Tag: featured

Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for March 23rd, 2023. In today’s article, we kick things off with a couple of reviews. I take a look at Playism and kouri’s Ib, while our pal Mikhail has a look at the latest DLC expansion to Two Point Campus. After that, it’s time for the new releases summaries. We’ve got more than a dozen new games to check out, and there are a few really good ones in there. As always, we finish off with the lists of new and expiring sales. Let’s get to business!

Reviews & Mini-Views

Ib ($14.99)

As I mentioned when I recently reviewed Paranormasight, I’m not good with horror games. I do make exceptions once in a while if it is a game I’ve heard a lot of interesting things about though, and that’s where kouri’s Ib comes into the picture. Ib was originally released for free on PC over a decade ago, and it was remade for PC last year. That remake has been brought to the eShop via publisher Playism, and given the game’s semi-legendary status within its category, I figured I would check it out.

Ib sees you stepping into the shoes of a young girl named Ib in an art gallery with her parents. As Ib, you start walking around and looking at works of art. Some stuff happens, and you find yourself alone. This is where the mystery-horror blend begins, as you try to escape back to the real world. It’s a very simple game with exploration, puzzles, some chase sequences, a few jump scares, and a lot of heart. You know, the charming sort of heart. Not the “Kano reaching out to touch someone” kind of heart.

While the two or three hours the game lasts is highly compelling, it is unfortunate that one of the puzzles is perhaps a bit too obtuse for its own good. Barring that particular naughty boy, the blend of puzzles, excellent characters, and gorgeous art makes Ib worth spending time with, and it’s a perfect fit for the Switch. I’m also glad it has a lot of save points because it makes going after all of the multiple endings a bit easier.

Ib does a lot with its limited set of characters and scope. If you enjoyed games like Corpse Party, Ib will fit right in with your tastes. Following its freeware launch back in 2012, it is great to see the game come to a console for the first time. 2023 has been a really amazing year for the Switch, but don’t let Ib slip past in that crowd. It is one of the best adventure games I’ve played in a while, and a joy to play on the go. Even given my general disinterest in horror, I had trouble putting it down until I finished it.

SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5

Two Point Campus: School Spirits ($5.99)

Two Point Campus is a game I continue to play when I want to relax and listen to a podcast or even play something while listening to Periphery’s newest album for the 100th time. Having played the prior DLC for review, I was very curious to see what Two Point Studios would bring next to the game. With Two Point Campus: School Spirits, the team has delivered a great DLC with a fun theme, but one that needs more work on Nintendo Switch in its current state.

This DLC includes a brand-new campus location, two new courses, a new challenge mode level, items, animations, and more. While I do think the last DLC being as content packed as it was has led to Two Point Campus: School Spirits feeling a bit lacking for its asking price, this DLC is aiming for a quality over quantity approach. Think of it as one of those smaller DLC packs you get in a season pass that you buy for its major expansions, only Two Point Campus just offers all of this a la carte without a bundle right now.

When I reviewed the Two Point Campus: Space Academy DLC, I also tested it on Steam Deck. For my Two Point Campus: School Spirits DLC review, I had access to the DLC on Steam a few days before getting it on Switch. I’ve grown to love how Two Point Campus plays on Steam Deck, and still think it is the best version of the game by offering solid performance and portability. The lack of proper zoom options on Switch (due to technical reasons) feels like a bigger issue in this new DLC since you can’t actually see what’s happening around certain in-game situations. The photograph below shows the difference in zoom levels possible.

Two Point Campus: School Spirits is a good DLC that feels a bit overpriced compared to the superlative Space Academy pack from late last year. In a vacuum, Two Point Campus: School Spirits is brilliant, and I still recommend it for anyone who has been regularly playing Two Point Campus, but it feels a bit lacking overall, and it is held back by the Switch version not offering a proper and stable experience. I hope Two Point Campus gets patched to be more stable as we lead into the next major DLC for the game in the future on Switch. -Mikhail Madnani

SwitchArcade Score: 4/5

New Releases

Rakuen: Deluxe Edition ($24.99)

You might know Laura Shigihara for her many musical contributions to games like Plants vs. Zombies, Deltarune, Minecraft, To The Moon, and so on. But Shigihara is also a game creator, having released the adventure game Rakuen several years back on PC. The game was rather well-received, and it has finally made its way to consoles in this Deluxe Edition. It’s about a boy who is laid up in a hospital ward. His mother reads him stories from a book called Rakuen when she visits, and it turns out that the book can transport him to its fantasy world. He finds out that if he performs certain tasks, he can get a single wish granted, and you can probably guess what your job is here. Get ready for some… emotions.

Storyteller ($14.99)

Here’s a neat one from developer Daniel Benmergui and publisher Annapurna. Basically, you have to re-tell some very famous stories in brief cartoon-style form. You can follow the original flow or exercise a little creative control to see how things play out. Our pal Mikhail is working a review of this one that should be ready very soon, so I’ll leave the rest of it to him.

Song of Memories ($28.99)

A visual novel about a a guy who is enjoying his happy, ordinary school life surrounded by cute girls. That’s the first half of the game, anyway. The poor fool doesn’t realize that an apocalypse is about to occur, and his visual novel is going to turn into a weird rhythm game hybrid where the attacking monsters need to be fended off with musical numbers. If this sounds weird, it is. If this sounds good, it’s really not. Kind of a stunning example of “he who chases two rabbits shall catch neither”, both in terms of its tone and its gameplay. Throw in a dubious localization and, well, I sure wouldn’t spend thirty bucks on this.

Sushi Bar Express ($29.99)

Look, I am no connoisseur of cooking games or anything, but this game looks to me like a plain, normal-butt cooking game. The kind that go on sale in bundles for a buck or whatever. Customers put in orders, and you have to prepare the food and serve it before too much time passes. Use the money you make to upgrade your equipment and buy new recipes. Like, maybe I’m missing something here as to why it’s going for a relatively high price? Anyway, I recommend buying one of those cheap games and using the savings to buy yourself a decent dinner.

Monorail Stories ($14.99)

Well, this is interesting. It’s a narrative adventure about two people from fictional cities who ride the same monorail every day. The player chooses who they interact with, which will change various things that will be reflected in the other character’s story. You can play both characters by yourself or have a second player take control of one of the pair via online multiplayer. The latter is assuredly a unique experience, but even playing alone this is a rather intriguing adventure.

Numolition ($7.99)

I’ll say it again, even though it won’t be for the last time: if you have some kind of unique puzzle game that doesn’t obviously explain itself by its screenshots, the onus is on the description to tell us how it works. I haven’t had a chance to play this one yet, and despite all of the details in the description, I have no idea how the basic gameplay works. Something with numbers and making things blow up? Your guess is as good as mine. Whatever it is, you get fifty levels of it. It used to be on mobile, but it was pulled from both the App Store and the Play Store at some point.

Arcade Archives Bonze Adventure ($7.99)

Here’s an unusual pull, though not an entirely unknown one. Bonze Adventure is basically Taito’s take on Ghosts ‘n Goblins or, I don’t know, Legend of Hero Tonma. It’s a very challenging platformer, and one that will do its best to eat your coins at a rapid clip. But it has a very cool vibe to it, and if part of an arcade game’s appeal is to take you on a tour through the imaginations of the developers, then this game certainly succeeds on that front. Not an amazing game, but not a bad one either. Might be the flavor you’re looking for today.

Omen of Sorrow ($19.99)

This is a fighting game that features horror-inspired monsters as the playable characters. No, not the Capcom one. Not the DLC characters in Mortal Kombat, either. It has support for multiplayer locally and online, so that’s nice. It seems to be relatively well-liked by the community and it’s clearly punching well above its weight class given how small the company that developed it is. Might be worth looking into if you’re a fan of fighters and want something off the usual path.

Scramballed! ($7.99)

A wacky tennis-like game for up to four players via local multiplayer. You play as a chicken and you use a frying pan to whack eggs around. Whoever is the last bird standing, wins. The affordable price and silly set-up might make this a nice pick-up for families even if it does look a little on the lower budget side of things. It’s hard to mess up tennis, right?

Split ($8.99)

That title is not doing the game any favors for discovery, that’s for sure. A subtitle wouldn’t be the worst idea. But whatever, that’s not really my problem. This is a first-person puzzle platformer and while it isn’t very long it does have some little secrets to root out if you’re inclined to do so. The main gimmick to the puzzles is in making copies of yourself by manipulating time, which isn’t a bad idea to build around. I found the story incredibly overwrought and kind of awkward, but you might find it more appealing than I did.

Mighty Mage ($4.99)

Another kick at the Vampire Survivors can, this time from the folks at Weakfish Studio. It’s handheld only, as it requires touch controls. The game proceeds about the way you would think, and I suppose it’s as good a substitute as any in the absence of the real thing.

Birds and Blocks 2 ($5.99)

Here is the follow-up to Birds and Blocks, and it’s really just a bunch of new levels. One hundred and twenty to be exact. The idea is the same as before. Remove blocks to get the birds safely to the stone blocks, and don’t let them hit the ground or fly off the screen. Handheld mode only, as it requires touch controls.

Fishing: North Atlantic ($24.99)

I’ll grant that this seems like a thorough delivery on the promises of its title. You’ll engage in commercial fishing in a huge map set around Nova Scotia, Canada, complete with six realistic ports. There are tons of different fish and ocean creatures to catch, several different fishing methods, thirty-two real boats complete with proper licensing, and a weather system to lend a little extra realism to the whole affair. The reviews of the computer version are fairly positive, so provided Forever has taken the Switch’s unique user interface demands into account this might be worth looking into for those with an interest in the topic.

Subnet – Escape Room Adventure ($5.99)

This is a first-person 3D escape room-inspired adventure game. Explore the spaces, solve the puzzles, and try to get out. I don’t have a whole lot of new words to sling about games like these that just sort of do the same largely indistinct things. So all I can really say is that if you want another escape room-style game, here you go.

Crime Busters: Strike Area ($14.99)

Well, I’ll grant that switching to a top-down view is at least something new for TROOOZE. I don’t imagine the overall quality of the thing will see significant improvements from such a move, but clearly this publisher has its fans or it wouldn’t keep going. You can play a few different modes alone or pull in a friend for some local co-op play.

Sakura Neko Calculator ($4.99)

Gamuzumi is getting in on that lucrative Switch calculator market with its latest release. If you’ve ever wanted to use your game console as a calculator while a large-chested catgirl hangs around in the unused areas of the screen, your lotto ticket number just got called.

Zombie Garden vs Plants Defence -Battle Craft and Survival Simulator Game ($4.99)

VG Games is at it again, and this time they’ve decided to tease the tiger. Is ripping off Electronic Arts a Robin Hood-like move? I don’t know, but I don’t think these jerks deserve anyone’s money for this kind of shenanigans.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

Not much of note in the inbox at the time of writing. I guess I could mention FIFA 23‘s discount, which is happening because it is the latest Game Trials title for Nintendo Switch Online owners. Otherwise, it’s a lot of the usual suspects. I’m sure we’ll have more to look at tomorrow, though. The outbox is more notable because the first wave of Mario Day sales are wrapping up. It’s your last call for Luigi’s Mansion 3, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Mario Party Superstars, and Yoshi’s Crafted World at their discounted prices. Do keep in mind that we will be seeing more Mario game discounts as these head out the door, so don’t completely empty your wallet.

Select New Games on Sale

Sail Forth ($16.39 from $19.99 until 3/30)
Freshly Frosted ($6.79 from $9.99 until 3/30)
#Funtime ($3.22 from $14.99 until 3/30)
Fracter ($2.20f rom $6.99 until 3/30)
The Ambassador: Fractured Timelines ($3.22 from $14.99 until 3/30)
Deleveled ($2.15 from $9.99 until 3/30)
Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles ($8.99 from $29.99 until 3/30)
Roundguard ($6.30 from $19.99 until 3/30)
Space Otter Charlie ($6.52 from $14.99 until 3/30)
Daardoa ($2.79 from $3.49 until 3/31)
Timore Redo ($15.19 from $18.99 until 3/31)
Timore 5 ($10.39 from $12.99 until 3/31)
Daemonum ($3.59 from $4.49 until 3/31)
Puppy Cross ($3.99 from $4.99 until 4/1)
EA Sports FIFA 23 Legacy ($19.99 from $39.99 until 4/4)

Arsonist Heaven ($2.99 from $4.99 until 4/7)
Explosive Candy World ($2.49 from $4.99 until 4/7)
Teratopia ($5.99 from $9.99 until 4/7)
Wind of Shuriken ($4.79 from $7.99 until 4/7)
Back Again ($2.09 from $2.99 until 4/7)
Pretty Girls Rivers ($3.59 from $5.99 until 4/7)
Summer in Mara ($9.99 from $19.99 until 4/10)
Pure Chase 80’s ($2.09 from $14.99 until 4/12)
Niko and the Cubic Curse ($2.49 from $4.99 until 4/12)
The Sinking City ($9.99 from $49.99 until 4/13)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, Friday, March 24th

A Plague Tale: Innocence Cloud Vers. ($26.79 from $39.99 until 3/24)
A Plague Tale: Requiem Cloud Vers. ($41.99 from $59.99 until 3/24)
Bishoujo Battle Cyber Panic ($2.99 from $5.99 until 3/24)
Cyanide & Happiness: Freakpocalypose ($7.99 from $19.99 until 3/24)
Demon Turf: Neon Splash ($1.99 from $4.99 until 3/24)
Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze ($39.99 from $59.99 until 3/24)
Drift & Drive ($7.79 from $12.99 until 3/24)
Dying Light: Definitive Edition ($19.99 from $49.99 until 3/24)
Farmers Co-op: Out of This World ($4.54 from $12.99 until 3/24)
Football Manager 2023 Touch ($30.14 from $44.99 until 3/24)
For The Warp ($4.99 from $17.99 until 3/24)
Gemini Arms ($6.64 from $9.49 until 3/24)
Green Soldiers Heroes ($1.99 from $20.00 until 3/24)
Gunman Tales ($5.59 from $6.99 until 3/24)

Luigi’s Mansion 3 ($39.99 from $59.99 until 3/24)
Madorica Real Estate ($7.49 from $14.99 until 3/24)
Madorica Real Estate 2 ($12.99 from $18.99 until 3/24)
Mario Party Superstars ($39.99 from $59.99 until 3/24)
Missile Dancer ($6.99 from $9.99 until 3/24)
Poker Pretty Girls Battle Fantasy ($2.99 from $5.99 until 3/24)
Pretty Girls Klondike Solitaire ($2.99 from $5.99 until 3/24)
Raging Blasters ($10.29 from $14.70 until 3/24)
Santa’s Holiday ($9.99 from $19.99 until 3/24)
Scar of the Doll ($6.59 from $9.99 until 3/24)
Streets of Rage 4 ($12.49 from $24.99 until 3/24)
Talisman Digital Edition ($1.99 from $19.99 until 3/24)
Treachery in Beatdown City ($4.99 from $19.99 until 3/24)
Unmatched: Digital Edition ($19.99 from $24.99 until 3/24)
Words in Word ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/24)
Yoshi’s Crafted World ($39.99 from $59.99 until 3/24)

That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with the remaining releases of the week, plus a whole bunch of new sales. That will probably be it unless Mikhail comes up with a surprise. I hope you all have a great Thursday, and as always, thanks for reading!

Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for March 21st, 2023. In today’s article, I start catching up with three reviews for you to enjoy. The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure, Void Terrarium 2, and Alice Gear Aegis CS all get their time in the chair of judgement, and none can say who will survive. After that we have a few interesting new releases to look at, and then the usual lists of new and expiring sales. Let’s get to it!

Reviews & Mini-Views

The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure ($39.99)

I’m not going to spend too many words on this one because I really don’t need to, I think. The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure is the second and final part of the story arc started in The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero, and this Switch version is every bit the great port that the previous game’s was. In terms of gameplay mechanics, there’s nothing new here of any major significance. If you’re coming in fresh, you absolutely should not start here. Go play Trails from Zero first. If you already played Zero and enjoyed it, this is a no-brainer to pick up. It raises the stakes accordingly and brings things to a climactic close that helps set up a lot of things in the Trails of Cold Steel games. It’s a really good RPG, and I highly recommend it.

This game picks up a few months after the events of the first game. We’re back in Crossbell, the vibrant setting from the first game. The SSS are famous now thanks to everything that happened in Trails from Zero, but that fame brings its own issues. The original cast returns with two more faces added to the roster, and if you’ve played the Cold Steel games you’ll be extremely familiar with one of them. With less work needed in establishing the setting, business picks up a lot more quickly in Azure. As befits the conclusion to a tale things get a lot bigger and more dangerous this time, and the narrative is nice and twisty in the usual Trails way.

For the most part, the gameplay mechanics carry over from the previous game. The master quartz makes its debut here, though if you’ve played Cold Steel you’ll more or less know how it works. There’s also the new Burst system that allows you temporarily buff your team in battle after you’ve smacked enemies around enough. It’s mostly there to make the exciting stuff more exciting, as it’s only available to you at specific points. If you’re new to the series, there isn’t really anything out of the ordinary here in terms of this style of RPG. Very classic-style stuff with a few extra elements to spice things up.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure finishes filling in a critical gap in the series, and it does so with style. This twelve-year old game has been given a little extra spit polish in the transition to Switch, helping a great game shine its brightest. Taken together with Trails from Zero, this is one of the strongest RPG experiences you can get on the Nintendo Switch and is arguably still the high point of the Trails series today.

SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5

Alice Gear Aegis CS Concerto of Simulatrix ($29.99)

What an odd thing the existence of this is. It’s basically a companion game to a free-to-play mobile game that never released in the West, and as such it leans heavily into providing fun story content for those who are already familiar with the cast. But unless you can understand Japanese and have a habit of playing Japan-only mobile games, you probably aren’t familiar with this cast. This game isn’t going to do much to bring you up to speed either, and it makes the considerable narrative content here feel a bit limp.

As for the gameplay, it’s basically a light version of Virtual On, and that’s not a bad thing at all. You battle in teams of up to three characters versus three, though each side will only have one out at any given time. You fly around in 3D arenas and battle against the other character with your character’s unique weapons and abilities. The main story mode is a bit like one for a fighting game in that it takes very little time to blow through, but you’re meant to replay the game a lot to unlock its many extra goodies. Also like a fighting game, the real meat is probably in multiplayer. I have to say “probably” because I didn’t have a lot of luck finding anyone else to play with online, and I don’t know anyone else locally who owns it for the wireless multiplayer.

A couple of ifs get in the way of Alice Gear Aegis CS being all it could be. If we had the context to enjoy the story content. If the online multiplayer population was big enough to more easily find matches. Anyone out there who remembers Virtual On and doesn’t mind the mecha-girl aesthetic will likely enjoy themselves grinding out all the unlockables in single-player, if nothing else. Hopefully the online population situation will improve so that this game can really take wing.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

void* tRrLM2(); //Void Terrarium 2 ($39.99)

I’d really like to know what the heck happened to the Mystery Dungeon series. I felt like we were choking on new entries in the previous generation across its various permutations, the Switch has only seen a few remakes and ports. Fortunately, the void has been filled to an extent by some interesting Mystery Dungeon-style roguelikes from sources outside Spike Chunsoft. Void Terrarium from NIS was one such successful attempt, and we’ve now got a sequel. I’m not typing the title again; let’s call it Void Terrarium 2.

What made the first game stand out is that it wasn’t just a straightforward roguelike. It dragged a couple of other genres in for fun and profit, most notably that of the virtual pet/life simulation. As you make your way through the dungeons as Robbie the robot, you must always be mindful of the status of Toriko the human back home. She got hungry. She got sick. She pooped. A lot. It put you in positions where it was sometimes better to get yourself killed just so that you could hurry back to her. It was sometimes annoying, but it gave the game a feel of its own that clearly struck a chord for some players.

Well, Robbie and Toriko are back, and if it feels like that’s an unnecessary repeat trip from a narrative standpoint, I’m here to tell you that yes, it kind of is. You’re once again in a position of having to take care of Toriko, the last human. She’s in a new terrarium, but the story feels very similar to the first. It’s just a bit sadder because Toriko is somehow doing even worse. The deeper into it you play, the more answers you start to get about everything. All I will say is that this isn’t a game to play if you want to walk away feeling good. The core gameplay structure hasn’t changed, but some new elements to the virtual pet side and better balance on the dungeon crawling side make it a bit more satisfying than the first game.

If you didn’t care for the tone or gameplay of the first game, Void Terrarium 2 isn’t going to change your mind. It’s similarly dark and heart-breaking in its narrative, and while the gameplay has certainly been refined it hasn’t been dramatically overhauled. It’s simply another Void Terrarium, but when you consider how singular and odd that game was I can’t say there isn’t room for one more like it.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

New Releases

Remnant: From the Ashes ($39.99)

The well-liked Soulslike with co-op gameplay makes its way to the Switch in this surprisingly solid port. You can play via local wireless or online multiplayer so that up to three people can head into battle against some seriously nasty creatures. There are more than one hundred different enemy types and twenty bosses to fight, all scattered throughout procedurally generated worlds. The visuals take a bit of a hit in the version, but it still looks fine by the standards of the system and it plays very well.

Unheard: Voices of Crime Edition ($9.99)

This is an interesting adventure game that sees you in the role of an Acoustic Detective, someone who solves crimes by listening to the voices of the past. The truth will be revealed by these conversations that took place at the crime scenes, but it’s up to you to figure it out. An unusual take on a well-worn concept, and one that mystery fans might want to bite on at such a reasonable price.

The Hero with a Thousand Arms ($4.99)

Well now, this is another novel idea. It’s a collection of ten minigames, and that’s not very interesting in and of itself. But here’s the trick: you have to play them all at the same time. You have them all on-screen and can switch between active control of them. While you’re focused on one, the others will go in super slow-motion. It’s basically video game plate-spinning. Not bad for a fiver, I’d say.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

I’ll go ahead and gesture wildly at Demon Turf: Neon Splash, Angry Video Game Nerd 1 & 2 Deluxe, and Treachery in Beatdown City. All interesting games that are at new low prices. Over in the outbox, the latest sales from Taito, Activision, and 2K Games are coming to an end. Do what you must there, though keep in mind that they’ll be back around before too long. Check those lists!

Select New Games on Sale

Xenon Racer ($1.99 from $14.99 until 3/23)
All-Star Fruit Racing ($1.99 from $19.99 until 3/23)
Demon Turf: Neon Splash ($1.99 from $4.99 until 3/24)
Treachery in Beatdown City ($4.99 from $19.99 until 3/24)
Lonesome Village ($13.99 from $19.99 until 3/27)
Dumpy & Bumpy ($2.49 from $4.99 until 3/28)
LOVE 3 ($4.99 from $9.99 until 3/28)
Angry Video Game Nerd 1&2 Deluxe ($7.49 from $14.99 until 3/28)
Eagle Island Twist ($6.49 from $12.99 until 3/28)
Goonya Monster ($17.99 from $19.99 until 3/31)
Quest Hunter ($7.49 from $29.99 until 4/3)
Quest Hunter: Deluxe ($9.49 from $37.99 until 4/3)
Zodiacats ($2.39 from $2.99 until 4/3)
The Almost Gone ($1.99 from $9.99 until 4/3)
Evoland ($4.99 from $19.99 until 4/3)

Ultra Foodmess ($1.99 from $3.99 until 4/3)
Dig Dog ($1.99 from $3.99 until 4/9)
Inertia: Redux ($2.01 from $4.39 until 4/9)
Mortal Kombat 11 ($9.99 from $49.99 until 4/10)
Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate DLC ($14.99 from $49.99 until 4/10)
LEGO Star Wars: Skywalker Saga GE ($31.99 from $79.99 until 4/10)
Godlike Burger ($6.79 from $19.99 until 4/10)
Jenny LeClue: Detectivu ($1.99 from $24.99 until 4/10)
Limbo ($1.99 from $9.99 until 4/10)
Inside ($1.99 from $19.99 until 4/10)
Jet Kave Adventure ($1.99 from $19.99 until 4/10)
Super Fowlst ($1.99 from $9.99 until 4/10)
Super Fowlst 2 ($2.00 from $10.00 until 4/10)
Dadish ($1.99 from $9.99 until 4/10)
Dadish 2 ($1.99 from $9.99 until 4/10)
Dadish 3 ($1.99 from $9.99 until 4/10)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, Wednesday, March 22nd

Atom RPG ($9.19 from $22.99 until 3/22)
Beastie Bay DX ($7.00 from $14.00 until 3/22)
BioShock: The Collection ($9.99 from $49.99 until 3/22)
Blizzard Arcade Collection ($9.99 from $19.99 until 3/22)
Borderlands Legendary Collection ($9.99 from $49.99 until 3/22)
Burger Bistro Story ($8.40 from $14.00 until 3/22)
Crash Bandicoot – Quadrilogy Bundle ($27.99 from $69.99 until 3/22)
Crash Bandicoot Crashiversary Bundle ($39.99 from $99.99 until 3/22)
Dead by Daylight ($11.99 from $29.99 until 3/22)
Diablo II: Resurrected ($13.19 from $39.99 until 3/22)
Diablo III: Eternal Collection ($29.99 from $59.99 until 3/22)
Grand Prix Story ($7.00 from $14.00 until 3/22)

GTA: The Trilogy Definitive ($29.99 from $59.99 until 3/22)
NBA 2K23 ($19.79 from $59.99 until 3/22)
NBA 2K23 Michael Jordan Edition ($39.99 from $99.99 until 3/22)
New Tales from the Borderlands ($19.99 from $39.99 until 3/22)
OlliOlli World Rad Edition ($30.14 from $44.99 until 3/22)
Sid Meier’s Civilization VI ($5.99 from $29.99 until 3/22)
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 ($15.99 from $39.99 until 3/22)
Touhou Spell Bubble ($27.49 from $54.99 until 3/22)
Waku Waku Sweets ($1.99 from $39.99 until 3/22)

That’s all for today, friends. I’ll be back tomorrow with more new releases, more sales, probably a review or two, and whatever big news rolls in during the next twenty-four hours or so. Today was a holiday here in Japan, though it was one of those ones where you just visit the family grave. Somehow I managed to finish my work anyway, so good job to me. I hope you all have a great Tuesday, and as always, thanks for reading!

Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for March 17th, 2023. In today’s article, we have several more new releases to look at as we close out the week. The most notable is the Bayonetta spin-off Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon, but there are a couple of other intriguing titles in the bunch as well. After that, we’ve got a healthy list of new sales to check out, and a smaller list of discounts that will expire over the weekend. Let’s go!

New Releases

Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon ($59.99)

Hello, yes, it’s time for another Bayonetta game already. We waited a really long time for Bayonetta 3, and it was really good. Bayonetta Origins is a very different kind of game from those in the main series, of course. Less about the stylish combat and more about solving puzzles and exploring. It feels like it’s channeling a little bit of Okami, but only a little bit. Don’t expect something on that scale or depth from this. We’ll have a review of this unusual spin-off soon, but I think Bayonetta fans will at least enjoy how it builds on the lore.

Peppa Pig: World Adventures ($39.99)

Another Peppa Pig game from the folks at Outright Games. Make some characters and go on a world tour with Peppa, visiting various locations around the world. Collect decorations for your house and meet all kinds of characters from the series. I’d imagine kids who love Peppa will have a good time with this, especially if they enjoyed the last game. It certainly looks well-made and authentic to the brand, at the very least. The game isn’t aimed at an old guy like me, so that’s really all I can say about it.

Flame Keeper ($11.99)

Another roguelite game, but one with a few interesting twists to help it stand out. You play as a little flame, and your goal in each area is to collect enough flame power to light the bonfire that allows you to move on. You can get it through various means, and the most reliable might be from battling enemies. But the trick is that flame power is also your health, so if you pour too much of it into the bonfire or just play badly, you might find yourself in a bit of a pinch. I’ll be reviewing this one in a few days, so do look forward to that.

Fur Squadron ($6.99)

This is Dollar Store Starfox, and it’s surprisingly good with that in mind. A team of animal space pilots are doing some routine training in virtual reality, which looks exactly like every barfy 80s homage game from the last several years. Things start to go a little ca-ca, and the danger soon becomes anything but virtual. You get six levels in total, with three levels of difficulty. It doesn’t take too long to play through, but it’s a good time while it lasts.

The Guise ($5.99)

Oh you know, just me and The Guise. Hanging out, playing some games. This is another Metroidvania-style game, and it doesn’t really stand out very much. You play as an orphan who has been turned into a monster by a cursed mask, and as you gather up new abilities your form will become even more monstrous. It’s a few hours long and it never really properly takes off. Dare I say it? It’s kind of boring. Not really a great place to be in a genre as competitive as this one.

Off The Tracks ($4.39)

This is a first-person platformer with thirty levels spread across five worlds. The idea of each stage is that you are jumping along the tops of train cars in some very abstract settings. There’s a bit of chaos thanks to the game’s reliance on its physics model, which adds some flavor to the proceedings. An odd one, but at least it’s cheap.

Quiz 4 All ($3.99)

Cooking & Publishing’s latest is just a plain old quiz game, nothing more or less. I guess on the scale of things they publish, this isn’t too bad. It at least, you know, has some kind of game to it. Up to four people can play locally. I wouldn’t blow four bucks on this, but there are worse things from this publisher.

Labyrinth Runner – Horror Escape Survive Simulator ($4.99)

Another piece of junk from the new-to-the-eShop junk-slingers at GOGAME CONSOLE PUBLISHER, surely a house of ideas if ever there was one. It’s a garbage maze game, and you can surely find a better way to spend five bucks today.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

I suppose the biggest news in the inbox today is that Square Enix is having another sale, this time including some of its newer games like Harvestella, Crisis Core, and The DioField Chronicle. Check through that list and treat yourself to an RPG or two if you feel like it. Not too much going on in the weekend outbox, but have a gander at it as well just in case.

Select New Games on Sale

Pirated Code: Admin Edition ($8.79 from $10.99 until 3/23)
For The Warp ($4.99 from $17.99 until 3/24)
Talisman Digital Edition ($1.99 from $19.99 until 3/24)
NeverAwake ($21.24 from $24.99 until 3/25)
fault StP Lightkravte ($13.49 from $17.99 until 3/25)
Filmechanism ($13.99 from $19.99 until 3/25)
Super UFO Fighter ($8.39 from $11.99 until 3/25)
Touhou Luna Nights ($12.59 from $17.99 until 3/25)
Floppy Knights ($11.99 from $19.99 until 3/28)
Gold Crusader ($2.49 from $4.99 until 3/28)
Assault Gunners HD Edition ($4.99 from $9.99 until 3/30)
Dead or School ($8.99 from $29.99 until 3/30)
Prison Princess ($7.99 from $19.99 until 3/31)
Balan Wonderworld ($11.99 from $39.99 until 3/31)
Spelunker Party ($8.99 from $29.99 until 3/31)

PowerWash Simulator ($19.99 from $24.99 until 3/31)
Dragon Quest ($3.24 from $4.99 until 3/31)
Dragon Quest II ($4.21 from $6.49 until 3/31)
Dragon Quest III ($8.11 from $12.49 until 3/31)
Dragon Quest Treasures Deluxe ($38.99 from $64.99 until 3/31)
Dungeon Encounters ($14.99 from $29.99 until 3/31)
The DioField Chronicle ($29.99 from $59.99 until 3/31)
The DioField Chronicle Deluxe ($37.49 from $74.99 until 3/31)
Harvestella ($41.99 from $59.99 until 3/31)
ActRaiser Renaissance ($17.99 from $29.99 until 3/31)
Tactics Ogre Reborn ($34.99 from $49.99 until 3/31)
Oninaki ($19.99 from $49.99 until 3/31)
Lost Sphear ($14.99 from $49.99 until 3/31)
I Am Setsuna ($15.99 from $39.99 until 3/31)
Collection of Mana ($19.99 from $39.99 until 3/31)
Trials of Mana ($24.99 form $49.99 until 3/31)

Legend of Mana ($14.99 from $29.99 until 3/31)
Star Ocean First Departure R ($8.39 from $20.99 until 3/31)
Final Fantasy VII ($7.99 from $15.99 until 3/31)
Final Fantasy VIII ($9.99 from $19.99 until 3/31)
Final Fantasy IX ($10.49 from $20.99 until 3/31)
Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD ($24.99 from $49.99 until 3/31)
Final Fantasy XII TZA ($24.99 from $49.99 until 3/31)
Final Fantasy XV Pocket Edition ($11.99 from $29.99 until 3/31)
Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon ($15.99 from $39.99 until 3/31)
Chocobo GP ($24.99 from $49.99 until 3/31)
World of Final Fantasy Maxima ($15.99 from $39.99 until 3/31)
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles ($11.99 from $29.99 until 3/31)
Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII ($39.99 from $49.99 until 3/31)
Collection of SaGa FF Legend ($11.99 from $19.99 until 3/31)
Romancing SaGa 2 ($7.49 from $24.99 until 3/31)

Romancing SaGa 3 ($8.69 from $28.99 until 3/31)
SaGa Frontier Remastered ($14.99 from $24.99 until 3/31)
SaGa Scarlet Grace Ambitions ($8.99 from $29.99 until 3/31)
Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 FC Cloud Vers. ($24.99 from $49.99 until 3/31)
Kingdom Hearts III Cloud Vers. ($24.99 from $49.99 until 3/31)
Kingdom Hearts Integrum Cloud Vers. ($44.99 from $89.99 until 3/31)
Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory ($29.99 from $59.99 until 3/31)
Life is Strange True Colors Deluxe ($34.99 from $69.99 until 3/31)
Various Daylife ($19.13 from $28.99 until 3/31)
XPOSED SWITCHED ($3.99 from $9.99 until 3/31)
RPG Time: TLoW ($15.99 from $29.99 until 4/1)
Ender Lilies: QotK ($13.74 from $24.99 until 4/1)
The Oregon Trail ($17.99 from $29.99 until 4/2)
John Wick Hex ($9.99 from $19.99 until 4/3)
Black Future ’88 ($1.99 from $19.99 until 4/3)
Monster Train: First Class ($14.99 from $29.99 until 4/3)
Green Hell ($2.49 from $24.99 until 4/6)
Panzer Dragoon: Remake ($2.49 from $24.99 until 4/6)

Sales Ending This Weekend

Milky Way Prince Vampire Star ($5.99 from $14.99 until 3/18)
Pathfinder: WotR Cloud Vers. ($24.99 from $49.99 until 3/18)
Agatha Christie ABC Murders ($8.99 from $29.99 until 3/19)
Escape Game Fort Boyard 2022 ($14.99 from $29.99 until 3/19)
Ginnung ($4.00 from $5.00 until 3/19)
My Universe: Doctors & Nurses ($11.99 from $29.99 until 3/19)
My Universe: My Baby Dragon ($20.09 from $29.99 until 3/19)
Professor Rubik’s Brain Fitness ($2.99 from $29.99 until 3/19)
The Smurfs: Mission Vileaf ($15.99 from $39.99 until 3/19)

That’s all for today and this week, friends. We’ll be back next week with more new releases, more sales, some reviews, and a bit of news as well. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, and as always, thanks for reading!

Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for March 16th, 2023. It’s Thursday, and it’s another big-pants day for new games. We’ve got around twenty new titles to look at. Some are good, some are interesting, and some are just plain dubious. We’ve got summaries of all of them, plus a little bit of news and the usual lists of new and expiring sales. Let’s get to it!

News

New Game Boy, Super NES, and NES Games Have Been Added to Nintendo Switch Online

I don’t do a lot of news stuff on Thursdays when I can avoid it, but my hand is forced when Nintendo goes and adds some new games to Nintendo Switch Online. Especially when they add NES and Super NES games, which are about as rare as hen’s teeth these days. Nintendo Switch Online subscribers can update their NES, Super NES, and Game Boy apps to get access to four newly-added classic games. On the NES, it’s Namco’s influential shoot-em-up Xevious. The Super NES gets Data East’s popular pool game Side Pocket. Finally, on Game Boy we’ve got Data East’s cool BurgerTime Deluxe, a fine sequel that more people need to play, and Nintendo’s Kirby’s Dream Land 2, a fine sequel that many people have already played. Yes, those are some good games. Enjoy!

New Releases

Backbeat ($29.99)

This is a very unique puzzle game. You basically control each of the four band members along their various time lines, choosing where to advance things and taking advantage of interactions to do what you need to. There are forty levels in total to complete, and it’s quite the zesty challenge to do so. The presentation is solid, and the 1990s theme is definitely going to speak to some players. If you’re looking for something a little different today, this is a good choice.

Alice Gear Aegies CS Concerto of Simulatrix ($29.99)

This is a 3D arena battler starring characters from a F2P mobile game. There’s a bit of single-player content here that you can grind through again and again to unlock all the costume bits and such, and you can play with up to six players via local wireless or online multiplayer. It’s not the greatest of games, but I suppose it’s fairly honest about what it is. I’ll have a review of it soon, but I imagine those who come for what it’s advertising itself as will find what they are looking for.

Sixtar Gate: Startrail ($24.99)

Hello, did you order another pretty amazing rhythm game? If so, order’s up. This game is beloved over on Steam, and it’s easy to see why. You get over one hundred songs to play, and the unique gate mechanic helps it stand out. As the song goes on the gate will open, allowing more lanes and spicing up the challenge. The Switch version has a new Adventure Mode to play and some tweaks to optimize the game for the Joy-Con controllers. If you like music games, you’ll have a good time here.

Unmatched: Digital Edition ($24.99)

Here’s Acram Digital’s video game take on the tabletop board game Unmatched. And yes, this is fairly consistent with Acram’s usual work in adapting board games. Which is to say, it could probably be better but it does what it needs to. So how is Unmatched itself? It’s an odd one, kind of a fighting game in board game form. Somehow it works pretty well. A nice, relatively quick game to play with others. We’ll have to see how Acram expands this over time, as part of the fun of the board game comes from its expansions.

Arcade Archives 3D Thunder Ceptor II ($7.99)

So, you remember how Arcade Archives did separate releases for Rally-X and New Rally-X, and then Sky Kid and Sky Kid DX? This is another one of those. It’s one of those Afterburner II kind of situations where the number in the title is probably best taken as a version number. There are some extra obstacles, your ship is a different color, and in the arcades this could be played in stereoscopic 3D. No joy on that front here on the Switch, though the PlayStation version will apparently get support for PlayStation VR later. Very much Thunder Ceptor with some extra stuff bolted on, making the original game’s presence in the line somewhat redundant.

Loop ($3.49)

This is an adventure game that feels like it was built to be played by two players, but only actually supports one. The other character is controlled by the AI, and I’m sure that all goes very well. It’s at least a little pretty to look at, I suppose. Is that enough for three and a half bucks? That’s something you’ll have to ask yourself.

Link The Cubes ($4.99)

You know what? I like this. You have to get all the cubes to the goals in each stage. You can control the main cube, and you can link up with other cubes to move them at the same time as the main cube. You have to know when to link them and when to leave them be, and as the levels get more convoluted the challenge spikes up pleasantly. There are one hundred levels to play, so you definitely get your money’s worth as long as you dig the mechanics at play.

Squad 51 vs. the Flying Saucers ($19.99)

I can’t say I’ve ever seen a shoot-em-up that looks like this one. It’s done up to look like an old black-and-white sci-fi movie, and it really does nail its aesthetic. There are eleven levels to play through, and you also get some nice cheesy FMV scenes now and then. It can be a bit difficult to parse what you are seeing during gameplay thanks to this unique visual style, which hurts the playability somewhat. This Switch port also suffers from some technical issues, including some extremely lengthy load times. A game that shoot-em-up fans might want to check into, but the Switch probably isn’t the best place to do that.

Post Void ($5.99)

I saw someone describe this as a mash-up of DOOM with Hotline Miami, and that works well enough that I’m going to borrow it. And no, I’m not going to return it. Anyway, this is a first-person shooter that plays fast, controls well, and revels in its violence. The visual style feels like an assault on your senses, and I don’t mean that in the usual movie poster way. It has a really trippy and garish style that will either lure you in or turn you off. However you feel about that aspect, the game itself is more than capable.

Amber City ($8.99)

An attractive adventure game with a variety of challenging puzzles to solve that require the use of your light powers to progress. You’ll get new powers as you go, which helps to keep things fresh as the levels unfold. Some really nice art in this one, and the reviews over on Steam are quite positive, which is always encouraging. There are over seventy levels to play spread across nine different chapters, making this ideal to finish over the course of two or three evenings.

Blocky Farm ($9.99)

This looks like an ascended free-to-play mobile game and… yes, it is. And not one of the ones where you buy an IAP to unlock the game, but one that subsists on selling bags of gems over and over again. These rarely go well when they come to Switch as standard paid games, because the balance is either left as-is and is unpleasant to deal with, or tweaked too far in the other direction, making the game’s difficulty trivial. Oh well. Manage your farm, upgrade your buildings, take care of your animals, harvest your crops, and so on.

Bitter-Sweet Cohabitation ($19.90)

Here’s another visual novel from that one company that can afford to keep churning them out but can’t afford to pay for a decent localization. The main character this time is a businessman in his mid-twenties who is a sad, lonely guy until his life, and apartment, get crashed by three young runaway girls. They all have their stories about why they ended up without a place to stay, and… well, you can probably imagine how this all plays out. Someone is getting smooched. Perhaps more than once.

Nono Adventure ($4.99)

Yes, that’s a Picross-style game alright. You get more than three hundred puzzles here, along with an asinine story in case you need some text to tie the puzzles together. Nothing about it looks remarkable at all, but at the end of the day it’s still a take on Picross so it’s going to offer some entertainment.

Subway Midnight ($10.99)

This is a horror game where you’re traveling through a seemingly endless series of train cars, solving puzzles and helping ghosts deal with their issues. Don’t dawdle too long, or you might become a ghost yourself. The further along the train you get, the more surreal things become. Reviews are all over the place with this one, but I think if you come into it understanding that it’s a bit of a flawed effort with some very distinct elements, you might get what you need from it.

Tanky Tanks 2 ($9.99)

It’s good ol’ Atari Combat again, this time from an isometric viewpoint. So that’s at least something new compared to the game it pays homage to, which is more than the first game mustered. In each level, battle the enemy tanks and try to avoid getting blown up yourself. You can play alone or bring a friend along in local two-player co-op. I think it looks cute, if nothing else.

Demon Hunter: Chronicles from Beyond ($14.99)

Yes, another hidden object game from the folks at Ocean Media. I’m all out of things to say about these kinds of games. Solve the puzzles, enjoy the story. Some business about an ancient evil from another dimension that is invading ours. Somehow all of this is going down in a spooky mansion. Well, good luck with all of that.

Air Battle ($6.99)

Wow, this is horrible. I’d be embarrassed to release a game like this, especially on a platform like the Switch where there are gobs of great side-scrolling shooters. Like, this feels like a bad Flash game, the kind you would find buried sixteen pages deep on the website for Pop Tarts or something.

My Little Prince – A Jigsaw Puzzle Tale ($3.99)

Another jigsaw puzzle game. You get six pictures, all drawn from the classic story The Little Prince. You can play each picture at a variety of difficulties, making them as easy or challenging as you see fit. QUByte generally knows what it’s doing with jigsaw puzzling on Switch, so I’m sure this is fine.

Loot Box Simulator – Heroes of the Dark Age ($2.99)

It’s disappointing that these are selling well enough for the series to keep going, but I suppose less disappointing than real loot boxes. Make choices, earn coins, buy loot boxes, collect them all. A real snoozer.

Tangram Collection ($2.14)

This is a collection of forty tangram puzzles. It supports touch controls and button controls, which is nice. That’s all I really have to say about it, but I’m glad the developers were able to make the game they wanted to play here.

Rally Race Car Simulator Poly : World Driver Arcade Real Driving Games Sim ($4.99)

Another piece of trash from the trash chefs over at Midnight Works. If you want a terrible racing game, here you go. I personally would advise you spend your fiver on some Milk Duds instead.

Midnight Drifter-Drift Racing Car Racing Driving Simulator 2023 Speed Games ($4.99)

Another piece of trash from the trash chefs over at Midnight Works. If you want a terrible racing game, here you go. This one doesn’t even have button controls because Midnight Works can’t be bothered to implement them in this garbage Android port. I personally would advise you spend your fiver on some Reese’s Pieces instead.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

An interesting selection of new sales so far today. If I had to pick a few games from the list, I’d go with Ravensword: Shadowlands for old time’s sake, Dariusburst CS because it rules, and A Summer with the Shiba Inu just because it’s odd. Not much in the outbox, but give it a good look anyway.

Select New Games on Sale

Jack Move ($13.99 from $19.99 until 3/23)
Football Manager 2023 Touch ($30.14 from $44.99 until 3/24)
Dying Light: Definitive Edition ($19.99 from $49.99 until 3/24)
Cyanide & Happiness: Freakpocalypose ($7.99 from $19.99 until 3/24)
Farmers Co-op: Out of This World ($4.54 from $12.99 until 3/24)
Arcaea ($35.99 from $39.99 until 3/30)
Blackberry Honey ($5.19 from $12.99 until 3/30)
A Summer with the Shiba Inu ($2.99 from $9.99 until 3/30)
Nicole ($3.79 from $18.99 until 3/30)
Heal: Console Edition ($2.09 from $6.99 until 3/30)
Kansei: The Second Turn HD ($2.39 from $7.99 until 3/30)
Within the Blade ($3.29 from $10.99 until 3/30)
Balancelot ($1.99 from $7.99 until 3/30)
A Little Lily Princess ($4.49 from $14.99 until 3/30)
C14 Dating ($5.99 from $19.99 until 3/30)

Ravensword Shadowlands ($2.09 from $6.99 until 3/30)
Klang 2 ($5.99 from $14.99 until 3/30)
A Space for the Unbound ($15.99 from $19.99 until 3/30)
HellGunner ($1.99 from $4.99 until 3/30)
Power Rangers Battle for the Grid ($9.99 from $19.99 until 3/30)
Dariusburst CS Core/Taito/SEGA ($23.99 from $29.99 until 3/30)
Breakneck City ($4.99 from $9.99 until 3/31)
Thunder Kid: HftRE ($3.99 from $7.99 until 3/31)
Thunder Kid II: Null Mission ($3.99 from $7.99 until 3/31)
In the Mood ($2.99 from $4.99 until 3/31)
Z-Warp ($4.19 from $6.99 until 3/31)
Pretty Girls Mahjong Solitaire G/B ($2.99 from $5.99 until 3/31)
Freezer Pops ($5.99 from $9.99 until 3/31)
El Gancho ($3.49 from $6.99 until 3/31)
Queeny Army ($2.49 from $4.99 until 3/31)
Neko Secret Room ($4.89 from $6.99 until 3/31)
Roller Drama ($13.49 from $14.99 until 4/1)
Sword of Elpisia ($8.99 from $14.99 until 4/3)
Fairy Elements ($11.24 from $14.99 until 4/3)
Kamikaze Veggies ($3.89 from $12.99 until 4/4)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, Friday, March 17th

Ary & the Secret of Seasons ($5.99 from $39.99 until 3/17)
Aztech Forgotten Gods ($14.99 from $29.99 until 3/17)
Blind Postman ($1.99 from $3.99 until 3/17)
Bloodwash ($6.99 from $9.99 until 3/17)
Broken Pipe ($1.99 from $3.99 until 3/17)
Bunny Mahjo ($1.99 from $2.99 until 3/17)
Cris Tales ($7.99 from $39.99 until 3/17)
Cube Decider ($1.99 from $3.99 until 3/17)
Cubic Figures ($1.99 from $3.99 until 3/17)
Cubic Parking ($1.99 from $2.99 until 3/17)
CubicBan ($1.99 from $2.99 until 3/17)

Dungeon Bricker ($1.99 from $3.99 until 3/17)
Kukoos: Lost Pets ($19.79 from $29.99 until 3/17)
Mech Armada ($13.99 from $19.99 until 3/17)
Monster Energy Supercross 2 ($1.99 from $19.99 until 3/17)
Seduction: A Monk’s Fate ($4.79 from $7.99 until 3/17)
Sentry Paragon ($2.99 from $5.99 until 3/17)
Subnautica ($9.89 from $29.99 until 3/17)
Subnautica: Below Zero ($12.59 from $29.99 until 3/17)
The Pinball Wizard ($3.99 from $7.99 until 3/17)
Youropa ($10.49 from $14.99 until 3/17)

That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with the remaining release of the week, headlined of course by Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon. We’ll also have a hefty list of new sales, plus any big news that rolls in during the next 24 hours. I hope you all have a thrilling Thursday, and as always, thanks for reading!

Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for March 14th, 2023. I had originally planned to have more than one review ready for you today, and I’ve got quite a backlog going, but things just didn’t work out. So what I’ve got is a full-sized review of Square Enix’s Octopath Traveler II that I hope you’ll enjoy. After that, we’ve got a handful of decent new releases to look into, plus the usual lists of new and outgoing sales. Let’s get to business!

Reviews & Mini-Views

Octopath Traveler II ($59.99)

The situation has changed a lot since 2018 when the original Octopath Traveler came out. The Switch is swimming in great RPGs these days, and it feels like there are more good ones to play than anyone has time for. March is a particularly busy month compared to the quiet July that the first game hit in. The dazzling HD-2D visual presentation isn’t as novel now as it was then, having been used in a few other games. And instead of Nintendo pushing with all of its might in the West as a tentpole timed Switch exclusive, Square Enix is handling the multiplatform release itself as part of its rather busy line-up. I can’t imagine Octopath Traveler II is going to find the same lightning-in-a-bottle success that the first game did.

That’s unfortunate, because after finishing the game and spending a couple of days thinking on it, I believe this to be the better of the two titles. While I enjoyed the first game quite a bit, there were certainly some major areas it could have done better in. The most obvious, to me, was in its story. The premise of having eight different characters going through their own stories coming together was a strong one, but it felt like they were just playing out their own tales while the other tagged along. While it doesn’t completely free itself of this criticism, this sequel adds a couple of things to address it.

There are little stories that play out with pairs of characters as you go along, building rapport between them. There’s more conversations between the cast in general, and importantly there is a final chapter that involves all of them. Not all of the individual stories are as strong as those in the first game, but these new additions alone go a long way to making this feel like a more cohesive work. And while I may like some of the stories in the first game a little more than some of the stories in this second one, I can’t say any of them were lacking here. The plots are engaging and the writing is sharp. From a narrative standpoint, Octopath Traveler II delivers.

In terms of gameplay, not a lot has changed. But I’d argue the mechanics of the first game didn’t need to be changed. The battle system is engaging with its Boost and Break mechanics, and anywhere it lets down the game it’s more a matter of the kinds of challenges it throws at you. There are new Limit Break-like actions called Latent Powers, but on the whole combat doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel. The job system is still present and enjoyable, and the Path Actions give you varied and entertaining ways to interact with NPCs. There is a day/night cycle now that determines which Path Actions are available to you, and you can flick between states as needed so that you don’t have to wait around. I like the way the game more or less lets you off the leash early on, allowing you to choose how you want to progress.

The downside of that is that you are free to walk into some misadventures you may not be adequately leveled for, even if you’re following what the game says is appropriate. This sequel isn’t as bad as the first for putting you at the mercy of either RNG or grinding, but it still comes up often enough to annoy. Apart from these roadblocks, Octopath Traveler II has better pacing than the first game. I didn’t feel like any of the chapters were a slog, and that comes down to both the writing and the structure of the challenges. As with the first game, there is a ton of optional content you can engage with. It’s easy to miss some things, and that’s okay. I like that you have to search around and stay sharp to find everything.

In terms of presentation, it again appears like Octopath Traveler II hasn’t changed much. The visuals are a bit sharper and the game runs a little more smoothly, and the HD-2D style is still quite striking. You get the sense this team is getting more used to working with it, resulting in better-looking games each time. Yasunori Nishiki has returned to compose the soundtrack, and if I may say so, he has ridiculously outdone himself this time. The variety and quality of the music in this game is something else. One of my favorite RPG soundtracks in a while.

If the original game completely turned you off, Octopath Traveler II obviously isn’t going to change your mind. But if you felt there was something to its concept but found its execution a little lacking, I think you’ll find this sequel much better. Those who loved the first game aren’t likely to find anything to complain about here, as it’s smart enough to retain what worked in the original. A safe follow-up and very confident RPG overall, but not one so over-confident as to ignore areas to improve upon. A few nasty difficulty spikes are the only real gum in the works, but it’s still an essential pick-up for RPG lovers.

SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5

New Releases

The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure ($39.99)

This follow-up to The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero concludes the story. Yes, it isn’t a trilogy, there aren’t four games to slog through, it’s all wrapped up here. The Special Support Section has new team members and additional responsibilities following the events of the first game, and they’ll have to get up to speed fast because things are reaching a boiling point in Crossbell. I’ll have a full review of this soon, but it’s a strong conclusion, a fun RPG, and a great port on the whole.

Terminal Velocity: Boosted Edition ($11.99)

Here’s a blast from the past. Back in the late 1990s, there was a short-lived sub-genre of first-person shooters that seems to have come and gone over a span of a few years. I don’t remember what they’re usually called, but they’re first-person games that allow you to move 360 degrees. Descent, Forsaken, and this game were the more famous of the bunch. This Boosted Edition basically runs the original game through a new engine, giving you all the glory of those chunky 3D visuals but with a few improvements and a spiffy new HUD. It’s a flavor we don’t see often anymore, and I’m happy to see this one come to the Switch. The original developers handled this reissue, so let’s hope they didn’t biff it up.

Vernal Edge ($21.99)

Another Metroidvania-style game? And it’s a good, well-constructed one? Sigh, okay. I’ll find some time for it. You play as Vernal, who is searching for her estranged father to make him pay for abandoning her and her mother. She has to explore the floating islands of the Kingdom of Haricot with the help of Chervil, an automaton that has lost its memory. Vernal’s mission of revenge may lead her to some truths that she never expected to uncover, which is a thing that often happens when you go on an adventure. The combat is pretty good in this game, with lots of opportunities for juggles and combos, and the bosses are a hefty challenge. The setting is quite interesting, and you travel between the separate islands via your airship. Worth looking into for fans of the genre.

The Wreck ($19.99)

This is a visual novel about a woman named Junon and what ends up being the most pivotal day in her life. She’s called to the emergency room to find her estranged mother in critical condition, and the choices you make will either save Junon’s life or end it. You’ll have to explore her past and use your understanding of it to make the right decisions. This game comes to us from The Pixel Hunt, who are perhaps best known for the lauded narrative adventure Bury me, my Love. It certainly looks promising.

Tents and Trees ($9.99)

What do do when there are so many Picross games on the eShop that you can’t stand out? Well, you can make a variation on it. And that’s what this is. You’re not trying to make pictures, but you have the familiar grid. The numerical clues tell you how many tents you need to have in each column or row. Trees need tents beside them, but only one tent per tree. Tents can’t be beside each other even diagonally. It’s easy to pick up if you’ve played Picross before, and pretty enjoyable. You get a bunch of puzzles to solve, plus a daily puzzle to keep the good times rolling once you finish them. I’ll have a short review of this one soon.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

Hey, Grapple Dog! Love that game. Some Crash Bandicoot bundles are at new low prices, but other than that there isn’t anything particularly notable. Some good stuff in the outbox with discounts from Dotemu wrapping up and the short but steep sale on the Ori games finishing. Check those lists as usual, I suppose.

Select New Games on Sale

Grapple Dog ($7.49 from $14.99 until 3/21)
Lone Ruin ($11.24 from $14.99 until 3/21)
Crash Bandicoot – Quadrilogy Bundle ($27.99 from $69.99 until 3/22)
Crash Bandicoot Crashiversary Bundle ($39.99 from $99.99 until 3/22)
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 ($15.99 from $39.99 until 3/22)
Blizzard Arcade Collection ($9.99 from $19.99 until 3/22)
Diablo II: Resurrected ($13.19 from $39.99 until 3/22)
Diablo III: Eternal Collection ($29.99 from $59.99 until 3/22)
A Plague Tale: Requiem Cloud Vers. ($41.99 from $59.99 until 3/24)
A Plague Tale: Innocence Cloud Vers. ($26.79 from $39.99 until 3/24)
Wingspan ($9.99 from $19.99 until 3/27)
Frontier Quest ($5.99 from $11.99 until 3/27)
Cosmos Bit ($1.99 from $4.99 until 3/28)
Sumatra: Fate of Yandi ($2.09 from $6.99 until 3/28)
God Damn The Garden ($2.49 from $4.99 until 3/28)
6Souls ($2.39 from $7.99 until 3/28)
Chefy-Chef ($1.99 from $4.99 until 3/28)
Deponia Collection ($3.99 from $39.99 until 4/3)
Harem Girl Isabella ($2.00 from $2.99 until 4/3)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, Wednesday, March 15th

Adventure Academia: TFC ($33.99 from $39.99 until 3/15)
Art Sqool ($1.99 from $12.99 until 3/15)
Blazing Chrome ($6.79 from $16.99 until 3/15)
Boreal Tenebrae ($1.99 from $6.99 until 3/15)
Cardpocalypse ($9.99 from $24.99 until 3/15)
Cardpocalypse TW Edition ($7.49 from $29.99 until 3/15)
Crowdy Farm Rush ($1.99 from $5.99 until 3/15)
Detective Di TSRM ($1.99 from $12.99 until 3/15)
Elemetals DMDM ($1.99 from $12.99 until 3/15)
Faeria: Premium Bundle ($14.99 from $59.99 until 3/15)
Gal*Gun 2 ($14.99 from $29.99 until 3/15)
Gal*Gun Double Peace ($25.99 from $39.99 until 3/15)
Gal*Gun Returns ($19.99 from $49.99 until 3/15)
Gem Wizards Tactics ($1.99 from $12.99 until 3/15)
Gravity Heroes ($5.99 from $14.99 until 3/15)

Gun Gun Pixies ($24.99 from $49.99 until 3/15)
Into The Dead 2 ($13.99 from $34.99 until 3/15)
Inukari ($1.99 from $7.99 until 3/15)
Lair Land Story ($11.99 from $14.99 until 3/15)
Little Bug ($1.99 from $12.99 until 3/15)
Ori & the Blind Forest: Definitive ($4.99 from $19.99 until 3/15)
Ori & the Will of the Wisps ($5.99 from $29.99 until 3/15)
P.3 ($1.99 from $4.99 until 3/15)
Pang Adventures ($3.99 from $9.99 until 3/15)
Phantom Breaker Omnia ($9.99 from $39.99 until 3/15)
Pillars of Eternity CE ($12.49 from $49.99 until 3/15)
Quantum Replica ($3.99 from $9.99 until 3/15)
Raging Loop ($14.99 from $29.99 until 3/15)
RazerWire: Nanowars ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/15)
Sockventure ($9.99 from $19.99 until 3/15)

Supermarket Shriek ($5.99 from $19.99 until 3/15)
Tears of Avia ($8.99 from $14.99 until 3/15)
The Good Life ($23.99 from $39.99 until 3/15)
The Hand of Merlin ($14.99 from $29.99 until 3/15)
The Last Survey ($1.99 from $14.99 until 3/15)
The Plane Effect ($7.49 from $14.99 until 3/15)
TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge ($19.99 from $24.99 until 3/15)
Ultreia ($1.99 from $12.99 until 3/15)
Under Leaves ($1.99 from $12.99 until 3/15)
UnMetal ($9.99 from $19.99 until 3/15)
Warborn ($3.74 from $24.99 until 3/15)
Windjammers ($5.99 from $14.99 until 3/15)
Windjammers 2 ($12.99 from $19.99 until 3/15)
Wintermoor Tactics Club ($7.99 from $19.99 until 3/15)
Wonder Boy The Dragon’s Trap ($7.99 from $19.99 until 3/15)
Yaga ($9.99 from $24.99 until 3/15)
Young Souls ($14.99 from $24.99 until 3/15)
Ys Origin ($7.99 from $19.99 until 3/15)
Zengeon ($8.99 from $19.99 until 3/15)

That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with more new releases, more sales, and perhaps a review or two if I can spare the time. I hope you all have a great Tuesday, and as always, thanks for reading!