When we look back at the lifespan of the Nintendo Switch, one of the highlights should be the introduction of the games bearing the “99” moniker. Games where 99 players compete in a retro game battle royale. Starting with the immensely popular Tetris 99, the format would create versions of games such as Pac-Man, F-Zero, and the original Super Mario Bros.
Each game has/had a devout fanbase and it seems like they are hungry for another entry into the series, and see a classic get a unique spin. So, here are 5 franchises that I think could be a fun addition to the gimmick. Oh, and Nintendo, please don’t charge $80 for these.
1. Excitebike
F-Zero 99 proved the format works in a racing game, so why not bring back a franchise that hasn’t seen any attention since the Wii?
Now, it may be extremely chaotic if all 99 racers were on the track at the same time, so, I’m thinking the other racers would be ghosts that you can’t make contact with (think TrackMania) or even be represented by a few arrows showing rivals positions, but also have AI racers littered throughout and each time you take one out, you send it to an opponent. The rest can be a time trial. Fastest after three or so laps is the winner. Plus, using the create-a-track function from the original game, Nintendo can create new special themed tracks to coincide with the season or even a new game release.
Throw in XP and unlockable cosmetics and I think you could have a real winner.
2. Contra
The ultimate run-and-gun experience, Contra could really use a boost after some pretty questionable entries.
You could model this after Super Mario Bros. 35 where the goal is to take everything out and make it to the end of the level before time runs out. I think you would need to adjust how many enemies would should up on opponents screens since that would get out of hand pretty quickly, but once you burn through your lives and continues, or run out of time, that’s that. Last person standing wins. You could also throw in powerups at the beginning of levels like invincibility and gun powerups like the spread gun to keep things fresh.
3. WarioWare
Think of the madness!
Keep things simple: an endless wave of different WarioWare style microgames and whoever can last the longest wins. Also can consider adding the mechanic where if you are out, you can spectate and still participate in the games and if you are faster than the slowest person still in the match, you take their place, but you only get one shot. Get down to the final 2 and it’s sudden death.
Use XP earned to unlock different taunts and stickers. Honestly, the more I write this, the more I want to see it happen.
4. Guitar Hero
Probably a little harder to incorporate, but after seeing something like Headbangers Rhythm Royale, this may not be so far-fetched.
The trick would be the control, not everyone hung on to their plastic instruments during the Guitar Hero heyday so you could simply assign buttons on the joy-con to what you normally would on a guitar.
My thinking would be that all 99 players go through the whole song as the difficulty gradually goes up as the song continues. If you successfully complete a solo or a phrase of star notes, you could force an opponent to play an even harder difficulty for a brief time, or take yourself down a level at the cost of score, while being able to hang on to your score streak which could pay off in the long term.
Definitely a lot of hoops to jump through, plus it would most definitely NOT be stream-friendly, which could shelf the entire plan since that’s the main focus of most games anymore, but still could end up being a lot of fun and maybe give the genre a second wind.
5. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater
Hey, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater is good again. Of course this is mainly due to the fact that they are going back to the old games that were tremendous as opposed to making you buy a peripheral that only works when it feels like it.
While I still think Graffiti is the best multiplayer mode, this can be a simple score attack and still get that chaotic feel. Much like an Excitebike version, you wouldn’t have all 99 on the course at the same time, but ghosts or arrows or something like that…until you get to the last 5. Then you can choose to focus squarely on your score, or tag an opponent to knock them down or steal points. It would be time-based, so after, let’s say, 2 minutes, the bottom 10 – 15 skaters would be eliminated, the scores would be reset after each elimination to keep things fair, though you could give the top 10 or so a full special bar to start the next phase with as a reward for placing so high. High score during the final 5 wins.
Lots of opportunities for unlockables through XP like clothes, boards, and skater effects. You could really attain Rocket League levels of customization here.
Granted, a lot of this will already be taking place in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4, but imagine it on a much grander scale and I think you would have something.
That’s just a few off the top of my head. Do you have others? Would you play these battle royale style games? Let me know!
