Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for March 20th, 2020. In today’s article, we’ve got an absolute boat-load of new releases to check out. That’s the bulk of today’s edition, in fact. There’s also a really large list of new sales to check out while we’re at it. News-wise, there isn’t much going on. Sunset Riders is coming to Arcade Archives, and I can confirm the new release of Ittle Dew 2+ is in fact a separate SKU/purchase from the Nicalis release of the game. That’s about it, so let’s get to the new games!
New Releases
Animal Crossing: New Horizons ($59.99)
SwitchArcade Highlight!
Ha ha ha, you already bought this. Enjoy!
DOOM 64 ($4.99)
SwitchArcade Highlight!
Nightdive Studios has been doing nice work bringing some Nintendo 64 classics back to modern systems, and DOOM 64 is their latest project. I’ve always been a big fan of this game, as I was obsessed with DOOM in my teenage years and this quickly revealed itself to be a stealth sequel. This new version adds some extra content but keeps all of the quirks that made this release so interesting to begin with, including the blurry monster and weapon sprites. I don’t know why id Software/Bethesda is selling these DOOM ports so cheaply, but I won’t complain. Smear some Vaseline on your visor and RIP AND TEAR, friends!
Quell Memento ($7.99)
SwitchArcade Highlight!
Quell Memento has been around for a while now, but if you’ve somehow missed out on playing it and enjoy a good puzzle game, this is as good a time as any to do something about that. You’re basically solving puzzles to restore a person’s memories, and the story provides a rather nice incentive to keep going through the game. The puzzles start off simple enough but become quite dastardly by the end, but there are hints if you find yourself getting really stuck. I really like the way the difficulty gradually ramps up in this game. It’s the mark of a game that was clearly put through its paces in the testing process. Enjoy the fruits of that work.
Mist Hunter ($5.99)
This an arena-based roguelite first-person action game that focuses on quick weapon-changing and speedy movement. You have to use the right weapon to handle each enemy, and there are hundreds of upgrades you can earn that keep things exciting for a while. There are twelve different magic weapons to use, and plenty of bizarre enemies to blast away. This game seems to be fairly well-liked on other platforms, so if you like the sound of any of this you may want to bite on Mist Hunter.
Pooplers ($8.99)
Here’s our local couch party game for today, I guess. In Pooplers, each player controls a baby that is, I guess, pooping brightly colored trails behind it as it moves around each environment. If mother catches you pooping on the floor, she’ll pick you up and sit you down in a pram for a short time, taking you out of the action. Yes, the mother can be controlled by another player. There are various modes and a number of different locations, which should help keep the game fresh even if the diapers aren’t. I get paid real money to write about stuff like this. What a world we live in.
Breakfast Bar Tycoon ($4.99)
Baltoro Games is back with another one of their food-prep time management games. The only thing that really separates these games from one another is the theme, and this one goes for the unlikely setting of a breakfast bar. Anyway, you know how this goes. Customers line up with their own specific orders, and you’ve got a limited amount of time to prepare the dishes before they storm off angrily. The faster you go, the more cash you’ll earn. Survive all the waves and you’re on to the next stage. You can use the money you make to upgrade your breakfast bar which in turn helps you make more money. What can I say? If you like this sort of game, this is another one.
Lust for Darkness: Dawn Edition ($14.99)
The original Lust for Darkness got yanked from the eShop shortly after release after it was found to have content that fit the ESRB definition for an AO rating. This version makes some edits to bring the game back to the Switch. It’s unfortunate that the developers didn’t take the opportunity to improve the game itself, because this is still some genuine bunk. In its original form, it was a weak adventure game that was selling itself on its extreme eroticism. Take that selling point out, and you’re left with very little of note.
Pocket Mini Golf ($1.99)
Two whole dollars, eh? Well, Pocket Mini Golf isn’t going to win any awards for innovation, but it does what it says on the tin and doesn’t rob you while doing it. There are 50 levels that range from simple to surprisingly creative. You can play alone or get in on some local multiplayer for up to four people. The presentation is nice and clean, but again nothing particularly out of the ordinary. Still, for the price it’s hard to criticize what you get here. If you’re looking for a cheap diversion today, this is a pretty solid pick.
Diabolic ($4.99)
A slasher RPG, it calls itself. Sure, why not? This is essentially a simplified hack-and-slash RPG that feels inspired by Diablo. Uh, please remember that inspiration does not always translate to similarity, though. You battle through 10 levels, level-up, and build your character as you see fit. If you do things properly, you’ll be able to take down the Dragon-boss waiting at the end and pat yourself on the back for a job well-done. This is meant as a lighter bite and is priced accordingly. I’m going to spend some time with it and I’ll let you know if it turns out to be anything special.
Thunder Paw ($4.99)
It feels like we can’t go a week without one or two low-cost platformers hitting the eShop, and let’s be real: most of them are forgettable. The best thing I can say about Thunder Paw is that it features a gun-toting dog as its protagonist, which would be a billion times better if said dog was on all fours holding the gun in its mouth. Unfortunately, this dog walks on two feet. You get 20 different levels set across five different worlds, each of which ends with a boss battle. You can probably finish it over a couple of cups of tea if you’re inclined to. Eh.
Arcade Archives Formation Z ($7.99)
You know how it is, friends. Sometimes you really want to make a Gundam or Macross game, but you don’t have money for an expensive license. So what do you do? Well, if you’re Jaleco in 1984, you make Formation Z. This is a side-scrolling shooter where you play as a robot that can transform into a fighter jet. It’s not a great game by any means, but the arcade version is a darn sight better than the NES version that some readers will be familiar with. For its time, the game had pretty nice visuals. Plus, transforming robots are always cool. Hamster did its usual job here, so you can expect a quality rendition of the arcade game.
Epic Word Search Collection ($7.99)
The latest word puzzle game from Lightwood Games, this is straight-up a giant pack of word search puzzles. You get a variety of themes, including food, travel, animals, and sports. The puzzle sizes can get quite big, which should be of interest to word search fans. Other than that, there’s not much to say here. It’s word search. You know it, I know it, and maybe you want to do it on your Switch instead of doing the ones in the newspapers. Do newspapers still exist in North America? Hm.
Frosty Jump ($1.99)
Some games are harder to write a paragraph about than others. This is one of the tough ones. I mean, it’s Doodle Jump with a snowman/winter theme going on. There’s not much more to it than that. It feels like something that was hastily ported over from the filthy basement of the App Store, but I can’t find it with a quick search so it may be genuine home-grown Switch shovelware. Anyway, jump, collect friends and power-ups, and jump some more until you get bored. At least you only wasted two bucks, right?
Tennis Open 2020 ($9.99)
Tennis video games… tennis video games never change. Okay, sometimes they change. Sometimes they’re like that weird one we reviewed a couple of months ago. But usually, you more or less know what to expect from the core gameplay of any tennis video game. It’s a matter of nuance as to whether it’s great or just mediocre. This one is riding the center line with vigor, friends. You get a few different modes including two-player local multiplayer, and the amount of content is reasonably big for the price. There are better tennis games on the Switch, and not just a few of them. So really it’s just a matter of how many tennis video games you need, and that’s a question only you can answer.
Ultimate Ski Jumping 2020 ($9.99)
Well, I give them credit for having fun with the idea, anyway. When I saw the title I thought this was going to be another one of those awful simulator games, but it’s actually quite arcade-like. You do ski jumps in various environments and try to win competitions. There’s a bunch of modes including online multiplayer, so there’s a fair bit to do here. The visuals are done up in pixel art, and I rather like that. Reminds me of the old Epyx Winter Games. I mean, this probably looks way better. I haven’t looked at Winter Games in around… thirty years, give or take. Anyway, this developer usually makes games that are quite so-so, and that’s pretty much what you can expect here. But if you like ski jumping, don’t let me stop you.
Red Death ($4.99)
A vertical shoot-em-up of the bullet hell variety, Red Death isn’t too shabby for the price it’s charging. There’s a story mode that sees you battling through a set arrangement of stages and an arcade mode that randomizes things a bit. Power-ups? Yeah. Special screen-clearing bomb attacks? Uh-hunh. All of it is painted up in 4-tone graphics that are pitched as being nostalgic but are really just kind of stylish in a modern way. On a system that wasn’t overflowing with great shoot-em-ups at reasonable prices, I’d give this a stronger recommendation. Instead, I’ll just say that it’s a nice slice of action for a handful of dollars.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
That is one huge list of sales, I tell you what. There’s some interesting stuff in there, but not a lot that is making my hair stand up or anything, you know? Still, with a list that big you’re bound to find at least one or two things to buy if you’ve got a mind to spend some money. Don’t forget to check the weekend outbox while you’re at it! Personally, I’m too busy with new games to dig into the discount wagon, but don’t let that stop you from doing what you must.
Select New Games on Sale
Yooka-Laylee ($13.59 from $39.99 until 3/29)
Trailer Trashers ($7.99 from $9.99 until 4/8)
Space Dave ($0.99 from $4.99 until 4/2)
Light Fall ($5.99 from $14.99 until 4/2)
Runner3 ($1.99 from $19.99 until 4/2)
Infinite Minigolf ($5.99 from $14.99 until 3/26)
Pan-Pan ($1.00 from $5.00 until 4/9)
Semispheres ($4.99 from $9.99 until 3/26)
Wulverblade ($3.99 from $19.99 until 4/2)
Don’t Knock Twice ($6.24 from $12.48 until 4/2)
Koi DX ($1.00 from $5.00 until 4/9)
Letter Quest Remastered ($2.99 from $11.99 until 4/8)
Glass Masquerade ($3.59 from $11.99 until 4/8)
Slayaway Camp: Butcher’s Cut ($4.49 from $14.99 until 4/8)
Pipe Push Paradise ($3.73 from $10.99 until 4/8)
Indie Puzzle Bundle Vol 1 ($5.99 from $39.99 until 4/8)
Worms W.M.D ($10.19 from $29.99 until 3/29)
Star Ghost ($4.49 from $8.99 until 4/2)
Slain: Back From Hell ($4.99 from $19.99 until 4/8)
Bleed ($3.59 from $11.99 until 4/8)
Bleed 2 ($4.49 from $14.99 until 4/8)
Draw a Stickman Epic 2 ($0.99 from $6.99 until 4/8)
Mercenaries Saga Chronicles ($7.49 from $14.99 until 4/9)
Mercenaries Wings: The False Phoenix ($7.79 from $12.99 until 4/9)
Johnny Turbo’s Arcade – All Titles ($2.71 from $7.99 until 4/2)
European Conqueror X ($5.99 from $9.99 until 4/9)
World Conquerer X ($3.99 from $9.99 until 4/9)
Splat the Fruit ($8.99 from $14.99 until 4/8)
Super Daryl Deluxe ($4.99 from $19.99 until 3/26)
Shelter Generations ($7.99 from $19.99 until 4/9)
Don’t Die, Mr Robot! ($1.34 from $8.99 until 4/8)
Three Fourths Home: Extended ($1.34 from $8.99 until 4/8)
Baobabs Mausoleum Ep 1 ($4.79 from $5.99 until 3/26)
Baobabs Mausoleum Ep 2 ($5.59 from $6.99 until 3/26)
Yoku’s Island Express ($6.79 from $19.99 until 3/29)
Just Shapes & Beats ($15.99 from $19.99 until 3/26)
D/Generation: The Original ($8.99 from $14.99 until 4/8)
INK ($1.34 from $8.99 until 4/8)
Hacky Zack ($1.49 from $9.99 until 4/8)
Digerati Indie Bundle ($1.49 from $14.99 until 4/8)
Paranautical Activity ($1.19 from $7.99 until 4/8)
Neverout ($1.04 from $7.49 until 4/5)
Frost ($3.89 from $12.99 until 4/8)
Piczle Lines DX 500 More Puzzles! ($4.99 from $9.99 until 4/2)
Unexplored ($4.50 from $15.00 until 4/8)
Spectrum ($2.39 from $11.99 until 4/8)
Gnomes Garden 3 ($2.99 from $4.99 until 4/2)
Fall of Light: Darkest ($4.49 from $14.99 until 4/8)
Shikhondo – Soul Eater ($4.19 from $13.99 until 4/8)
Nefarious ($4.49 from $14.99 until 4/8)
A Gummy’s Life ($8.99 from $14.99 until 4/3)
Vertical Drop Heroes HD ($1.99 from $9.99 until 4/8)
Monster Slayers ($4.49 from $14.99 until 4/8)
Reverse Crawl ($3.89 from $12.99 until 4/8)
Nerdook Bundle Vol. 1 ($4.49 from $29.99 until 4/8)
WILL: A Wonderful World ($8.99 from $14.99 until 4/9)
Eternum Ex ($10.39 from $12.99 until 3/26)
Omega Strike ($4.49 from $14.99 until 4/8)
Blacksea Odyssey ($3.24 from $12.99 until 4/8)
Uncanny Valley ($2.49 from $9.99 until 4/8)
Aquatic Adventure of the Last Human ($3.89 from $12.99 until 4/8)
Animated Jigsaws: Wild Animals ($4.99 from $9.99 until 4/2)
Robothorium ($1.49 from $14.99 until 4/2)
Bleep Bloop ($3.19 from $3.99 until 3/26)
Mercury Race ($3.99 from $7.99 until 4/8)
Solstice Chronicles: MIA ($8.99 from $14.99 until 4/9)
Oniken: Unstoppable ($3.39 from $9.99 until 4/8)
Odallus: Dark Call ($4.07 from $11.99 until 4/8)
Oniken & Odallus Bundle ($5.99 from $19.99 until 4/8)
The Friends of Ringo Ishikawa ($10.49 from $14.99 until 4/9)
A Dark Room ($4.19 from $6.99 until 4/9)
My Time at Portia ($14.99 from $29.99 until 3/29)
Super Blood Hockey ($4.49 from $14.99 until 4/8)
Black Paradox ($4.49 from $14.99 until 4/8)
Shadows of Adam ($10.49 from $14.99 until 4/9)
Shakedown: Hawaii ($14.99 from $19.99 until 4/2)
Skelly Selest ($2.99 from $9.99 until 4/8)
Golem Gates ($8.49 from $24.99 until 4/8)
Verlet Swing ($5.09 from $14.99 until 4/8)
Word Mesh ($3.49 from $6.99 until 3/29)
Penguin Wars ($7.49 from $14.99 until 3/31)
Lines X ($0.39 from $1.99 until 4/7)
Lines Infinite ($0.39 from $1.99 until 4/7)
M.A.C.E. Tower Defense ($1.99 from $3.99 until 3/29)
Another Sight ($25.99 from $39.99 until 4/2)
Switchy Road ($0.99 from $4.99 until 3/31)
Caladrius Blaze ($12.49 from $24.99 until 3/31)
Psyvariar Delta ($20.00 from $29.99 until 3/31)
Wayout ($0.59 from $2.99 until 4/7)
Risk of Rain 2 ($14.99 from $29.99 until 4/2)
Throne Quest Deluxe ($4.19 from $5.99 until 4/2)
Paper Dolls Original ($11.89 from $16.99 until 4/9)
Button Button Up! ($7.19 from $11.99 until 4/9)
Dreaming Canvas ($1.99 from $4.99 until 3/31)
Pet Shop Snacks ($2.49 from $4.99 until 4/8)
Worse Than Death ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/27)
Valfaris ($14.99 from $24.99 until 4/1)
Silk ($6.49 from $12.99 until 3/26)
Day and Night ($1.99 from $19.99 until 4/8)
The Big Journey ($0.99 from $4.99 until 4/7)
Perseverance ($1.49 from $4.99 until 4/9)
Incredible Mandy ($10.49 from $14.99 until 4/9)
Mad Games Tycoon ($25.99 from $39.99 until 4/2)
Overlanders ($2.49 from $24.99 until 4/8)
Smash Rush ($2.99 from $9.99 until 4/8)
Straimium Immortaly ($5.99 from $11.99 until 4/8)
XenoRaptor ($7.49 from $14.99 until 4/8)
Tamashii ($5.99 from $11.99 until 4/8)
Demon Pit ($4.99 from $9.99 until 4/8)
Super Crush KO ($9.99 from $14.99 until 3/26)
Maitetsu: Pure Station ($27.99 from $34.99 until 4/9)
Sorry, James ($0.99 from $4.99 until 4/7)
Knights and Bikes ($16.99 from $19.99 until 4/2)
Red Death ($3.99 from $4.99 until 4/2)
Sin Slayers ($15.99 from $19.99 until 3/26)
Wenjia ($6.39 from $7.99 until 4/8)
Towertale ($8.49 from $9.99 until 4/8)
Headliner: NoviNews ($9.79 from $14.99 until 3/24)
Pine ($19.99 from $24.99 until 3/24)
Sales Ending This Weekend
Almost There: The Platformer ($0.99 from $9.99 until 3/21)
Battleship ($3.99 from $19.99 until 3/21)
Boxing Champs ($3.32 from $9.50 until 3/21)
Cattails ($7.49 from $14.99 until 3/21)
Clue ($14.99 from $29.99 until 3/21)
Clumsy Rush ($0.99 from $4.99 until 3/21)
Soap Dodgem ($1.39 from $1.99 until 3/31)
A Winter’s Daydream ($3.89 from $5.99 until 3/22)
Anthill ($3.99 from $9.99 until 3/22)
Automachef ($8.99 from $14.99 until 3/22)
Blasphemous ($14.99 from $24.99 until 3/22)
Energy Invasion ($1.01 from $2.99 until 3/22)
Escape from the Universe ($0.99 from $9.99 until 3/22)
Flipping Death ($4.99 from $19.99 until 3/22)
Halloween Pinball ($1.49 from $2.99 until 3/22)
It’s Spring Again ($0.99 from $1.99 until 3/22)
Mummy Pinball ($1.49 from $2.99 until 3/22)
One Eyed Kutkh ($1.99 from $4.99 until 3/22)
Overcooked Special ($6.79 from $19.99 until 3/22)
Overcooked! 2 ($14.99 from $24.99 until 3/22)
Pantsu Hunter: Back to the 90s ($8.70 from $12.99 until 3/22)
Pirates Pinball ($1.49 from $2.99 until 3/22)
RICO ($14.99 from $19.99 until 3/22)
Rift Keeper ($7.49 from $9.99 until 3/22)
Sigi ($2.49 from $4.99 until 3/22)
SteamWorld Dig ($2.49 from $9.99 until 3/22)
SteamWorld Dig 2 ($7.99 from $19.99 until 3/22)
SteamWorld Heist: Ultimate ($4.99 from $19.99 until 3/22)
SteamWorld Quest ($14.99 from $24.99 until 3/22)
Stick It to The Man ($2.99 from $11.99 until 3/22)
The Tower of Beatrice ($3.29 from $5.99 until 3/22)
Werewolf Pinball ($1.49 from $2.99 until 3/22)
That’s all that’s good for today and this week, friends. I’m going to spend my weekend playing the heck out of Animal Crossing, and I imagine many of you are planning on the same. Feel free to do friend code exchanges in the comments or whatever. I will not call the police. I hope you all have a nice weekend, and as always, thanks for reading!
