5 Nintendo Switch Online Features That Improve Playing Retro Games on Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch Online allows you to play numerous retro Nintendo titles straight from your Nintendo Switch. Regardless of whether you’re playing classic Nintendo or Sega titles, Nintendo ensures access to some of the most popular retro games ever made.
However, retro games like Metroid (1986) or The Legend of Zelda (1987) can be quite jarring to play on a Nintendo Switch. Luckily, Nintendo Switch Online also provides features that can ease some issues surrounding retro gaming. But what exactly are these features, and how can you use them? Let’s find out.
1. Create Your Own Save Points
One of the flaws you may experience when playing a retro Nintendo game is a lack of save points, or checkpoints, throughout the game.
Even for some ofthe best games available through Nintendo Switch Online, like Super Mario Bros. for the NES, if you die with no lives there are no save points to prevent you from having to start the game all over again.
While this arbitrarily increases the length of some retro games, it also makes replaying or attempting to play them for the first time on Nintendo Switch infuriating. Luckily, with Nintendo Switch Online, you can create your own save points no matter what retro game you’re playing.
To create your own save points in Nintendo Switch Online and ease some of the difficulty of playing retro games on your Nintendo Switch, follow these steps:
With a Suspend Point created you can re-load your created save point at any time by re-entering theSuspend Menuand selectingLoad Suspend Point.
And with that, you’re ready to set as many save points as you want in any retro game available on Nintendo Switch Online.
2. Rewind Any Retro Game Available Through Nintendo Switch Online
Similarly to the ability to create your own save points, Nintendo Switch Online also allows you to rewind any retro game you’re able to play through Nintendo Switch Online to the most recent frames you have just played.
For games like Super Metroid on the SNES, there are multiple moments in which failure leads to unnecessary backtracking. However, you can get around these unfortunate scenarios using the rewind feature available with Nintendo Switch Online.
To rewind any game available through Nintendo Switch Online on your Nintendo Switch, no matter the platform, follow these steps:
With a prior frame selected, your Nintendo Switch will instantly rewind the game to that frame, allowing you to jump back to a gameplay element you want to retry but without the unnecessary backtracking.
3. Enable Cheat Codes for Certain Nintendo Switch Online Games
Another classic element of retro gaming that can be missing when playing on Nintendo Switch is the ability to use classic cheat codes or have a physical guide by your side as you play.
While you can’t access digital versions of physical guides through Nintendo Switch Online services, you can accessSPversions of certain games like Super Mario World or Kirby’s Dream Course to fully unlock a game.
Playing anSPgame also allows you to analyze a game in its entirety, like viewing the completed map for Super Metroid, while giving you unlimited lives in games like Super Mario World and acting as a cheat code.
So if you want to play a fully unlocked retro Nintendo game available through Nintendo Switch Online services, all you have to do is look out for anSPversion of a game when choosing a retro title from the Nintendo Switch Online library.
The SP-enhanced games available on Nintendo Switch are just one of the more overlookedthings you may need to know about Nintendo Switch Onlineand how it can help to better your retro gaming experience.
And with completely unlocked retro games at your fingertips, you’re given the choice to explore a retro title in its entirety even if you’re unable to crack the standard version of a retro game.
4. Customize the Layout of Your Nintendo Switch Online Retro Games
With Nintendo Switch Online providing numerous games, especially when it comes to NES and SNES titles, navigation through the service can be quite difficult. Luckily Nintendo also provides you with ways to customize each service to make playing specific games easier for you.
Nintendo Switch Online allows you to customize the layout of each emulator, regardless of platform, to prioritize certain games or to filter games to your requirements. To customize your Nintendo Switch Online services to highlight certain retro games, follow these steps:
While simple, these quick and easy steps can help ease navigation through Nintendo Switch Online and avoid having to constantly scroll through an ever-increasing list of games to find a title you want to play. Instead, with filters and customization, you can make playing your favorite retro titles from a certain platform quick and easy.
5. Select a Retro Inspired Game Screen for Nintendo Switch Online Titles
A final way to enhance your retro gaming experience on Nintendo Switch is by utilizing visual filters available through Nintendo Switch Online.
Classically many of the retro games you may play on Nintendo Switch would’ve been visualized through a CRT screen. But with Nintendo Switch, visual quality has drastically increased.
Luckily, visual filters are available for every Nintendo Switch Online emulator, aside from the N64, that can mimic retro visuals or modern standards.
To choose a visual display filter for any applicable emulator available through Nintendo Switch Online, follow these steps:
For Sega Genesis, NES, and SNES titles, you can choose to use a4:3ratio screen, aPixel Perfectscreen that enhances pixel quality, or apply aCRT Filterthat gives your games a retro feel.
Similarly, for Game Boy titles, it’s possible to choose betweenGame Boy,Game Boy Pocket, orGame Boy Colorvisuals. And for Game Boy Advance titles, you can choose toReproduce classic feelor toDisplay with small screen.
With some emulators locked behind the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack, the added bonus of enhancing visuals for platforms like the Game Boy Advance stands as one of the manyreasons you might want to upgrade to the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack.
Regardless, the feature is universally available for nearly all the emulation options on the Nintendo Switch and stands as a great feature that can enhance the feel and look of retro games.
Enhance Retro Gaming With Nintendo Switch Online
With retro emulators available through Nintendo Switch Online, and multiple enhancing features, officially playing retro games on Nintendo Switch could be the best way for you to experience some of the best classic games from Nintendo.
And with Nintendo constantly increasing its roster of retro games available, as well as expanding the platforms available through Nintendo Switch Online, it’s possible to be certain that the retro gaming experience on your Nintendo Switch will only continue to improve.
Did you know that you can play Game Boy and Game Boy Advance titles via Nintendo Switch Online? Here are some of the best games on offer.
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