Drill Down & Dream On: Namco Classics Hit NSO GBA, But The Real Magic Might Be In The Virtual Boy's Return...
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Nintendo's adding classic Namco GBA titles *Mr. Driller 2* and *Klonoa: Empire of Dreams* to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, offering a dose of delightful retro fun, but it's the quirky GBA app Easter egg and the utterly bonkers announcement of Virtual Boy games (complete with accessories!) that really show Nintendo embracing its wonderfully weird past.
Right, so you know that feeling when you're rummaging through a dusty old spellbook, hoping to find something genuinely mind-bending, and instead you pull out... well, two perfectly good but perhaps slightly predictable charms? That's a bit how I felt when Nintendo dropped the news about the latest Game Boy Advance additions to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack. But, stick with me, mate, because beneath the surface, there's a couple of genuinely interesting threads, and one absolutely bonkers revelation.
First up, on September 25th, we're getting two Namco classics: the perpetually addictive *Mr. Driller 2* and the charmingly delightful *Klonoa: Empire of Dreams*. Now, for those of us who've been around the digital block a few times, these aren't exactly obscure indies, are they? These are proper, bona fide slices of gaming history, lovingly rendered in 16-bit glory for Nintendo's most excellent handheld.
Let's talk *Mr. Driller 2* first. Oh, the humanity! Or rather, the drills and the quickly suffocating air pockets. This game, for the uninitiated, is pure, unadulterated arcade puzzle goodness. It started life shoving quarters down its gullet in Japanese arcades before making the leap to the GBA as a launch title in Japan (and eventually, worldwide). If you've never experienced the frantic joy of digging, strategically matching coloured blocks, and trying desperately not to run out of air, you're in for a treat. It's got that 'one more go' vibe that hooks you harder than a particularly sticky goblin trap. It's the kind of game that seems simple on the surface, but a few minutes in, you're sweating, your brain is doing mental gymnastics, and you're wondering if you just accidentally summoned an entire avalanche of multi-coloured blocks onto your poor Dr. Susumu Hori. (Yes, he's the star – don't ask about his dad, that's another rabbit hole.) The fact that it's made a comeback on the Wii U Virtual Console tells you something about its enduring appeal. Nintendo clearly knows a good thing when they see it, even if they occasionally forget about it for a decade or two.
Then we've got *Klonoa: Empire of Dreams*. Now, Klonoa's a bit of a curious creature, isn't he? He started his journey on the PlayStation, charming players with his unique blend of platforming and 'grab-and-throw' mechanics. *Empire of Dreams* is a 2D spin-off, and honestly, a brilliant one at that. It takes the core Klonoa charm – the big ears, the wind bullet, the vaguely unsettling yet utterly adorable design – and translates it perfectly into a side-scrolling adventure. It leans a bit more into the puzzle side of platforming, introducing a whole new realm (the titular Empire of Dreams, naturally) to explore. For those who loved the original console games, this GBA entry was a delightful surprise, proving that a beloved character could translate seamlessly to a different dimension. For newcomers, it's a fantastic entry point into a series that, let's be fair, doesn't always get the mainstream attention it deserves. It's got heart, it's got clever level design, and it's just a bloody good time. It makes you wonder why more companies don't leverage their established IPs for clever handheld spin-offs these days, doesn't it?
So, two solid additions. No complaints there. But here's where my wizardly senses started tingling a bit more than usual. These drops are part of the NSO + Expansion Pack, which, let's be honest, has always felt a *touch* like Nintendo's slightly awkward attempt to justify a premium tier. We get N64, Sega Genesis, and GBA games – a treasure trove for retro enthusiasts, no doubt. But the drip-feed approach can sometimes feel less like a grand unveiling and more like an old faucet slowly leaking nostalgia. Is this another example of them testing the waters? Are they just trying to fill out the library with accessible, well-known titles before they unleash something truly wild? Or are they simply playing the long game, slowly building an unbeatable archive?
But wait, there's more! Because alongside this news, Nintendo has been dropping some wonderfully quirky bombshells that genuinely tickle my optimistically chaotic fancy. Earlier this month, someone at Nintendo decided to bake in a glorious little Easter egg to the GBA app itself. If you're feeling adventurous and, say, twiddle the analogue stick around a bit, you're apparently treated to the classic GBA bootup sequence. Bloody brilliant! It's such a small, unnecessary, yet utterly delightful detail. It speaks to that rare kind of developer love that sometimes shines through the corporate veneer – the kind of thing that makes you think, 'Ah, so someone *really* cared about this.' It's the digital equivalent of finding a secret passage in an old castle, leading to a room full of forgotten sweets.
And then, at a recent Nintendo Direct, they announced... wait for it... Virtual Boy games are coming to Switch Online. And not just the games, oh no. A dedicated accessory to play them in *3D*. In both plastic and cardboard varieties, no less. Now, if that isn't peak 'Jeff accidentally blew a hole through reality' energy, I don't know what is. The Virtual Boy! The console that nearly killed Nintendo (or at least, gave it a mighty hangover). The red menace. The eye-strain machine. The glorious, bewildering flop of a system that most companies would prefer to sweep under a very large, very red rug. And yet, here it is, resurrected! With a cardboard accessory! This, my friends, is not just news; it's a philosophical statement. It's Nintendo saying, 'Yes, we made mistakes. But sometimes, those mistakes were *interesting* mistakes. And now you can experience them too, with optional ocular discomfort!' It’s a bold move, a curio for the ages, and frankly, I'm here for it. It genuinely exemplifies gaming technology actually serving players – or at least, serving our collective curiosity for the wonderfully bizarre. What does this mean for the future of NSO? Is it just a one-off joke, or are they planning to unearth even more forgotten relics from the Nintendo vault? Will the Power Glove be next? A man can dream, can't he?
So, while the Namco classics are a solid, welcome addition, offering great fun and a nostalgic trip down memory lane, it's these little sparks of unexpected joy and audacious retro-resurrection that really get my digital wizard wand twitching. It reminds us that even within the sometimes predictable world of corporate gaming announcements, there's always room for a bit of playful chaos and a genuine nod to the bizarre history that makes this medium so utterly captivating. Fair dinkum, Nintendo, you've kept us guessing again. And honestly? I wouldn't have it any other way.
Tags: Retro Gaming, Nintendo Switch Online, Game Boy Advance, Virtual Boy, Gaming History
Original article: Eurogamer