Summary
The Nintendo Switch 2 is on the way and features multiple upgrades, from 4K resolution to a larger screen for playing games such asMario Kart WorldandDonkey Kong: Bananza. However, one function that has many people excited is that games from the original Nintendo Switch arebackwards compatiblewith the Nintendo Switch 2.
The Switch 2 is not the first console to feature backwards compatibility. Other Nintendo consoles have done the same for years, as have consoles from other companies. This allows games to have extended longevity rather than being locked to a specific console that future generations of gamers might not have access to.
7GameCube
Handheld Games Could Be Played On TVs
The home of classic titles such asThe Legend of Zelda: The Wind Wakerand theResident Evilremake, theNintendoGameCubewas the company’s first CD-based console, leaving behind cartridges. As a result, Nintendo 64 games couldn’t be played, but there was another option through the peripheral known as the Game Boy Player.
The Game Boy Player fits flush and blends in with the console, allowing Game Boy, Game Boy Color,and Game Boy Advance gameslikeThe Legend Of Zelda: The Minish Capto be played on big screens. For the time in 2003, that kind of backward compatibility had rarely been seen before outside a similar device for the Nintendo 64.
6Wii
No Accessories Were Needed For GameCube Games
For each generation of CD-based consoles, Nintendo remained loyal to their fans by allowing the previous console’s games to be backward compatible with the newest system. Any owner of theNintendoWiican enjoy titles likeWii SportsandMario Party 8, with the big gimmick being motion controls alongside traditional controller-based options.
Fortunately, GameCube owners were not forcedto leave their favorite games behind, even if their consoles had either stopped working or had been sold. Without any sort of peripheral, they could insert a GameCube disk and controller into the Wii and play their favorite games of that generation.
5Wii U
Wii Games Felt Even Better On The Wii U
On the one hand, theWii Uwas regarded as a lackluster console when it came out due to its over-reliance on the Gamepad, which eventually evolved into the Switch. Fans considered it more of an updated version of the Wii that happenedto feature some strong titlesthat found new homes on the next-generation console.
On the other hand, the Wii U did provide even better ways to play Wii titles and, thanks to the Wii U being Nintendo’s first HD console, they looked and played slightly better. As such, a player could go from playingSuper Mario 3D WorldtoSuper Mario Galaxyfor double the 3D Mario adventures, all on the same console.
43DS
Nintendo DS Games Were Still Viable On The Handheld Console
Arguably, backward compatibility helped keep theNintendo 3DSalive, as it was a console that nearly failed at launch due to a lack of games. Later, titles likeLuigi’s Mansion 2: Dark MoonandThe Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3Dbreathed new life into the handheld console, allowing it to thrive even into the era of the Nintendo Switch.
Fortunately, similar to the mainline consoles, the handhelds maintained a way for previous-generation games to be played. Since the originalNintendo DS had hundreds of titles, many gamers were thankful that they could revisit them on the 3DS, which offered a bigger screen and improved controls thanks to an analog stick instead of a D-Pad.
3PlayStation 5
Sony’s Fifth Console Completely Replaced The Fourth
Times have changed, and the SonyPlayStation 5now has a massive games library, but when the console launched in 2020, the games were as scarce as the consoles themselves. Fortunately, the PlayStation 5 features one of the best upgrades, with the ability toplay almost any PlayStation 4 titlefrom the start and with better loading times and much quieter cooling fans.
As time has gone on, multiple PlayStation 4 titles have gotten PS5 upgrades—some for free, others for a price. Combined with newer titles likeSpider-Man: Miles MoralesandGod Of War: Ragnarok, there was little to no reason to even keep old PS4 consoles around, especially when that console had zero backward compatibility outside of digital games.
2Xbox One
Old Games Were Playable Through Discs And Xbox Game Pass
Microsoft has gone above and beyond to allow their players to keep playing their old games, and the best example was with theXbox One. Not only could gamers play newer titles such asDead Rising 3andHalo 5: Guardians,but Xbox 360 and original Xbox titles could be inserted into the system for nostalgic players.
While not every title was playable, it was still a viable option since there are games stuck on the Xbox and Xbox 360 that are still without any remasters or ports, likeBatman: Arkham Origins, for example. Xbox Game Pass would also becomea viable way to play older titlesdigitally, but physical collectors are thankfully not alienated.
1PlayStation 3
Sony Created The Ideal Triple Threat Console
Like the Xbox One, Sony’s originalPlayStation 3console allowed for three generations of games to be played. One minute, players could be taking inGod Of War 3toenjoy the hack-and-slash action, the next, they could go back a generation to collect power cells inJak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy, and then enjoy Naughty Dog’s other mascot character withCrash Bandicootfor the PS1.
All three models of the PlayStation 3 were able to play original PlayStation titles, but strangely, only the original model was capable of playing PlayStation 2 games. Having all three options was perfect for collectors, since not everyone wants to get rid of their old games, and some older games are hard to find, even at retro game stores and pawn shops.
