Welcome to the SwitchArcade Roundup for April 2nd, where we’re covering the latest happenings in the world of Nintendo Switch! Interestingly, there was one new release this weekend, and some sales we still have to discuss, along with some news items. Let me help you find ways to spend the money you got from your Easter egg hunt.
News
Crazy Justice footage for Nintendo Switch
The one genre that is notoriously missing on the Switch? Battle royale. Crazy Justice hopes to provide that, complete with cross-platform play, split-screen multiplayer, destructible environments, and multiple heroes. The game will also support motion controls, which might just give you a fighting chance against keyboard and mouse players, not to mention that you’ll crush the joystick users. The game’s set to hit this summer, and there’s new footage of the game running on the Switch. Of course, if Fortnite hits the Switch first and steals this game’s thunder, that’s a concern for the developers, but this still looks pretty neat.
ARMS Testpunch Ends Tonight
If you want a taste of ARMS before buying, be warned: the Testpunch ends at 11:59 PM EST tonight. The demo gives you a tutorial and then online play which you can do against other players, sampling its unique lobby system where you don’t know what mode you’re playing next. I’m not completely sure this one’s for me, as I like the concept but suck at it, and don’t like moving with the motion controls. Yet, it’s worth a shot, if only because of its uniqueness with the controls! Also, the game’s on sale for a few days after the demo closes, so you don’t have to make a call right away. Let it ruminate…
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero “Ultimate Day One Edition" physical release in May
The latest game in the Shantae franchise will get a physical release by XSEED Games. While it’s silly to call it a “Day One Edition" since it’s releasing after the game’s already out on the Switch, it’s still got some cool stuff. It’ll have a physical game card, include all the DLC, a 100-page art book, and the game’s soundtrack, all in one package. It’ll run you $39.99 on May 8th.
Spartan releases on Easter Sunday for $11.99
Why release a game on Easter Sunday, you ask? A Spartan does what they want, such as kicking messengers down into holes. Was 300 really worth the cinematic mediocrities Zack Snyder unleashed upon as later on? Probably not, even if College-Age Carter thought it was badass. We all did. Oh how foolish we were. The art style looks a bit ugly, but the visuals seem cohesive. And in action, the game looks pretty decent, and loaded with content. Perhaps if something about this one catches your eye, you should check it out?
Games on Sale
Xeodrifter ($4.99 from $9.99 until April 20th)
Atooi’s Metroidvania is on sale! This one throws in some elements you’ve seen in Mutant Mudds, where you can go into the far-off distant part of the screen. It’s a solid Metroidvania, and it features the “run really fast" ability that few games take from Super Metroid. Which needs to be on the Virtual Console for Switch, right? Until then, enjoy this one: you’ll get a few hours of fun for a few bucks with this, well worth the time and cash.
Stikbold! A Dodgeball Adventure Deluxe ($11.20 from $14.99 until April 8th)
Dodgeball is a cruel game that we make kids play where they hit each other in the face with rubber balls. Thankfully, my face is safe from harm with Stikbold. The Switch-exclusive Deluxe edition contains multiplayer for up to six people at once, to go along with a cooperative campaign mode. That campaign mode can be played solo, but if you play with a friend, then you get to fight each other at the end of the game, a la Streets of Rage. Betrayal is fun!
Bloody Zombies ($10.49 from $14.99 until April 5th)
Frankly, I’m not sure why more beat ’em ups don’t involve beating up the living dead. These games are meant for mindless bashing with buddies, and the undead make for perfect innumerable fodder for fists and improvised weapons. It feels more appropriate than the street gangs complete with identical members, I guess? And hey, this one features both same-system and online multiplayer, so you can beat up zombies with friends from all over. Huzzah!
Red Game Without a Great Name ($1.49 from $2.99 until April 6th)
iFun4All’s poorly-named title has you controlling a robotic bird that can only constantly fly forward, but you can teleport it to different spots in the level. However, it’ll keep flying, and the screen keeps going forward. It’s a fun game, and for a buck and change, you’ll get a ton of value out of the 60 levels here. I respect the identical mobile and console pricing, even if perhaps the game is worth more than that!
Green Game: TimeSwapper ($1.49 from $2.99 until April 6th)
iFun4All tried a bit harder to name this one. The mechanical bird is back, in a world of green. The bird flies forever, through essentially its own timeline, but you can manipulate time to activate different switches and items, trying to keep the bird ‘alive’ through 50 different levels. It’s a similar but different concept to its red counterpart (also on sale), but with a challenging task all its own. Again, for a buck and change, it’s hard to go wrong here. iFun4All could have gotten away with charging more.
Unbox: Newbie’s Adventure ($14.99 from $29.99 until April 5th)
A game about self-delivering packages? Isn’t this basically the story of what Amazon’s trying to do in the coming years? This looks like fun, with some interesting platforming challenges, and splitscreen multiplayer. Also, customizable packages, because if your next online order comes without a hat, what was the point of ordering online?!
Beach Buggy Racing ($4.99 from $9.99 until April 5th)
Vector Unit doesn’t just make hydrojet racing games. No, they also make some kart racing titles as well, as Beach Buggy Mayhem shows off. Race with off-road karts through 15 tracks with different environments, and splitscreen multiplayer. Sorry, no online multiplayer here. However, you do have the ability to recruit a team of drivers to use through the singleplayer mode, so you get something different of an experience compared to just racing through a bunch of courses. Vector Unit are also known for games with impeccable physics, so take this one into consideration.
Boost Beast ($6.99 from $9.99 until April 11th)
A beat ’em up match-3? Hmm. Here, you make matches with different creatures on the board to help form monsters that you can then deploy into battle across 204 different levels. This kind of mix of RPG with, perhaps I wouldn’t call it action, but strategy, as the color of your matches determine which units you summon, usually makes for an entertaining puzzle experience.
Farming Simulator Nintendo Switch Edition ($34.99 from $49.99 until April 5th)
Well, this is one way to cut Farm Expert 2018 off at the roots. The most popular farming simulation game on the market is now on sale. It’s pretty much what it says on the tin: you drive farming equipment helping to manage your farm. You drive tractors, plant crops, tend to livestock, and sell your goods. There’s a whole lot of vehicles to drive, with over 250 from 75 actual manufacturers. Imagine making tractors and getting a call from some video game developer wanting to put your tractor in their game. I don’t completely get the whole farming simulation thing, but plenty of people do, clearly! I’m a dumb city-slicker, don’t worry about my opinions. Go buy this farming game.
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