Nintendo expanded its Nintendo Entertainment System Classics library on 1 September. Nintendo Switch Online members can now play Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom, Ikari Warriors and R.C. Pro-Am II. The three additions are available now and offer different kinds of short-session challenge.
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Ninja Gaiden III closes Ryu’s original NES trilogy
The Ancient Ship of Doom places Ryu Hayabusa in the final chapter of the classic three-game run. Its stages ask for precise jumps, fast attacks and careful use of limited special weapons. The challenge often comes from enemies that threaten the landing point rather than the platform itself. New players should move far enough to reveal a threat, then return to stable ground before committing to the jump. Save-state tools can shorten repetition, but learning the position of hazards remains the clearest way to make progress without turning every screen into a blind attempt.
Ikari Warriors requires careful use of limited ammunition
The top-down shooter follows Paul and Vince through enemy territory and includes tanks and helicopters that can change how a section is approached. Ammunition is limited, so firing continuously at empty space can create a problem before the next supply appears. Players should watch the direction of incoming fire, move in short arcs and collect drops only when the path is safe. A vehicle gives additional power but can also encourage a rushed advance. Preserving it through a difficult area is more valuable than driving directly into every visible target.
| Game | Main style |
|---|---|
| Ninja Gaiden III | Fast side-scrolling action |
| Ikari Warriors | Top-down shooting with vehicles |
| R.C. Pro-Am II | Racing across 24 tracks |
| Access | Nintendo Switch Online membership |
R.C. Pro-Am II combines racing with car upgrades
The sequel contains 24 tracks and allows two players to compete together. Cash earned in races can be spent in the model shop on parts that improve the car. That makes a finishing position useful beyond the current event. A player who cannot win immediately can still collect resources and make the next race more manageable. Obstacles and items require attention alongside the racing line, so the fastest apparent route is not always the safest. The bonus events add another opportunity to earn money and championship points without replacing performance in the main series.
Each new game presents a different type of challenge
Nintendo has not filled the update with minor variations of one genre. Ninja Gaiden III rewards memorised movement, Ikari Warriors rewards controlled shooting and R.C. Pro-Am II rewards steering plus long-term upgrades. A player who struggles in one game may be comfortable in another. That variety is the point of the addition. Members can try a short session in each title before deciding where to continue, rather than judging the entire update through the difficulty of the first stage they happen to open.
Save and rewind tools do not change the original games
The Nintendo Classics application makes the three older games easier to open on a current console, but their original design remains unchanged. Instructions are brief, failure can happen quickly and some hazards must be learned from the level itself. Players can check the digital controller guide and try each game several times before changing the button layout. Save and rewind functions can help with practice when they are available. They do not add new weapons, tracks or story scenes to the original releases.
Membership access should be checked on the active account
The three games are part of the NES library for Nintendo Switch Online members. The console must use an account with an active eligible membership and the latest version of the Nintendo Classics application. If the games do not appear, players should close the application and check for an update before deleting local data. Names and availability can differ by region, so the store page shown to the active account provides the relevant information. After the library refreshes, all three games can be opened from the NES collection.
