AlthoughNintendo Switch Onlinecomes with a fairly strong selection of classic titles included with a subscription, most would agree that the service’s offerings fail to compare to theVirtual Console of past Nintendo systems. There is definitely room for the library of free titles to grow, being currently limited to a number of NES and SNES games, and one fan has illustrated one way Nintendo could do that with a concept for a Nintendo DS app.
With over 154 million systems sold across its lifetime, the DS remains not just Nintendo’s best-selling system of all time but the highest-selling handheld gaming console as well. The dual-screened successor to the long-running Game Boy line opened the door to a wide range of gaming experiences thanks to its introduction of touch controls, bolstered by animpressive amount of critically-acclaimed games. Given that legacy, it’s understandable that many nostalgic fans would love to see these classics find new life on Nintendo’s current handheld.
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Utilizing the same clean interface as the service’s NES and SNES apps, the mockups make a compelling argument for Nintendo to add the DS to the lineup. However, the inclusion of particular games likeThe Legend of Zelda: Phantom HourglassandMario and Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Storyraises the question of how these games, whose gameplay relied heavily on both touch controls and the dual-screen setup, could possibly work on the Switch. TheNCSmaster acknowledged this problem in response to a comment, though they figure it could be addressed similarly to how it was done with last year’sMega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection.
Of course, since the service’s current games are emulated, odds are Nintendo wouldn’t be able to simply do the same with DS games and would instead have to modify each game separately to get it to work within the constraints of the Switch. Whether it would see it as a worthwhile endeavour remains to be seen, but either way, many Switch owners agree thatNintendo Switch Online is in need of some new featuresbesides new NES and SNES games.
