10 Previous-Generation Nintendo Switch Ports You Might Have Missed.
The Nintendo Switch was a big hit for the company that brought us Mario and Luigi, but it is in an odd position among other consoles of the current generation. While the Switch benefits from support for the latest game engines and graphics features, its raw power is a major step up from the PS4 or even the Xbox One.
Thus, most ports of the current generation need to make some pretty serious concessions in order to perform well enough. Games like Doom 2016 and Mortal Kombat 11 look amazing compared to any other handheld game, but they are clearly inferior technically to other versions.
However, the Switch is more powerful than the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii and even Wii U. This makes it an ideal target for this console generation and the half-step generation that Wii U represents.
To be on this list, a game must:
- Debut on an older generation system.
- be well received by critics.
- None were initially as widely used.
So you won’t find a game like Skyrim here, because although it’s the previous generation, it’s one of the most popular games ever made. So there is almost no chance that someone didn’t know about it or missed the game. However, you will find Wii U ports here, because hardly anyone bought this console, despite the fact that it has several stellar names.
It also doesn’t matter if these games got current generation ports on other platforms. Without exception, Switch is the only console to offer these games in a handheld, physically controlled form. In fact, many of these games are better because they are more portable than their original consoles.
So, here are ten Switch games that have been carried over from previous generations of computers that you may have missed out on but should give a try today.
Dragon Doctrine: The Rising of Darkness
Dragon’s Dogma was originally a PS3 game, and the Dark Arisen version includes all the DLC for that game. It is made by Capcom, the legendary Japanese developer who brought us games like Street Fighter and Resident Evil. Quite a pedigree.
However, Dragon’s Dogma is a unique name in their stable. This is a Japanese take on the Western formula for role-playing. In this regard, it is somewhat similar to Dark Souls, but it is a real RPG with an open world in the spirit of Skyrim or Dragon Age.
You play as the “Risen One”, a fisherman (or woman) who bravely resists the dragon’s attack. Only to say that the dragon will rip out your heart and swallow it. This ends up being less fatal than it sounds, and you go after the missing ticker with some new powers from open heart surgery on the beach.
There are many role-playing games here, but the main thing is the fantastic battles that combine Capcom’s gameplay capabilities with extensive role-playing quests in the open world. The game has also been updated for PS4 and PC, where you’ll find better graphics.
However, there is simply nothing like this in a handheld game, and if you missed it the first time, it should be at the top of your wishlist.
Set up one
Okami HD is actually a port port. An original game released for PS2 and Wii that makes great use of the latter’s motion controls to control the in-game brush that draws the world.
Of the two, the Wii version is best played thanks to its motion controls, but it was considered a classic on both platforms. The game received an HD release on PS3, PS4, and Xbox One, but is playable on the Switch version as of today. Not only do you get a portable option, but you can also use the motion controls as intended.
Visually, the game is striking. You play as a titled Japanese god in the form of a white wolf. The world has been cursed, and you, as Amaterasu Kami, the sun goddess of Japan, must restore an emaciated world. It is a rich history based on Japanese mythology.
Okami is a critically acclaimed game that has never sold many copies on its launch platforms. It is difficult to compare it with anything else, and this uniqueness is one of the main advantages of this product.
If you want to play an action-adventure game with an original storyline and unforgettable visual style, you need to give Okami a shot.
Valkyria Chronicles
The Valkyrie Chronicle is another hidden gem that people seemed to sleep on. When the game launched on PS3, sales were paltry. Oddly enough, the PC port on Steam turned out best. Half of the two million copies of the game that were sold before the Switch was ported were on Steam.
Valkyria Chronicles is a turn-based 3D strategy RPG game. The action takes place in an alternate world where you control a group of troops fighting in a world war scenario, with tanks, snipers, rocket launchers and so on. The story is a pretty strong part of the game, but its beautiful graphics, stunning soundtrack and anime-style characters make up one interesting title.
Ironically, the first game is the only main game in the series that doesn’t have a portable release. Numbers 2 and 3 were exclusive to the Sony PSP, and the fourth game is also available on the Switch.
If you’re expecting the new Fire Emblem game to rid you of this SRPG itch, you could do much worse than putting together Valkyria Chronicles to help you. This is the very definition of a hidden stone.
Los Angeles Noire
Right now, LA Noire is the only game from the acclaimed Rockstar Studios on Switch. We have yet to see the ported Grand Theft Auto Games games, although GTA 5 and older seems possible given their previous generation versions.
In the pantheon of Rockstar games, LA Noire is a bit of an odd duck and certainly not as popular a hit as GTA or Red Dead Redemption. And it’s not nearly as little known as Bully. This game puts you in the shoes of a 1950s detective solving a series of cases set in a beautifully recreated Los Angeles period. The game is not as open-world as GTA, but it definitely has some options when moving around the city.
However, the most unique feature of this game is the facial capture technology used to animate the characters’ faces. Each is played by a real actor whose face was scanned using a special installation. The effect is very interesting and has not been seen since.
The game has a great storyline, unique graphics, and a pretty good price, considering how much content you get. If you are anxious to see a cool adult detective story, then this is what you need.
Bayonetta 1 + 2
PlatinumGames is a studio that has proven itself to create some of the coolest action games ever created. Metal Gear Rising, Transformers Devastation and the absolute masterpiece Nier Automata showcase just how good they are at making games in this genre.
Bayonetta was only the third game ever developed by Platinum games, but it has all the key ingredients that will represent their brand: fantastic controls and animations, insane scenery and ruthless action.
The game was released on PS3 and Xbox 360. It also came to the Windows world. Bayonetta and her debut performance were generally well received, but never really achieved cult status. For various reasons, the sequel was exclusive to Wii U, which meant that fans of the franchise mostly didn’t see it.
Switch is now the second platform to receive a sequel, updated to modern standards. Not only that, but Bayonetta 3 has been confirmed for the hybrid console. This way, you can keep the entire trilogy in one place and on the go. So now the modern audience can feel like an age-old shape-shifting witch who literally devastates an army of bad guys.
Another tip: It’s worth buying a physical copy of Bayonetta 2 as it also included the download code for the first game. It’s almost always cheaper than buying the downloads separately.
Titan Quest
The Switch has gotten a fantastic port of the stellar ARPG Diablo 3 and will soon receive the iconic Torchlight 2. So fans of isometric (ish) RPGs already have a lot to play, but you can’t overlook Titan. Quest. Diablo and Torchlight have common developers, and both franchises trade in a darker fantasy tone. Torchlight is steampunk-focused, while Diablo relishes the old biblical conflict between heaven and hell.
As such, Titan Quest is a breath of fresh air, even though the game was originally released for PC in 2006. The game takes place in Greece, and its setting and style are based on Greek mythology. Apart from the God of War games, only a few games have plowed on this fertile soil.
The game has been remastered for various platforms and even has ports for Android and iOS, but the Switch version is the most complete portable version. With reimagined physics controls and DLC content not found on the mobile version, there’s plenty of content here for ARPG fans.
The graphics still look pretty good despite their age, and they have proper split-screen co-op play, meaning you and your buddy can roam wherever you go. Titan Quest is definitely an old school ARPG, but sometimes “old school” is exactly what the doctor ordered.
Fast RMX
Soaring vehicle racing games have a solid niche in the gaming world. Nintendo’s consoles are, of course, famous for F-Zero, and on the PlayStation side, we have Wipeout games.
Both series have a long history and strong fan base, so there is a lot to do for the new crown contender. However, when Shin’en Multimedia released Fast Racing Neo for Wii U, they succeeded. This is a great, fast racer with detailed ships and dizzying races on fantastic tracks. The problem is that the Wii U turned out to be a little unfortunate when it came to installation.
We now have Fast RMX, an extended, modified and improved version of the original game. On Switch, the game runs smoothly with a beautiful local split screen. This is one of the nicest games on the console, and with no modern F-Zero or Wipeout to contend with, this is by far the best new hover racing game you can buy today.
Final Fantasy XII – The Age of the Zodiac
Final Fantasy 12 is another game that was originally a port for PS2 and then reworked for PS4. We now have additional ports for Switch and Xbox One. While Final Fantasy games tend to be absolute blockbusters, number 12 has several reasons for this.
The main problem was that it was released very late in the PS2 lifecycle. Just eight months before the PS3 release. For some perspective, this game sold half as much as Final Fantasy 7.
It’s a pity, because this is a real gem. Far more polished than the beloved fully voiced Final Fantasy X game, this game takes us back to Ivalice. A beautiful fantasy world seen in games like the underrated Vagrant Story and the excellent Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions.
The remaster has done wonders for the PS2’s fuzzy graphics, with an FF art style and design language as strong as ever. This Zodiac Age Edition is the definitive version of the game, containing all the quality of life improvements, a new quest system and game patches.
Perfect for this tough game on the go, and there has never been a better way to experience this epic Star Wars-themed fantasy tale with its colorful characters to rescue a brave little kingdom from a seemingly evil empire. … If you love JRPGs but missed FF12, it’s time to pull the trigger.
Dark Souls Remastered
You might be surprised to see Dark Souls on this list because the game is pretty infamous. However, while most players are aware of the game’s existence, not many copies have been sold. The original Dark Souls sold less than 2.5 million copies on PS3, Xbox 360, and PC versions. So this is really a game that many have missed.
There is now an updated version for major platforms, as well as an awesome port for Switch. This is the original game, a little polished. Many were put off by the perceived complexity of the game, but in reality, Dark Souls is just a game of training and planning, and frequent deaths are a normal part of the game cycle.
The move to portable devices really brings a lot of benefits to the game. You can pick and play an iterative loop of this dark fantasy masterpiece whenever you have a few minutes to spare, which means you’re ganked and going back to the last bonfire won’t be particularly frustrating. It’s a beautiful, brutal and very rewarding game. It also doesn’t sell for the full AAA price tag, so there are plenty of reasons to consider adding it to your Switch collection.
Darksiders Warmastered Edition
Darksiders is available on quite a few platforms, starting with the PS3 and Xbox 360. Despite being present on almost every platform you can think of, it has sold just over a million copies. Surprisingly, this is such a good game.
You are playing War, the horseman of the apocalypse. It knocks down the time of the end times, and the world collapses much earlier than it should. For this, the war is punished, although he insists on his innocence. So you’ve decided to find out what went wrong in a dark fantasy action game that spans multiple genres.
The art style is cool graphic novel, the writing is dense and the voice acting is excellent. Especially the performance of Mark Hamill, who plays your demon partner. The action is accurate and similar to God of War with a good dose of 3D Zelda and Devil May Cry.
This is a “Warmastered” edition that includes significant performance and visual effects improvements. The second game in the series also looks to be heading to Switch, while the third is rumored to follow.
Whether you’re into old-school 3D Zeldas, DMC games, or Kratos’s brutal assassinations, this is definitely the name for your Switch.
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