Nintendo has released three Game Boy Advance games, previously only available in Japan, for its Nintendo Switch Online service.
The three Legendary Starfy (“The Legend of Starfy”) games are now officially playable in the West for the first time. As seen in Nintendo’s official announcement video, the games remain in Japanese and have not been localized.
Legendary Starfy is a colorful platform game developed by Kyoto-based Nintendo Support Studio Tose, in which players control the prince of the Pufftop Kingdom, a “golden-hearted (and slightly clumsy) hero” who frequently goes on oceanic adventures.
“Join Starfy, his sister Starly and his gruff best friend Moe for a swimmingly slapstick trilogy of games full of vibrant action and adventure, all originally available on the Game Boy Advance system,” Nintendo said.
At the time of the game’s release, TOSE members stated that they wanted to release it outside of Japan, but Nintendo of America felt that it had too many references to Japanese culture for an overseas release.
NES, SNES, Game Boy and Game Boy Color games are available as part of the standard Switch Online subscription, which costs $19.99 / £17.99 / €19.99 for a 12-month individual membership.
However, to play Game Boy Advance games (as well as Mega Drive/Genesis and Nintendo 64 games), you will need a Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription, which costs $49.99 / £34.99 / €39.99.