Nintendo Expands Switch Online's GBA Library With Two More Titles

It's maybe not a new F-Zero, but I have a feeling this and the update to F-Zero 99 is the lead up to something

These were always highly praised! And after getting the hang of it in F-Zero 99 I can't wait to play some other retro courses! 😄🤎

Really hope the GBA and N64 updates become more frequent again. The every two weeks schedule they were on for a bit was okay but this, "We might drop something once a month, maybe, hope it's something you actually care about," approach is absurd for a service you're having to pay a premium on top of a premium for.

@Lizuka yhea, I jumped in last year and got a little spoiled. It was also some left fielders Inhad always dreamed off too, but I haven't really had something I liked since summer or something!

Oh! Is this a hint/lead up to a comeback?
Even if it's not, this is still good news for F-Zero fans.

This means that every F-Zero game, for systems that are available on NSO, is now added to the service, right? Good to see them all here.

Good news. The more F zero the better . F Zero GX is now the only one not on Switch so it’s gotta be coming…..
Surely this can’t be another Mother 3 sized tease.

But I thought Nintendo had forgotten about F-Zero. Does this mean it's not ok to emulate anymore?

This is Nintendo Direct material.

@GrailUK considering these games are only available as part of the NSO subscription and you're not actually owning the games, I would say with absolute certainty that yes, it's still alright to emulate them.

@steely_pete My thoughts exactly. It’s probably just to celebrate the series, but come on. Something has to come of it, right?

This drip feed method is beyond pathetic.

Give us a virtual console and options to purchase the games, dagnabbit!

@GrailUK you know that’s gonna woosh a bunch of people right? I mean I know you know…but are you ready?

@Ryu_Niiyama it would make a whole lot of sense if it did miss people. Hell of a left turn.

@VHSGREMLIN : Or a complete physical collection with all F-Zero games on a single cartridge.

Did someone say: "Previously Unreleased Outside of Japan"??

WOOHOO!!!

Ahhh finally… some F-Zero love …. Now the only game not available is the best one of all. Bring an F-Zero GX remake/remaster!

Or better yet… a new game!

oh hell yeah Climax, finally a good 2D F-Zero game on Switch

Wait, in the recent note about the new Satellaview tracks for F-zero 99, I "wish", for, maybe, tracks from gba F-zero games will appear, too, but oh, I no expect this news, specially for the F-zero climax, Great!!!

Oh YES! I can't wait to try these!!

@Sylamp is MM Xtreme 2 on Switch yet, or is it just the good MM games?
Boom!
I'm kidding, just a wild take.

@Nintoz Climax is stupid good. Enjoy.

@LikelySatan funny thing is I never played Xtreme 2, I just think Berkana has a cool design so that's why I have her as my pfp

Niiice! ^_^ Can't wait to play them!

Is this building up to F-Zero GX remastered Super Switch launch title?!!! Or perhaps a new F-zero title?!!!! I just peed a little

@steely_pete and FWIW Climax is technically new from the western perspective in its own right.😄

This is awesome, always wanted to play Climax and it goes for silly prices on ebay, whoop!

Terrible news for those believing or pushing the narrative that F-Zero is a series that Nintendo forgets/ignores. This alongside the 99 update. At least they'll still have the 'Kore o hon'yaku shitande suka? Motto dete ike!' series

I hope that Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio returns to the series for a new entry.

The music of F-Zero is so cool, even if they always use those same two tracks in the trailers. I'm pretty sure these are my favourites. Nothing of the level of MK8's Big Blue version, but I mean, MIDI is what started it all, isn't it 😍

@steely_pete I think you're right. But getting the Japanese only F-Zero is pretty cool as well. Looking forward to building my own tracks.

Still waiting patiently for the GBA versions of Mario Golf and Tennis...

Superb update. I haven't played either of these. It definitely seems like they're gearing up for a brand new F-Zero. Perhaps a Switch 2 launch title?

wheres snowboard kids and diddy kong racing?

@SillyG that would be killer. Yes please.

Nice to finally see F-Zero Climax here at last. While it doesn't had a Story Mode like GP Legends, its custom track editor is quite welcome for the fun of it.

@Lizuka I think we might get more drops soon if Switch 2 releases alongside GCN, maybe DS NSO. Feels like they might be holding off a bit in comparison to last year and first half of this year, as if waiting for something like that, although I think we've got some sick drops lately, despite being a little more spaced out.

F-Zero is one of their “show off new tech” series. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if they had a new one primed as a launch title for Switch 2.

It would look gorgeous. Provide goodwill from the fanbase. Release before a new Mario Kart (I think this is crucial) and provide solid first party support in addition to their bigger title (presuming they have a launch killer app)

Fantastic to see that Climax is finally going to be available outside of Japan and I'm excited to replay GP Legend. Between this and the Satellaview content for F-Zero 99, that leaves GX as the only F-Zero game missing from Switch.

Hopefully GX gets a remaster (proper physical version like they've done for other GCN games would be much better than doing GCN NSO) and then they delve into a new game.

Wow this is incredible! I can really appreciate the Fzero support out of nowhere. This series really needed a resurge and I need to upgrade my membership asap.

Nice - but still no Donkey Kong 64/Diddy Kong Racing..
Until they add these two, I don't care what they add.. However, seeing so many F-Zero support IS really good too

Love F Zero X but dont care much for the original F-Zero. Hopefully this one feels a bit more modern to play.

Imagine Switch 2 releasing with GC NSO support. Boom. The whole series is there, magic.

I'd hope this leads to Nintendo getting someone to finally release the complete F-ZERO: Falcon Densetsu anime in the west, but of course that seems unlikely.
Oh, and F-Zero GX, as much as I hated its difficulty, I do regret selling my copy.

Yeah, I'll be checking them out, even though I'm not the biggest F-Zero fan. On the subject of NSO, I wonder if Super Smash Bros. will eventually be added to the N64 library? Satellaview? N64DD? Zapper/Super Scope support? Fully featured Super Gameboy?

I also think, though could be wrong, that GameCube won't be coming to NSO, until the next, or following console, because even compressing those games still makes many titles in that library almost a gigabyte. A group of those titles would significantly eat up Switch internal memory. On the other hand, if Nintendo can come up with stellar compression, or doesn't mind their hardware being known to require additional hardware (sd card) just for a digital game library, maybe an NSO GameCube could still happen before the next console. Doubtful.

Nice! I don't remember if I ever played GP Legend back then, and I've obviously never played Climax.

Between this and the F-Zero 99 update, F-Zero fans are eating good lately.

Let's hope we get something brand-new for F-Zero soon though.

@Hero-of-WiiU F-Zero GP Legends is kinda like the best of both worlds. It had the 2D graphics and plays just like the 2D F-Zero games of old but once you get through lap 1 you get to use boost power for as many time as you want just like in F-Zero X and F-Zero GX as long as your vehicle doesn't lose power. They even had the announcer doing role call just like in F-Zero X and F-Zero GX as well. In the old F-Zero games using boost doesn't drain power from the vehicles but they are very limited and you could only use em as you earn them unlike in F-Zero X, GX, and GP Legends.

F-Zero Climax finally releasing outside of Japan is huge.

@VHSGREMLIN Are you ready for Switch 2 to continue the drip feed?

And here I was wondering if I was going to renew my NSO subscription. Two F-Zeros I never got to play. And a major update for F-Zero 99. Yep... c'mon pay day.

@Ryu_Niiyama I was born ready.

@GrailUK haha have a like, sir!

@BriskSunrise I may be skipping the next system if they use the method they are using now. It’s genuinely sickening to see them do this to us…

It's time to speed up!

Nintrickle Switch Online. Similar to Virtually Dead Console. Oh well, better now than never. I’d never pay for this tier!

I have F-Zero Climax as a physical cartridge. Bought it before the time every damn retro game price went up.

F-Zero Climax is one of the two F-Zero titles that have a level editor, other being the 64DD exclusive F-Zero X Expansion Kit. Hope we get that one officially to the west someday trough these online services.

@BriskSunrise at least it's highly likely we will start with all current NSO games on the next console, instead of a clean slate.

Aww, I'm still waiting for SNES Gradius, oh well, I love me some more F-Zero even if I am bad at the games because I tend to blow up too much or just lag behind.

I want GameCube NSO for the Switch 2.

GP Legend was great. It's the only F-Zero game that I've been able to complete 100%!

This is pretty cool but since I’m on vacation I’m not gonna be updating the app. 😅

Bring back virtual console!

@Moistnado Let it go. It's never coming back.

Oh now the slow drip is getting worse! We're announcing the games more than a week beforehand, and then dropping it, THEN waiting weeks and then announce plans for the future!

I thought my Switch was broke when it didn't load these that's how long ago the announcement was! 😂

@garfreek

“Oh now the slow drip is getting worse!”

April - five games
May - three games
June - seven games
July - ten games
August - one game
September - four games
October - two games

I consider a rate of an average of one game per week from any console to be acceptable. And October isn’t over yet.

Very nice additions, hopefully it’ll fuel more love for this series.

The NSO games keep coming at a nice pace and occasionally include some nice surprises. I look forward to playing these two.

@steely_pete Yes, I get you. But also, this is EXACTLY what Nintendo likely botches. Remember the Zelda anniversary as a great opportunity for something? Yeah, me neither.

With the constant craze about retro gaming and the constant failures of modern gaming, I really wonder if it's about time someone (Nintendo?) does something proper about being able to play and own (who am I kidding) retro games again. I was wondering if that "NSO test thingy" you could sign up for is about a new, better way to dabble into the back catalogues of gaming companies. I'd love to enjoy old games in a somewhat palpable way.

Last time on the loo I imagined this:
You go to a website, pick 25 games from a list and have them shipped to you on a physical Switch 2 cart, with cover and all. Basically your custom, totally legal because paid for, retro game compilation with no duds and just what you like.

Retro á la cart.

I'd be all over this.

Then sell us filters and enhancements on the Switch 2 system for 1 dollar each and you even got your micro transactions crap in.

One can dream.

@Bass_X0 maybe that's it, I've been so spoiled this summer August and September have felt barren as a consequence. (And they've been games I didn't care for, doesn't help!)

But yhea, it's not that slow really!

I'm seriously enjoying Climax, it's not as slippery as GP Legend (I tried all three so Climax was higher on my GBA NSO ranking because the controls felt better). Even if I'm blowing up multiple times in a race recklessly boosting around.