Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for October 25th, 2019. The best laid plans of mice and men, my friends. While I thought I’d have some extra time today, a massive list of new discounts (nearly 150 games!) and a broken phone that needed to be replaced meant I didn’t have much room to spare for anything other than the essentials. So please enjoy another day of new release summaries and an exhaustive list of new discounts. We’ll be back to normal business on Monday. Let’s go!
New Releases
The Legend of Dark Witch ($6.99)
SwitchArcade Highlight!
This is a fun little Mega Man-style 2D action game that I originally played on the Nintendo 3DS. This new version has some spiffed-up new graphics and a few other little odds and ends, but at its core it remains the same game it always was. It features a cool Gradius-like power-up system along with the typical set-up of getting a new weapon after beating a boss. As games inspired by Capcom’s Blue Bomber go, this is one of the best in my opinion. Easily worth seven bucks if you haven’t played it before.
THOTH ($4.99)
SwitchArcade Highlight!
THOTH is a twin-stick shooter with an abstract aesthetic and a memorable soundtrack. It’s also extremely tough, as to make any real progress you have clear at least four levels. The main gameplay gimmick here is that you move faster when you’re not shooting, so you shouldn’t just lean on the trigger at all times. There are a lot of great games in this genre on the Switch and I’m not going to go so far as to say this is among the best, but for a fiver it’s quite a bit of fun. If you have a friend or family member who wants to join in, you can enjoy some local multiplayer as well.
140 ($4.99)
SwitchArcade Highlight!
This comes from the same developer as THOTH. It’s a minimalistic platformer with some striking visuals and a pretty good soundtrack. There really isn’t too much more to say about it than that, but for what it is, it is very good. Just be careful if you’re sensitive to flashing lights and colors, because the levels in this game basically throb and flash along with the beat. Like, not irresponsibly so, but play it safe if you’re susceptible to side effects from such things. If you’re fine with that, by all means enjoy. It’s nothing too fancy but it is certainly well-crafted.
Into the Dead 2 ($34.99)
Haaaa. Well, to be fair, this is a popular game on mobile. And this version strips out a lot of the cruft that came with it in its free-to-play version, though it is still selling extra DLC packs already. Given how limited its gameplay is and how repetitive it becomes if you put in more than a few minutes at a time, I personally feel the price tag is a wee bit audacious here. But hey, if you love Into the Dead 2 enough to put money into it, I guess the sticker price on this version is incredibly affordable compared to the mobile version. I leave it up to you.
Pixel Gladiator ($6.99)
Well, what can you say about a game that has a half-off discount before it even releases? I’ve spent a bit of time with this one, and it’s an okay tower defense/action game hybrid. The framing device is that you’re on some sort of murderous game show and need to survive as long as you can. Build towers and turrets to defend your base, use the resources you earn to upgrade your weapons and abilities, and battle some nasty bosses. This game didn’t really grab me, but it takes something really special in the tower defense genre to catch my eye, so it’s not really as severe a condemnation as you might think. I’m going to play this one a little more this weekend and should have some kind of review early next week for you.
Party Treats ($1.99)
Party Treats is a cute game with a local multiplayer focus, and is decent enough in that regard when you consider its extremely low price. There are a bunch of co-op modes and a campaign mode to play, and lots of characters and special abilities to play around with. Strangely, this seems to be nearly identical to a game that released earlier this year called Hungry Baby: Party Treats, but the baby has been swapped for a monster and the price has been cut by more than half. Well, maybe it’ll take better this time.
Horror Pinball Bundle ($8.99)
This bundle contains three of those generic pinball games we see come out now and then. Specifically, you get Mummy Pinball, Werewolf Pinball, and Halloween Pinball. Those tables normally sell for $2.99 apiece, so buying them in this bundle actually costs you two cents more. Amusingly, all three of these tables are currently on sale for $1.97 each, so you’d actually be spending an extra three bucks if you bought this bundle today. Either way, these aren’t very good pinball tables, and with Pinball FX3 getting that Williams horror bundle soon I really can’t see why anyone would want these no matter how they’re priced.
Deep Space Rush ($4.99)
Oh hey, it’s Deep Space. I reviewed the iOS version of this one a couple of years ago. It’s a run-and-gun sort of game where you travel between sections of a ship, battling enemies and scooping up coins. There are all kinds of traps and stuff, and the game is actually kind of hard. One of my issues with the mobile version was that the virtual button controls didn’t work too well, and that’s no longer a problem here. That just leaves it with the main issue of being kind of so-so on the whole. It’s fun for a little while, but it gets old in a hurry. For the price, I suppose it’s not bad, but there are a lot of good run-and-gun games on Switch that will give you a lot more than this will.
Let’s Sing Country ($44.99)
The latest in the Let’s Sing series focuses on one of the more popular genres when it comes to karaoke in the West: country music. You get a fairly extensive selection of tunes to warble along to here, including songs from George Strait, Kenny Rogers, Toby Keith, Rascal Flatts, Chris Janson, and more. There are 30 songs in total, and just like with the other games, up to four players can join in. You can use a USB mic or download the mobile app if you want to sing into your phone. Well, this one is clearly aimed at a particular niche, and I’m sure you know if you’re in that group or not.
Ultra Off-Road 2019: Alaska ($18.99)
Hmmm. This game bills itself as a simulation, but don’t be fooled. It also seems to suggest that it’s an open experience. It is also not that. This is a pretty poor arcade-ish driving game with strict paths to follow and power-ups a-plenty, which aren’t bad things at all in theory. But this game just doesn’t pull off anything it does with much success. The driving doesn’t feel fun or good. The presentation is really poor. The courses are more aggravating than enjoyable. For nearly twenty dollars, it also feels pretty thin on content. I can’t really recommend this on any level, unfortunately.
Pizza Bar Tycoon ($4.99)
I bet you can tell from that screenshot exactly what this game is all about. Yes, it’s another one of those food truck-style time management games. Customers step up to the bar with orders, you have to prepare them and serve them, and if you take too long people get mad and walk away. You get sixty levels to play through, and you’ll have to prepare more than seventy different dishes. Mostly pizza. The amount of these games this publisher has put out suggests to me that they are selling pretty well. So if you are one of the people who likes to buy these sorts of things, here is another one to buy.
Soul Searching ($9.99)
In looking around for other opinions on this survival game, I found a number of people who really got into it. It’s a few hours long and it certainly has a unique style to it. It has a message to deliver, but that message seems barely related to the gameplay. If you’re looking for something a bit different and are willing to spend ten dollars on a game with a lot of rough edges, I guess you could go for Soul Searching. Personally, I found it really tiresome to play, and it only got worse as I went. Perhaps your experience will be different. There is a somewhat interesting local multiplayer mode where you pretty much have to work together if you want to survive, so maybe if you have some people to play with it might be better? I don’t know.
Sales
Holy smokes, that is a list with almost 150 entries on it. There’s a lot of junk in there, to be sure, but also some great stuff like the Darksiders games, Saints Row: The Third, the SteamWorld games, the Amnesia Collection, and more. Take a careful look through and see if there’s anything you’re after. Fortunately, the outbox is pretty light this weekend. Feel free to focus on those new discounts knowing that you’re not missing out on a whole ton.
New Games on Sale
Darksiders: Warmastered ($20.09 from $29.99 until 11/7)
Darksiders II Deathinitive ($23.99 from $29.99 until 11/7)
Saints Row: The Third ($23.99 from $39.99 until 10/31)
Kotodama: The 7 Mysteries ($19.49 from $29.99 until 11/3)
Shadow Fight 2 ($9.99 from $14.99 until 11/8)
Evoland Legendary Edition ($4.99 from $19.99 until 11/1)
The Jackbox Party Pack 3 ($18.74 from $24.99 until 11/1)
Bulb Boy ($0.89 from $8.99 until 11/7)
SteamWorld Dig ($2.99 from $9.99 until 11/3)
SteamWorld Heist: Ultimate ($5.99 from $19.99 until 11/3)
SteamWorld Dig 2 ($9.99 from $19.99 until 11/3)
SteamWorld Quest ($18.74 from $24.99 until 11/3)
Conga Master Party! ($2.48 from $9.95 until 11/7)
Brave Dungeon + Dark Witch Story ($7.19 from $8.99 until 11/7)
Ninja Shodown ($8.97 from $14.95 until 11/7)
Don’t Knock Twice ($6.24 from $12.49 until 11/7)
JYDGE ($6.74 from $14.99 until 10/30)
Violett ($0.99 from $9.99 until 11/13)
Lumo ($11.97 from $19.95 until 11/7)
MXGP3 – The Official Motocross ($11.99 from $39.99 until 11/7)
Stick It to The Man ($2.99 from $11.99 until 11/3)
Puzzle Box Maker ($11.99 from $14.99 until 11/5)
Frederic: Resurrection of Music ($0.59 from $5.99 until 11/13)
Frederic 2: Evil Strikes Back ($0.49 from $4.99 until 11/13)
Draw a Stickman: EPIC 2 ($1.00 from $6.99 until 11/14)
Qbik ($0.49 from $4.99 until 11/13)
Millie ($0.49 from $4.99 until 11/13)
Spy Chameleon ($5.59 from $7.99 until 11/7)
Kona ($5.99 from $19.99 until 10/31)
Sparkle Zero ($0.49 from $4.99 until 11/13)
Sparkle 3 Genesis ($0.49 from $4.99 until 11/13)
No Thing ($0.19 from $1.99 until 11/13)
The Bunker ($6.49 from $12.99 until 11/7)
Manticore – Galaxy on Fire ($7.99 from $19.99 until 10/31)
Gal*Gun 2 ($20.24 from $44.99 until 11/3)
Firefighters – The Simulation ($13.59 from $39.99 until 11/7)
Firefighters: Airport Fire Dept ($13.59 from $39.99 until 11/7)
Goetia ($0.99 from $9.99 until 11/13)
Glaive: Brick Breaker ($0.99 from $9.99 until 11/13)
Professional Construction ($13.59 from $39.99 until 11/7)
Professional Farmer ($13.59 from $39.99 until 11/7)
Timberman VS ($0.19 from $1.99 until 11/13)
The Adventures of Elena Temple ($1.99 from $4.99 until 11/13)
Baobabs Mausoleum Ep.1 ($3.89 from $5.99 until 10/31)
Baobabs Mausoleum Ep.2 ($4.54 from $6.99 until 10/31)
Enigmatis 2 ($7.49 from $14.99 until 11/11)
Die for Valhalla! ($5.99 from $11.99 until 11/7)
Them Bombs! ($9.79 from $13.99 until 11/11)
Muddledash ($2.69 from $5.99 until 11/3)
Super Volley Blast ($6.99 from $9.99 until 11/7)
Holy Potatoes! A Weapon Shop?! ($11.99 from $14.99 until 11/7)
Holy Potatoes! We’re In Space?! ($11.99 from $14.99 until 11/7)
Star Story: The Horizon Escape ($0.99 from $9.99 until 11/13)
Chicken Assassin: Reloaded ($5.19 from $7.99 until 10/31)
NoReload Heroes ($0.99 from $9.99 until 11/13)
Flipping Death ($5.99 from $19.99 until 11/3)
Shut Eye ($0.39 from $3.99 until 11/13)
Nightmares from the Deep 2 ($3.74 from $4.99 until 11/11)
Tiny Hands Adventure ($0.79 from $7.99 until 11/13)
Persian Nights: Sands of Wonders ($1.49 from $14.99 until 11/13)
Flood of Light ($2.44 from $4.99 until 11/13)
Realpolitiks ($2.49 from $24.99 until 11/13)
The Mahjong Huntress ($0.49 from $4.99 until 11/13)
Doughlings: Arcade ($3.49 from $6.99 until 11/6)
My Brother Rabbit ($1.49 from $14.99 until 11/13)
Whispering Willows ($6.49 from $9.99 until 10/31)
Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams ($19.99 from $29.99 until 11/7)
Valrithian Arc ($8.24 from $14.99 until 11/3)
SpiderSolitaire Black ($4.00 from $5.00 until 10/30)
Solitaire Klondike Black ($4.00 from $5.00 until 10/30)
Fly O’Clock ($0.19 from $1.99 until 11/13)
Eternum Ex ($8.44 from $12.99 until 10/31)
Storm In A Teacup ($2.39 from $2.99 until 11/7)
Friday the 13th: Killer Puzzle ($6.79 from $19.99 until 11/1)
Startide ($0.99 from $9.99 until 11/13)
Crashlands ($10.49 from $14.99 until 10/28)
Trailblazers ($17.99 from $29.99 until 11/7)
Steamburg ($2.49 from $4.99 until 11/7)
Secret Files: Tunguska ($7.49 from $14.99 until 10/31)
Secret Files 2: Puritas Cordis ($10.49 from $14.99 until 10/31)
Gnomes Garden ($2.99 from $4.99 until 11/7)
Desert Child ($7.79 fromo $11.99 until 10/31)
Nippon Marathon ($8.24 from $14.99 until 11/3)
Razed ($5.39 from $11.99 until 11/3)
Clock Simulator ($0.39 from $3.99 until 11/13)
Grab Lab ($0.49 from $4.99 until 11/13)
Bedtime Blues ($0.99 from $9.99 until 11/13)
IHUGU ($0.39 from $3.99 until 11/13)
The Raven Remastered ($14.99 from $29.99 until 11/7)
Bad Dream: Coma ($0.99 from $9.99 until 11/13)
Forgotten Tales – Day of the Dead ($7.49 from $14.99 until 11/7)
Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy ($14.99 from $29.99 until 11/7)
Hyperide ($0.19 from $1.99 until 11/13)
Bleep Bloop ($2.59 from $3.99 until 10/31)
Merchants of Kaidan ($0.99 from $9.99 until 11/13)
Toridama: Brave Challenge ($3.50 from $5.00 until 10/30)
Thea: The Awakening ($13.49 from $17.99 until 11/7)
Estiman ($0.19 from $1.99 until 11/13)
Strikey Sisters ($7.99 from $9.99 until 11/13)
Tokyo School Life ($8.24 from $14.99 until 11/3)
Degrees of Separation ($9.99 from $19.99 until 10/31)
Hell Warders ($8.24 from $14.99 until 11/3)
Braveland Trilogy ($3.74 from $14.99 until 11/7)
Hard West ($1.99 from $19.99 until 11/13)
Golf Peaks ($2.99 from $4.99 until 11/14)
RICO ($15.99 from $19.99 until 11/7)
Dungeons & Aliens ($0.39 from $3.99 until 11/13)
AngerForce: Reloaded ($6.49 from $9.99 until 11/13)
Way of the Passive Fist ($3.74 from $14.99 until 10/31)
Our World Is Ended ($41.99 from $59.99 until 11/3)
Risky Rescue ($0.49 from $4.99 until 11/13)
The Padre ($9.99 from $19.99 until 11/3)
Joe Jump Impossible Quest ($0.99 from $2.99 until 10/31)
HexaGravity ($0.99 from $1.99 until 10/31)
Giga Wrecker Alt ($18.74 from $24.99 until 11/7)
Meow Motors ($9.74 from $14.99 until 11/7)
Monster Puzzle ($1.99 from $4.99 until 10/31)
Phantom Doctrine ($6.79 from $19.99 until 11/13)
PlataGO! Super Platform Game Maker ($13.99 from $19.99 until 11/3)
Sea King ($2.49 from $4.99 until 11/7)
MotoGP19 ($29.99 until $49.99 until 11/7)
Jim Is Moving Out! ($4.49 from $14.99 until 11/13)
Redeemer: Enhanced ($20.99 from $29.99 until 10/31)
Run the Fan ($2.39 from $3.99 until 10/31)
Gunpowder on The Teeth: Arcade ($2.49 from $4.99 until 11/13)
Tetsumo Party ($2.49 from $4.99 until 11/7)
Sudoku Universe ($4.19 from $6.99 until 11/13)
Welcome to Hanwell ($11.99 from $14.99 until 11/4)
Boreal Blade ($9.99 from $19.99 until 11/7)
Brunch Club ($10.14 from $14.49 until 11/2)
Root Letter: Last Answer ($26.99 from $29.99 until 11/3)
Gun Gun Pixies ($44.99 from $49.99 until 11/3)
Blasphemous ($19.99 from $24.99 until 11/6)
Vortex Attack EX ($7.89 from $9.99 until 11/13)
The Legend of Dark Witch ($5.59 from $6.99 until 11/7)
Agony ($17.99 from $19.99 until 11/13)
The Big Journey ($2.99 from $4.99 until 11/12)
Oceanhorn ($9.99 from $14.99 until 11/14)
Blossom Tales ($9.99 from $14.99 until 11/14)
Alchemic Jousts ($6.99 from $9.99 until 11/14)
Venture Kid ($6.70 from $10.00 until 11/14)
Amnesia: Collection ($19.49 from $29.99 until 11/1)
Klondike Solitaire ($6.29 from $8.99 until 11/14)
Tardy ($2.99 from $9.99 until 11/5)
Event Horizon ($1.49 from $5.99 until 11/5)
Dead Dungeon ($0.99 from $4.99 until 11/5)
Pizza Bar Tycoon ($3.74 from $4.99 until 11/15)
Spirit Roots ($3.49 from $6.99 until 11/15)
Sales Ending This Weekend
ATOMIK: RunGunJumpGun ($1.59 from $7.99 until 10/26)
Milanoir ($6.49 from $12.99 until 10/26)
Zarvot ($13.37 from $19.99 until 10/26)
ZikSquare ($4.99 from $6.99 until 10/26)
Clue: The Classic Mystery Game ($19.49 from $29.99 until 10/27)
That’s all for today and this week, friends. Next week is packed full of cool new releases, including Luigi’s Mansion 3, Super Monkey Ball, Resident Evil 5, Atelier Ryza, and the Aladdin/Lion King bundle pack. Yes, October isn’t going down without a fight. Unlike my weaksauce phone, who has now been replaced with his better. I hope you all have a great weekend, and as always, thanks for reading!
