Greetings, readers! Welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for August 27th, 2024. Today's update begins with some noteworthy news, followed by a game review and a look at a new release. We'll wrap things up with our usual sales summaries. Let's dive in!
News
Nintendo Direct/Indie World Showcase Recap
As predicted by some sources, Nintendo surprised us with a last-minute Nintendo Direct! The 40-minute presentation covered partner showcases and Indie World highlights. While first-party titles and Switch successor news were absent, the showcase offered plenty to discuss. You can watch the full presentation above; a detailed summary will follow tomorrow.
Reviews & Mini-Views
EGGCONSOLE Star Trader PC-8801mkIIsr ($6.49)
Evaluating untranslated EGGCONSOLE releases always boils down to two key questions: gameplay quality and enjoyability without Japanese language comprehension. Star Trader, a Falcom title, blends adventure game elements with side-scrolling shooter stages, but neither aspect truly excels. The adventure sections feature appealing artwork, and the shooter's narrative approach is intriguing. Gameplay involves interacting with characters, undertaking quests to earn money for ship upgrades, which are crucial for navigating the shooting sequences.
The shooter segments, however, suffer from the PC-8801's limited scrolling capabilities, resulting in a jerky experience. The game's structure is unclear, but Star Trader proves more captivating than truly excellent. This leads to the second question: The adventure sections are text-heavy, demanding player comprehension for optimal progress. Without understanding Japanese, you'll miss a significant portion of the game and struggle to earn sufficient credits for ship upgrades. While brute-forcing is possible, it's far from ideal.
Star Trader offers a glimpse into gaming history, showcasing a developer venturing beyond their usual style. However, the extensive Japanese text significantly hinders accessibility for Western players. While some enjoyment might be gleaned through experimentation, a strong recommendation is difficult.
SwitchArcade Score: 3/5
New Releases
Crypt Custodian ($19.99)
This top-down action-adventure game stars Pluto, a recently deceased cat, banished from the afterlife for a mishap and sentenced to eternal cleaning duties. Explore, battle enemies with a broom, encounter quirky characters, defeat bosses, and upgrade abilities. This genre entry is surprisingly well-executed and recommended for fans of the style.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
For fans of colorful shooters with unique mechanics, consider the Dreamer series and Harpoon Shooter Nozomi. Don't miss out on 1000xRESIST—it's a must-buy! Other titles worth exploring include Star Wars games, Citizen Sleeper, Paradise Killer, Haiku, the Robot, and perhaps some Tomb Raider titles. Check the lists below!
New Sales
Return ($10.49 from $13.99 until 9/2) Summer Daze: Tilly’s Tale ($2.99 from $14.99 until 9/9) Please Fix the Road ($5.99 from $9.99 until 9/9) Ticket to Ride ($26.99 from $29.99 until 9/9) King ‘n Knight ($9.59 from $11.99 until 9/9) Spiritfarer ($7.49 from $29.99 until 9/9) Harpoon Shooter Nozomi ($6.98 from $9.98 until 9/16) Like Dreamer ($5.99 from $11.99 until 9/16) Cosmo Dreamer ($4.10 from $8.20 until 9/16) Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate ($8.99 from $59.99 until 9/16) Gluck ($5.59 from $6.99 until 9/16) Love Love School Days ($4.19 from $10.49 until 9/16) Ugly ($6.79 from $19.99 until 9/16) Replik Survivors ($3.44 from $4.99 until 9/16)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, August 28th
1000xRESIST ($15.99 from $19.99 until 8/28) Citizen Sleeper ($9.99 from $19.99 until 8/28) Genesis Noir ($4.49 from $14.99 until 8/28) Haiku, The Robot ($9.99 from $19.99 until 8/28) Heads Up! Phones Down Edition ($1.99 from $39.99 until 8/28) Legend Bowl ($18.74 from $24.99 until 8/28) MythForce ($14.99 from $29.99 until 8/28) Paradise Killer ($5.99 from $19.99 until 8/28) Star Wars Battlefront Collection ($28.00 from $35.01 until 8/28) Star Wars Bounty Hunter ($14.99 from $19.99 until 8/28) Star Wars Episode I Racer ($7.49 from $14.99 until 8/28) Star Wars Jedi Academy ($9.99 from $19.99 until 8/28) Star Wars Jedi Outcast ($4.99 from $9.99 until 8/28) Star Wars KotOR ($7.49 from $14.99 until 8/28) Star Wars KotOR II: Sith Lords ($7.49 from $14.99 until 8/28) Star Wars Republic Commando ($7.49 from $14.99 until 8/28) Star Wars The Force Unleashed ($9.99 from $19.99 until 8/28) Super Mutant Alien Assault ($1.99 from $9.99 until 8/28) Suzerain ($4.49 from $17.99 until 8/28) The Pale Beyond ($9.99 from $19.99 until 8/28) Times & Galaxy ($17.99 from $19.99 until 8/28) Tomb Raider I-III Remastered ($22.49 from $29.99 until 8/28)
That's all for today. Join us tomorrow for a Direct recap, new game releases, sales updates, and more reviews. Have a great Tuesday!
