Nintendo Direct Highlights and Reviews

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 review and a look at a fresh release. We'll wrap things up with the usual sales reports. 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 featured a Partner Showcase and an Indie World Showcase. While no first-party titles were revealed, and there was no mention of the next-generation Switch console, the event still offered plenty to discuss. You can watch the full presentation above; a detailed summary of the key announcements will follow tomorrow.

Reviews & Mini-Views

EGGCONSOLE Star Trader PC-8801mkIIsr ($6.49)

This EGGCONSOLE release presents a familiar dilemma: is the game enjoyable, and is it playable without knowing Japanese? Star Trader, a blend of adventure game and side-scrolling shooter, is intriguing but not outstanding. The adventure elements feature appealing artwork, and the attempt to integrate a narrative into the shooter sections is unique. Players primarily interact with characters, accept quests, and earn money to upgrade their ship, crucial for progressing through the shooting stages.

The shooting segments, however, suffer from the PC-8801's limited scrolling capabilities, resulting in a choppy experience. The game's structure is unclear, but Star Trader proves more interesting than truly good. This leads to the second question: the adventure sections are text-heavy, requiring player understanding for optimal progress. Without Japanese comprehension, players miss half the game and struggle in the other half due to insufficient credits. While brute-forcing is possible, it's not ideal.

Star Trader offers a glimpse into gaming history, showcasing a developer venturing outside their usual style. However, the extensive Japanese text significantly hinders enjoyment for Western audiences. While some might find value in exploring it, a strong recommendation is difficult to give.

SwitchArcade Score: 3/5

Select New Releases

Crypt Custodian ($19.99)

This top-down action-adventure game features Pluto, a recently deceased cat, banished from the afterlife and tasked with eternal cleaning. Explore, battle enemies with a broom, encounter quirky characters, defeat bosses, and upgrade abilities. Despite its familiar formula, it's a surprisingly solid entry in the genre. Fans of this style should definitely check it out.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

For fans of colorful shooters with unique mechanics, I suggest looking into the Dreamer series and Harpoon Shooter Nozomi. On the other hand, 1000xRESIST is a must-buy. Other titles worth considering include various Star Wars games, Citizen Sleeper, Paradise Killer, Haiku, the Robot, and perhaps some Tomb Raider titles. Check the lists below!

Select New Sales

Return ($10.49 from $13.99 until 9/2)
Summer Daze: Tilly’s Tale ($2.99 from $14.99 until 9/9)
Please Fix the Road ($5.99 from $9.99 until 9/9)
Ticket to Ride ($26.99 from $29.99 until 9/9)
King ‘n Knight ($9.59 from $11.99 until 9/9)
Spiritfarer ($7.49 from $29.99 until 9/9)
Harpoon Shooter Nozomi ($6.98 from $9.98 until 9/16)
Like Dreamer ($5.99 from $11.99 until 9/16)
Cosmo Dreamer ($4.10 from $8.20 until 9/16)
Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate ($8.99 from $59.99 until 9/16)
Gluck ($5.59 from $6.99 until 9/16)
Love Love School Days ($4.19 from $10.49 until 9/16)
Ugly ($6.79 from $19.99 until 9/16)
Replik Survivors ($3.44 from $4.99 until 9/16)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, August 28th

1000xRESIST ($15.99 from $19.99 until 8/28)
Citizen Sleeper ($9.99 from $19.99 until 8/28)
Genesis Noir ($4.49 from $14.99 until 8/28)
Haiku, The Robot ($9.99 from $19.99 until 8/28)
Heads Up! Phones Down Edition ($1.99 from $39.99 until 8/28)
Legend Bowl ($18.74 from $24.99 until 8/28)
MythForce ($14.99 from $29.99 until 8/28)
Paradise Killer ($5.99 from $19.99 until 8/28)
Star Wars Battlefront Collection ($28.00 from $35.01 until 8/28)
Star Wars Bounty Hunter ($14.99 from $19.99 until 8/28)
Star Wars Episode I Racer ($7.49 from $14.99 until 8/28)
Star Wars Jedi Academy ($9.99 from $19.99 until 8/28)
Star Wars Jedi Outcast ($4.99 from $9.99 until 8/28)
Star Wars KotOR ($7.49 from $14.99 until 8/28)
Star Wars KotOR II: Sith Lords ($7.49 from $14.99 until 8/28)
Star Wars Republic Commando ($7.49 from $14.99 until 8/28)
Star Wars The Force Unleashed ($9.99 from $19.99 until 8/28)
Super Mutant Alien Assault ($1.99 from $9.99 until 8/28)
Suzerain ($4.49 from $17.99 until 8/28)
The Pale Beyond ($9.99 from $19.99 until 8/28)
Times & Galaxy ($17.99 from $19.99 until 8/28)
Tomb Raider I-III Remastered ($22.49 from $29.99 until 8/28)

That's all for today! Join us tomorrow for a Direct recap, new game announcements, sales updates, and possibly more reviews. Have a great Tuesday, and thanks for reading!