Hello gaming enthusiasts, 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 new releases. We'll wrap things up with our 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 primarily showcasing third-party titles and indie games, it was a welcome surprise. A full summary of the key announcements will be available tomorrow.
Reviews & Mini-Views
EGGCONSOLE Star Trader PC-8801mkIIsr ($6.49)
This untranslated EGGCONSOLE release presents a familiar dilemma: is the game enjoyable despite the language barrier? Star Trader blends adventure and side-scrolling shooter elements, but neither aspect shines particularly brightly. The adventure segments feature appealing artwork, and the attempt to integrate a narrative into a shoot 'em up is intriguing. Players interact with characters, undertake quests, and earn money to upgrade their ship, crucial for progressing through the action sequences.
The shooting sections, however, suffer from the PC-8801's limitations, resulting in jerky, choppy gameplay. The game's structure is unclear, with neither genre fully supporting the other. While Star Trader holds some historical interest, its enjoyment is significantly hampered by the extensive Japanese text. Without understanding the language, players miss out on a substantial portion of the game's content and struggle to progress effectively. While some brute-forcing is possible, the experience is less than ideal.
Star Trader offers a glimpse into a developer's experimentation outside their usual genre. However, the significant amount of Japanese text severely limits its accessibility to Western audiences. While casual exploration might offer some amusement, 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, who is banished from the afterlife and tasked with eternal cleaning duties. Explore the environment, battle enemies using a broom, encounter quirky characters, defeat bosses, and upgrade abilities. While a familiar formula, Crypt Custodian executes it well and is recommended for fans of the genre.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
For fans of colorful shooters with unique mechanics, the Dreamer series and Harpoon Shooter Nozomi are worth considering. Also, don't miss out on the sales for 1000xRESIST, various Star Wars titles, Citizen Sleeper, Paradise Killer, Haiku, the Robot, and the Tomb Raider remastered collection. Check out the full lists below!
Select New Sales
(List of new sales)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, August 28th
(List of expiring sales)
That's all for today! We'll be back tomorrow with a detailed look at the Nintendo Direct announcements, new game releases, sales updates, and potentially more reviews. Have a great Tuesday, and thanks for reading!
