More N64 Games Coming To Nintendo Switch Online Including Goldeneye
One of the many, many announcements made by Nintendo during their Direct today was what was coming up next for NSO (Nintendo Switch Online). And there was one addition in particular no one ever thought they’d see happen: Goldeneye 007.
The game was unarguably one of the most popular for the N64, yet it’s never been re-released officially for any system, and there’s a reason for that: first developer Rare lost the Bond license, and then Microsoft bought Rare. Rare was not allowed to republish Goldeneye without the permission of both Nintendo and MGM, so that was that. Unofficial “remakes” have been created in the years since that use the Goldeneye name, but the original was only playable on emulators and nowhere else.
But it’s a different world now. Nintendo and Microsoft are on friendly terms and MGM seems willing to play ball, so sometime soon, Goldeneye 007 will be released once more for both Nintendo Switch Online and XBox Game Pass. Each version will have its own strengths. The XBox version will be in 4K, while the Switch version will have online multiplayer (I’m sure online multiplayer would’ve been possible on the XBox, but Big N likely demanded something exclusive).
Eight more N64 games were also confirmed for NSO: 1080 Snowboarding, Pilotwings 64, Excitebike 64, the three Mario Party games and the two Pokemon Stadium games. It’s Pokemon Stadium that has this reporter wondering. Functionally, they’re hollow shells for the Game Boy games. You stick your Transfer Pak in so you can upload your monsters and fight more challenging battles with them. There are “rental” Pokemon in the game, but they’re not nearly as good. Plus, whole sections of the map would be non-functional like the Lab and the GB Tower.
The Game Boy ROMs are in the cart; they’re how you can play them at Dodrio speed. If Nintendo unlocked them and made them functional in the raw ROM, then you could play them, transfer the Pokemon to Stadium and fight the Cups properly. Will they do it? They’d have to; otherwise adding Stadium and Stadium 2 to NSO has no point.
Wait, what’s this fine print?
A THOUSAND CURSES!!!
Pilotwings, Mario Party and Mario Party 2 are confirmed for 2022, while the others will be added in 2023. Goldeneye will show up whenever it shows up. Mischief Makers would be nice at some point, just saying.
September 14, 2022 @ 1:33 pm
They intend to keep playing Smash Bros. 64 all the way to the end, don’t they? I was shocked to see Mario Party 1-3 so quickly and so closely together. I hope to play more Rare games soon, like Donkey Kong 64, Diddy Kong Racing, Banjo-Tooie, Conker, and more. Being back is sick, Goldeneye! I hope the next generation will enjoy a good Bond game that can continue the legacy of Golden Eye.
September 14, 2022 @ 1:38 pm
Happy to see the announcement of Pilotwings 64. I’m hoping the upcoming wave will include Mischief Makers and Ogre Battle 64! I do miss some of these old games and Switch Bringing them back is just cool.
September 14, 2022 @ 1:42 pm
The lineup for this wave is strong. I was a little bummed that there was no Smash 64 or Diddy Kong Racing, but Stadiums, Mario Parties, Excitebike 1080, and Pilotwings were all excellent enough on their own. Since Goldeneye is now the second Rare game added after Banjo-Kazooie, hopefully, more games will be added in the future. This release opens the chance of getting revivals.
September 14, 2022 @ 1:43 pm
I am incredibly excited about these entries! Finally! Mario Party 1 and 3 get some re-release. Although I’m disappointed that Smash didn’t get included in this lineup, these games are pretty good, and I hope this will encourage more subscribers to get the Expansion Pass.
September 14, 2022 @ 1:49 pm
I am so happy about these entries! The first two Mario Party games, 1 and 3, have FINALLY been given new life. I am disappointed that Super Smash 64 is not included in this setlist, but all of these games are incredibly high quality, and I hope this will encourage more people to get the Expansion Pass!
September 14, 2022 @ 1:55 pm
I can hardly wait when both of the new Pokemon stadiums are included! It’s a little disappointing that there is no workable way for us to include the Gameboy Pokemon games or animals in it. Still, fortunately, both of these challenges may be completed without them. Because I’ve been there, done that, I should know.
September 14, 2022 @ 1:57 pm
I cannot express how excited I am about the news that we will soon be able to play N64 games within the app. I am particularly ecstatic about the release of Pilotwings 64, Mario Party 3, and Goldeneye because the latter was a game I was never allowed to play back in its original incarnation. Despite this, I’m a little anxious about playing that terrible Tug of War game in Mario Party 1. I may give up and admit defeat on purpose because I don’t want to risk damaging my joycon stick or making their drift issues worse. Even though there is a possibility that other systems getting to the NSO in the upcoming direct, I cannot express how pleased I am with this most recent upgrade. Thank you, Nintendo!