Preview: Nintendo Switch Online GameCube Games Get Nostalgic

Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack GameCube games are arriving on June 5, 2025, the same day the Switch 2 debuts. However, at the start the selection is going to be a bit small. F-Zero GX, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker,and SoulCalibur 2 are the three appearing alongside the launch with Super Mario Strikers confirmed as showing up shortly after. I got to see how two of those four looked at a recent preview event, and they seemed as enjoyable as I remembered. First, before even getting into experiences, the Nintendo Switch Online GameCube games playable on Switch 2 will feature some additional features. You can switch between the original ratio and a fullscreen possibility in the options once you load up the game. If you’re playing locally and not online, split screen multiplayer will show up for some titles. (Not SoulCalibur 2, obviously.) GameChat works with it, though I didn’t get to sample that during my preview session. Customizable controls will be possible, though, and there will be a CRT filter you can apply. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MvkSVs8f_w&ab_channel=NintendoofAmerica I started with SoulCalibur 2. The attendant at the station noted that it already offered full screen support in a past incarnation, so it wasn’t so much of an issue with the presentation here. However, this opportunity did mean that I not only got to see Link and Ivy fight again. It also meant trying the game with a GameCube controller. The first time I played this entry was on that system at a friend’s, so it was so easy for muscle memory to take over as I stepped up to fight again. The controller felt as comfortable as usual, and it looked fine on the Switch 2. Which is only to be expected, given the age of the game and the fact we’ve seen Bandai Namco bring back an HD Online version on the PS3 and Xbox 360. It was F-Zero GX that felt more different when I got to test it out. The attendant noted there are some visual upgrades, so it still looked sharp. But again, this was always an eye-catching and vibrant GameCube game, so of course F-Zero GX would look good on a Switch 2 with Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack. I will note that I honestly didn’t like the full-screen support for it. While that was fine for SoulCalibur 2, here I felt like it just artificially stretched what was already there. It was sort of like the effect for Game Boy games on the GBA to fill the screen. It actually threw me off a bit in my first race, and I felt like I did better during the second after turning it off. Perhaps it was due to nostalgia and being more accustomed to one appearance! Maybe it’s totally fine and involves a little getting used to. I’m curious to see how it looks in other games to make a more informed decision. I’m optimistic about Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack GameCube games on the Switch 2! I’d like to play Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance on the go or see enough people show interest in Chibi Robo to convince Nintendo to make a more traditional, new entry in that series. The two launch games F-Zero GX and SoulCalibur 2 worked fine when I tested them out. The GameCube controller felt great and comfortable with them both as well. I think it could be quite a boon to that tier of the subscription service, even if some of the new additions like the other aspect ratio option might not seem like it’d suit every game. Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack support for GameCube games will be present on the Switch 2 when the system launches on June 5, 2025. The post Preview: Nintendo Switch Online GameCube Games Get Nostalgic appeared first on Siliconera.

Apr 4, 2025 - 21:07

Preview: Nintendo Switch Online GameCube Games Get Nostalgic

Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack GameCube games are arriving on June 5, 2025, the same day the Switch 2 debuts. However, at the start the selection is going to be a bit small. F-Zero GX, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker,and SoulCalibur 2 are the three appearing alongside the launch with Super Mario Strikers confirmed as showing up shortly after. I got to see how two of those four looked at a recent preview event, and they seemed as enjoyable as I remembered.

First, before even getting into experiences, the Nintendo Switch Online GameCube games playable on Switch 2 will feature some additional features. You can switch between the original ratio and a fullscreen possibility in the options once you load up the game. If you’re playing locally and not online, split screen multiplayer will show up for some titles. (Not SoulCalibur 2, obviously.) GameChat works with it, though I didn’t get to sample that during my preview session. Customizable controls will be possible, though, and there will be a CRT filter you can apply.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MvkSVs8f_w&ab_channel=NintendoofAmerica

I started with SoulCalibur 2. The attendant at the station noted that it already offered full screen support in a past incarnation, so it wasn’t so much of an issue with the presentation here. However, this opportunity did mean that I not only got to see Link and Ivy fight again. It also meant trying the game with a GameCube controller. The first time I played this entry was on that system at a friend’s, so it was so easy for muscle memory to take over as I stepped up to fight again. The controller felt as comfortable as usual, and it looked fine on the Switch 2. Which is only to be expected, given the age of the game and the fact we’ve seen Bandai Namco bring back an HD Online version on the PS3 and Xbox 360.

It was F-Zero GX that felt more different when I got to test it out. The attendant noted there are some visual upgrades, so it still looked sharp. But again, this was always an eye-catching and vibrant GameCube game, so of course F-Zero GX would look good on a Switch 2 with Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack. I will note that I honestly didn’t like the full-screen support for it. While that was fine for SoulCalibur 2, here I felt like it just artificially stretched what was already there. It was sort of like the effect for Game Boy games on the GBA to fill the screen. It actually threw me off a bit in my first race, and I felt like I did better during the second after turning it off. Perhaps it was due to nostalgia and being more accustomed to one appearance! Maybe it’s totally fine and involves a little getting used to. I’m curious to see how it looks in other games to make a more informed decision.

I’m optimistic about Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack GameCube games on the Switch 2! I’d like to play Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance on the go or see enough people show interest in Chibi Robo to convince Nintendo to make a more traditional, new entry in that series. The two launch games F-Zero GX and SoulCalibur 2 worked fine when I tested them out. The GameCube controller felt great and comfortable with them both as well. I think it could be quite a boon to that tier of the subscription service, even if some of the new additions like the other aspect ratio option might not seem like it’d suit every game.

Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack support for GameCube games will be present on the Switch 2 when the system launches on June 5, 2025.

The post Preview: Nintendo Switch Online GameCube Games Get Nostalgic appeared first on Siliconera.