As the Switch’s shelf life continues, the deals associated with its Nintendo Switch Online features only grow sweeter. Closer to the console’s release, the transition from free online capabilities to a paid online service was a rough one, and there’s still some contention over whether it was the right move. Nintendo Switch Online didn’t have many great bonuses to incentivize itself at the start, but they’ve grown considerably over time through an ever-expanding library of retro titles. The Expansion Pack add-on went through a similar cycle, with many now considering it thanks to the addition of Game Boy Advance titles to its initial N64 and Sega Genesis offering.
Retro game releases have slowed down in 2023, but more are on the way. The N64, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and GBA libraries are still working through their revealed line-ups, and the occasional title for another system also comes out. Pokemon fans in particular are keen on getting their hands on upcoming titles, as the system looks to be a fantastic place to play old Pokemon spin-offs. The only Pokemon titles out so far are Pokemon Snap and Pokemon Puzzle League, but with the Pokemon Trading Card Game and both Pokemon Stadium's on their way, the value proposition is immense. It would be even better if Nintendo rounds out this set with Pokemon’s two-title foray into digital pinball.
The Pokemon Pinball Titles Are Surprisingly Fun
Pokemon’s original wave of popularity was still going strong in the summer of 1999, and that’s when the original Pokemon Pinball hit North America. The game was successful enough to produce a direct sequel, the 2003 Pokemon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire for the GBA. Pokemon Pinball played like a typical pinball game, with the main objective being to set a high score. Various Pokemon made up the play spaces of each game's two available tables, and a variety of different board transitions and minigames offered even more cameos. The actual pinball simulation could be better, but the wide variety of gameplay scenarios still satisfied players.
Pokemon Pinball’s real strength, however, comes from its unique secondary objective. Both titles have Pokedexes, the first covering the original 151 Pokemon and the second focusing on Generation 3. Filling the Pokedex is a persistent goal, and the process for doing so is both involved and varied. Pokemon can be caught, evolved, found in different locations, and even hatched in Ruby & Sapphire. Minigames and even boss fights with legendary Pokemon break up the action, and there’s even different Poke Balls and a Ruby & Sapphire-exclusive item shop. Players can spend hours on both games despite their compact nature, and the original title still holds merit due to emphasizing the Game Boy Color’s vibrant palette and rumble feature.
Pokemon Pinball Would Add Great Value to Nintendo Switch Online
If Nintendo intends to add each represented console's highlights to its Nintendo Switch Online program, then the Pokemon Pinball titles cannot be passed up. Both of them were successful, with Ruby & Sapphire selling over one million copies worldwide. They were also critical darlings, and may have inspired Nintendo to pursue Mario Pinball Land and Metroid Prime Pinball in subsequent years. Pokemon Pinball and its sequel have earned their placements in any collections of Game Boy and Game Boy Advance stand-outs.
Their presence will also feel like another set is closer to completion. For all the complaints of mainline Pokemon titles being too formulaic, Pokemon's spin-offs are some of the most diverse experiences associated with a Nintendo brand. Many are fondly remembered, and having the ones from the N64 and Game Boy days collected in Nintendo Switch Online will draw attention. Even if the regular old Pokemon titles never make it to Nintendo Switch Online, at least Pokemon fans will still have plenty of great games to play.