Nintendo is continuing to roll out more NES classic titles for the Switch's new premium online service. The Nintendo Network went premium this past September for the Switch, and it initially launched with nearly two dozen games from the NES era that had online play enabled. Three more games have now joined that line-up.
The three titles include NES Open Tournament Golf, Solomon's Key, and Super Dodge Ball. You're probably already familiar with Super Dodge Ball, which was easily one of the more popular games on the NES for those of you who enjoyed the Kunio Kun games from the River City Ransom series. The dodge ball title features the characters from Kunio's popular adventures, doing battle across various public and school courts where the rivals vie to become the biggest and best dodge ball players in the region.
The gameplay is pretty simple; you can charge up and throw the ball and attempt to hit the players in the face and knock them out of the game. The NES title originally launched way back in 1988, but the re-release for the Nintendo Switch is designed around the new online multiplayer mode, which is a feature that has been a staple of emulators for quite some time now.
Solomon's Key is a far lesser known title. You take on the role of Dana, who must traverse the treacherous dungeons in order to free fairies in each level, acquire a magical key, and find the hidden bell. It's a side-scrolling game with a lot of challenge that sees players venturing across 40 stages while utilizing Dana's magical abilities to overcome the various foes. Sadly, you won't be able to make use of the Switch's online capabilities with Solomon's Key, but if you were in the mood to play an old-school, 8-bit side-scroller that wasn't Super Mario Bros., or the knock-off clone known as Giana Sisters, then you can give Solomon's Key a go right now.
Last but not least is NES Open Tournament Golf. This is a golf game in case the name didn't give it away. You can play golf across three different modes, including Stroke, Match, and Tournament. The 8-bit golfing simulator features only three fantasy courses spanning the U.S.A., the U.K., and Japan. The challenge is rather simple, as you'll only have to deal with aiming and giving the right amount of power to the ball. The wind variable might prove to be a minor nuisance, but otherwise it's pretty straightforward.
Unfortunately, it doesn't seem as if you'll be able to make use of the online multiplayer in NES Open Tournament Golf either, which makes this latest batch of NES games for the premium online service only 1 in 3 when it comes to taking advantage of the new feature.
You can presently get your hands on the three games if you already have a premium account for the Nintendo Switch, which is available in several tiers, including a single month, three months, a year, and a family account for multiple consoles. Over on the Nintendo membership page you can find out more about the classic NES games and the pricing details.
