Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for March 8th, 2019. I hope you’re all ready for the weekend, with plenty of games on your Switch and dreams in your heart. Today, we’ve got a review of Bard’s Gold, news of an update for Gris, summaries of all the latest releases, and a gigantic list of new sales for you to consider. This was a slightly slower week for new releases compared to the last several, but there’s at least one fantastic release worth picking up today, so it’s not so bad. Anyway, let’s get to business!
News
The Gorgeous ‘Gris’ Celebrates 300k Sales with a Free Update
Gris is doing quite well for itself given its scale. The game has now sold more than 300,000 copies across all platforms, which is a pretty darned good number for only being out for a few months. To celebrate, an update for the game has been released that includes a few nice little bonus goodies. After updating, you’ll be able to access a browser that lets you check out unused concept art and listen to some music tracks that didn’t make it into the final game. Sure, it’s not as huge as new levels or anything, but it is a lovely little extra for the many who have fallen in love with this game.
‘WRATH: Aeon of Ruin’, the Latest From 3D Realms, Will Come to Switch in 2020
It’s kind of amazing, but 3D Realms is still kicking. Having shed many of its popular IPs, the company has more or less been forced to reconnect with its fans by pushing projects that inspire the feeling of its classics rather than rely on names. And while the results haven’t been 100% perfect, we’ve already seen some very cool games come out of this new 3D Realms. This next year is looking like an even bigger winner, however. The Build Engine-powered Ion Maiden should be out soon, and we can now add one more promising-looking title to the list. WRATH: Aeon of Ruin is a Quake Engine-powered first-person shooter developer by Quake scene veterans, and my goodness, it looks so very Quake-ful that I could almost cry. Like Ion Maiden, WRATH will be coming to Switch alongside other consoles a little while after the PC release.
Reviews
Bard’s Gold ($8.99)
Initially, I found Bard’s Gold to be somewhat off-putting. It doesn’t look quite as good as some of its peers. It doesn’t explain much at all, which makes the early going a little confusing. It’s hard to see things at first because of how dark it is, and it’s awfully easy to die from something barely noticeable as a result. Boo on this, I thought, but I kept on playing because, well, it’s my job. But the more I played, the more I came to like Bard’s Gold, and in the end I think this game and I got on very well.
This is a side-scrolling roguelite with a strong action component. It most immediately calls to mind Spelunky, and in the long run it offers a similar kind of satisfaction, if not quite on the same level of quality overall. The game starts off by offering you one of three difficulty levels, which will determine whether or not you have checkpoints, how many lives you have, how much randomization there is, and how much treasure you can earn. I think, anyway. It’s all represented by icons and, as seems to be the pattern with Bard’s Gold, nothing is really explained.
If you choose the normal mode, you’ll be playing through a very similar sequence of rooms each time, with a set number of lives and the ability to continue from the start of each room should you die. In the rogue-like mode, however, you can look forward to dramatically-changing layouts, and a single life with a handful of hit points. The retro mode splits the difference, more or less. No matter which mode you play, your general goals remain the same. Find the key in each room and reach the exit without dying. Search for treasure hidden or otherwise, and carefully take out monsters to earn extra goodies. Those who keep their eyes peeled will be rewarded with special items that can help in the current game and beyond.
When you die, you’ll be able to pour your unused treasure into special ability runes. Upgrading these abilities will give you an advantage in the games to come. The starting rune allows you to extend your stock of lives, but you’ll find plenty of others that carry even better rewards. None of this comes easily, however, and it can be a bit disheartening in the early going when you don’t have a lot of options in front of you. After things start to open up and you get a sense for how the game hides its secrets, Bard’s Gold becomes very hard to put down.
While the game may not look very impressive, the controls are absolutely spot on. Your character can move and double-jump with reliable precision, and his daggers are useful for clearing out enemies in a pinch. There are plenty of times where you’ll need to stop on a dime to avoid death, and the controls will not let you down. Your daggers can be exchanged or upgraded if you find shops, giving you more options for defeating trickier enemies. That said, the enemies all have their own patterns and once you learn the way they move, even your simple starting dagger can handle business fairly well.
Bard’s Gold is a really enjoyable game at a very reasonable price. It may not seem like much when you first get started, but give it a little time to get going and you may well have a new obsession on your hands. It’s an easy recommendation if you don’t mind a bit of a challenge and the slightly humble presentation.
SwitchArcade Score: 4/5
New Releases
Arcade Archives Ikari Warriors ($7.99)
It’s probably a little hard for the younger generation to understand, but for a few brief years, the world was obsessed with Rambo. And in SNK’s pre-NEOGEO days, they perhaps loved Rambo more than anyone else in the games industry. So much Rambo. So little licensing. The most popular fruit of that love was the Ikari Warriors series, which let two players control two Rambos as they do Rambo-like things such as shooting a guy and shooting a bunch of guys. Good fun, I assure you. This Switch port brings the arcade action home, just like the SNK 40th Anniversary Collection did a few months ago. That is probably the better value for your money, but if all you want is Ikari Warriors, here you go.
Proficient Paddles Deluxe ($3.49)
This is just… it’s just Pong, isn’t it? I mean, hey, I’m not above enjoying a game of Pong now and then, but is this really something people are going to buy? Play against another player or against a CPU opponent, and outfit your paddle in one of many colors or country-based themes. But yes. It’s a Pong-style game, nothing less, virtually nothing more.
Paperbound Brawlers ($14.99)
This is a unique one, if nothing else. Up to four players battle each other in anti-gravity fights that take place in the pages of classic books. The roster is drawn from said books, along with some appearances from various indie games like Guacamelee! and VVVVVV. There are lots of different modes and options, and from what I can tell this game would be a blast at parties. There are also AI bots for when no one is around. Sadly, it seems like this one only supports local multiplayer, so unless you expect to have friends around fairly often, I’m not sure you’ll get your full money’s worth out of it.
Monument Builders Rushmore ($6.99)
The Monument Builders series has quite a few installments to it on mobile platforms, and this is certainly one of them. If this were an open-ended sim or something, I could see getting some cheap thrills from it. Unfortunately, it’s more of a level-based affair where you have to achieve certain targets and are whisked away to the next one after doing so. There are thirty levels in this one, making it one of the shorter games in the series, and it doesn’t seem to be a particularly popular one even among fans. Perhaps that’s why they’re starting with this one on Switch? I guess it only goes up from here. But unless you really love Mt. Rushmore, you’ll probably want to pass on this.
Assault Android Cactus+ ($19.99)
SwitchArcade Highlight!
I’ve seen some reviews already that call this the ultimate version of the game, and while I’m not familiar enough with previous versions to make that call, I will say that this Switch version is very awesome. It runs really well and has some extra content for people who want a bit more challenge after finishing the main campaign. Anyway, this is a fun, fresh shooter for up to four players, one that challenges you to learn and master it in order to push the highest possible scores. I’ll be doing a full review of this one early next week, so I’ll leave it there for now. But suffice it to say, if you enjoy a good action game, you’ll probably dig this.
Sales
Phew. I’m not going to candy-coat it. There is a lot of junk on sale right now. But sort through it carefully, and some gems appear. Some good prices on The Escapists and its sequel, a half-price sale on almost every LEGO game, a great price for Mecho Wars: Desert Ashes, and even a decent discount on Gris. So hey, even if you’d rather buy a chocolate bar than most of the games on this list, I’m sure you can find something worth picking up here.
New Games on Sale
Galak-Z: The Void Deluxe Edition ($12.74 from $14.99 until 3/26)
Paper Wars: Cannon Fodder Devastated ($4.99 from $9.99 until 3/15)
Unit 4 ($7.49 from $14.99 until 3/28)
Bonds of the Skies ($11.69 from $12.99 until 3/14)
Azure Saga: Pathfinder Deluxe Edition ($8.49 from $9.99 until 3/28)
LEGO City Undercover ($14.99 from $29.99 until 3/13)
LEGO Ninjago Movie Video Game ($24.99 from $49.99 until 3/13)
Frederic: Resurrection of Music ($0.29 from $5.99 until 3/21)
The Escapists 2 ($9.99 from $19.99 until 3/17)
Qbik ($0.49 from $4.99 until 3/21)
Frederic 2: Evil Strikes Back ($0.24 from $4.99 until 3/21)
Millie ($0.49 from $4.99 until 3/21)
A Normal Lost Phone ($3.59 from $5.99 until 3/14)
Sparkle 3 Genesis ($0.49 from $4.99 until 3/21)
Gem Smashers ($9.99 from $19.99 until 3/21)
No Thing ($0.49 from $1.99 until 3/21)
Sparkle Zero ($0.49 from $4.99 until 3/21)
Goetia ($0.99 from $9.99 until 3/21)
Glaive: Brick Breaker ($3.99 from $9.99 until 3/21)
Another Lost Phone: Laura’s Story ($3.59 from $5.99 until 3/14)
Timberman Vs ($0.19 from $1.99 until 3/21)
LEGO The Incredibles ($29.99 from $59.99 until 3/13)
Star Story: The Horizon Escape ($0.99 from $9.99 until 3/21)
NoReload Heroes ($0.99 from $9.99 until 3/21)
Lost Phones Stories ($5.99 from $9.99 until 3/14)
Cycle 28 ($2.79 from $6.99 until 3/14)
Shut Eye ($0.39 from $3.99 until 3/21)
Tiny Hands Adventure ($3.19 from $7.99 until 3/21)
Realpolitiks ($2.49 from $24.99 until 3/21)
Lifeless Planet: Premiere Edition ($7.99 from $19.99 until 3/21)
A Case of Distrust ($4.49 from $14.99 until 3/21)
The Escapists: Complete Edition ($7.49 from $14.99 until 3/17)
Whispering Willows ($7.49 from $9.99 until 3/14)
Animated Jigsaws: Japanese Women ($4.99 from $9.99 until 3/21)
Chasm ($17.99 from $19.99 until 3/13)
LEGO DC Super-Villains ($29.99 from $59.99 until 3/13)
SpiderSolitaire Black ($3.50 from $5.00 until 3/27)
Pinstripe ($7.49 from $14.99 until 3/21)
LEGO Harry Potter Collection ($24.99 from $49.99 until 3/13)
Ethan: Meteor Hunter ($7.99 from $9.99 until 3/14)
Mind: Path to Thalamus ($8.39 from $11.99 until 3/25)
Gris ($14.44 from $16.99 until 3/14)
Mecho Wars: Desert Ashes ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/26)
Marble Power Blast ($2.09 from $2.99 until 3/17)
Inside My Radio ($7.99 from $9.99 until 3/14)
Bubble Shooter DX ($2.09 from $2.99 until 3/17)
A Ch’ti Bundle ($11.99 from $15.99 until 3/14)
Football Heroes Turbo ($9.74 from $14.99 until 3/21)
Perry Pig Jump ($2.09 from $2.99 until 3/17)
Forgotten Tales – Day of the Dead ($11.99 from $14.99 until 3/21)
Fishing Universe Simulator ($6.69 from $9.99 until 3/21)
Balance Blox ($2.09 from $2.99 until 3/17)
Bad Dream: Coma ($6.69 from $9.99 until 3/21)
Merchants of Kaidan ($6.69 from $9.99 until 3/21)
Avenger Bird ($1.61 from $2.30 until 3/21)
Pet Care ($0.74 from $1.49 until 3/21)
Guess the Word ($0.94 from $1.89 until 3/27)
Valley ($13.99 from $19.99 until 3/14)
Tumblestone ($4.04 from $14.99 until 3/29)
The Bridge ($2.69 from $9.99 until 3/29)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, Saturday, March 9th
Sky Force Anniversary ($7.49 from $9.99 until 3/9)
Velocity 2X ($9.99 from $19.99 until 3/9)
And that will do it for today, and for this week. Since this feature is basically my little space on TouchArcade, I’m going to use it to say a fond farewell to our soon-to-be former Big Cheese, Eli. I’ve had a lot of bosses, and he was the best without question. I wish him all the luck in the world with his next step, and even though he’s still sort of going to be around, it’s going to feel a little emptier in TA Towers without him. But I’m also super-excited to see what new Big Cheese Jared has up his sleeve. Will he fire me? Exciting times! Please don’t fire me! Anyway, I hope you all have a great weekend, and as always, thanks for reading!
