News

SwitchArcade Roundup: Double the Splat, Double the Toon Edition

Posted on by Phillip Stortzum

Welcome to your SwitchArcade Roundup for September 28th, 2018. It’s your splatter in spirit Phil with a final roundup to end the week that features news, new releases, and a heck of a lot of discounts. Before we get into all of that, let’s delve into our Game of the Day!

Game of the Day

Splatoon 2 ($59.99)

Since we have some Splatoon 2-related news later on today, let’s take some time to give Nintendo’s ink-splosive game its much deserved title of Game of the Day to cap off the week!

Splatoon 2 has been updated for more than a year now with both major and modest improvements in all of its functionality, balance, and modes–from a massive single-player update with the Octo Expansion, to the addition of a multitude of fresh maps, weapons, and gear.

The core gameplay remains as clever and as enjoyable as ever, having players mark up walls and floors with their team’s own colored ink as not just a way to take control of as much of the map as possible (for the main mode of Splatoon 2, at least), but also as a means for multiple amounts of mobility. Inklings can dive in their own ink to travel faster and to traverse up walls that are otherwise too tall to scale. When they dive in their own ink, their splat guns refill, ready to splat more walls, floors, and foes alike. When in another team’s ink, it serves as a poison, slowing their run to a mere trudge and having them take slight damage, making them an easy target for opposing players.

Splatoon 2 isn’t just one of the most popular multiplayer Switch games by accident. It says something that despite Nintendo’s online systems being basically the bottom of the barrel, fans of the game continue to play and enjoy splatting each other online. Splatoon 2 is just that good of a core idea, and one that has been expanded upon greatly to make for one of the Switch’s finest games.

News

Splatoon 2 Ver. 4.1.0 includes new goodies and releases sooner than you might think

Nintendo’s Splatoon 2 is winding down a little bit when it concerns new content. The next update, Ver. 4.1.0, showcases the last planned stage to be added to multiplayer, Skipper Pavilion. In addition to the new stage for online battles, new weapons of the Sub and Special varieties will be added, as well as some new music.

One such new weapon of said Special variety, the Booyah Bomb, is very reminiscent of a certain Saiyan’s special move in the Dragon Ball series. The weapon causes your Inkling to chuck a charged bomb, resulting in a massive explosion. The Booyah Bomb can have its charge time shortened by having your team utilize the “Booyah!" command. “Inklings of Splatoon, lend me your Booyahs!"

Splatoon 2‘s Ver. 4.1.0 officially goes live on October 2nd in North America and October 3rd for Europe and Japan.

SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy reveals its second crossover character in new trailer

From Fighter EX Layer, Skullo Mania will unleash fury on SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy when Skullolady joins the roster. Already a favorite character of mine, Skullolady is the second crossover character to be added to the roster via DLC, and she will be live for everyone to download starting on October 11th. Check out Skullolady’s introduction with this all-new trailer:

October’s Mario Tennis Aces character reveals herself with new trailer

For a full year Mario Tennis Aces is getting a new character a month to add to the roster. All you need to do to unlock them is to play an online Tournament match within the month of that character’s debut. Of course, for those who don’t want to subscribe to Nintendo Switch Online just to have characters ahead of time, you can always just wait the month after to unlock them. Essentially, playing a match online is early access to these characters.

Next month, the character that will be available early for online Tournament players is Birdo, who debuted in the North American version of Super Mario Bros. 2, way back on the NES. Birdo is no stranger to Mario sports games, even having appeared in several previous Mario Tennis titles. Take to the court with Birdo when she debuts as the newest Mario Tennis Aces downloadable character in just a few days.

New Releases

Dragon Ball FighterZ ($59.99)

After the success of Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 on the Nintendo Switch, now comes Dragon Ball FighterZ, taking warriors from the Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super series and pits them against one another in up to 3 vs. 3 battles. Containing a story created specifically for the game, ranked and friendly matches, a lobby where you can engage with other players, and insane, hard-to-tell-it’s-not-the-actual-show anime visuals, Dragon Ball FighterZ was a game I held off on buying on my PlayStation 4 in hopes that it would somehow receive a Switch port. Looks like my waiting has paid off!

FIFA 19 ($59.99)

Whether you’re ridiculously stubborn like us Americans and call it “soccer" or know it by “football" like the rest of the world does, the sport is back on Switch, as is EA’s FIFA series for its sophomore effort on the Switch. Though not as content-rich as the other versions of the game around on different platforms, FIFA 19 does appear to improve upon the past year with better, improved gameplay for Switch owners. Plus, it’s still the only console version of FIFA that you can play anywhere you want.

Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams – Owltimate Edition ($29.99)

Originally, the Giana Sisters franchise straight up aped Super Mario Bros. Nowadays, you’ll definitely find that the series has carved its own niche and its own style, as obviously evident by Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams. As an ultimate edition is wont to do, Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams – Owltimate Edition includes all of the DLC of the base game as well as some new content. The main gameplay hook is still switching between the two sisters, and by doing so, you change between worlds. While thorns may block one sister’s progression in the light world, those thorns are gone when switching to the sister in the dark world. If you’re ready to play a fiendishly difficult 2D platformer, then Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams – Owltimate Edition might be up your alley.

Towerfall ($19.99)

Archery, combat, 6-player battles that are exclusive to the Switch version–oh my! Have some exciting days and nights with Towerfall, the party game that many players just can’t seem to quit. For good reason, too, as it’s quite addicting to fire off arrows at your friends and family (aka foes). The Switch version of Towerfall features all past DLC, the aforementioned battles for up to six players, and two guest characters from the indie hit Celeste. Make sure thy aim is true and let loose on your opponents today.

Armello ($19.99; Complete Edition – $39.98)

What do you get when you combine a card game with a tabletop board game and role-playing elements? No, not Final Fantasy Dungeons and Dragons: Texas Hold’em Edition. (Okay, even I will admit that was a forced joke.) Instead, you get Armello, available in its standard form and a complete edition, containing every major character, clan, and quest for less than you’d pay by buying them all piecemeal. While the involved rules of Armello won’t get your friends and family playing right from the onset, once a game does begin, you can bet it’ll be rewarding and a good time for all.

Alwa’s Awakening ($9.99)

Set in a fantasy world, this 2D platformer takes on an 8-bit appearance, trying its best to be as authentic as possible to games from the NES glory days. Every area in Alwa’s Awakening is connected to one another, offering a Metroidvania approach to its design–complete with discovering new upgrades to reach previously inaccessible areas of the world. For beginning players, there’s an Assist Mode available, offering the ability to show item locations on the map as well as bringing players back to life directly at the spot they died at.

Other New Releases

 

Sales

New Games on Sale

 

  • Agatha Knife ($9.59 from $11.99 until October 1)
  • Steredenn: Binary Stars ($3.89 from $12.99 until October 1)
  • A Gummy’s Life ($13.49 from $14.99 until October 2)
  • Think of the Children ($10.39 from $12.99 until October 2)
  • Xenoraid ($5.69 from $9.99 until October 3)
  • Cycle 28 ($4.89 from $6.99 until October 4)
  • Green Game: TimeSwapper ($1.49 from $2.99 until October 4)
  • Hyper Sentinel ($6.49 from $12.99 until October 4)
  • Red Game Without a Great Name ($1.49 from $2.99 until October 4)
  • A Normal Lost Phone ($4.19 from $5.99 until October 5)
  • Another Lost Phone: Laura’s Story ($4.19 from $5.99 until October 5)
  • Lost Phone Stories ($6.99 from $9.99 until October 5)
  • Runbow ($7.49 from $14.99 until October 5)
  • Death Squared ($13.49 from $14.99 until October 7)
  • Heroes of the Monkey Tavern ($3.99 from $9.99 until October 9)
  • 1979 Revolution: Black Friday ($4.07 from $11.99 until October 11)
  • Candle: The Power of the Flame ($15.99 from $19.99 until October 11)
  • Die for Valhalla! ($8.99 from $11.99 until October 11)
  • Fear Effect Sedna ($9.99 from $19.99 until October 11)
  • Joe Dever’s Lone Wolf ($7.49 from $14.99 until October 11)
  • Koi DX ($3 from $5 until October 11)
  • Mercenaries Saga Chronicles ($13.49 from $14.99 until October 11)
  • Nine Parchments ($7.99 from $19.99 until October 11)
  • Pan-Pan: A tiny big adventure ($3 from $5 until October 11)
  • Phantaruk ($4.49 from $4.99 until October 11)
  • Poi: Explorer Edition ($14.99 from $29.99 until October 11)
  • Realpolitiks ($22.49 from $24.99 until October 11)
  • Shelter Generations ($14.99 from $19.99 until October 11)
  • Three Fourths Home: Extended Edition ($4.49 from $8.99 until October 11)
  • Earthlock ($20.03 from $29.9 until October 12)
  • The Mystery of the Hudson Case ($4.15 from $4.89 until October 14)
  • forma.8 ($4.99 from $9.99 until October 15)
  • Animal Rivals: Nintendo Switch Edition ($2.79 from $3.99 until October 16)
  • Tiny Hands Adventure ($5.59 from $7.99 until October 16)
  • Moorhuhn Wanted ($5.59 from $6.99 until October 17)
  • Spartan ($1.59 from $3.99 until October 17)
  • VSR: Void Space Racing ($6.99 from $9.99 until October 18)

 

Sales Ending Tomorrow, September 29th

 

  • Butcher ($5.49 from $9.99 until September 29)
  • Cars 3: Driven to Win ($19.99 from $39.99 until September 29) 
  • Lichtspeer: Double Speer Edition ($5.49 from $9.99 until September 29)
  • Scribblenauts Showdown ($19.99 from $39.99 until September 29)

 

Sales Ending Sunday, September 30th

 

  • Baobabs Mausoleum Ep.1: Ovnifagos Don’t Eat Flamingos ($4.19 from $5.99 until September 30)
  • FRAMED Collection ($6.99 from $9.99 until September 30)
  • Infernium ($14.97 from $24.95 until September 30)
  • Lost Sea ($6.99 from $9.99 until September 30)
  • Neverout ($5.99 from $7.49 until September 30)
  • One More Dungeon ($5.99 from $7.99 until September 30)
  • Rock’N Racing Off Road DX ($5.99 from $7.99 until September 30)
  • Skee-Ball ($14.99 from $19.99 until September 30)
  • Sky Force Reloaded ($7.99 from $9.99 until September 30)
  • Zotrix: Solar Division ($11.24 from $14.99 until September 30)

 

Sales Ending Monday, October 1st

 

  • Agatha Knife ($9.59 from $11.99 until October 1)
  • ATOMINE ($6.99 from $9.99 until October 1)
  • Cave Story+ ($14.99 from $29.99 until October 1)
  • Energy Balance ($0.98 from $2.99 until October 1)
  • Ikaruga ($9.99 from $14.99 until October 1)
  • Ittle Dew 2+ ($14.99 from $29.99 until October 1)
  • Knight Terrors ($1.99 from $2.99 until October 1)
  • Steredenn: Binary Stars ($3.89 from $12.99 until October 1)
  • The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ ($19.99 from $39.99 until October 1)
  • The End is Nigh ($4.99 from $14.99 until October 1)
  • The Wardrobe ($10.49 from $14.99 until October 1)
  • Thumper ($7.99 from $19.99 until October 1)
  • Tiny Barbarian DX ($9.99 from $29.99 until October 1)
  • Tumblestone ($3.74 from $14.99 until October 1)
  • VVVVVV ($4.99 from $9.99 until October 1)

 

That does it for this week of the SwitchArcade Roundup! Next week ought to be quite exciting, as it sees the releases of Mega Man 11 on Tuesday and Super Mario Party on Friday. Until next week, I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!

…What, I’m forgetting something? …Okay, you got me–Keep your Joy-Cons charged and your Switches loaded with great games!