Hello, gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for August 27th, 2024! Today, we begin with some exciting news, followed by a review, a look at a new release, and our usual sales rundowns. Tonight's Nintendo Direct/Indie World Showcase is a mystery, but you'll know the answer soon enough! Let's dive in!
News
Nintendo Direct/Indie World Showcase
As predicted by some insiders, Nintendo surprised us with a last-minute Nintendo Direct! We're getting a 40-minute presentation covering partner showcases and Indie World highlights. While first-party reveals are unlikely, and any news about the Switch's successor is definitely out of the question, you can watch the presentation above. I'll summarize the key takeaways tomorrow.
Reviews & Mini-Views
EGGCONSOLE Star Trader PC-8801mkIIsr ($6.49)
With untranslated EGGCONSOLE releases, two questions always arise: Is the game itself good? And is it enjoyable without understanding Japanese? Star Trader is interesting, but not great. Falcom blends a Japanese-style adventure game with side-scrolling shooter stages, but neither element excels. The adventure segments feature appealing art, and the shooter's attempt at storytelling is unique. You'll mostly converse with characters, accept quests, and earn money to upgrade your ship—crucial for navigating the action sequences.
The shooter segments, however, suffer from the PC-8801's limited scrolling capabilities, resulting in a choppy experience. It's unclear which game element is meant to be dominant, but Star Trader is more intriguing than genuinely good. This leads to the second question: The adventure sections are text-heavy, requiring player input for optimal outcomes. Without understanding Japanese, you miss half the game and likely hinder your progress in the other half due to insufficient credits for ship upgrades. While brute-forcing is possible, it won't be enjoyable.
Star Trader offers a glimpse into gaming history, showcasing a developer venturing beyond their usual style. However, the abundance of Japanese text significantly limits its appeal to Western players. While some enjoyment might be gleaned from experimentation, a strong recommendation is difficult.
SwitchArcade Score: 3/5
Select 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 with the Afterlife Guardian, and sentenced to eternal cleaning. Explore, battle enemies with your broom, meet quirky characters, defeat bosses, and upgrade your abilities. It's a familiar formula, but executed well. Fans of the genre should definitely check it out.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
For fans of colorful shooters with unique mechanics, I recommend Dreamer series and Harpoon Shooter Nozomi. Don't miss out on 1000xRESIST—buy it! Other noteworthy titles on sale include Star Wars games, Citizen Sleeper, Paradise Killer, Haiku, the Robot, and perhaps some Tomb Raider titles. Check the lists!
Select 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! We'll be back tomorrow with a Direct recap, new games, sales, and more reviews. Have a great Tuesday, and thanks for reading!
