Hello fellow gamers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for August 27th, 2024! Today's update starts with some breaking news, followed by a game review and a look at a new release. We'll wrap things up with our usual sales reports. Let's dive in!
News
Nintendo Direct/Indie World Showcase Recap
As predicted by some insiders, Nintendo surprised us with a last-minute Nintendo Direct! The 40-minute presentation covered partner showcases and indie titles. No first-party reveals or Switch successor news, as expected. You can watch the full presentation above; I'll share a detailed summary tomorrow.
Reviews & Mini-Views
EGGCONSOLE Star Trader PC-8801mkIIsr ($6.49)
These untranslated EGGCONSOLE games always boil down to two key questions: Is the game itself enjoyable? And is it playable without understanding Japanese? Star Trader is intriguing but not outstanding. Falcom blends adventure and side-scrolling shooter elements, but neither aspect shines. The adventure sections feature appealing artwork, and the shooter's attempt at storytelling is unique. Players primarily interact with characters, accept quests, and earn money to upgrade their ship – crucial for navigating the action sequences.
The shooting 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 is more interesting than truly good. This leads us to the language barrier. The adventure parts are text-heavy, requiring player interaction for optimal outcomes. Without Japanese comprehension, players miss half the game and struggle in the other half due to insufficient credits. While brute-forcing is possible, it's not ideal.
Star Trader offers a glimpse into gaming history, showcasing a developer venturing beyond their usual style. However, the extensive Japanese text significantly hinders enjoyment for Western audiences. While some may find it engaging, a strong recommendation is difficult.
SwitchArcade Score: 3/5
Select New Releases
Crypt Custodian ($19.99)
This top-down action-adventure game follows Pluto, a recently deceased cat banished from the afterlife for a mishap. Players explore, battle enemies with a broom, meet quirky characters, fight bosses, and upgrade 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 the Dreamer series and Harpoon Shooter Nozomi. Don't miss out on 1000xRESIST – it's a must-buy! Other titles worth considering include Star Wars games, Citizen Sleeper, Paradise Killer, Haiku, the Robot, and maybe even some Tomb Raider titles. Check out the lists below!
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! Join us tomorrow for a Direct recap, new game coverage, sales updates, and more reviews. Thanks for reading!
