Wrecking Crew.
I had no idea.
It looks brilliant.
Man I am so hyped !!!
Without any knowledge or awareness of Amazing Hebereke, it somehow is giving me Hamtaro vibes?? Can't wait to try it! And I want more Hamtaro on NSO!
@speedracer216
that figures. appreciate it! great game, i think it's "SNES classic mini" level of quality personally, I was just thinking that the other day.
(on that topic, UN squadron is too often overlooked also)
weak games as usual. super r type looks ok.
@-wc- I love UN Squadron! Fun fact, the music that plays over the character/mission select screens is almost identical to that "chocolate rain" song from years ago, I'm not even kidding.
@-wc- it’s not just R-Type III, Delta and Final actually have it even worse. At least with R-Type III it got a port, not an especially great one admittedly, on GBA, and was on Virtual Console. Delta is still locked to PSone and Final is stuck on PS2 to this day. Really seems like Irem only care about R-Type I, II, and any games like Super R-Type that remix those games. Really would like to see these later entries made available on current hardware
@OldManHermit UN Squadron is a licensed game so very unlikely to return.
I’ve still got my original Super R-Type cart! 😎
@Sinton Wasn’t Sim City a launch title?
@Bass_X0 I believe it was released in September along with A Link to the Past.
Super Mario World, Super Tennis, Super Soccer, Super R-Type and F-Zero are listed as launch games in Norway/Sweden, at least (with Super Castlevania IV releasing a couple of months later).
@Bass_X0 If you're thinking about North America, however, I believe you're right (Super Mario World, F-Zero and SimCity).
@-wc-
Weird isn’t it? Especially as it’s such a good game.
That’s so cool that Marvelous is on the JPN NSO!! I’m glad that game gets a highlight and I think it’s strange it’s taken this long to show up, honestly.
The Western releases are okay. I’ve played WC98 and didn’t love it as much as others seem to.
Now can we have some Sega Genesis games next? It’s been too long. Or better yet, Sega 32X and Sega CD games.
@TotalHenshin Yes, that was very long: the last official release was in 2014 (so 10 years ago) on the Japanese eShop of the Wii U. Speaking of that, For the Frogs the Bell Tolls takes too long to come too (since its release on the Japanese eShop of the 3DS in 2012).
I quite liked Super R Type back in the day. I'll re-visit. Wrecking Crew? Cool, cool.
@Rudolf Oh, you’re right! How nuts that Nintendo has not put it on the Japanese NSO yet. “We could put our own games on there, but let me just say one word… BurgerTime.”
Rtype is actually excellent. Finally some good additions!!! Wrecking 98 surprised me, I am liking it and I did not even know it existed
@Magrane There's an fan patch that allows people to emulate or use certain flash-carts to play these games without slowdowns by making the emulators/flashcart think it has the sa-1 chip.
here's the patch, you'll have to supply your own rom.
https://github.com/VitorVilela7/SA1-Root/release
The only flash cart i know of that has sa-1 and super fx support is the fxpak-pro and it's stupid expensive, so maybe just stick to emulators for now.
@Rudolf Thanks for the correction. Will definitely give it a try one day. That and Hajimari no Mori are games I want to play at least once.
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