Unlock the Past - Redefining DS Gaming on 'Switch 2'
Porting Challenges and Solutions
The reason why many beloved classic DS titles remain trapped on the old Developer System is due to the pesky form factor. A lot of DS games were specifically designed for the DS, with its two screens, precise touch controls, microphone, and other essential features. Our faithful Switches can't replicate all of these elements. However, developers have made efforts. The Switch has hosted excellent DS ports like Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective, which squeezed the action onto one panel and substituted touch controls with accurate analogue stick inputs. Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX relegated the upper screen map to an in-game menu and team statuses to the top corner. Castlevania Dominus Collection came with various display options.Although the Switch has made a good attempt at bringing DS games over, the number of significant titles is relatively small compared to the Wii U library. The Wii U posed an easier porting problem as the GamePad was not frequently used.
Reimagining the Dual-Screen on 'Switch 2'
Seeing a YouTube Short from @BigShirtGames running DS games on a Switch in 'Tate Mode' with Joy-Con attached via a Flip Grip was a revelation. It required a hacked Switch and accessories, but it showed the potential of reimagining the two screens on a single OLED with touchscreen capabilities. This feels like a no-brainer feature for 'Switch 2'. Imagine having the ability to attach our magnetic Joy-Con on the X-axis, adding a microphone, and including a good selection of DS games in a console-specific NSO library. It would capture the attention of the dual-screen generation and potentially lead to a significant sales influx without the need for a new 3D Mario.What if we could tether our old Switch screen to the new one and replicate the classic dual-screen approach? Maybe the mysterious USB-C port on the top of the 'Switch 2' designs serves this purpose. Nintendo aims to reach multiple Switches in every household, and this could be a sure way to ensure multiple screens stick around.
Bringing Back the Wii U Approach
Since the 'Switch 2' is unlikely to ditch the hybrid model, why not bring back the Wii U approach to the DS Virtual Console? Allowing for simultaneous play on the TV and in handheld mode like the GamePad doesn't seem like a far-fetched idea. It may not be the most elegant workaround, especially if it limits DS games to TV play only, but it's another option.These are just some of the mock-ups and ideas we've presented. We want to hear from you, our lovely readers. What would be your ideal way to play DS games on 'Switch 2'? Is it one of the approaches we've suggested, or do you have a different idea altogether?
You can let us know by filling in the following poll and then taking to the comments to share your dual-screen dreams.What would be your ideal way to play DS games on 'Switch 2'? (141 votes)Keep the 'second screen' to the pause menu 8%Provide different layouts on a single screen, Dominus Collection-style 27%Screen in Tate Mode with Joy-Con on the side 27%A separate, attachable screen for the top 17%Wii U GamePad-style simultaneous handheld/TV play 16%Pfft, we don’t need DS games any more – get out of the past, grandad! 4%Other (comment below) 1%
