Hello fellow gamers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for August 27th, 2024! Today's update begins with some exciting news, followed by a game review and a look at a new release. We'll wrap things up with our usual sales rundown. Let's dive in!
News
Nintendo Direct/Indie World Showcase Recap
As predicted by some industry insiders, Nintendo surprised us with a last-minute Nintendo Direct! The 40-minute presentation, a blend of Partner Showcase and Indie World Showcase, delivered a variety of announcements. While primarily focused on third-party titles and indie games, it lacked any major first-party reveals or news about the next-generation Switch console. You can watch the full presentation above, and we'll provide a detailed summary of the key highlights tomorrow.
Reviews & Mini-Views
EGGCONSOLE Star Trader PC-8801mkIIsr ($6.49)
The usual questions arise with untranslated EGGCONSOLE releases: Is the game enjoyable, and is it playable without knowing Japanese? Star Trader is intriguing but not exceptional. Falcom blended adventure and side-scrolling shooter elements, but neither aspect truly shines. The adventure portion features appealing artwork, and the shooter's attempt at narrative integration is unique. Players interact with characters, accept quests, and earn money to upgrade their ship, crucial for navigating the action sequences.
The shooter segments, however, suffer from the PC-8801's limitations, resulting in jerky scrolling. The game's structure is unclear, but Star Trader is more captivating than it is polished. The text-heavy adventure sections require player comprehension for optimal progress. Without Japanese proficiency, players miss half the game and struggle to earn sufficient credits for ship upgrades. While brute-forcing is possible, it significantly detracts from the experience.
Star Trader offers a glimpse into gaming history, showcasing a developer venturing beyond their typical style. However, the extensive Japanese text severely restricts accessibility for Western audiences. While some enjoyment might be gleaned through experimentation, 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 misbehavior. Pluto must clean eternally, exploring, battling enemies with a broom, interacting with eccentric characters, and overcoming bosses. The gameplay is familiar but well-executed; fans of the genre should definitely consider this title.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
For fans of colorful shooters with unique mechanics, we recommend checking out the Dreamer series and Harpoon Shooter Nozomi. Don't miss out on 1000xRESIST – it's a must-buy! Other notable titles on sale include various Star Wars games, Citizen Sleeper, Paradise Killer, Haiku, the Robot, and the Tomb Raider collection. Check out the full lists below!
Select New Sales
(List of new sales)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, August 28th
(List of sales ending tomorrow)
That's all for today! We'll be back tomorrow with a detailed Nintendo Direct recap, new game releases, sales updates, and more reviews. Have a great Tuesday, and thanks for reading!
