Nintendo is throwing its family-friendly image to the wind when it comes to the Switch’s indie marketplace. The company, which at one point wouldn’t even allow crosses on in any of its games, now has no problem providing a platform for two of the darkest, more irreverent games out there. These twisted games deal with disturbing issues like mental disorders, violent gory deaths, horrific dungeon crawling, and doctors with fetuses for brains.
The two games in question are from the top of the indie pile, two of the best of the best. Last week, the classic Super Meat Boy finally made the jump to the Switch, making the game available comfortably for the first time on a handheld console. I don’t know about you, but playing Super Meat Boy on the Vita made my thumbs hurt. Its sharp buttons were clearly not designed for the pressure required to play such a tight, unforgiving platformer.
The Switch’s smooth texture has no problems there.
Sadly, the PlayStation 4’s and PS Vita’s soundtrack woes carried over to the Switch, and the original songs are still victims of an unfair and anti-consumer falling out between the composer and the creators.
It might seem like a nitpick, but never underestimate the power of music in your video games. Super Meat Boy just isn’t the same without those original tunes. At least this release prepares us for the upcoming sequel, Super Meat Boy Forever, which is also expected for release in 2018.
As for the other game releasing this weekend, you’re looking at something a bit deeper in Darkest Dungeon. The indie hit first came out way back in early 2016, but I was unable to dedicate enough time to it. Commuting and an onslaught of other games roadblocked my progress, and since I was playing on Steam and tied to a PC, I couldn’t take the game with me wherever and whenever I wanted.
Now, thanks to the mighty portable powers of the Switch, I can enjoy Darkest Dungeon on my commutes throughout the Japanese countryside and finally sink in the time that this game deserves. That’s about the only thing this game has in common with Stardew Valley.
These two indie titles make excellent additions to any collection, and they have no respect for Nintendo’s traditional bright and happy image. Nintendo’s newly discovered gusto in letting games like these on its platforms has helped establish the Switch as its first truly modern console, and it can only benefit by adding more similarly quality titles. Grab ’em up while they’re hot.
