The Nintendo Switch is a big deal in terms of gaming. It is opening new ways to play, just like Nintendo intended. The console/handheld hybrid is poised to be a must have gadget this year, but I cannot help but think of a game that was doomed to obscurity on the Wii, received a horrible port on Wii U, and can be saved by the Switch.
Rodea The Sky Soldier was Yuji Naka’s spiritual sequel to Nights into Dreams for the Wii that almost became vaporware. It was seemingly saved from development hell with ports for 3DS and an HD Port for Wii U. But the problem became tat the Wii U port was a port of the inferior 3DS version and not a true HD version of the Wii game. The Wii game was packed in with the Wii U retail release’s first run but now is lost to all, with it never being available in any form to anyone again. Or is it?
The Nintendo Switch has multiple playstyles, and using the Joy Con controllers. you can replicate the Wii gameplay to an extent. If Kadokawa Games and Prope were to work together again, they could remaster the original Wii release in true HD and bring it to the Switch. This way, Yuji Naka’s true vision of the game could be experienced by everyone. In fact, the game would benefit greatly from the HD rumble and improvements could be made. This could in fact become the definitive version of the game.
I realize that this will be a lot of work, and for a game like Rodea, this might be risky. This is especially the case since the game didn’t sell very well and the publisher and developer might be hesitant to give this another try. However, the truth is that the Wii u and 3DS versions were simply not good, while the Wii version was excellent. If the Wii version was given a true update with better visuals and factoring in what the Joy Cons can add to it, while not detracting from the original experience, then the game will be much better received. As well, given the massive hype around the Nintendo Switch, this game might even get a much better audience than it ever could have had on the Wii U or Nintendo 3Ds.
I really want to see the original game get a second chance to wow people, and I acknowledge that this is a long shot, but this is exactly the type of game that the Switch can save. It was in development hell for the Wii, suffered on the Nintendo 3Ds and Wii U, but can thrive on the Nintendo Switch. I Hope the developer and publisher consider this.
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The above is solely the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of the rest of Real Otaku Gamer or its staff.