Hey mild readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Spherical-Up for September sixth, 2024. Nicely, that is the final one. You’ll see another particular from me subsequent week with a number of opinions which have particular embargo dates, however that is the ultimate common SwitchArcade Spherical-Up for TouchArcade by yours actually. We’ve been at this for a number of years and I want I might have seen the Change by means of to its finish with these articles, however circumstances dictate one other course. We’re going out with one other chunky one, with a pair of opinions from our pal Mikhail, a pair of Shaun opinions, a handful of latest launch summaries, and the same old lists of latest and expiring gross sales. Let’s experience one final time!
Critiques & Mini-Views
Health Boxing feat. HATSUNE MIKU ($49.99)
After Imagineer’s success with the Health Boxing video games that led to the hilarious however good Health Boxing Fist of the North Star, I didn’t know what IP the group would work with for a brand new health recreation. When Health Boxing feat. HATSUNE MIKU was introduced, I assumed it was a wise collaboration, however was curious to see how the sport felt after Fist of the North Star. I’ve been enjoying it over the previous couple of weeks alongside Ring Match Journey and I’m impressed with Health Boxing feat. HATSUNE MIKU in some ways.
In case you’re new to the Health Boxing sequence, these video games, because the identify suggests, use boxing and rhythm recreation actions to get you into form by means of each day workouts, mini-games that additionally get you sweating, and extra. With Health Boxing feat. HATSUNE MIKU, everybody’s favourite vocaloid will get in on the motion and there’s even a separate devoted mode for her songs along with the conventional songs included on this launch. Remember that this can be a Pleasure-Con solely recreation so you possibly can’t play it with a Professional Controller or any third get together equipment so far as I’m conscious.
As with different video games within the sequence, there are issue choices, a free coaching mode to do as you please, warmups, and monitoring with reminders and the systemwide alarm that may remind you even when your Change is in sleep mode. There are cosmetics you possibly can unlock by means of the factors you earn by enjoying as nicely. I can’t touch upon the DLC but, however as for the bottom launch, I favored Health Boxing feat. HATSUNE MIKU greater than Fist of the North Star apart from one challenge.
The audio in Health Boxing feat. HATSUNE MIKU is nice, however the principle teacher’s voice isn’t nice. I ended up turning this voice down as a result of it felt misplaced with the remainder of the sport, and simply sounded a bit weirdly directed.
Similar to the Health Boxing Fist of the North Star launch from Imagineer, Health Boxing feat. HATSUNE MIKU is a stable fitness-focused recreation that does an awesome job of bringing Miku to the world of Health Boxing to try to attraction to her followers. Whereas it’s a competent health recreation with its each day exercise, customization, and monitoring, I really feel like it might be higher as a complement to one thing like Ring Match Journey or your personal different train routine reasonably than being the only train you do throughout the week. -Mikhail Madnani
SwitchArcade Rating: 4/5
Magical Delicacy ($24.99)
Magical Delicacy from sKaule and Whitethorn Video games is one I hadn’t paid a lot consideration to till a pal of mine linked me to an Xbox Recreation Go announcement for it. Since then, I’ve performed it on Change as nicely, however really feel prefer it wants a bit extra time within the oven. I like Metroidvania-style platformers and cooking video games, however it seems like Magical Delicacy takes the nice bits of each genres whereas not placing them collectively in one of the best ways attainable. This ends in a recreation I like in elements, however one the place the failings harm a bit extra.
You play as Flora who’s a younger witch in a narrative that’s equal elements mysterious, magical, and healthful. Your goal is to prepare dinner meals and craft for numerous of us, and I used to be stunned at how nicely the exploration was applied apart from the backtracking that aggravated me generally. I anticipated it to be missing in comparison with the cooking and crafting, however the group nailed the Metroidvania components. There are some points with elements within the crafting and in how stock is managed. That is made a bit worse by the UI that I took some time to get used to with interplay.
Magical Delicacy makes an awesome first impression with its beautiful pixel artwork visuals, pretty music, and tons of settings. The latter consists of UI scale and textual content choices which are each very helpful when enjoying on Change in handheld mode. I really feel like Magical Delicacy would have benefited loads from an early entry launch or will from potential updates.
In terms of the Change model, it performs very nicely apart from some seemingly body pacing-related hiccups. It has good rumble as nicely. Having performed it on Xbox Sequence X, that is undoubtedly a recreation I’d play extra on a conveyable so a Change or Steam Deck model can be finest. I simply play the style extra on handhelds.
Magical Delicacy is a recreation I ought to’ve cherished given it’s principally a mix of a Metroidvania and a crooking/crafting recreation, however it feels a little bit undercooked (I couldn’t resist) in elements because of some stock and backtracking points. Whereas it’s a superb recreation proper now that feels at dwelling on Change, a number of high quality of life updates and sprucing will make it an important. -Mikhail Madnani
SwitchArcade Rating: 4/5
Aero The Acro-Bat 2 ($5.99)
A variety of firms tried their hand on the entire mascot platformer factor within the 16-bit period within the wake of Sonic the Hedgehog‘s explosive success. Like, the sheer variety of them is simply baffling. Much more than I remembered. Not lots of them managed to see sequels, however Aero The Acro-Bat is a part of that elite few. How every member of that membership bought there may be its personal story, however in Aero’s case it appears to have been a mix of the primary recreation going over nicely sufficient, and sheer pressure of will to try to make fetch occur. Sadly, fetch didn’t occur. Aero spin-off Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel launched a number of months after Aero 2, however exterior of that Aero was by no means seen in one other unique title once more.
Does that make Aero The Acro-Bat 2 a foul recreation? I don’t suppose so. It doesn’t seem to be it was a large enough success to advantage one other follow-up, on the very least. However then once more, Sunsoft’s father or mother firm had just lately misplaced a ton of cash on a foul funding involving golf programs, and that actually put it in a fiscally conservative temper for some time. Both method, I don’t suppose the fault could be positioned on the standard of the sport. It’s pretty much as good as the primary recreation was, with all that suggests. A extra polished expertise that in shedding a few of these tough edges loses a few of its character, however an honest sufficient platforming romp.
I used to be totally anticipating this launch to be in Ratalaika’s standard emulation wrapper, however a lot to my shock there’s been an improve within the presentation. This feels much more tailored for the sport, and when it comes to each choices and extras I believe this can be a much better expertise total. Field and guide scans, achievements, a gallery of sprite sheets, a jukebox, a bunch of cheats, and extra. I frankly don’t have any complaints in any respect about how the sport performs and the suite of options right here. The one nit I’ll choose is that you simply solely get the Tremendous NES model of the sport right here. I really feel just like the SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive model ought to have been included too, simply to maintain everybody completely satisfied.
Those that loved Aero The Acro-Bat ought to naturally give Aero The Acro-Bat 2 a shot. I even suppose those that have been barely postpone by the primary recreation’s quirks may need a greater time right here. I actually need to commend Ratalaika for stepping up its recreation with the emulation wrapper for this launch. Maybe I’m being grasping, however I’d like to see the primary recreation up to date with the same interface only for consistency. A nice launch for Aero followers and people on the look out for 16-bit platformers to play, and one which makes me optimistic for the remaining reissues of this sequence.
SwitchArcade Rating: 3.5/5
Metro Quester | Osaka ($19.99)
I bought fairly a little bit of enjoyment out of the unique Metro Quester when it launched some time again. It’s a little bit of a bear to get into, however when you perceive its guidelines and what it’s a must to do, it’s an immensely satisfying dungeon-crawling turn-based RPG. Experimenting with get together builds to attempt to discover the optimum group was a job I really loved taking over. With that in thoughts, I used to be very completely satisfied to see that there was one other recreation within the sequence coming. Metro Quester | Osaka feels a little bit extra like an growth pack than a correct sequel, however I’m more than pleased with that given how a lot I bought out of the unique.
The story here’s a prequel to the unique recreation, and we’ve moved to Osaka as a setting. You get an entire new dungeon to discover, and a few new character varieties to try this exploring with. Osaka is a a lot wetter location, so that you’ll want to make use of your canoe to journey over the water in locations. With the brand new dungeon comes new weapons, expertise, and enemies to take care of. Undoubtedly extra to chew on right here for many who have wrung out the unique recreation, and for those who had fun there then you’ll take pleasure in this one, too.
That stated, this recreation shares a lot of its broader mechanics with the unique Metro Quester. In case you want a proof, please take a look at my overview of that recreation for extra particulars. Quick model: turn-based fight, top-down dungeon exploration, and an entire lot of inching your method outward a little bit additional every time earlier than having to move again to camp. You recognize, the good things. Those that are careless will discover themselves in sizzling water in a short time, as planning and cautious play is virtually a necessity on this recreation.
Those that discovered themselves totally absorbed in Metro Quester will discover lots to take pleasure in in Metro Quester | Osaka, and new gamers ought to in all probability simply skip proper to this recreation. It’s extra of an growth pack than a sequel, however that by no means needs to be taken as a foul factor. Somewhat, it simply looks like the designer needed to ship gamers on one other journey that pushes out the prevailing methods in some fascinating methods. It’s actually a recreation you’ll need to be affected person with to get essentially the most out of, however these keen to take a position the time will benefit from the dividends.
SwitchArcade Rating: 4/5
Choose New Releases
NBA 2K25 ($59.99)
NBA 2K is again… in 25 kind! You recognize, I discover myself questioning one thing. What occurs to the identify of this sequence once we hit the 12 months 2100? NBA 2K100? Simply feels bizarre. We’ll have to speak about that when the scenario arises, I suppose. Apparently this 12 months’s model has improved gameplay, a brand new function known as Neighborhood, and a few nonsense about MyTEAM. I’m not going to fake to know what’s occurring right here, so as an alternative I’ll simply toss out the quantity of house you’ll want in your reminiscence card for this recreation after which transfer on. Right here we go. 53.3 GB!
Shogun Showdown ($14.99)
Bought room in your coronary heart for one more riff on Darkest Dungeon? This one has a Japanese-inspired setting, and there are a number of bits in right here that change issues up a little bit. Setting all of that apart, that is very a lot a well-recognized fashion of recreation and I believe it’s an honest sufficient instance of such to be of curiosity to these on the hunt for one more one.
Aero The Acro-Bat 2 ($5.99)
Nicely, there’s a overview up above this part, however in case you’re within the behavior of skipping down the web page, let me fill you in. That is the considerably extra polished sequel to the profitable Aero The Acro-Bat, all finished up in Ratalaika’s emulator wrapper. Mentioned wrapper was given further effort for this launch, and it appears good! The model of the sport included is the Tremendous NES one, and you’ll play the North American launch or the Japanese one. I want the Genesis/Mega Drive model was in right here, however I can’t think about Aero followers being sad with this total exterior of that.
Sunsoft is Again! Retro Recreation Choice ($9.99)
Sunsoft is again! Okay, Sunsoft has been again for some time now, and also you in all probability don’t want a trio of heretofore non-localized Famicom video games to promote you on that. So as an alternative let the video games promote you on themselves, as you get a trio of distinctive and diverse titles on this bunch. A side-scrolling motion platformer, an journey recreation, and an action-RPG of types. I reviewed this set a few days in the past, so I counsel checking that out for those who want extra particulars. Quick model: for those who like bizarre previous video games, this can be a good pick-up.
Gross sales
(North American eShop, US Costs)
Some enjoyable stuff within the inbox right now, together with a very good value on the Cosmic Fantasy Assortment. Somewhat expensive at its regular value, however at 40% off I believe it’s value contemplating for retro RPG followers. I’ll additionally name out the fulfilling platformer Tinykin, which is at its lowest value but. Have a very good look by means of these lists and see what catches your eye.
Choose New Gross sales
Zombie Military Trilogy ($8.74 from $34.99 till 9/12)
Zombie Military 4: Useless Warfare ($14.99 from $49.99 till 9/12)
Wild Seas ($2.49 from $4.99 till 9/12)
Chants of Sennaar ($14.99 from $19.99 till 9/13)
The Home of Da Vinci 3 ($4.99 from $9.99 till 9/13)
Warhammer 40k: Boltgun ($15.39 from $21.99 till 9/13)
Toziuha Evening: Dracula’s Revenge ($1.99 from $4.99 till 9/16)
Monkey Barrels ($7.49 from $14.99 till 9/19)
Banchou Ways ($15.99 from $19.99 till 9/19)
Transiruby ($10.49 from $14.99 till 9/19)
Picontier ($19.99 from $24.99 till 9/19)
Kamiko ($1.99 from $4.99 till 9/19)
Fairune Assortment ($3.99 from $9.99 till 9/19)
Alchemic Dungeons DX ($3.19 from $7.99 till 9/19)
Ninja Smasher! ($6.39 from $7.99 till 9/19)
Ninja Striker! ($1.99 from $3.99 till 9/19)
Nice Ambition of the Slimes ($9.59 from $11.99 till 9/19)
Shinobi Non Grata ($11.99 from $14.99 till 9/19)
Let’s Construct a Zoo ($7.99 from $19.99 till 9/20)
Owlboy ($8.74 from $24.99 till 9/20)
Hakuoki: Wind & Blossom ($44.99 from $49.99 till 9/20)
Omen of Sorrow ($7.99 from $19.99 till 9/20)
Dungeonoid 2 Awakening ($4.49 from $8.99 till 9/20)
The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt CE ($23.99 from $59.99 till 9/22)
Knights of Grayfang ($10.49 from $14.99 till 9/26)
Gale of Windoria ($7.49 from $14.99 till 9/26)
Justice Chronicles ($7.49 from $14.99 till 9/26)
Armed Emeth ($7.49 from $14.99 till 9/26)
Jinshin ($10.49 from $14.99 till 9/26)
Alphadia Genesis ($7.49 from $14.99 till 9/26)
Grace of Letoile ($10.49 from $14.99 till 9/26)
Tinykin ($6.24 from $24.99 till 9/26)
Despot’s Recreation ($4.99 from $19.99 till 9/26)
Cosmic Fantasy Assortment ($29.99 from $49.99 till 9/26)
Cosmic Fantasy ($15.90 from $26.50 till 9/26)
Cosmic Fantasy 2 ($15.90 from $26.50 till 9/26)
Spirittea ($15.99 from $19.99 till 9/26)
Punch Membership 2: Quick Ahead ($9.99 from $19.99 till 9/26)
Railway Empire 2 ($37.49 from $49.99 till 9/26)
Lil’ Guardsman ($11.99 from $19.99 till 9/26)
Potion Craft Alchemist Simulator ($11.99 from $19.99 till 9/26)
Euphoria ($1.99 from $14.99 till 9/26)
Of The Pink, the Mild, & Ayakashi ($25.06 from $50.13 till 9/26)
Fashionable Fight Blackout ($1.99 from $7.99 till 9/26)
The Buddies of Ringo Ishikawa ($8.99 from $14.99 till 9/26)
Arrest of a Stone Buddha ($8.99 from $14.99 till 9/26)
Fading Afternoon ($16.99 from $19.99 till 9/26)
Astor: Blade of the Monolith ($14.99 from $24.99 till 9/26)
Tamarak Path ($8.99 from $14.99 till 9/26)
Inflexible Pressure Redux ($3.99 from $19.99 till 9/26)
Yaga ($6.24 from $24.99 till 9/26)
Rabi-Ribi ($13.99 from $19.99 till 9/26)
Gross sales Ending This Weekend
Useless in Vinland: True Viking ($2.79 from $27.99 till 9/7)
Gunslugs ($4.79 from $7.99 till 9/7)
Gunslugs 2 ($4.79 from $7.99 till 9/7)
Heroes of Loot ($4.79 from $7.99 till 9/7)
Heroes of Loot 2 ($5.99 from $9.99 till 9/7)
Meganoid ($5.39 from $8.99 till 9/7)
NOISZ re:||COLLECTION G ($19.99 from $24.99 till 9/7)
Phoenotopia: Awakening ($6.99 from $19.99 till 9/7)
Area Grunts ($8.39 from $13.99 till 9/7)
Stardash ($5.99 from $9.99 till 9/7)
Superhot ($9.99 from $24.99 till 9/7)
Dormitory Love ($24.49 from $34.99 till 9/8)
Dying Mild: Definitive Version ($9.99 from $49.99 till 9/8)
Fur Squadron ($2.79 from $6.99 till 9/8)
Tchia: Oleti Version ($23.44 from $34.99 till 9/8)
That’s all for right now, this week, this month, this 12 months, and eternally, mates. I haven’t been very loud about this, however this isn’t solely the top of the SwitchArcade Spherical-Up, but additionally of my eleven and a half years at TouchArcade. I’ll nonetheless be writing right here and there at my weblog at Publish Recreation Content material in addition to placing up unique articles on my Patreon, however apart from that I believe I’m hanging up the ol’ webs on this particular sort of work. Twenty-six years on this finish of the enterprise is an effective run, and I’m prepared for brand spanking new challenges. Do search for me at one of many aforementioned locations, hit me up on BlueSky and say hello, and for those who’re a elaborate govt trying to rent a really seasoned author, I’m your man.
With that stated, I’ll prolong the best attainable gratitude to all of TouchArcade’s readers for being with me on this leg of my life’s journey. I treasure all of you greater than you possibly can know. I want you all of the sincerest happiness in your lives, and eternally and at all times – thanks for studying.
