Summary:
The article delves into the realm of unported Wii U games, exploring titles that haven’t made their way to the Nintendo Switch. It analyzes the reasons behind their absence, evaluates the potential for future ports, and considers market trends influencing Nintendo’s decisions. From Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival to Xenoblade Chronicles X, each game is scrutinized, highlighting gameplay mechanics, critical reception, and technical challenges. Despite the hurdles, there remains hope for fans eager to see beloved Wii U titles resurrected on Nintendo’s latest console.
Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival
Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival aimed to capitalize on 2014 and 2015’s amiibo craze with a new line of figurines. Unfortunately, it failed to realize that previous amiibo sold so well because they were Super Smash Bros. amiibo, not because they were amiibo, if that makes sense. So many Animal Crossing amiibo were manufactured and left unsold that manufacturers eventually cut down on retail space for amiibo. In other words, Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival was one of the most disappointing Wii U games ever released. We’re definitely never seeing this on Switch!
Paper Mario: Color Splash
Though Paper Mario: Color Splash wasn’t as harshly received as Paper Mario: Sticker Star, it still had its fair share of problems. It still required expendable items to be able to attack, adding a rather unnecessary layer of complication on top of the traditional Paper Mario battle system. Furthermore, many of the game’s bosses require very specific Thing stickers that you simply cannot win the battle without. That’s not even mentioning the incredible lack of character and NPC diversity the series is known for. Thankfully, Color Splash does have its upsides, however few: the game’s writing is top-notch, and although the story is nothing special, dialogue from the generic Toad NPCs is often interesting enough to keep you playing the game.
Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash
Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash offers the absolute bare minimum in terms of content. Other than standard and Mega Mushroom tennis, the game gives little reason to come back to it other than to waste time. In terms of things that set Ultra Smash apart from other games in the series… it has the Sprixie Princess as a playable character? It has amiibo support? These little quirks aren’t enough to make Ultra Smash worth porting. Not to mention the vastly superior Mario Tennis Aces is already available on Switch. It’s safe to say that Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash will remain a relic of the Wii U’s final days and not much else.
Star Fox Zero
Star Fox Zero is yet another reboot of the franchise that essentially tells the story of Star Fox 64 once again. If there were to be Star Fox on Switch in any capacity, we’d rather see a new game that advances the canon beyond a retelling of Star Fox 64. Besides, the controls would likely need a rework to function on Switch at all.
Yoshi’s Woolly World
Yoshi’s Woolly World is certainly one of the best Wii U games out there, and it absolutely deserves a second chance at success on Nintendo Switch. It’s probably unlikely, but it’d be a good candidate to fill the gaps of what’s been a fairly quiet year for Nintendo so far.
Nintendo Land
Nintendo Land is home to plenty of mini-games, both single-player and multiplayer. Mario Chase, Luigi’s Ghost Mansion, Metroid Blast, and The Legend of Zelda: Battle Quest are all great fun, and there are even more games available to players looking for additional content. The odds that we get a port of Nintendo Land on Switch, however, are almost none. Several of the multiplayer minigames require a player to use the Wii U GamePad in addition to other players looking at the TV screen. This isn’t possible on Switch unless you have two separate consoles, and we haven’t seen a ton of games that take advantage of two Switches in this manner.
Pushmo World
A single entry was released on the Wii U, too – Pushmo World. While we’re not exactly hoping for a straight port of this game to Switch, it is a bit sad that we’ve seen nothing of Pushmo on one of Nintendo’s most successful platforms. In this era of Nintendo, we don’t get many budget eShop titles, and a new Pushmo game would fill this niche. We’d take Crashmo, too!
The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker and Twilight Princess HD
How are these two games not on Switch yet?! For many, The Legend of Zelda hit its peak with Breath of the Wild – this certainly attracted tons of new players to the series, and it would’ve been great timing to re-release two of Link’s most beloved adventures. The games’ control schemes might need a tiny bit of reworking, but they’d otherwise be a perfect fit for the Switch.
Kirby and the Rainbow Curse
Kirby and the Rainbow Curse was an absolute necessity for Kirby and the Rainbow Curse – and the only way to recreate it on Switch would be to force handheld play with a stylus. That kind of defeats the point of the Switch, and we’d imagine there’d need to be too many changes to get Kirby and the Rainbow Curse working with Joy-Con or a Pro Controller.
Xenoblade Chronicles X
Xenoblade Chronicles X is currently the only major Xenoblade game that isn’t on the Switch. It also just lost a whole bunch of its online features, so the time for an enhanced port is definitely right! Both to provide quality-of-life updates and to complete the series all on one console. We’d also be happy with a port on whatever Nintendo’s next console winds up being.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the absence of certain Wii U games on the Nintendo Switch reflects a complex interplay of factors, from technical challenges to market dynamics. While some titles may never see a port due to gameplay mechanics or critical reception, others hold promise for future adaptations. As Nintendo continues to navigate the gaming landscape, the potential for Wii U to Switch conversions remains a tantalizing prospect for both developers and players alike.
FAQs
- 1. Why haven’t some Wii U games been ported to the Nintendo Switch?
- Some Wii U games face challenges in adaptation due to gameplay mechanics, technical limitations, or critical reception. Additionally, Nintendo’s strategic decisions and priorities also influence the selection of games for porting.
- 2. Are there technical challenges in adapting Wii U titles for the Switch?
- Yes, adapting Wii U titles for the Switch may require adjustments to control schemes, multiplayer functionality, and compatibility with the Switch hardware. Certain games may pose unique challenges that hinder their portability.
- 3. What factors influence Nintendo’s decision to port specific games?
- Nintendo considers various factors such as demand among players, technical feasibility, market trends, and strategic objectives when deciding which Wii U games to port to the Switch. Games with significant fan appeal or potential for sales success are more likely to be prioritized.
- 4. Is there demand among players for classic Wii U games on the Switch?
- Yes, there is a considerable demand among players for classic Wii U games to be ported to the Switch. Many players who missed out on these titles during the Wii U era are eager to experience them on Nintendo’s latest console, contributing to the demand for ports.
- 5. How do market trends affect the likelihood of Wii U to Switch ports?
- Market trends such as nostalgia for retro gaming, the success of remastered titles, and the popularity of Nintendo’s IP influence the likelihood of Wii U to Switch ports. Games that align with current market preferences and consumer interests are more likely to be considered for porting.
