It seems this series is finishing without the appearance of the Switch successor. No matter, as it means the last in this series isn’t being overshadowed by official news. For the Launch Line-Up Of The Switch Successor (In An Alternate Reality) Part 5, there’s four games I’ve got ideas for, with two being sequels to known franchises, one being a familiar sporting theme, and one original idea. As ever, that’s where this starts.

The image used for the game title card is from Stuart Little 3. Yes, there was a third one, though animated rather than live action. And one that never saw a release to cinemas. The character shown is Reeko, a skunk who isn’t well liked within the forest he lives. When the Little’s arrive, he sees them as the answer to all his problems. That being the Beast, who rules over the forest through fear tactics.

Such a plot feels like a pathway to an idea. After all, a 3D platformer works well within those parameters. Several areas of open design, putting missions in each of them with a need to return to different areas to complete new missions when they arrive. The final area, Beast’s Lair, would be where the final boss battle is held. Of course, 3D platformers have much in common with action-adventure games, which is the direction I’m leaning for this concept.

And it’s not just the skunk who is controlled, though the skunk is the first. Though not well liked, the same can be said of the Beast. This game takes the form of building trust in the other forest animals so that, when the time comes, the skunk can rely on them to take down the Beast. Though there are many animals of the forest, only one or two from each area will join.

Those who do join can be swapped to at any point, with their unique skills coming into play. Rabbits can jump high, reaching areas other animals can’t. Boars can break boulders. Otters can swim swiftly through water. Such abilities also have use in combat, with the boar being slow but hitting hard. The skunk can use their spray to disorient enemies. If all your party get zeroed in health, play resumes from the last checkpoint.

In terms of those missions, combat and traversal are the most common. Some of the Beast’s goons are causing issues, a lost item needs to be found, an animal wants a race… those sort of things. Since the Beast also demands a tribute of food given each week, some of the missions will be to help collect and deliver it. Then, of course, there’s boss battle missions, which can take place across the current area.

That does mean that while Beast’s Lair is the final area that opens, the Beast isn’t immediately fought at it. And while there are fewer missions here than other areas, these ones are the toughest and are always mandatory. The mandatory missions will provide animals for the party, with the optional missions providing buffs to them along with a few extra party members.

Metroid. It’s been known that Metroid Prime 4 is coming for what’s felt like the entire life of the Switch. Yet it still hasn’t come. Is there a chance it becomes a cross-generation release? Maybe. Of all of the games featured as part of that joke post of the launch line-up, this is the one I am most unfamiliar with. Included because Metroid Prime 4 really did feel it had taken so long that swapping to the Switch successor was likely.

When the first true trailer for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond arrived, it showed a facility under attack, and also the likely main antagonist for the game. Or not. After all, from my brief reading of things about the franchise, Samus and Sylux are more rivals than enemies. Hunters out for themselves, getting in the way of each other, but never truly being enemies. The relationship between the two is very likely to be explored in this game.

Another thing I’ve seen from that brief reading of the franchise is that the Galactic Federation might hide some secrets. Secrets that could easily be revealed if Beyond does explore the relationship between Samus and Sylux, since the latter dislikes the formal government of the Metroid universe for whatever reason. Since Samus works for the Galactic Federation, it will make for an interesting story should that happen.

And now for some football! This was another inclusion I don’t really have an interest in. But, since I’m talking of every game featured on that image… The one thing I do know is that I never intended this to be just a stand-in for the yearly release of EA FC, or other realistic football games. This was to be something new. But what exactly could be new in the world of football, I had no idea.

If it doesn’t have to be realistic, however… Make it as non-standard as possible. Keep the nets to score goals in, keep most of the rules of football, ditch everything else. Including the distance between the goals. A game of football through a town, within a forest, even among some dunes. These fictional teams hold a match wherever they can, organising a tournament that spans many unique areas one normally wouldn’t play a game of football.

Environmental challenges are in play, with different surfaces affecting both players and the ball. Rather than a full 90 minutes of play, a match lasts until a set amount of goals are scored. That can be as small as just one. It all depends on where the match is being played. Stamina is an important factor to be aware of, as substitutions can only be made after a goal is scored. There’s a lot of strategizing involved, too. Positions are not set, except for the goal keeper, so choice of what the players are doing is up to the manager.

Lastly for these ideas, I’m ending on one I’ve longed for. A new Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime. Simply known as the Slime spin-off series of Dragon Quest, three of these games have been made. Only one, the second release, arrived in stores outside of Japan. And it is that game I spent so much time enjoying, because it’s simplicity was also its greatest strength.

The top-down adventure gameplay sees players control a slime named Rocket in their fight against the mob. Or Plob, in a fun shortening of Platypus Mob. Defeating enemies, hunting down the villagers the Plob kidnapped, and hoarding resources (and enemies) that can then be used in tank battles. Again, a simple thing, but easily the best part of the game.

Just what new stories could be told? The third swapped the setting to that of pirates, which would have been lovely to see. But what of other settings? There’s no need to be serious with it, as the game’s story certainly never tried. It fully accepted its humorous side. As such, let’s go magical with it. The Plob have opened up portals to magical realms, each holding a powerful object.

Rocket heads to these portals, doing battle with the Plob who are currently there. Adventuring through these realms, a few tank battles, a boss battle or two, only to find the object has already been recovered and delivered to their leader. However, the Plob are making use of energy from the powerful object that has found its way into other things. Eventually, Rocket will be able to do the same.

Such powers allow items to be ghosted, burn away certain materials, improve speed, and many others. While Rocket can use all these powers, he will only face one type of power per realm. Until the finale, where they all come into play. The storming of the Plobfather’s base would be the only location, aside from the hub town, not to be a magical realm. And would also feature a lot of tank battles, including one against the Plobfather.

Images Taken From:
Stuart Little 3: Call of the Wild (2005) Photos | IMDb
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond – Announcement Trailer | Nintendo of America
Standard Beach Football Net | Sodex Sport
Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime – Retro Gamer | Everand
–Pocket Power: Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime | Hardcore Gamer