Howdy mild readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Spherical-Up for August thirteenth, 2024. At the moment was an necessary vacation of kinds in Japan, and I additionally needed to go to the hospital for the same old causes. However, I nonetheless had time to carry you two critiques, protecting Cat Quest III and Natsu-Mon: twentieth Century Summer time Child, in addition to appears to be like on the new releases of the day and the same old lists of latest and expiring gross sales. Reducing it very near the wire right here, thoughts you. Effectively, let’s get to it earlier than my supper will get chilly!
Critiques & Mini-Views
Natsu-Mon: twentieth Century Summer time Child ($39.99)
Pals, it has been a actually very long time since I used to be a child. It will get longer yearly. It’s additionally been a really, very very long time since I bought to have a month-long summer time trip the place I used to be free to do no matter. Lately are nicely up to now, and they don’t seem to be coming again. Each now and again, Kaz Ayabe offers me an opportunity to relive these days in a digital method, and I at all times respect it. Whether or not it’s by the unique BokuNatsu sequence, the quirky Assault of the Friday Monsters, and even with the impish little Shin-chan, Ayabe’s video games have a method of evoking nostalgia for stuff you may not have even skilled to start with.
Natsu-Mon: twentieth Century Summer time Child feels prefer it’s going all the best way again to BokuNatsu, presenting a extra simple tackle a baby’s summer time trip within the countryside. I imply, as simple as being the kid of a touring circus proprietor could be. You arrive within the city of Yomogi firstly of August and are informed by your mother and father that you just’ll be shifting alongside on the finish of the month. You’re free to do what you wish to fill these days, with loads of actions, missions, and occasions on supply. Certainly, there may be a lot to do right here that it’s exceedingly unlikely you’ll see all of it in your first playthrough.
There are two broad approaches folks are inclined to take with the Summer time Trip video games, and I don’t assume both of them are improper. The primary is to only play by the sport as soon as, seeing no matter you may that occurs to catch your eye. That’s it. You progress on, and your expertise was your personal. The opposite kind is to play by many times, looking for and do the whole lot, squeezing the video games for the whole lot they’ve to supply. Should you’re the previous, bear in mind that this recreation doesn’t take too lengthy for a single playthrough. Alter your expectations accordingly, and make your name primarily based on the worth. Should you’re the latter? You’ve bought an terrible lot to see right here, and also you’ve bought your work reduce out for you if you wish to take all of it in.
The setting this time is 1999, and we’re actually nicely away from any autobiographical overtures from Ayabe. However, the sport feels very genuine. I’ve been dwelling in Japan a reasonably very long time now, and I’ve spent all of that point dwelling in a countryside city. I got here right here a number of years after 1999 after all, however there are loads of acquainted components all the identical. One of many issues I feel Ayabe is nice at is taking a really honest sense of actuality after which tilting it to a baby’s perspective, and that shines as brightly right here as in any of the earlier video games. The world could be very immersive in a method that’s completely different from what we normally consider when that phrase is introduced into play. You possibly can lose your self right here very simply, and the place actually does begin to really feel like residence by the top.
Those that are searching for a ton of gameplay hours for his or her buck would possibly discover Natsu-Mon a bit lighter than they’re after. It’s actually the one warning I’ve to supply right here. In any other case, this is a wonderful instance of the type of recreation it’s making an attempt to be. If you wish to transport again to a childhood you by no means had, there’s no higher option to do it this summer time. It actually grabs on to you and carries you alongside at its tempo, regardless of the entire recreation being structured round you doing issues at your personal velocity. I actually love this recreation, and I hope we maintain seeing extra of those sooner or later.
SwitchArcade Rating: 4.5/5
Cat Quest III ($19.99)
Did you’re keen on Cat Quest and its sequel? You then’re going to have a good time with Cat Quest III. This recreation follows the “secure sequel” strategy, not messing round with what works whereas including in some new components and throwing you into an entire new world and principal quest. As soon as once more, you may take pleasure in it solo or pull in a pal for some co-op motion, and if in case you have the means I actually suggest that second choice. The puns fly quick and furry-ous, the tempo is pleasingly zippy, and the map is enjoyable to discover whether or not by land or by sea.
Really, it’s the theme of this recreation that units it aside most from the final. That is extra of a swashbuckler’s story, and that’s really reasonably refreshing within the action-RPG style. You’ll nonetheless be delving into loads of dungeons after all, and by way of pure nuts and bolts not a lot has modified with the mechanics. You’ll get a pleasant mix of exploration, fight, puzzle-solving, and tinkering round with gear. The story isn’t doing something fancy, however the writing is basically charming and issues transfer alongside at a great velocity. It takes about fifteen hours to wrap the sport, which I feel is greater than appropriate for a recreation of this kind.
Cat Quest III is a very good action-RPG, and one that you would be able to simply play with a pal or member of the family of any talent stage. Even going alone, you’ll have a improbable time with this goofy recreation. The ocean-faring theme does a superb job of freshening issues up, however at its core this recreation hasn’t modified terribly a lot from what we’ve seen from Cat Quest earlier than. Certainly, in most methods it appears like placing on a comfortable pair of sneakers. No less than at this level within the sequence, I feel that’s a great factor.
SwitchArcade Rating: 4.5/5
Choose New Releases
Hidden Via Time 2: Discovery ($10.99)
I assume that is Hidden Via Time 2-2? Unsure why they didn’t simply go for the quantity three right here, however no matter. It’s extra Hidden Via Time! Search out the hidden objects within the varied scenes, or use the map editor to create your personal. You possibly can then share your maps with different gamers, and benefit from the ones they made. Infinite enjoyable? Maybe. Maybe.
Beatbuddy: Story of the Guardians ($12.99)
It by no means hurts to line up a great soundtrack to your recreation, and this one actually has that. It appears to be like good, too. As for the gameplay, nicely… this recreation did the tour a few decade in the past on different platforms, and whereas its musical platforming mechanics aren’t unhealthy, the sport is a bit duller than you would possibly anticipate. However that’s simply my take, after all. You would possibly get extra from it than I did. If nothing else, you may really feel the developer’s ardour for it, and that counts for lots.
Guayota ($14.99)
This can be a puzzle-action recreation the place you’re exploring a dungeon for causes I’m certain are simply and necessary. Appears to be like like some laser beam and mirror puzzles, however not simply these. The primary gimmick here’s a dual-realm system the place dying locations you in one other model of the dungeon that’s extra cerebral in nature. I haven’t had an opportunity to strive it but, however it appears to be like respectable.
Gross sales
(North American eShop, US Costs)
Hey, some sizzling offers on Atari video games immediately. Video games from corporations Atari owns as nicely, like Digital Eclipse and Evening Dive. You possibly can’t go improper with most of those, however Tempest 4000 at 4 bucks strikes me as a foolish whole lot particularly. The Turok Trilogy Bundle can be an distinctive supply for these about Turok. Loads of different offers in there, so examine that checklist. Not fairly a lot within the outbox, however give it a look too in your method out.
Choose New Gross sales
Tempest 4000 ($3.99 from $19.99 till 8/19)
Akka Arrh ($9.99 from $19.99 till 8/19)
NeoSprint ($22.49 from $24.99 till 8/19)
Atari Flashback Classics ($17.99 from $39.99 till 8/19)
Atari 50: Anniversary Celebration ($25.99 from $39.99 till 8/19)
Atari Mania ($9.99 from $24.99 till 8/19)
Yars Recharged ($4.49 from $9.99 till 8/19)
Gravitar Recharged ($4.49 from $9.99 till 8/19)
Caverns of Mars Recharged ($4.49 from $9.99 till 8/19)
Black Widow Recharged ($4.49 from $9.99 till 8/19)
Centipede Recharged ($4.49 from $9.99 till 8/19)
Breakout Recharged ($4.49 from $9.99 till 8/19)
Pong Quest ($3.74 from $14.99 till 8/19)
RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 CE ($8.99 from $29.99 till 8/19)
RollerCoaster Tycoon Adv. Deluxe ($29.99 from $39.99 till 8/19)
Shadow Man Remastered ($8.99 from $19.99 till 8/19)
Blade Runner: Enhanced Version ($2.99 from $9.99 till 8/19)
Turok ($4.99 from $19.99 till 8/19)
Turok 2: Seeds of Evil ($6.99 from $19.99 till 8/19)
Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion ($22.49 from $29.99 till 8/19)
Turok Trilogy Bundle ($23.99 from $59.99 till 8/19)
Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous ($9.99 from $19.99 till 8/19)
PO’ed: Definitive Version ($16.99 from $19.99 till 8/19)
Star Wars: Darkish Forces ($19.49 from $29.99 till 8/19)
PowerSlave Exhumed ($8.99 from $19.99 till 8/19)
Strife: Veteran Version ($2.49 from $9.99 till 8/19)
Wizardry: Proving Grounds ($31.99 from $39.99 till 8/19)
The Making of Karateka ($14.99 from $19.99 till 8/19)
Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story ($23.99 from $29.99 till 8/19)
Swords & Troopers 2 ($2.99 from $14.99 till 8/19)
Completely Dependable Supply Service ($2.99 from $14.99 till 8/19)
Spirits of Xanadu ($1.99 from $4.99 till 8/19)
Bilkins Folly ($12.99 from $19.99 till 8/19)
Blast Brigade vs. The Evil Legion ($11.99 from $19.99 till 8/25)
The Mummy Demastered ($6.99 from $19.99 till 8/26)
Lunark ($9.99 from $19.99 till 8/26)
Rose & Camellia Assortment ($13.99 from $19.99 till 8/26)
Shantae & the Pirate’s Curse ($9.99 from $19.99 till 8/26)
Shantae & the Seven Sirens ($14.99 from $29.99 till 8/26)
Surprise Boy Asha in Monster World ($9.99 from $19.99 till 8/26)
Surprise Boy Assortment ($14.99 from $29.99 till 8/26)
Surprise Boy Anniversary Assortment ($24.99 from $49.99 till 8/26)
Manticore: Galaxy on Hearth ($2.19 from $19.99 till 8/26)
Nexomon ($3.99 from $9.99 till 8/26)
Nexomon Extinction ($7.99 from $19.99 till 8/26)
Potion Allow ($11.99 from $19.99 till 8/26)
Labyrinth of Zangetsu ($17.99 from $29.99 till 8/26)
Maglam Lord ($7.99 from $39.99 till 8/26)
ghostpia Season One ($12.99 from $19.99 till 8/26)
White Day: ASNL ($11.99 from $29.99 till 8/26)
Tremendous Bullet Break ($7.99 from $19.99 till 8/26)
Konosuba Love For These Garments ($37.49 from $49.99 till 8/26)
Arcade Spirits: New Challengers ($6.59 from $19.99 till 8/26)
Steel Max Xeno Reborn ($13.19 from $39.99 till 8/26)
Tormented Souls ($6.59 from $19.99 till 8/26)
Knight vs Big: Damaged Excalibur ($13.39 from $19.99 till 8/26)
Aokana: 4 Rhythms Throughout Blue ($5.99 from $29.99 till 8/26)
Crimson Faction Guerrilla ($2.99 from $29.99 till 8/26)
Alice Gear Aegis CS CoS ($16.49 from $29.99 till 8/26)
Bustafellows ($3.99 from $39.99 till 8/26)
Aggelos ($3.74 from $14.99 till 8/26)
Cult of the Lamb ($12.49 from $24.99 till 8/27)
9 Parchments ($4.39 from $19.99 till 8/27)
Trine Enchanted Version ($3.29 from $14.99 till 8/27)
Trine 2: Full Story ($3.73 from $16.99 till 8/27)
Trine 3: Artifacts of Energy ($4.39 from $19.99 till 8/27)
Groove Coaster Wai Wai Social gathering ($35.99 from $59.99 till 9/2)
RoboDunk ($7.49 from $14.99 till 9/2)
Soul Hyperlink ($3.99 from $5.99 till 9/2)
Gross sales Ending Tomorrow, August 14th
AI: The Somnium Recordsdata ($7.99 from $39.99 till 8/14)
AI: TSF nirvanA Initiative ($23.99 from $59.99 till 8/14)
Alchemist Journey ($2.79 from $19.99 till 8/14)
Nameless;Code ($29.99 from $59.99 till 8/14)
Avaris 3 ($24.50 from $35.00 till 8/14)
Damaged Traces ($3.49 from $24.99 till 8/14)
Die for Valhalla! ($3.59 from $11.99 till 8/14)
Backyard Guardian ($2.49 from $4.99 till 8/14)
HunterX: code identify T ($10.19 from $16.99 till 8/14)
Immortal Planet ($4.49 from $14.99 till 8/14)
kuso ($2.49 from $4.99 till 8/14)
Grasp Detective Archives Rain Code ($41.99 from $59.99 till 8/14)
Onirike ($2.24 from $14.99 till 8/14)
Pan’orama ($7.99 from $19.99 till 8/14)
Raindrop Sprinters ($6.09 from $8.70 till 8/14)
Retro Machina ($2.79 from $19.99 till 8/14)
STAB STAB STAB ($2.99 from $9.99 till 8/14)
Steamburg ($1.99 from $4.99 till 8/14)
Steins;Gate Elite ($11.99 from $59.99 till 8/14)
Tetsumo Social gathering ($1.99 from $4.99 till 8/14)
Thea: The Awakening ($5.39 from $17.99 till 8/14)
Tilt Pack ($2.09 from $14.99 till 8/14)
Time Of Battle, Arkano’90 ($2.24 from $14.99 till 8/14)
Tobari Dream Ocean ($10.49 from $14.99 till 8/14)
Touhou Shoujo Stunning Recollections ($20.99 from $29.99 till 8/14)
Touhou Sky Area: Matsuri-Climax ($20.99 from $29.99 till 8/14)
Wingspan ($9.99 from $19.99 till 8/14)
That’s all for immediately, pals. We’ll be again tomorrow with a few new releases, not less than one assessment, some gross sales, and possibly a bit information. The physician gave me the go-ahead immediately to strive consuming a little bit of pizza, so I’m lastly going to money in my birthday pizza ticket and have some nasty, oily, deliciousness. Will I be confirmed a idiot for this hubris? Time will inform, however I’d guess on the affirmative. I hope you all have a terrific Tuesday, and as at all times, thanks for studying!
