Virtual Console Dreaming: GameCube Wave 1 Update
Soulcalibur II by Project Soul and Namco
Were you able to dodge the preorder cancellations (and Pringles) to acquire a Switch 2? I’m planning to wait and then reassess with each major release (this is a subtle way of saying I’ll cave when Donkey Kong is out next month). However, if I plan to stay current with my coverage, it’s probably better that I sell my soul to Nintendo sooner rather than later. The general consensus online seems to be that if you want one, you can probably find one.
This release also means that the first wave of GameCube titles just hit Nintendo Switch Online–and they picked some good ones to launch the service with:
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is one of my favorite games of all time and it hasn’t been accessible since the Wii U. If you discovered Zelda through Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom, you need to play this immediately.
F-ZERO GX is one of the most difficult games I’ve ever played. I love it. I hate it. It hurts so good.
I never would have guessed that we’d be gifted Soulcalibur II this early. I know that Link is a playable character so it kinda counts as a Nintendo game, but its inclusion gives me hope that we’re going to get some weird stuff down the line. As I’ve said before, fighting games getting added is always a pleasant surprise. Don’t sleep on Soulcalibur’s solo mode.
All of these titles are available to Switch Online Expansion Pack subscribers now. Remember, GameCube titles can only be played on the Switch 2–and the original GameCube and Wii, I guess.
Here is my wish list for the future of the service. There have been no changes since the last update–BUT I have a good feeling that will be changing in the near future.
SNES
Pocky and Rocky 2
Secret of Mana
GBC/GBA
Metal Gear: Ghost Babel
Mother 3
Onimusha Tactics
Pokemon Pinball
Tony Hawk misc.
Nintendo 64
Beetle Adventure Racing
Bomberman 64
Bomberman 64: The Second Attack!
Bomberman Hero
Castlevania 64/Legacy of Darkness
Goemon’s Great Adventure
Mischief Makers
Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon
Quest 64
Snowboard Kids
Snowboard Kids 2
GameCube
1080 Avalanche
Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance
Battalion Wars
Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg
Chibi-Robo!
Cubivore:: Survival of the Fittest
Donkey Konga 1-3 (rerelease the bongos!)
Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat
Eternal Darkness
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
Geist
GoldenEye: Rogue Agent
James Bond 007: Agent Under Fire
James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing
James Bond 007: From Russia with Love
James Bond 007: Nightfire
Killer 7 (if we’re not getting a port of the Steam version)
Kirby Air Ride
Lost Kingdoms
Lost Kingdoms II
Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour
Mario Kart: Double Dash
Mario Party 4-7
Metroid Prime 2 (if we don’t get a proper remaster)
P.N.03
Phantasy Star Online Episode 1 & 2
Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness
Resident Evil 2, 3, and Code Veronica
Skies of Arcadia Legends (I think this is the one I want the most)
SSX 3
Starfox Adventures
Starfox: Assault
Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast
Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader
Star Wars Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike
Super Smash Bros. Melee
TimeSplitters 2
TimeSplitters: Future Perfect
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow
Tony Hawk’s Underground, Underground 2, and American Wasteland (if we don’t get remakes)
Turok: Evolution (if Nightdive doesn’t do its thing)
Viewtiful Joe 1 and 2
Wario World
Wave Race: Blue Storm
Yu-Gi-Oh! The Falsebound Kingdom
I’ve been in the Summer Game Fest trenches all week. I’ve already covered 50 games across multiple showcases and that number is about to spike as we head into the weekend (check the features tab if you’re interested in learning about a ton of obscure stuff to add to your backlog).
I’ll see you soon.