Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for May 15th, 2020. This ended up being a rather busier day than expected, with a few notable announcements, plenty of new releases, and a large list of sales. We’ve got all the details and summaries you’ve come to expect, so let’s cut to the chase and get right to the action!
News
‘Paper Mario: The Origami King’ Announced for July 17 Release
It’s always super-great when I submit the Round-Up, head home, and as I’m eating my dinner see some big announcement. Such was my evening last night, when Nintendo announced a new Paper Mario game completely out of nowhere. Titled Paper Mario: The Origami King, it sees Mario and friends taking on an entirely new and strangely terrifying threat. Everyone is arguing about how much RPG we can expect given the design of the last few games, but I’m just excited to be getting another game in this quirky series. We won’t have to wait long, either. The game is set to launch on July 17th for a price of $59.99.
‘Panel de Pon’, ‘Rygar’, and More Coming to SNES/NES Switch Online
It’s been a few months since the last update to the Nintendo Switch Online NES and Super NES apps, and frankly that’s a couple months too many given what’s been going on in the world. Well, Nintendo has finally announced another batch of games that will be hitting the service on May 20th. The Super NES app gets import title Panel de Pon (which some of you may know as Tetris Attack or Puzzle League), Wild West Cabal shooter Wild Guns, and the incredibly obscure overhead shooter Operation: Logic Bomb. The NES app gets but one new addition in the form of Tecmo’s early action-adventure game Rygar. Hey, that’s three great games and one weird decent one! Panel de Pon online? You bet I’m there.
‘SEGA AGES Thunder Force AC’ Arrives in the West on May 28th
As we reach the tail end of the announced SEGA AGES line-up, worldwide releases are following the Japanese launches pretty quickly. Thunder Force AC is the latest release and just hit Japan a couple of days ago. It’s been announced that the game will be releasing in the West on May 28th, just a couple weeks from now. Thunder Force AC is the rarely-seen arcade version of Thunder Force 3, the popular Genesis shoot-em-up from Technosoft. It makes a few changes, including some levels from Thunder Force 2 among other things. The game was ported to the Super NES back in the day as Thunder Spirits, but that wasn’t a terribly good version. This SEGA AGES release adds a new easy mode along with a few ships to choose from. I’ve been playing it for the last couple of days and it’s as cool as you’d expect from the Thunder Force series.
New Releases
Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Mega Mix ($39.39)
SwitchArcade Highlight!
The most popular vocaloid in the world brings her best-selling Project DIVA series to a Nintendo platform for the first time ever in Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Mega Mix. Serving as something of a greatest hits for the franchise, this rhythm game includes more than 100 songs sung by a variety of vocaloids. It’s the usual business of tapping buttons and moving sticks at the right time, but it’s got a ton of personality backing it. There are also lots of costumes and customizable bits you can unlock, including Space Channel 5, Virtua Fighter, Sonic, and Valkyria Chronicles costumes. Frankly it’s a bit silly how much content is packed in here, though whether or not you can properly enjoy it is going to depend heavily on how well you like this particular style of music. I’ve got a review for this one coming early next week if you need more to go on.
Shmup Collection ($14.99)
SwitchArcade Highlight!
This is a bundle of the three Astro Port shoot-em-ups that were released yesterday. That includes Satazius NEXT, Wolflame, and Armed 7 DX. If you buy them separately they cost seven bucks each, so this bundle is actually a pretty substantial discount. Almost a “buy two, get the third free" package. And since I recommended both Satazius NEXT and Wolflame yesterday, it’s safe to say I’d recommend spending the extra dollar for Armed 7 DX. As long as you can deal with having a game with ‘shmup’ in its name on your system, this is the way to go.
Dungeon of the Endless ($15.99)
SwitchArcade Highlight!
I was a pretty big fan of this one when it appeared on iPad a few years back, and it’s just as much fun to play on the Switch. This is an interesting hybrid of roguelite and tower defense, one that will keep you coming back and trying again and again. While it may seem a bit expensive compared to the mobile version, this Switch port includes a bunch of expansion content not found in the iPad port. If you enjoy gnawing on rogue-ish things, you’ll definitely want to add this game to your rotation.
Emma: Lost in Memories ($7.99)
Kind of an auto-running stage-based platformer where the main gimmick is that walls and platforms disappear when you touch them, Emma: Lost in Memories tries to use a stylish atmosphere to give some extra oomph to a fairly familiar core concept. It ends up working reasonably well, making for a pleasant and absorbing experience. I’m not sure I’d go so far as to call it a must-play, but if you like the look of it you’ll probably end up feeling good about the money and time you put into it.
Thy Sword ($9.99)
Ratalaika went looking for treasure again, and what it came out with this week isn’t too shabby. Thy Sword is a retro-style action game with a bit of platforming mixed in. You need to defeat enemies on single-screen stages, making use of your character’s strengths and skills to survive against the odds. It’s pretty fun once you get a handle on it, though I felt like the game ended just as it was getting cooking. Might be a good one to grab on sale, but ten dollars feels like a hair too much for what you get here.
The Eternal Castle Remastered ($14.99)
Well heck, that’s pulling at the ol’ nostalgia heart-strings. This game purports to be a remaster of a 1987 game, but that’s just part of the story. There is no original game. This is a brand-new cinematic platformer done up in the style of a CGA game, with lots of striking 2-bit color scenes and stupid deaths you can’t avoid without a lot of memorization. Well, that’s fine. I think anyone getting into a game of this genre knows what the score is ahead of time. Yeah, it’s banking on its style more than anything else, but the developers really did nail that aspect.
Piano ($9.99)
Sabec’s up to its usual business, taking app ideas that would probably struggle to get attention as free downloads on the App Store and selling them for a tenner on the Switch. This one is a piano app, giving you the choice between a mode that lets you play freely or a mode that teaches you to play a selection of simple public domain songs. And they have to be simple, because the piano in question only has eight keys. You, uh, won’t be playing many Beethoven songs on here, probably. I don’t know, I guess very young kids might be amused by it. But they’d be equally amused with one of the million free apps you can download on your mobile device. Save the ten bucks for nachos or something.
Kakuro Magic ($2.99)
If you like Sudoku and want something somewhat similar but a little different, you may be interested in Kakuro Magic. The idea here is that you need to fill in the spaces with numbers that ensure all of the rows and columns add up to the marked sums for each. There are 96 such puzzles here, with a variety of layouts that will keep your brain cooking nicely. They’re grouped into four different difficulty levels, with each one having its own visual theme. For a few bucks, it’s quite the good way to kill some time.
HardCube ($7.00)
Okay, this is yet another stab at the old Marble Madness concept where you need to guide an odd-shaped object through a very tricky series of obstacles and precarious paths. You’re even controlling a ball here, so all the old rules apply. The levels seem interesting enough, with plenty of gimmicks to keep things fresh. At the same time, it’s hard to get excited about another game like this at this point unless it brings in some cool new ideas. But you know, if you like this quirky sub-genre, seven bucks isn’t an egregious amount of money or anything.
The Elder Scrolls: Blades (Free)
Most of the readers of this site will probably be familiar with The Elder Scrolls: Blades, at least in a passing sense. This is the free-to-play RPG grinder that bolts some deeper mechanics onto a vaguely Infinity Blade-ish battle system. This Switch version is based on the latest updated build of the mobile version, and includes support for cross-play. I can’t imagine why anyone would want to play this on a platform that also has Skyrim on offer, but if you don’t have any money and have an itch for those Bethesda aesthetics, I suppose this will do the job.
Black Jack ($9.99)
I guess Sabec had to get some extra mileage out of that fancy table they modeled for their roulette game because here we are with another rather expensive bare-bones take on a well-traveled concept. You don’t get any extra options, just a straightforward game of Blackjack. Single-player only, and don’t expect any pretty graphics or anything like that. I wouldn’t bother, but it’s your ten bucks.
Arcade Archives Radical Radial ($7.99)
Wow, Hamster dug deep for this one. I mean, I think the company owns the Nichibutsu library outright, so I suppose if it to queue up some emergency releases, that’s where they would be drawn from. So here we are, with a re-issue of 1983’s Radical Radial, a weird shoot-em-up game where you play as a tire. Speed up, slow down, jump, and shoot your way through the game’s small selection of levels and marvel at the fact that something this utterly obscure is getting its fifteen minutes of fame in the modern day.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
We’ve got a very big list today, but in spite of its size it’s not quite as exciting as you might hope. Fans of story-based games will want to look into What Remains of Edith Finch, Kentucky Route Zero, and Telling Lies. Metroidvania lovers may want to give a look to Axiom Verge or Chasm, and if you want some short, sweet, stylish experiences be sure to have a look at Sayonara Wild Hearts or Florence. The weekend outbox doesn’t have a lot to wring your hands over, but you may want to take a look anyway.
Select New Games on Sale
What Remains of Edith Finch ($9.99 from $19.99 until 5/28)
Axiom Verge ($11.99 from $19.99 until 5/21)
Inversus Deluxe ($1.49 from $14.99 until 5/28)
Cartoon Network: Battle Crashers ($4.99 from $19.99 until 6/3)
Tallowmere ($2.79 from $6.99 until 5/28)
Star Ghost ($2.24 from $8.99 until 5/28)
Gorogoa ($7.49 from $14.99 until 5/28)
The Escapists: Complete ($2.99 from $14.99 until 5/24)
The Escapists 2 ($6.79 from $19.99 until 5/24)
Spot the Difference ($1.99 from $9.99 until 6/3)
Super Toy Cars ($3.99 from $9.99 until 6/1)
Spy Chameleon ($5.59 from $7.99 until 6/3)
Sumer ($11.99 from $14.99 until 5/31)
Animated Jigsaws: Japanese Scenery ($2.49 from $9.99 until 5/28)
Regalia: Of Men & Monarchs ($3.74 from $24.99 until 5/31)
Chasm ($11.99 from $19.99 until 5/21)
Trax – Build it Race it ($2.99 from $14.99 until 6/3)
Neverout ($0.99 from $7.49 until 6/3)
Ghost 1.0 ($3.99 from $9.99 until 5/28)
Final Light, The Prison ($1.39 from $6.99 until 6/3)
Cycle 28 ($1.39 from $6.99 until 5/21)
The Inner World ($2.99 from $11.99 until 6/3)
Soulblight ($5.24 from $14.99 until 6/3)
Rapala Fishing Pro Series ($4.99 from $19.99 until 6/3)
Big Buck Hunter Arcade ($4.99 from $19.99 until 6/3)
Nickelodeon Kart Racers ($11.99 from $29.99 until 6/3)
Sports Party ($4.99 from $39.99 until 5/19)
The Shapeshifting Detective ($7.79 from $12.99 until 5/28)
Ethan: Meteor Hunter ($1.99 from $9.99 until 5/28)
Inside My Radio ($1.99 from $9.99 until 5/28)
Sayonara Wild Hearts ($9.74 from $12.99 until 5/28)
Monster Energy Supercross 2 ($15.99 from $39.99 until 5/28)
History 2048 ($0.99 from $4.99 until 6/3)
Bargain Hunter ($7.49 from $12.49 until 5/22)
American Ninja Warrior: Challenge ($11.99 from $29.99 until 6/3)
Xtreme Club Racing ($1.97 from $9.89 until 6/3)
39 Days to Mars ($10.04 from $14.99 until 5/28)
Monkey Business ($1.99 from $9.99 until 6/3)
Forest Home ($2.99 from $14.99 until 5/28)
Zomb ($1.99 from $4.99 until 6/3)
A Ch’ti Bundle ($3.19 from $15.99 until 5/28)
Donut County ($6.49 from $12.99 until 5/28)
Goosebumps the Game ($4.99 from $19.99 until 6/3)
Tower of Babel ($1.19 from $5.99 until 6/3)
Fobia ($2.99 from $9.99 until 6/3)
Just Black Jack ($0.99 from $1.99 until 6/3)
Teddy Gangs ($1.99 from $9.99 until 6/3)
Zombieland: Double Tap ($13.99 from $39.99 until 6/3)
Miniature: Story Puzzle ($0.99 from $3.99 until 6/3)
The Jackbox Party Pack 5 ($17.99 from $29.99 until 5/28)
The Jackbox Party Pack 6 ($19.49 from $29.99 until 5/28)
Street Outlaws: The List ($13.99 from 39.99 until 6/3)
Tennis Go ($1.79 from $8.99 until 6/3)
Overlanders ($2.49 from $24.99 until 6/3)
Fractured Minds ($1.79 from $1.99 until 5/29)
Ashen ($23.99 from $39.99 until 5/28)
Adventures of Elena Temple: Definitive ($2.99 from $4.99 until 6/3)
Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition ($18.74 from $24.99 until 5/28)
Bridge Constructor Ultimate ($9.89 from $14.99 until 6/3)
Florence ($4.49 from $5.99 until 5/28)
Super Loop Drive ($0.59 from $3.99 until 6/3)
Slot ($1.99 from $9.99 until 6/3)
NecroWorm ($0.99 from $4.99 until 6/3)
Animal Fun for Toddlers & Kids ($5.94 from $6.99 until 6/3)
Telling Lies ($15.99 from $19.99 until 5/28)
realMyst: Masterpiece ($15.99 from $19.99 until 5/28)
The Wardrobe: Even Better ($9.99 from $19.99 until 5/29)
Sales Ending This Weekend
Battleship ($9.99 from $19.99 until 5/16)
Beholder 2 ($7.49 from $14.99 until 5/16)
Clue ($14.99 from $29.99 until 5/16)
Clumsy Rush ($1.29 from $4.99 until 5/16)
Deployment ($0.99 from $9.99 until 5/16)
Rolling Sky 2 ($10.39 from $12.99 until 5/16)
Shadow Blade Reload ($2.99 from $9.99 until 5/16)
Alteric ($0.99 from $4.99 until 5/17)
Battlesloths ($1.99 from $9.99 until 5/17)
Bring Them Home ($2.39 from $2.99 until 5/17)
Energy Cycle Edge ($1.49 from $4.99 until 5/17)
Horror Pinball Bundle ($4.49 from $8.99 until 5/17)
I, Zombie ($0.99 from $4.99 until 5/17)
Locomotion ($8.79 from $10.99 until 5/17)
Moorhuhn Remake ($5.59 from $6.99 until 5/17)
Moorhuhn Wanted ($5.59 from $6.99 until 5/17)
North ($1.19 from $2.99 until 5/17)
Old School Racer 2 ($0.79 from $7.99 until 5/17)
Seeders Puzzle Reboot ($0.03 from $9.99 until 5/17)
Sigi ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/17)
Soap Dodgem ($1.59 from $1.99 until 5/17)
Son of a Witch ($10.00 from $15.00 until 5/17)
Spiral Splatter ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/17)
State of Anarchy ($2.39 from $7.99 until 5/17)
Stellar Interface ($2.99 from $12.99 until 5/17)
Super Street: Racer ($19.99 from $39.99 until 5/17)
Touchdown Pinball ($1.50 from $2.99 until 5/17)
Watermelon Party ($0.10 from $4.99 until 5/17)
Where Are My Friends? ($1.01 from $5.99 until 5/17)
Windmill Kings ($2.00 from $10.00 until 5/17)
That’s all we’ve got for today and this week, friends. But hey, what a way to go out, eh? I think we’ve all got plenty to play and think about this weekend, so I’ll let you get to that. I hope you have a great one, and as always, thanks for reading!
