Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for October 18th, 2019. I had hoped to do more than just the new release summaries and sales lists today, but the eShop had to go and drop fifteen new games and more than a hundred new sales, so that put an end to that. But hey, it’s not so bad. You’ve got summaries to read for all of the many new releases, and a real mighty list of sales to comb through. Not the worst way to slide into the weekend, I’d say. Let’s check it all out!
New Releases
Ring Fit Adventure ($79.99)
SwitchArcade Highlight!
If there’s one good thing that came out of the Wii U face-planting, it’s that Nintendo has been careful to take a new approach when it reintroduces old successes. Wii Fit was a massive success back in the day, but a new approach was clearly needed if Nintendo wanted to go back to that well. And so we end up with Ring Fit Adventure, a fantasy adventure where you defeat a body-building dragon and his followers by doing exercises with a flexible ring peripheral. See, the fun thing about covering Nintendo is that sometimes you get to write sentences like that one. I don’t know how good it is as an RPG, but it certainly seems like an interesting, fresh take on the whole exercise video game deal.
A Hat in Time ($29.99)
SwitchArcade Highlight!
You know, I don’t want to give Yooka-Laylee too much stick because I think it was closer to Banjo-Kazooie than most people’s memories of Banjo-Kazooie are. That said, I find it interesting that a team made up of veterans who had worked on many famous collectathons ended up getting outdone by a game conceived by a relative newcomer. A Hat in Time is a 3D collectathon that offers all of the joys of the genre while also making improvements where it makes sense. So sure, it’s a bit of a throwback, but not to the point where it brings back old problems. This Switch version, however, has some very modern problems. The hardware struggles with a lot of the more complex scenes, causing very obvious framerate issues. The loading times are also quite lengthy. I think it’s still a lot of fun to play, and if you don’t have another means of doing so I think the Switch port is fine, but those who are sensitive to performance problems are going to have a bad time. I’ll have a full review early next week if you need more details.
Return of the Obra Dinn ($19.99)
SwitchArcade Highlight!
For all of the detective work we’re asked to do in video games, very little of it feels like you’re actually figuring things out. Either the clues are given colorful highlights that make them impossible to miss, or you’re asked to make ridiculous leaps in logic that would confound Sherlock Holmes on his sharpest of days. And I think, more than anything, that the strongest aspect of Return of the Obra Dinn is in nailing that feeling. The long-dead ship you’re investigating is filled to the brim with stories, but you’re going to have to piece them together yourself. You have a special pocket watch that allows you to see a dead person’s last moments, and using that, you need to figure out who each person is and what happened to them. Only by doing that can you properly figure out what happened to the Obra Dinn and her ill-fated passengers. A must-play game for any fan of mystery stories or adventure games.
Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth: Complete Edition ($49.99)
SwitchArcade Highlight!
It’s seeming less and less likely that the Switch will ever play host to a traditional Persona game, but with the announcement of a Tokyo Mirage Sessions port and this pack of Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth games, we’ve really got the next best things. I never really gave Digimon much credit back in the day, so I was quite surprised when I played Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth for the first time. It’s an excellent JRPG even if you have no interest in the brand. I haven’t played the sequel Hacker’s Memory, which is also included in this pack, but I’d guess it’s pretty good too. Getting both games in a reasonably-priced bundle is quite awesome.
Pig Eat Ball ($14.99)
SwitchArcade Highlight!
Yes, really. Pig Eat Ball is a weird game, but it’s also a very fun one. You eat and eat, getting bigger and bigger. Then you need to be smaller, so you barf. If you barf on something, you’ll be rewarded. It’s a really fun top-down action-adventure game with more than 200 levels, and even after you finish it, there’s a local multiplayer battle mode that is also a hoot. It’s a bit gross at times, so if you can’t deal with toilet humor, you probably won’t get on well with it. Otherwise, I’d recommend giving it a shot. There’s something oddly compelling about it, and it’s one of those games that just keeps coming up with interesting level design ideas all the way through.
ZikSquare ($6.99)
At first I thought this was a platformer with a musical theme attached to it, but closer inspection reveals that this is actually more of a music generator with a platformer attached to it. There are some pre-built levels to roll through, but it sees as though the game’s longevity is going to be in its maker modes. You can build levels using a variety of instruments and play it all back as a song or tackle it as a platforming challenge. The platforming side of it doesn’t look that hot, but as a simple music creation tool for beginners, it might be worth messing around with.
Safari Pinball ($2.99)
It’s another one of these pinball tables that seems like it’s based on a real machine but is actually completely original. I’m honestly not a huge fan of any of these so far, and I don’t see this one changing my mind on the endeavor. With so many great pinball choices on Switch, I can’t see anyone but the most devoted of safari fans having much interest in this one. I’m not really sure that’s actually a category of any size at all when it comes to Switch owners, so good luck to Safari Pinball, I guess?
Just Ignore Them ($4.99)
This is a point-and-click horror adventure game where you play as a guy with a very troubled past that comes back to haunt him in a seemingly very literal sense. There are different endings based on your choices, and in spite of the simple pixel-art approach to the graphics, the game can get quite grisly in places. It’s a bit of a brief experience, and certainly nothing stellar as far as the genre goes, but for five dollars I think it gives what it needs to, if not much more than that.
Megaquarium ($24.59)
If you’re looking for your next management sim game, Megaquarium presents a tantalizing offer. You have to build and operate your own aquarium, and it plays out more or less in the manner of classic sim games like Theme Hospital or Roller Coaster Tycoon. It’s a little bit more relaxed than a lot of games in the genre, so you probably shouldn’t come into it expecting a great challenge or anything. That goes double if you’re a veteran of the genre, as Megaquarium doesn’t really break from the standards very often. But you know, I think it’s kind of fitting that an aquarium-based game would be a bit less hectic than others. If nothing else, it should help hold you over until Two Point Hospital comes.
StarBlox Inc. ($9.99)
I’ll give it points for trying something original, at least. In StarBlox Inc. you have to battle against your opponents in a set-up that resembles a normal fighting game at first glance. But then you realize that dealing serious damage is connected to completing matches in the puzzle in your rocket. And instead of pieces falling from above, the pieces instead drop into the play area. You and your opponents therefore battle each other to grab the pieces you want and shove them into your puzzle. Frankly, it’s miracle that the game isn’t a total mess. It has enough rough edges to it that I find myself just shy of wanting to recommend it, but it’s good enough that if you’re searching for a competitive puzzle game that does things a bit differently, you might enjoy it. Obviously best if you have some nearby friends to take advantage of the local multiplayer, though.
Ice Age Scrat’s Nutty Adventure! ($39.99)
Hunh. Making a 3D platformer based on a movie license used to be the most common thing in the world, but it’s so rare these days that I find this game oddly nostalgic? You play as that little Scrat thing from Ice Age and need to collect all of the Crystal Nuts scattered around the world. This one comes to us from the folks at Just Add Water, who are perhaps best known for their work with the recent Oddworld releases. I’m not sure I’d go all-in on this game because it’s a bit on the short side, but if you’re pining for the old days where decent 3D platformers fell from the trees like acorns, I don’t think you’ll be displeased with Scrat’s Nutty Adventure.
MilkChoco ($29.99)
Well, here’s one of those games where I commend the developer for dreaming big. This is a port of a free-to-play mobile online shooter. They’ve taken out the ability to purchase sacks of diamonds, and I’d hope they also rebalanced the game to account for all of that. But who knows? Anyway, you get online battles between teams of five players each, with a few different objectives and the usual level-up and ranking systems you see in games like this. There are different weapons and cosmetic items to equip, too. I can’t imagine why a person would pay thirty dollars for this kind of experience when a little bit more money would get you Overwatch. Maybe your imagination is better than mine.
Desktop Rugby ($7.43)
I wonder how long it took the developer to knock this one together? We recently saw another release in the Desktop sports line, so having this one so soon seems a little odd. Of course, with Japan hosting the Rugby World Cup and their team getting quite a bit of attention for its underdog success so far, there really couldn’t be a better time to drop a rugby game on the country’s game console of choice. Anyway, this is pretty much like the other Desktop sports games. It’s very arcade-like, has a few different modes you can mess around with, and allows you to play local multiplayer with up to four players at once. You can probably expect this to be of similar quality to the others, so the decision is up to you.
Arcade Archives Vs. Castlevania ($7.99)
If you’ve ever found yourself playing the original NES Castlevania game and wanted it to be harder, Hamster has you covered with this release. Vs. Castlevania is essentially the same game as the original NES version but with shorter timers, increased damage from some enemies, a few altered color palettes, and perhaps a different enemy placement or two. It’s not as enjoyable as the NES version, which I’ll remind you is available as one of eight games in the $19.99 Castlevania Anniversary Collection. Truly one for the die-hard collectors, if anyone at all.
Worbital ($12.99)
I’ve seen this described as “Worms in Space" and yeah, I can kind of see that. Up to four players battle against each other in various star systems. The gravity of planets and stars affect the trajectory of your shots, so you need to take that stuff into account before you fire. There are tons of fun weapons and items to use, allowing to do things like fling asteroids or even destroy planets. You can play against the computer or battle real humans online, and it all seems like it does what it needs to do well enough. I find games like these show their value over many sessions with friends, so I can’t give too enthusiastic a recommendation at this point. I can at least say that what I have experienced has been pretty encouraging, if not dazzling.
Sales
Some very cool stuff on sale today. My Friend Pedro gets its deepest discount yet to go with its new update. Some of Hamster’s Arcade Archives titles are half-price in what is a very rare sale for the developer. Sniper Elite V2 has a deep discount for what I believe is the first time, as well. There’s plenty to see, including a lot of the usual suspects. The outbox for the weekend is small, but there are some quality games in there as well. Have a final check and make sure there’s nothing you want in there.
New Games on Sale
My Friend Pedro ($13.99 from $19.99 until 10/21)
Ambition of the Slimes ($2.50 from $5.00 until 11/4)
Slime Tactics ($6.99 from $9.99 until 11/4)
Ninja Striker! ($1.99 from $3.99 until 11/4)
Alchemic Dungeons DX ($5.59 from $7.99 until 11/4)
Island Fight Simulator ($15.99 from $19.99 until 10/31)
3D MiniGolf ($15.99 from $19.99 until 10/31)
3D Billiards – Pool & Snooker ($15.99 from $19.99 until 10/31)
The Darkside Detective ($9.09 from $12.99 until 10/31)
Tied Together ($0.99 from $14.99 until 11/1)
Windscape ($13.99 from $19.99 until 11/1)
Truberbrook ($20.99 from $29.99 until 11/1)
Arcade Archives Crazy Climber ($3.99 from $7.99 until 10/30)
Arcade Archives Ninja-Kid ($3.99 from $7.99 until 10/30)
Arcade Archives Moon Cresta ($3.99 from $7.99 until 10/30)
Arcade Archives Terra Cresta ($3.99 from $7.99 until 10/30)
Arcade Archives Kid’s Horehore Daisakusen ($3.99 from $7.99 until 10/30)
ACA NEOGEO The King of Fighters ’94 ($3.99 from $7.99 until 10/30)
ACA NEOGEO Metal Slug ($3.99 from $7.99 until 10/30)
ACA NEOGEO Sengoku ($3.99 from $7.99 until 10/30)
ACA NEOGEO Aero Fighters 2 ($3.99 from $7.99 until 10/30)
ACA NEOGEO Zed Blade ($3.99 from $7.99 until 10/30)
The World Next Door ($2.99 from $9.99 until 10/24)
Mitsurugi Kamui Hikae ($5.95 from $11.90 until 11/1)
Back to Bed ($3.49 from $4.99 until 10/30)
Word Mesh ($3.49 from $6.99 until 10/28)
Rally Rock ‘N Racing ($5.99 from $9.99 until 11/6)
Sniper Elite V2 Remastered ($17.49 from $34.99 until 10/31)
Summer Sports Games ($19.99 from $24.99 until 10/31)
Leisure Suit Larry ($27.99 from $39.99 until 10/28)
Captain StarONE ($6.99 from $9.99 until 11/4)
Observer ($10.49 from $29.99 until 11/4)
Ivanych vs Eared Beast ($2.09 from $6.99 until 10/24)
Viviette ($7.99 from $9.99 until 11/6)
Abyss ($1.49 from $2.99 until 11/6)
99Seconds ($1.49 from $2.99 until 11/6)
99Moves ($1.49 from $2.99 until 11/6)
Cinders ($9.99 from $19.99 until 10/24)
Snowboarding The Next Phase ($0.99 from $9.99 until 11/6)
Hive Jump ($0.99 from $9.99 until 10/22)
Bury me, my Love ($2.49 from $4.99 until 11/1)
Stellar Interface ($0.99 from $12.99 until 10/24)
The Office Quest ($2.99 from $11.99 until 10/31)
Fight of Gods ($10.39 from $12.99 until 10/31)
#KILLALLZOMBIES ($11.99 from $19.99 until 11/3)
Legrand Legacy: Tale of the Fatebounds ($13.99 from $19.99 until 10/31)
My Memory of Us ($7.49 from $14.99 until 10/24)
Doodle God: Evolution ($4.99 from $9.99 until 10/23)
Doodle God: Crime City ($0.99 from $6.99 until 10/23)
Pawarumi ($11.99 from $14.99 until 10/24)
M.A.C.E. Tower Defense ($1.99 from $3.99 until 10/28)
Headspun ($9.09 from $12.99 until 10/31)
Rest in Pieces ($4.99 from $7.99 until 11/4)
Lost Castle ($7.99 from $9.99 until 10/31)
Inferno 2 ($3.99 from $4.99 until 10/30)
Dark Veer ($4.04 from $4.49 until 10/24)
Sinner: Sacrifice for Redemption ($11.39 from $18.99 until 10/31)
Dracula’s Legacy ($15.99 from $19.99 unti 10/31)
Machinarium ($4.99 from $9.99 until 10/31)
The Bug Butcher ($5.59 from $7.99 until 10/30)
Mahjong Deluxe 3 ($15.99 from $19.99 until 10/31)
Darts Up ($1.49 from $2.99 until 11/6)
Ghost 1.0 ($4.99 from $9.99 until 10/31)
Regalia: Of Men and Monarchs ($12.49 from $24.99 until 10/24)
Layers of Fear: Legacy ($3.99 from $19.99 until 11/4)
Tesla vs Lovecraft ($6.74 from $14.99 until 10/23)
Swim Out ($3.99 from $5.99 until 10/24)
Quest of Dungeons ($2.69 from $8.99 until 10/31)
Axiom Verge ($17.99 from $19.99 until 10/24)
OPUS: The Day We Found Earth ($2.50 from $5.00 until 11/4)
OPUS: Rocket of Whispers ($5.35 from $8.99 until 11/4)
Dimension Drive ($6.49 from $12.99 until 10/30)
Piczle Lines DX ($11.99 from $14.99 until 11/6)
Piczle Lines DX 500 More Puzzles! ($7.99 from $9.99 until 11/6)
Piczle Colors ($9.60 from $12.00 until 11/6)
Tactical Mind ($0.99 from $2.99 until 10/28)
Mad Carnage ($0.99 from $4.99 until 10/28)
Dead Cells ($19.99 from $24.99 until 11/2)
FunBox Party ($0.99 from $1.99 until 10/28)
Ludomania ($0.99 from $3.99 until 11/7)
‘n Verlore Verstand ($8.39 from $13.99 until 11/1)
Mech Rage ($1.99 from $9.99 until 10/28)
Build a Bridge! ($2.99 from $14.99 until 11/4)
Flowlines VS ($0.49 from $4.99 until 11/7)
Swaps and Traps ($1.99 from $8.99 until 10/28)
Island Maze ($1.99 from $2.99 until 10/28)
Pixel Gladiator ($3.49 from $6.99 until 11/8)
Sales Ending This Weekend
Pacific Wings ($3.99 from $4.99 until 10/19)
Brawlout ($7.99 from $19.99 until 10/20)
Escape from the Universe ($2.99 from $9.99 until 10/20)
Mecha Storm ($9.99 from $19.99 until 10/20)
Penguin Wars ($7.49 from $14.99 until 10/20)
Psyvariar Delta ($19.99 from $29.99 until 10/20)
Rive: Ultimate ($5.24 from $14.99 until 10/20)
Soldam: Drop, Connect, Erase ($1.99 from $7.99 until 10/20)
Switchy Road ($1.99 from $4.99 until 10/20)
Swords & Soldiers ($2.62 from $7.49 until 10/20)
Toki Tori ($1.74 from $4.99 until 10/20)
Toki Tori 2+ ($5.24 from $14.99 until 10/20)
That’s all for today and this week, friends. There were so many awesome games released this week, I can hardly stay on top of them all. What did you pick up? Are there any sales that have caught your eye? I’ve got a tiny mountain of RPGs I need to play for some reviews, so that’s my weekend sorted. Hopefully, I’ll be able to have some of those reviews ready to go on Monday, but we’ll see. I hope you all have a great weekend, and as always, thanks for reading!
