The end of the year is often a good time for announcements that awaken players’ memories. This holiday season, Nintendo continues to enrich its subscription service Switch Online + Additional Packwith the addition of two cult games from the era Nintendo 64. These classics are now playable for free for all subscribers to the premium offer, which costs €39.99 per year.
Their discreet but striking arrival clearly illustrates Nintendo’s strategy: bringing its rich retro catalog to life while offering modern players a dive into the origins of the 3D platform game.
Rayman 2, a timeless masterpiece
The first title is Rayman 2: The Great Escapeoriginally released in 1999. Developed by Ubisoft, this game remains considered by many fans to be one of the best 3D platform games of its generation.
With its enchanting universe, its varied environments and its unforgettable soundtrack, Rayman 2 offers a rich adventure, mixing action, exploration and poetry. This is the second great adventure of the character created by Michel Ancel, now back on Switch to the delight of nostalgic fans.
Its fluid gameplay and well-established mechanics still provide a pleasant gaming experience today, proof of the longevity of this classic.
Tonic Trouble, the forgotten comic UFO
The second game added is none other than Tonic Troublealso developed by Ubisoft and launched at the same time as Rayman 2. Less known, this title follows the adventures of Ed, a blundering alien who accidentally sowed chaos on Earth by spilling a strange purple liquid.
In the tradition of Rayman, Tonic Trouble offers colorful and burlesque platform gameplay, with an assumed humorous tone. Although the game enjoyed more limited success, it remains a piece of video game history that deserves to be rediscovered.
This return to Switch allows it to broaden its audience and perhaps finally find the recognition that it did not have upon its release.
A strategy that promotes video game heritage
Nintendo confirms, with this new update, its desire to make Switch Online + Additional Pack a true interactive video game museum. These two games perfectly illustrate the spirit of experimentation and creativity that characterized the late 90s on console.
For new players, it’s an opportunity to discover experiences that have shaped the platform genre. For older players, it’s an immediate return to childhood, with period graphics and sometimes demanding difficulty.
By adding Rayman 2 And Tonic Trouble to its library, Nintendo further strengthens the interest of its premium subscription, while paying homage to an often forgotten part of video game history.