Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for May 28th, 2020. As promised, today’s article is almost entirely dedicated to the many notable new releases hitting the eShop today. Not much in the way of news right now beyond the Japanese release date for Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles and Onion Games announcing a new Switch game called Mon Amour, so I guess we at least picked a good day for all of this. Sales aren’t super-exciting at the time of writing, but those are also naturally included here. Let’s see what’s new!
New Releases
Shantae & the Seven Sirens ($29.99)
SwitchArcade Highlight!
Well hey, I’m pretty sure we all know Shantae, right? She’s the half-genie hero who has survived by the skin of her teeth through some frankly ridiculous circumstances, and I’m not even talking about the events in the games. Her latest outing has been available in part and as a whole on Apple Arcade for a while now, but if you want to play the new Shantae on a Nintendo handheld AS THE HEAVENS INTENDED, you can now do that. I’ll have a review of this one ready early next week, but it’s safe to say that if you’ve enjoyed previous Shantae games, you’ll like this one too. It’s a keeper, which is why I’m willing to go for this version over the Apple Arcade one. But if you want to play it there, that’s fine too.
Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling ($24.99)
SwitchArcade Highlight!
Guess what: you’re probably never going to see a Mario & Luigi game on the Switch, and it’s very possible you’ll never see a game in that series again. That is some sad news, right there. But if you want something that plays a lot like those games, you’re going to want Bug Fables. This RPG has a similar narrative tone, familiar timing-based battles, and a lot of the same feel that comes from exploring the weird worlds seen in those titles. It’s also a pretty darned good RPG in its own right. Yeah, Xenoblade Chronicles is hitting real soon, but if you want to zig while others zag you won’t regret grabbing Bug Fables.
Synaptic Drive ($29.99)
SwitchArcade Highlight!
Hmmm. You know, I really want to believe in this. This is the latest from the creator of the Custom Robo series, a person who definitely knows what he’s doing with regards to 3D shooting games. This is a multiplayer-focused title, so I wouldn’t really pick it up if you don’t mean to hop online with it. Anyway, as you might expect from the pedigree of the creator, you can customize your character with 10 different body types and over 100 different weapon types to create your own unique combination of skills. If you have fond memories of Custom Robo, you’ll definitely want to give this one a look. Otherwise, it might be best to wait for reviews.
Arcade Archives Crazy Climber 2 ($7.99)
The brief shutdown of Japan’s ratings organization appears to have had an interesting effect on Hamster’s weekly Arcade Archives releases. We’ve seen three weeks in a row of Hamster digging into its “rainy day" supply of Nichibutsu games. This one is a little better than the last one, at least. Crazy Climber 2 is the rarely-seen 1988 follow-up to the classic climbing experience. The setting this time is the United States of America, which is funny as this game was never released outside of Japan back in the day. Anyway, climb up buildings while all kinds of wild characters throw everything and the kitchen sink at you, trying to knock you off. You get the usual Arcade Archives options and features, so if you want to do some climbing know that you’ll be doing it in style.
Hill Climbing Mania ($6.00)
Well, who doesn’t like a little of the ol’ hill climbing now and then? And if we can assume that hill climbing is an activity that many can enjoy a little, surely it is also an activity that a few enjoy a lot. A fewer number of that few may indeed enjoy hill climbing to an unhealthy extent, developing what someone with more fancy degrees than mine might call Hill Climbing Mania. Wow, I think I put more effort into that preamble than the developers of this game did into their design. You’ve seen lots of games like this before, especially on the App Store. Apply the gas and brakes at appropriate times to climb and descend hilly terrain while collecting coins you can exchange for scarcely-disguised copyright violations. Repeat until you find literally anything better and more enjoyable to do, like washing the dishes.
Resolutiion ($19.99)
No, that’s not a typo. I think the second ‘i‘ is for ‘imitation is the sincerest form of flattery‘ because this sure looks a heck of a lot like Hyper Light Drifter. It’s darker and more sinister and all that stuff, but yeah. I don’t have a whole ton to say about this one. It’s clear what it’s paying homage to and while it isn’t quite on the same level as the object of its admiration, those that enjoyed Hyper Light Drifter enough to want more like it will probably find something to like in Resolutiion.
F-117A Stealth Fighter ($4.99)
Uhh, did a 1992 NES flight simulator from MicroProse just drop on the eShop? Because it sure looks like that’s what happened. In the late 1980s/early 1990s people were obsessed with the Stealth Fighter. It looked and sounded like something out of science-fiction. So it showed up in a heck of a lot of games, some very arcade-like and others more realistic. This falls more on the simulation end of things, coming after the aircraft was declassified. This version wasn’t exactly a big hit in its day, and I’m not sure if it’s much more than a novelty in 2020. I suppose if it is, it’s at the very least a low-priced novelty.
Let’s Sing 2020 ($44.99)
From the people that brought you Let’s Sing 2018, Let’s Sing 2019, and Let’s Sing Country comes Let’s Sing 2020. Nothing really new under the sun here, but the Let’s Sing formula works just fine as it is so I’m not sure what they even could add. You’ve got some new music, a new Party Mode, and all the stuff you enjoyed in previous versions like being able to use your mobile device as a mic or singing with other players. You get 30 songs in the base pack, and as you would expect there is a healthy selection of additional songs available as paid DLC.
Atomicrops ($14.99)
This game describes itself as an action-packed roguelike farming simulator. It seems to combine elements from Stardew Valley and your average twin-stick shooter. Plant your crops, tend to them, and when night falls, get ready to spit hot lead defending them. You can even romance other characters, as is the style in farming sims. Of course, if you die you’ll have to start again from scratch. That’s how it goes. It’s an odd mix that doesn’t work quite as well as you would hope, but I could see some people enjoying its unusual flavor.
Game Tengoku CrusinMix Special ($29.99)
Almost 25 years ago when Jaleco was running on fumes, the company released a fun vertical arcade cute-em-up featuring a number of its characters. Two years after that, the game was ported in enhanced form to the SEGA Saturn. That version was souped up and released by the current holders of Jaleco’s IP, City Connection, and has now been brought to the Switch worldwide. The playable cast features representatives from Formation Z, Exerion, City Connection (the game), Bases Loaded, and Toaplan’s Tatsujin/Truxton. If those names aren’t all familiar to you, well, that’s Jaleco for you. It’s a solid shooter and I expect hardcore fans of the genre won’t need their arms twisted to pick this up. For those less dedicated, this may not quite be worth the price it’s asking.
SEGA AGES Thunder Force AC ($7.99)
I mean, for example: you could spend eight dollars and get this instead. The latest and second-last of the announced Switch SEGA AGES line-up, Thunder Force AC is a horizontal arcade shoot-em-up that was based on the SEGA Genesis Thunder Force 3. It was badly ported at one point to the Super NES under the title Thunder Spirits, but this is your first chance to own the proper game at home. It shares a lot with the Genesis game, but includes some different levels and a few other minor changes to the gameplay. This SEGA AGES version also includes some unlockable alternate ships, lending the game an extra bit of flavor. Kids Mode ensures players of any skill can see their way through the game. It’s a good shooter at a good price, and a solid entry into SEGA AGES.
Fly Punch Boom! ($14.99)
Inspired by the kinds of mid-air over-the-top battles seen in animated TV shows and comic books like Dragon Ball Z, Fly Punch Boom! is a wild arena fighter for up to four players. You can play it locally or online, but the online mode is limited to two players. Anyway, you’ve got zany characters, destructible stages, fatalities, and lots of unlockable goodies to find. I liked what I played of this with the PC beta, so I feel comfortable recommending this to people looking for their next competitive party game. It’s really dumb in all the right ways.
Turmoil ($14.99)
Turmoil is a fairly easy-to-grasp strategic management game where you have to locate oil fields, develop them, and earn massive profits which you then sink back into the business. It’s a bit on the simple side, but that’s part of what makes it hard to put down. This Switch version includes the extra DLC campaign and an expert mode that might satisfy those looking for something with a bit more teeth to it. It’s a little bit more expensive here than it is on Steam, but not egregiously so. If you like losing yourself for a few days in a low-friction sim, you’ll probably like Turmoil.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
As usual, there isn’t a whole ton going on as I’m writing this article in terms of sales. Moonlighter has been on sale pretty often in recent months, but with new content on the way I suppose it’s as good a time as any to buy in on it. Similarly, the outbox is also quite light on quantity. It’s your last chance to get in on Fury Unleashed‘s launch sale, if nothing else.
Select New Games on Sale
Moonlighter ($9.99 from $24.99 until 6/14)
Ailment ($6.79 from $7.99 until 6/3)
Death Squared ($3.89 from $14.99 until 6/9)
Super One More Jump ($1.99 from $7.00 until 6/9)
Superola & Lost Burgers ($1.99 from $4.99 until 6/16)
Dexteritrip ($1.99 from $6.99 until 6/16)
Monster Boy & Cursed Kingdom ($17.99 from $39.99 until 6/18)
Blue Rider ($3.99 from $9.99 until 6/18)
SlabWell: Kaktun’s Alpaca ($1.99 from $7.99 until 6/16)
OTTTD ($1.99 from $7.99 until 6/9)
Habroxia ($3.19 from $7.99 until 6/18)
Soul Searching ($1.99 from $9.99 until 6/18)
Lydia ($2.00 from $4.00 until 6/18)
Refreshing Sideways Hammer ($22.39 from $27.99 until 6/18)
EQQO ($2.00 from $6.00 until 6/18)
Project Starship ($3.49 from $4.99 until 6/18)
Red Death ($3.49 from $4.99 until 6/18)
Null Drifter ($3.49 from $4.99 until 6/18)
Kawaii Deathu Desu ($3.99 from $4.99 until 6/18)
Many Faces ($3.99 from $4.99 until 6/18)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, Friday, May 29th
A Duel Hand Disaster: Trackher ($0.09 from $9.99 until 5/29)
Battojutsu ($3.99 from $4.99 until 5/29)
Dark Burial ($1.99 from $3.99 until 5/29)
Fractured Minds ($1.79 from $1.99 until 5/29)
Fury Unleashed ($17.99 from $19.99 until 5/29)
Gravity Rider Zero ($4.89 from $6.99 until 5/29)
Hexologic ($1.49 from $2.99 until 5/29)
Hyper Sentinel ($0.15 from $7.99 until 5/29)
Jet Ski Rush ($1.99 from $3.99 until 5/29)
Madorica Real Estate ($9.90 from $14.99 until 5/29)
Red Wings: Aces of the Sky ($17.99 from $19.99 until 5/29)
Samsara: Deluxe ($4.99 from $9.99 until 5/29)
The Wardrobe: Even Better ($9.99 from $19.99 until 5/29)
UNI ($0.49 from $4.99 until 5/29)
That’s all for today, friends. Tomorrow has even more games hitting the eShop, with somewhere near 20 games on the schedule. We’ve got Bioshocks! Borderlandses! Xenoblade Chronicles! XCOM 2! It’s a lot, and I don’t just mean in sheer gigabytes. Though, it is certainly a lot in gigabytes. You’re probably going to need a bigger memory card. Anyway, I hope you all have an excellent Thursday, and as always, thanks for reading!
