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 review and a look at new releases. We'll wrap things up with our usual sales updates. 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 focused on third-party titles and indie games, it lacked any major first-party announcements or news regarding the next-generation Switch console. You can watch the full presentation above; a detailed summary of the key highlights will follow tomorrow.
Reviews & Mini-Views
EGGCONSOLE Star Trader PC-8801mkIIsr ($6.49)
The usual questions arise with untranslated EGGCONSOLE releases: is the game enjoyable, and is it playable without knowing Japanese? Star Trader is an intriguing, albeit not exceptional, game. Falcom blends a Japanese-style adventure game with side-scrolling shooter elements, but neither aspect shines particularly. The adventure portion boasts appealing artwork, and the unique integration of a shooter into the narrative is interesting. Players primarily interact with characters, undertake quests, and earn money to upgrade their ship—crucial for progressing through the action sequences.
The shooting stages, however, suffer from the PC-8801's limitations, resulting in choppy scrolling. Even with smoother movement, the gameplay might not be stellar. The game's structure is unclear, with neither game mode clearly serving the other. Ultimately, Star Trader is more curious than genuinely good. This leads to the second question: the adventure segments are text-heavy, requiring player comprehension for optimal progress. Without understanding Japanese, players miss half the game and struggle to earn sufficient credits for ship upgrades. While some brute-forcing is possible, the experience suffers significantly.
Star Trader offers a glimpse into gaming history, showcasing a developer experimenting outside their usual style. However, the extensive Japanese text significantly hinders enjoyment for Western players. While some casual exploration is possible, a strong recommendation is difficult.
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, meet quirky characters, defeat bosses, and upgrade abilities. It's a familiar formula, but executed well. Fans of the genre should definitely check it out.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
For fans of colorful shooters with unique mechanics, the Dreamer series and Harpoon Shooter Nozomi are highly recommended. Don't miss out on 1000xRESIST—it's a must-buy! Other notable sales include Star Wars titles, Citizen Sleeper, Paradise Killer, Haiku, the Robot, and the Tomb Raider collection. Check out the detailed lists below!
Select New Sales
(List of new sales)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, August 28th
(List of sales ending tomorrow)
That's all for today! We'll be back tomorrow with a full recap of the Nintendo Direct, new game releases, sales updates, and more reviews. Have a great Tuesday, and thanks for reading!
