Whats up light 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 couple 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 may have seen the Change by 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 recent launch summaries, and the same old lists of recent and expiring gross sales. Let’s journey 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 sensible collaboration, however was curious to see how the sport felt after Fist of the North Star. I’ve been taking part in it over the previous few weeks alongside Ring Match Journey and I’m impressed with Health Boxing feat. HATSUNE MIKU in some ways.
For those who’re new to the Health Boxing collection, these video games, because the title suggests, use boxing and rhythm recreation actions to get you into form by every day workout routines, 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 the fact that it is a Pleasure-Con solely recreation so you may’t play it with a Professional Controller or any third social gathering equipment so far as I’m conscious.
As with different video games within the collection, 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 may unlock by the factors you earn by taking part in as effectively. 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 difficulty.
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 incredible 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 every day exercise, customization, and monitoring, I really feel like it will be higher as a complement to one thing like Ring Match Journey or your individual different train routine fairly than being the only real train you do through 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 buddy of mine linked me to an Xbox Recreation Move announcement for it. Since then, I’ve performed it on Change as effectively, however really feel prefer it wants a bit extra time within the oven. I am keen on Metroidvania-style platformers and cooking video games, nevertheless it appears like Magical Delicacy takes the nice bits of each genres whereas not placing them collectively in one of the simplest ways potential. This ends in a recreation I am keen on 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 purpose is to cook dinner meals and craft for numerous of us, and I used to be stunned at how effectively the exploration was applied apart from the backtracking that irritated me generally. I anticipated it to be missing in comparison with the cooking and crafting, however the group nailed the Metroidvania parts. There are some points with substances 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 incredible first impression with its attractive pixel artwork visuals, pretty music, and tons of settings. The latter contains UI scale and textual content choices which are each very helpful when taking part in on Change in handheld mode. I really feel like Magical Delicacy would have benefited rather a lot from an early entry launch or will from potential updates.
In relation to the Change model, it performs very effectively apart from some seemingly body pacing-related hiccups. It has good rumble as effectively. Having performed it on Xbox Sequence X, that is positively a recreation I’d play extra on a conveyable so a Change or Steam Deck model could be greatest. I simply play the style extra on handhelds.
Magical Delicacy is a recreation I ought to’ve beloved given it’s principally a mix of a Metroidvania and a crooking/crafting recreation, nevertheless it feels somewhat 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 couple of high quality of life updates and sharpening will make it an important. -Mikhail Madnani
SwitchArcade Rating: 4/5
Aero The Acro-Bat 2 ($5.99)
Loads of corporations tried their hand on the complete 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 received there may be its personal story, however in Aero’s case it appears to have been a mix of the primary recreation going over effectively sufficient, and sheer drive 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 outdoors of that Aero was by no means seen in one other unique title once more.
Does that make Aero The Acro-Bat 2 a nasty recreation? I don’t assume so. It doesn’t look like it was a sufficiently big success to benefit one other follow-up, on the very least. However then once more, Sunsoft’s dad or mum firm had not too long ago misplaced a ton of cash on a nasty funding involving golf programs, and that actually put it in a fiscally conservative temper for some time. Both approach, I don’t assume the fault might 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 common 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 by way of each choices and extras I believe it is a much better expertise general. Field and handbook 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 decide 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 glad.
Those that loved Aero The Acro-Bat ought to naturally give Aero The Acro-Bat 2 a shot. I even assume those that have been barely delay by the primary recreation’s quirks might 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 high quality 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 collection.
SwitchArcade Rating: 3.5/5
Metro Quester | Osaka ($19.99)
I received 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 important to do, it’s an immensely satisfying dungeon-crawling turn-based RPG. Experimenting with social gathering builds to attempt to discover the optimum group was a job I really loved taking up. With that in thoughts, I used to be very glad to see that there was one other recreation within the collection coming. Metro Quester | Osaka feels somewhat extra like an enlargement pack than a correct sequel, however I’m very happy with that given how a lot I received 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 a complete new dungeon to discover, and a few new character varieties to do 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. Positively extra to chew on right here for many who have wrung out the unique recreation, and in case you had fun there then you’ll get pleasure from this one, too.
That mentioned, this recreation shares a lot of its broader mechanics with the unique Metro Quester. For those who want an evidence, please try my overview of that recreation for extra particulars. Brief model: turn-based fight, top-down dungeon exploration, and a complete lot of inching your approach outward somewhat additional every time earlier than having to move again to camp. You recognize, the good things. Those that are careless will discover themselves in scorching 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 a lot to get pleasure from in Metro Quester | Osaka, and new gamers ought to in all probability simply skip proper to this recreation. It’s extra of an enlargement pack than a sequel, however that under no circumstances must be taken as a nasty factor. Relatively, it simply looks as if the designer needed to ship gamers on one other journey that pushes out the prevailing techniques 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 speculate 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 title of this collection after we hit the yr 2100? NBA 2K100? Simply feels bizarre. We’ll have to speak about that when the state of affairs arises, I suppose. Apparently this yr’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 happening right here, so as a substitute 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)
Received room in your coronary heart for one more riff on Darkest Dungeon? This one has a Japanese-inspired setting, and there are a couple of bits in right here that change issues up somewhat. 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 executed up in Ratalaika’s emulator wrapper. Stated wrapper was given further effort for this launch, and it appears to be like good! The model of the sport included is the Tremendous NES one, and you may 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 general outdoors 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 a substitute let the video games promote you on themselves, as you get a trio of distinctive and different titles on this bunch. A side-scrolling motion platformer, an journey recreation, and an action-RPG of kinds. I reviewed this set a few days in the past, so I counsel checking that out in case you want extra particulars. Brief model: in case you like bizarre outdated video games, it is a good pick-up.
Gross sales
(North American eShop, US Costs)
Some enjoyable stuff within the inbox as we speak, together with a extremely good worth on the Cosmic Fantasy Assortment. A little bit expensive at its regular worth, however at 40% off I believe it’s price contemplating for retro RPG followers. I’ll additionally name out the satisfying platformer Tinykin, which is at its lowest worth but. Have a very good look by 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 Battle ($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 Purple, the Gentle, & Ayakashi ($25.06 from $50.13 till 9/26)
Trendy Fight Blackout ($1.99 from $7.99 till 9/26)
The Associates 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 Gentle: 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 as we speak, this week, this month, this yr, and endlessly, pals. I haven’t been very loud about this, however this isn’t solely the tip 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 aside from that I believe I’m hanging up the ol’ webs on this particular type of work. Twenty-six years on this finish of the enterprise is an effective run, and I’m prepared for brand new challenges. Do search for me at one of many aforementioned locations, hit me up on BlueSky and say hello, and in case you’re a elaborate govt seeking to rent a really seasoned author, I’m your man.
With that mentioned, I’ll lengthen the best potential 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 may know. I want you all of the sincerest happiness in your lives, and endlessly and all the time – thanks for studying.
