Nintendo has expanded its Nintendo Switch Online retro library with four iconic titles: Battletoads, Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos, Bionic Commando, and Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters. These additions bring a mix of legendary difficulty, innovative gameplay mechanics, and nostalgic charm to modern players.
Battletoads, originally released in 1991 for the NES, is a beat ’em up developed by Rare. The game stars three anthropomorphic toads, Rash, Zitz, and Pimple, who battle against the evil Dark Queen. Known for its punishing difficulty, Battletoads combines side-scrolling combat with platforming and vehicle-based stages, most famously the Turbo Tunnel level that tested the reflexes of an entire generation. The game was designed to rival the popularity of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles titles and is remembered as one of the most technically impressive NES releases of its time.
Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos, released in 1990 by Tecmo, is the second entry in the acclaimed Ninja Gaiden trilogy for the NES. Players once again take control of Ryu Hayabusa, who must stop the villain Ashtar from plunging the world into darkness. The game builds on the cinematic storytelling of its predecessor, offering cutscenes that were groundbreaking for the era. Gameplay features fast-paced hack-and-slash action with new mechanics such as Ryu’s ability to summon shadow clones that mimic his movements, adding strategic depth to combat. Its difficulty remains legendary, cementing Ninja Gaiden II as a cornerstone of NES action gaming.
Bionic Commando, developed by Capcom and released for the NES in 1988, stands out for its unique gameplay mechanic: the protagonist, Ladd Spencer, cannot jump. Instead, he uses a bionic arm equipped with a grappling hook to swing across gaps, climb structures, and attack enemies. This innovation set the game apart from other platformers of its time. The plot involves rescuing Super Joe and stopping the Empire’s sinister “Albatros” project, with the Japanese version famously featuring references to Nazi imagery and Adolf Hitler, later altered for international releases. The Game Boy adaptation in 1992 further expanded the series reach, and the franchise remains a cult classic.
Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters, released in 1991 for the Game Boy, is the sequel to the NES classic Kid Icarus. Developed by Nintendo R&D1, the game follows the angelic hero Pit as he battles the demon Orcos to save Angel Land. Unlike its predecessor, this installment was never released in Japan until decades later via the 3DS Virtual Console. Gameplay blends side-scrolling and vertical platforming with RPG-like elements, as Pit collects items and upgrades to strengthen his abilities. The title is remembered for its charming mythological setting and its role in keeping the Kid Icarus series alive until its revival with Kid Icarus: Uprising in 2012.
This is the kind of update that preserves the availability of classic video games and allows new generations to have proper access to Nintendo's origins.
