Nintendo is coming out with a lot of enhanced versions of previous Nintendo games as of late for the Nintendo Switch. There’s Bayonetta 1 and 2, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition, and Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker. While all of these games were fantastic Wii U games, there are games that are more worthy of a ports. It would also allow me to exclusively play my Nintendo Switch and not my Wii U anymore (just being honest!).
Xenoblade Chronicles X
Xenoblade Chronicles X is one of the best open-world RPGs of all time, as well as one of the most intricate RPGs I’ve ever played. Even Tetsuya Takahashi, the creator of the game, has said he wants it ported to the Nintendo Switch. While Xenoblade Chronicles 2 was a fantastic game, Xenoblade X is a different kind of game. Every continent is accessible from the beginning. Mech combat is incredible. While some may think the story is lacking, the infinity quests make up for it with incredible character development and even the sidequests add to the overall story, so it does fill out the story quite a bit. All they need to do is fix that font size and the game will be good to go! It would especially be a treat to play it on mobile.
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD
The Wind Waker is considered to be one of the best Zelda games of all-time. It has both endearing characters and a touching story, and connects back to the greatest Zelda game ever, Ocarina of Time. Ganondorf is actually a three-dimensional character. The HD version streamlines the Triforce quest so it’s not such a pain. While the original still looks good, The Wind Waker HD is an interactive cartoon. Sailing is also enhanced. Not many people owned the Wii U, and releasing this to a new generation of Zelda fans, especially on the heels of the success of Breath of the Wild, would be a sure success.
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD
Yes, another Zelda game. And one of the best. It has some of the most exquisite dungeons, a solid story, and some of the finest boss battles in the franchise. Yes, they may be a bit easy, but they are epic in scale and a lot of fun. The final confrontation with Ganondorf ranks only second to the final sequence in Ocarina of Time.
With the surge of the Zelda amiibo in the last year, it would make sense to bring Twilight Princess HD over to the Switch. It, again, would also introduce a brand new generation of Zelda fans to the game, as again, the Wii U sold relatively poorly. The visuals are first-rate and realistic, which people had asked for so long. All in all, it’s one of the strongest entries in the series and deserves a port. Plus, it’s one of the only reasons I still own my Wii U, which is a pain to drag out and set up.
Super Mario Maker
Super Mario Maker was one of the best games to come out for the Wii U. In fact, it surprises me that Captain Toad is receiving a port before Mario Maker. It was rumored that Mario Maker would actually be a launch game for the Nintendo Switch, but that never materialized. There is nothing that matches being able to take on the role of creator and designer of a Mario level. Nothing. People came up with so many crazy, nearly unbeatable levels. It was thoroughly enjoyable and deserves a place on the Switch. In fact, what would be an even better idea would be to add more features to the game, perhaps as a sequel, but a port of the original would be fine by me.
Xenosaga Collection HD
Yes, Bandai Namco owns the rights to the games even though Monolith Soft developed the games. That being said, both T-elos and KOS-MOS have appeared in Xenoblade Chronicles 2, and Namco Bandai has renewed the trademark for Also Sprach Zarathustra, the title of the third game in the saga. While the Xenoblade games are great, Xenosaga is even better.
Playing through all three games in a span of three weeks a few months ago, I didn’t realize how well they hold up (I haven’t played them since the last game came out 12 years ago). If Monolith and Bandai Namco were to team up, take advantage of the popularity of the Xeno brand (Xenoblade 2 sold over one million copies through December), and remaster (and perhaps even make some changes to the second game in particular) the games on the Nintendo Switch, it could be a match made in heaven. Especially if Nintendo is involved, which they would have to be considering they own Monolith Soft.
This needs to happen.
Skyward Sword HD
Yes, this wouldn’t be a port, but a remaster. The game needs it. The game deserves it. While many found Skyward Sword disappointing, and HD version would finally fulfill Miyamoto’s vision. The watercolor effect was so hard to fully grasp in 480p, but in 1080p, you’ll get the full effect. The game has the best story of any Zelda game. It has some of the best music in the series, if not the best. If it didn’t come out at the end of the Wii’s lifecycle, it would have done much better commercially. Riding the coattails of Breath of the Wild, it would be a success.
Zelda is Nintendo’s strongest franchise right now and once again, giving new gamers a chance to experience Skyward Sword may breath new life into the game. It has the best dungeons in the series next to Ocarina of Time and it has some of the most memorable boss battles in the series, especially Ghirahim. Most of all, the game is a lot of fun. It deserves to be re-released in HD glory and give those who never had a chance to play the game to experience it. It set the foundation for the entire lore of the franchise. New fans should have the opportunity to learn the history of “The Legend of Zelda”, which is what Skyward Sword is.