Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for April 24th, 2019. It’s another somewhat quiet Wednesday, with only two new games releasing and neither of particular note. To make up for it, we’ve got a lot of news to look at, and of course all of the sales information you need to know to save money by spending money. Let’s dive in!
News
The Latest ‘Puyo Puyo’ Title, ‘Puyo Puyo Champions’, Arrives May 7th
SEGA seems to be getting serious about making Puyo Puyo a core franchise, and there are at least a couple of things that need to be done for that to happen. First, the franchise needs to find the popularity in the West that has eluded it for so long. Puyo Puyo Tetris was a nice step towards that, mixing the franchise with a very familiar brand. Second, it needs to capitalize on the popularity of online multiplayer gaming. That’s where Puyo Puyo Champions comes in. As the localized version of a game known in Japan as Puyo Puyo eSports, you can tell it is very interested in ESPORTS. But if you just want to play locally instead of online, you can do that too. No one will arrest you. Puyo Puyo Champions releases on May 7th for $9.99, a nice deal no matter how you slice it.
‘Shakedown: Hawaii’ Hits the Switch on May 7th
Vblank Entertainment, the developer behind the hit Retro City Rampage, is almost finished with its latest project. Shakedown: Hawaii will release on the Switch on May 7th, with a 3DS release following later on down the road. Like Retro City Rampage, Shakedown: Hawaii is a top-down action game that promises a good bit of variety to go with its shoot-outs. You’ll be able to pick it up at retail or digitally in just a couple of weeks for $19.99.
‘Doraemon Story of Seasons’ Will Come to the West This Fall
Doraemon isn’t well-known in North America, but in Japan he’s been one of the most popular characters among children for decades. He’s a robot cat from the future who traveled back in time to help his creator’s ancestor, a boy named Nobita, be less of a loser. He has access to a variety of strange inventions that have a habit of malfunctioning and sending Nobita and his friends on some wild adventures. How that mashes up well with Story of Seasons (the new name of the series that was once localized as Harvest Moon) is beyond me, but here we are. Even more mysteriously, Doraemon Story of Seasons will be coming to the West this fall. Unless I miss my guess, this is the very first time any of the many Doraemon console games has ever gotten an official English release. Well, it’s Story of Seasons, so you know it’ll be okay at the absolute worst.
Check Out This Video of Dry Bones in Action in ‘Mario Tennis Aces’
After a relatively innocent debut in Super Mario Bros. 3, Dry Bones has gone on to be a real pain in the butt in most of its appearances. Sometimes it’s guarding small platforms in vertical towers with spikes flying all around. Sometimes it’s snaking around Baby Park in Mario Kart. Its appearance here in Mario Tennis Aces is looking to add another feather to its bony cap. Arriving in May through tournament participation and in June for everyone, Dry Bones is packing a ton of tricky moves and techniques. You can see a bunch of them by watching the trailer Nintendo posted last night.
You Won’t Be Card-Bored with the Latest ‘Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’ Event
Sorry about that. Anyway, it’s Wednesday. As is our tradition, we’re looking at the latest Spirit Board event scheduled to hit Super Smash Bros. Ultimate during the coming weekend. This time it’s Nintendo Labo Smash Kit, and it includes some brand-new Labo-themed spirits. If you’re able to boop them to death, you’ll earn triple the usual amount of experience points. It occurs to me that Smash spirits and these weekly events are basically the new Badge Arcade in some respects. I guess what I’m saying is Arcade Bunny for Smash, please.
New Releases
Deponia ($39.99)
Hah. Okay, well. Deponia is a game that has its fans and detractors. At the very least, you can say that it’s a pretty full-effort adventure game that does its best to evoke the classics of the genre. It’s nice to see it come to the Switch even if it’s not necessarily my cup of tea. But… what is the deal with that price tag? Eight times the price of the mobile port. Four times the price of the PC version. Double the price of the other console versions. Even worse, the other consoles will see a complete collection of all four Deponia games release today for the same price as this Switch port of the first game alone. I’m not going to tell you not to buy it or whatever, but I personally refuse to support this kind of garbage.
Theatre Tales ($1.49)
Theatre Tales is very aware of who its audience is and isn’t, and it’s safe to say that I’m not in the club. This is basically a puppet show toy for young kids to mess around with. There are some mini-games but the focus seems to be on interacting with virtual puppets as they put on puppet theater versions of famous fairy tales. Occasionally the story will ask the player to do something to help the story move along, and that’s about it. I suspect if you’re old enough to be reading this article, you’re too old for this, but it might be great to pick up if you have any young tots running around. Very reasonably priced, as well.
Sales
Well, that’s not much at all today, is it? Nothing too unusual about that, though. Most of the big sales start and end on Thursdays, so Wednesdays are always going to be a bit meager. Honestly, I’m not sure I’d recommend any of these new sales. Not that there aren’t any good games in there, because Mecho Wars: Desert Ashes is certainly worth the price. But it has been cheaper and likely will be again. If you’re looking for a good game, though, and don’t care too much about the level of discount, that’s the one I’d recommend. Also be sure to check through the big list of sales ending tomorrow, as there are tons of gems in there.
New Games on Sale
War Theatre ($3.99 from $9.99 until 4/30)
The Path of Motus ($9.74 from $14.99 until 5/13)
Mecho Wars: Desert Ashes ($3.99 from $9.99 until 4/30)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, Thursday, April 25th
88 Heroes: 98 Heroes Edition ($14.97 from $29.95 until 4/25)
99Seconds ($1.97 from $2.99 until 4/25)
Agartha-S ($3.99 from $7.99 until 4/25)
Axiom Verge ($15.99 from $19.99 until 4/25)
Bedtime Blues ($4.99 from $9.99 until 4/25)
Bulb Boy ($2.24 from $8.99 until 4/25)
Cat Quest ($6.49 from $12.99 until 4/25)
Caterpillar Royale ($2.49 from $4.99 until 4/25)
Clouds & Sheep 2 ($0.99 from $9.99 until 4/25)
Coffin Dodgers ($6.49 from $12.99 until 4/25)
Conduct TOGETHER! ($14.99 from $19.99 until 4/25)
Conga Master Party! ($5.97 from $9.95 until 4/25)
Dimension Drive ($6.49 from $12.99 until 4/25)
Doodle God: Evolution ($4.89 from $6.99 until 4/25)
Drawful 2 ($5.99 from $9.99 until 4/25)
Dynamite Fishing – World Games ($0.09 from $9.99 until 4/25)
Farming Simulator ($24.99 from $49.99 until 4/25)
Fe ($9.99 from $19.99 until 4/25)
FIFA 19 ($23.99 from $59.99 until 4/25)
Fly O’Clock ($0.19 from $1.99 until 4/25)
Food Truck Tycoon ($3.99 from $4.99 until 4/25)
Grab Lab ($2.49 from $4.99 until 4/25)
Grand Prix Rock ‘N Racing ($3.99 from $7.99 until 4/25)
Gunman Clive HD Collection ($2.99 from $3.99 until 4/25)
Hello Kitty Kruisers ($14.97 from $29.95 until 4/25)
Hexologic ($1.49 from $2.99 until 4/25)
History 2048 ($3.49 from $4.99 until 4/25)
Holy Potatoes! A Weapon Shop?! ($11.99 from $14.99 until 4/25)
Holy Potatoes! We’re In Space?! ($11.99 from $14.99 until 4/25)
Immortal Redneck ($8.99 from $19.99 until 4/25)
Jettomero: Hero of the Universe ($6.50 from $13.00 until 4/25)
Klondike Solitaire ($6.29 from $8.99 until 4/25)
L.F.O.: Lost Future Omega ($3.99 from $7.99 until 4/25)
Lumo ($11.97 from $19.95 until 4/25)
Masters of Anima ($7.99 from $19.99 until 4/25)
Monster Energy Supercross 2 ($38.99 from $59.99 until 4/25)
Monster Slayers ($11.99 from $14.99 until 4/25)
Mummy Pinball ($1.49 from $1.99 until 4/25)
Neko Navy: Daydream Edition ($10.39 from $12.99 until 4/25)
Ninja Shodown ($8.97 from $14.95 until 4/25)
Ninjin: Clash of Carrots ($7.49 from $14.99 until 4/25)
Pianista ($19.99 from $24.99 until 4/25)
Ping Pong Trick Shot Evolution ($2.49 from $4.99 until 4/25)
Quarantine Circular ($4.79 from $5.99 until 4/25)
Red’s Kingdom ($7.49 from $9.99 until 4/25)
Semispheres ($4.99 from $9.99 until 4/25)
Sky Force Anniversary ($6.99 from $9.99 until 4/25)
Snake vs Snake ($3.59 from $3.99 until 4/25)
Spintires: Mudrunner – American Wilds ($27.99 from $39.99 until 4/25)
Splitter Critters ($0.99 from $6.99 until 4/25)
Spy Chameleon ($5.99 from $7.99 until 4/25)
Star Story: The Horizon Escape ($0.99 from $9.99 until 4/25)
Startide ($0.99 from $9.99 until 4/25)
Storm in a Teacup ($2.24 from $2.99 until 4/25)
The Bug Butcher ($6.39 from $7.99 until 4/25)
The Jackbox Party Pack 2 ($14.99 from $24.99 until 4/25)
The Mahjong Huntress ($0.99 from $4.99 until 4/25)
Time Carnage ($7.79 from $12.99 until 4/25)
Tiny Troopers Joint Ops XL ($6.49 from $12.99 until 4/25)
Transcripted ($1.49 from $7.99 until 4/25)
Unholy Heights ($2.49 from $4.99 until 4/25)
Vostok Inc ($7.49 from $14.99 until 4/25)
Werewolf Pinball ($1.49 from $1.99 until 4/25)
Looks like that will wrap things up for today, friends. Tomorrow is Thursday, which means a bunch of new releases to look through. Off the top of my head, SteamWorld Quest, Picross S3, Cytus Alpha, and Aggelos all look quite interesting. We’ll be checking in on all of them as usual and providing summaries. Naturally, any particularly juicy news will also be included, and a full list of sales to consider as well. See you then, and thanks for reading!
