When it comes to more GameCube classics making the jump to Nintendo Switch, it appears we’ll be whistling into the wind (waker), as the House that Mario built just provided a concerning update.
While Nintendo has been playing catch-up with Microsoft and Sony in terms of backward compatibility, it has been rapidly consuming its retro consoles. Following the addition of NES and SNES games, we have added N64 and forthcoming Game Boy and Game Boy Advance titles.
Despite this, there is a significant gap in the back catalogue. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that the GameCube will receive some much-needed love and attention, despite the fact that there’s no rhyme or reason to when and what retro games Nintendo releases.
Experience a remastered collection of the classic RPGs that were originally released on Nintendo GameCube when Baten Kaitos Ⅰ & Ⅱ HD Remaster soars onto #NintendoSwitch this summer! #NintendoDirect pic.twitter.com/ZcdOBmSbzE
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) February 9, 2023
On a similar note, a few GameCube remasters have made their way to the Switch. In addition to the recent release of the Metroid Prime remaster, Tales of Symphonia will be released on February 17.
Nintendo is eager to capitalise on GameCube nostalgia by releasing two more remasters this summer. You may be disappointed to learn that Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean will be released alongside Baten Kaitos Origins.
Nintendo has just released a trailer for the Baten Kaitos I & II HD Remaster bundle, which will contain these two role-playing games. You are not alone in wondering what these titles are. With so many classic adventures on the GameCube, players are justified in asking why these… and why now?
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REACTIONS OF GAMERS TO GAMECUBE GAMES
It’s true that Baten Kaitos Origins is worthless because it was never released in Europe, but when it comes to GameCube games we’d like to see remastered, the obscure pair is likely near the bottom of our list.
This announcement has not gone unnoticed, and the bundle has been criticised for a variety of reasons in the comments section. Specifically, there were grumbles that there is no English dub.
There were calls for additional GC games elsewhere. One critic wrote, “Paper Mario TTYD remaster Mario Sunshine remaster Wind Waker HD port,” while another said, “Nintendo could literally remaster a handful of Gamecube games, sell them for $40 each like Metroid Prime, and run to the bank.”
A third said, “It’s f*****g annoying that the GameCube market is in such high demand but has such low supply, and that Nintendo insists on keeping the entire library in the vault with the exception of Metroid Prime and Mario Sunshine (3D All Stars).”
Someone else reasoned, “When a new console is released, Nintendo has a terrible habit of resetting all of their older games to factory settings. When Switch 2 is finally released, I hope these games are ported directly over.”
So, what’s going on? The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker did receive an HD remaster for the Wii U, but that doesn’t help us play it on Nintendo Switch. For the time being, we are relegated to purchasing remasters of a handful of games, all the while wishing for a complete GameCube library on NSO.
