Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for June 2nd, 2020. Not much gaming news right now, perhaps understandably so. We do have one new release to check out, and there is a full review of WayForward’s Shantae and the Seven Sirens for you to peruse at your leisure. We’ve also got a surprisingly decent list of new sales to dig into, with the lowest prices we’ve seen yet on Capcom’s Resident Evil ports. Let’s get to it!
Reviews
Shantae & the Seven Sirens ($29.99)
I have a hot-and-cold relationship with the Shantae series. Heck, you could say that I have a similar relationship with the general output of its developer, WayForward. While the games always look and sound great, the actual gameplay tends to be love it or leave it for me. So I’ll briefly lay it all out for you up front in terms of my feelings about this series before we get started, in the hopes that it will help you decide how useful my words about this game are to you.
The first Shantae was a late Game Boy Color release and I, like many, missed out on it at launch. I did manage to play it before any further Shantae games came out, and I didn’t like it that much because of its somewhat rough controls. I played Risky’s Revenge on the Nintendo DSi when it launched, and while I liked that game better I wasn’t blown away by it. Again, slightly stiff controls were a culprit here, along with some level design principles I just couldn’t get fully on-board with. I played Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse on 3DS, and wow, I loved it. The controls felt better and the level designs and overall flow of the game were fantastic. Finally, I played Half-Genie Hero on the PlayStation Vita, even going as far as getting a physical copy. I don’t really care for the game as I feel like it tossed away too much of what worked in previous games and didn’t properly compensate for it.
Now that you know where I’m coming from, here’s what I have to say about Shantae and the Seven Sirens: I love it. I like it even better than Pirate’s Curse, which I suppose means it’s my favorite of the series. This is one of the tighter Metroidvania-style designs WayForward has done, and exploring its map feels like I’m finally playing the proper vision that was hinted at in some of the earlier games. The controls in the Shantae games have been quite good since Pirate’s Curse, so it’s no surprise they’re still excellent here. But they’ve been improved even further, making it easier than ever to make use of Shantae’s ever-growing set of abilities and skills.
A lot of the mechanics are business as usual for the series. Shantae has to run, jump, and hair-whip her way through an interconnected world, exploring dungeon areas and battling enemies. As you play, you’ll gain access to new abilities both through the new Fusion system and the traditional dances, allowing you to reach new areas and items that you couldn’t before. Gems dropped by enemies and hidden in pots can be exchanged for various items and upgrades, and you can expand your life meter by collecting well-hidden Heart Squids on your travels.
The new Fusion abilities are essentially quick-use transformations, so other than being more accessible they aren’t really game-changing. However, Shantae has taken a page from the book of some of the better Castlevania games by adding a new card system. Each enemy has a chance of dropping its card, and when you collect the required amount of them you can equip them to gain new abilities. You can only have three of them equipped at a time, so you have to make choices about which things are important to you. It feels a lot like the Soul System from Castlevania: Aria/Dawn of Sorrow, and I really enjoy it.
The map design follows along with the evolution we’ve seen in the series over the years, taking the smartly-designed, concise design philosophy seen in the last couple of games and applying it to a large-scale interconnected world. Boss battles are often impressive, though they suffer from the usual WayForward issue of being a bit too hit-spongey. The story is the usual irreverent stuff we’ve come to expect from the Shantae series and WayForward in general. It works, and it will probably make you smile now and then. It probably doesn’t need to be said, but the presentation is absolutely top-notch. This is the first game in the series that doesn’t have Jake Kaufman doing the soundtrack, and while his talent is missed, the new team has done as good a job as you could ask for in filling his shoes.
All in all, Shantae and the Seven Sirens is a real treat and a welcome return to form after what I firmly feel was a step back for the series. While I certainly wouldn’t blame anyone for opting to play the Apple Arcade version, for me Shantae always feels most at home on a Nintendo handheld. Wherever you opt to play it, you’re in for a pleasing Metroidvania treat with style to burn.
SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5
New Releases
Liberated ($19.99)
This is an atmospheric platform adventure about a world where truth and personal freedoms are dying under an oppressive authoritarian regime. You naturally join the revolution and do what you can to fight back. You play as a number of characters through various scenes filled with puzzles and quick-time events. Not really my cup of tea, but perhaps it’s yours. Though if it is yours, you should probably be aware that the Switch version isn’t the best way to experience it. There are some serious tech issues with the game, including low resolution and a wildly inconsistent framerate. I don’t know if other versions are better in that regard, but it’s enough of a problem with this one that it’s hard to recommend it.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
Lots of new stuff on sale today, especially for a Tuesday. The highlights here are the Resident Evil games, which after countless similar sales have finally hit some new low prices. Yes, it’s only a few bucks cheaper for each one, but that money can be funneled directly into delicious Snickers bars. Another great pick-up is Runner3, which is more than 90% off its usual price. The outbox is big but not exactly rolling around in high-quality stuff. You may want to have a close look at it anyway, just in case.
Select New Games on Sale
Snake Pass ($5.99 from $19.99 until 6/22)
The Flame in the Flood ($4.49 from $14.99 until 6/22)
Serial Cleaner ($1.49 from $14.99 until 6/22)
Woodle Tree Adventures ($0.99 from $4.99 until 6/15)
Woodle Tree 2: Deluxe ($6.49 from $12.99 until 6/15)
Stikbold! Dodgeball Adventure ($7.49 from $14.99 until 6/14)
Space Dave ($0.99 from $4.99 until 6/15)
Rogue Aces ($3.24 from $12.99 until 6/22)
Runner3 ($1.39 from $19.99 until 6/15)
Smoke & Sacrifice ($5.99 from $19.99 until 6/22)
Bomber Crew ($3.74 from $14.99 until 6/22)
Velocity 2X ($4.99 from $19.99 until 6/22)
Mitsurugi Kamui Hikae ($7.14 from $11.90 until 6/21)
American Fugitive ($7.99 from $19.99 until 6/22)
Hue ($4.99 from $9.99 until 6/22)
The Swindle ($3.74 from $14.99 until 6/22)
Screencheat: Unplugged ($2.59 from $12.99 until 6/21)
Beholder: Complete ($3.74 from $14.99 until 6/22)
Goat Simulator: The GOATY ($7.49 from $29.99 until 6/14)
When Ski Lifts Go Wrong ($1.49 from $14.99 until 6/22)
Pumped BMX Pro ($4.49 from $14.99 until 6/22)
Motorsport Manager ($7.49 from $14.99 until 6/22)
Sushi Time! ($0.49 from $4.99 until 6/22)
For The King ($12.49 from $24.99 until 6/22)
Resident Evil 0 ($12.89 from $29.99 until 6/17)
Resident Evil ($12.89 from $29.99 until 6/17)
Resident Evil 4 ($14.99 from $29.99 until 6/17)
Resident Evil 5 ($14.99 from $29.99 until 6/17)
Resident Evil 6 ($14.99 from $29.99 until 6/17)
Boxing Champs ($2.37 from $9.50 until 6/21)
Taimumari: Complete ($5.99 from $14.99 until 6/14)
In-Vert ($1.99 from $4.99 until 6/14)
Oliver’s Adventures in Fairyland ($2.79 from $6.99 until 6/14)
Chop is Dish ($1.20 from $3.00 until 6/14)
Narcos: Rise of Cartels ($14.99 from $29.99 until 6/22)
Rune Lord ($3.49 from $4.99 until 6/14)
Push the Box ($6.66 from $8.89 until 6/20)
SkyScrappers ($1.99 from $4.99 until 6/22)
Golf Peaks ($1.99 from $4.99 until 6/22)
Squidlit ($0.99 from $1.99 until 6/21)
Lanternium ($3.99 from $9.99 until 6/14)
A Knight’s Quest ($9.99 from $24.99 until 6/22)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, Wednesday, June 3rd
Adventures of Elena Temple: Definitive ($2.99 from $4.99 until 6/3)
Ailment ($6.79 from $7.99 until 6/3)
American Ninja Warrior: Challenge ($11.99 from $29.99 until 6/3)
Animal Fun for Toddlers & Kids ($5.94 from $6.99 until 6/3)
Animated Jigsaws Collection ($12.49 from $24.99 until 6/3)
Aquatic Adventure of the Last Human ($3.89 from $12.99 until 6/3)
Avenger Bird ($0.23 from $2.30 until 6/3)
AvoCuddle ($1.29 from $12.99 until 6/3)
Awesome Pea 2 ($3.99 from $4.99 until 6/3)
Big Buck Hunter Arcade ($4.99 from $19.99 until 6/3)
Billy Bomber ($0.50 from $5.00 until 6/3)
Black Paradox ($5.09 from $14.99 until 6/3)
Blacksad: Under the Skin ($19.99 from $49.99 until 6/3)
Blacksea Odyssey ($3.24 from $12.99 until 6/3)
Bleed ($3.59 from $11.99 until 6/3)
Bleed 2 ($4.49 from $14.99 until 6/3)
Bleed Complete Bundle ($4.19 from $27.99 until 6/3)
Blindy ($0.79 from $7.99 until 6/3)
Bohemian Killing ($2.79 from $7.99 until 6/3)
Bouncy Bob ($0.10 from $0.99 until 6/3)
Bouncy Bob 2 ($0.50 from $5.00 until 6/3)
Bridge Constructor Ultimate ($9.89 from $14.99 until 6/3)
Bug Academy ($4.54 from $12.99 until 6/3)
Bus Fix 2019 ($0.59 from $5.99 until 6/3)
Car Mechanic Manager ($0.39 from $3.99 until 6/3)
Car Mechanic Simulator Pocket ($1.99 from $19.99 until 6/3)
Car Trader ($0.39 from $3.99 until 6/3)
Cartoon Network: Battle Crashers ($4.99 from $19.99 until 6/3)
Catch a Duck ($0.49 from $4.99 until 6/3)
Chicken Assassin: Reloaded ($1.03 from $7.99 until 6/3)
Chicken Range ($4.99 from $9.99 until 6/3)
Chicken Rider ($0.39 from $3.99 until 6/3)
Contraptions ($4.99 from $9.99 until 6/3)
CopperBell ($2.44 from $6.99 until 6/3)
Crash Dummy ($4.99 from $9.99 until 6/3)
Darkest Hunter ($0.53 from $5.30 until 6/3)
Demolish & Build 2018 ($1.49 from $14.99 until 6/3)
Demon Pit ($4.99 from $9.99 until 6/3)
Don’t Die, Mr Robot! ($0.98 from $8.99 until 6/3)
Doubles Hard ($2.39 from $5.99 until 6/3)
Down to Hell ($0.99 from $9.99 until 6/3)
Epic Clicker Journey ($0.49 from $4.99 until 6/3)
Esport Manager ($0.79 from $7.99 until 6/3)
Fall of Light: Darkest ($4.49 from $14.99 until 6/3)
Final Light, The Prison ($1.39 from $6.99 until 6/3)
Fishing Adventure ($3.49 from $9.99 until 6/3)
Flashback ($0.99 from $19.99 until 6/3)
Fobia ($2.99 from $9.99 until 6/3)
Frost ($3.89 from $12.99 until 6/3)
Garage Mechanic Simulator ($0.69 from $6.99 until 6/3)
Gear.Club Unlimited ($4.99 from $14.99 until 6/3)
Gear.Club Unlimited 2 ($11.99 from $59.99 until 6/3)
Glass Masquerade ($3.59 from $11.99 until 6/3)
Glass Masquerade 2 ($8.03 from $11.99 until 6/3)
Godly Corp ($0.79 from $7.99 until 6/3)
GoFishing 3D ($1.49 from $14.99 until 6/3)
Golem Gates ($7.49 from $24.99 until 6/3)
Goosebumps the Game ($4.99 from $19.99 until 6/3)
Guess the Word ($0.18 from $1.89 until 6/3)
Gym Hero ($0.22 from $2.29 until 6/3)
Hacky Zack ($0.99 from $9.99 until 6/3)
Help Me Doctor ($2.79 from $7.99 until 6/3)
History 2048 ($0.99 from $4.99 until 6/3)
Horizon Shift ’81 ($4.99 from $9.99 until 6/3)
Horror Bundle Vol.1 ($6.09 from $30.49 until 6/3)
Hotel Dracula ($0.56 from $5.69 until 6/3)
I Wanna Fly ($0.24 from $2.42 until 6/3)
Incredible Adventures of Panda ($2.44 from $6.99 until 6/3)
INK ($1.34 from $8.99 until 6/3)
INK & Hacky Zack Bundle ($2.24 from $14.99 until 6/3)
Just Black Jack ($0.99 from $1.99 until 6/3)
Letter Quest Remastered ($2.99 from $11.99 until 6/3)
Little Shopping ($0.14 from $1.49 until 6/3)
Miniature: Story Puzzle ($0.99 from $3.99 until 6/3)
Monkey Business ($1.99 from $9.99 until 6/3)
Monster Slayers ($3.74 from $14.99 until 6/3)
Motorcycle Mechanic Simulator ($0.69 from $6.99 until 6/3)
NecroWorm ($0.99 from $4.99 until 6/3)
Nefarious ($4.49 from $14.99 until 6/3)
Neverout ($0.99 from $7.49 until 6/3)
Nickelodeon Kart Racers ($11.99 from $29.99 until 6/3)
Odallus: Dark Call ($4.07 from $11.99 until 6/3)
Omega Strike ($4.49 from $14.99 until 6/3)
Oniken & Odallus Bundle ($4.99 from $19.99 until 6/3)
Oniken: Unstoppable ($3.39 from $9.99 until 6/3)
Otherworldly ($0.69 from $6.99 until 6/3)
Overlanders ($2.49 from $24.99 until 6/3)
Paranautical Activity ($1.03 from $7.99 until 6/3)
Pet Care ($0.14 from $1.49 until 6/3)
Pipe Push Paradise ($3.73 from $10.99 until 6/3)
Please the Gods ($3.49 from $9.99 until 6/3)
Pooplers ($3.14 from $8.99 until 6/3)
Rapala Fishing Pro Series ($4.99 from $19.99 until 6/3)
Redneck Skeet Shooting ($0.49 from $4.99 until 6/3)
Repressed ($2.79 from $7.99 until 6/3)
Reverse Crawl ($4.41 from $12.99 until 6/3)
RMX Real Motocross ($2.44 from $6.99 until 6/3)
Robot Squad Simulator ($1.49 from $14.99 until 6/3)
Scrap ($0.49 from $4.99 until 6/3)
Selma and the Wisp ($0.99 from $9.99 until 6/3)
Shadows ($0.79 from $7.99 until 6/3)
Shadows 2: Perfidia ($0.79 from $7.99 until 6/3)
Shikhondo – Soul Eater ($4.19 from $13.99 until 6/3)
Ships ($1.39 from $13.99 until 6/3)
Skelly Selest ($3.39 from $9.99 until 6/3)
Ski Sniper ($0.49 from $4.99 until 6/3)
Slain: Back From Hell ($3.99 from $19.99 until 6/3)
Slayaway Camp ($2.99 from $14.99 until 6/3)
Slot ($1.99 from $9.99 until 6/3)
Snakeybus ($8.99 from $11.99 until 6/3)
Soulblight ($5.24 from $14.99 until 6/3)
Spectrum ($2.39 from $11.99 until 6/3)
Spot the Difference ($1.99 from $9.99 until 6/3)
Spy Chameleon ($5.59 from $7.99 until 6/3)
Straimium Immortaly ($5.99 from $11.99 until 6/3)
Street Outlaws: The List ($13.99 from 39.99 until 6/3)
Super Blood Hockey ($5.09 from $14.99 until 6/3)
Super Loop Drive ($0.59 from $3.99 until 6/3)
Super Tennis ($2.09 from $5.99 until 6/3)
Tamashii ($5.99 from $11.99 until 6/3)
Technosphere ($1.49 from $14.99 until 6/3)
Teddy Gangs ($1.99 from $9.99 until 6/3)
Tennis Go ($1.79 from $8.99 until 6/3)
The Inner World ($2.99 from $11.99 until 6/3)
The Mims Beginning ($0.89 from $8.99 until 6/3)
Theatre Tales ($0.14 from $1.49 until 6/3)
Three Fourths Home: Extended ($0.98 from $8.99 until 6/3)
Tower of Babel ($1.19 from $5.99 until 6/3)
Trax – Build it Race it ($2.99 from $14.99 until 6/3)
Ultra Off-Road 2019: Alaska ($1.89 from $18.99 until 6/3)
Uncanny Valley ($2.49 from $9.99 until 6/3)
Underhero ($10.19 from $16.99 until 6/3)
Unexplored ($4.50 from $15.00 until 6/3)
Valfaris ($14.49 from $24.99 until 6/3)
Vegas Party ($10.99 from $21.99 until 6/3)
Verlet Swing ($5.09 from $14.99 until 6/3)
Vertical Drop Heroes HD ($1.99 from $9.99 until 6/3)
Worlds of Magic: Planar Conquest ($5.94 from $16.99 until 6/3)
XenoRaptor ($7.49 from $14.99 until 6/3)
Xtreme Club Racing ($1.97 from $9.89 until 6/3)
Zomb ($1.99 from $4.99 until 6/3)
Zombieland: Double Tap ($13.99 from $39.99 until 6/3)
1979 Revolution ($3.59 from $11.99 until 6/3)
That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with a look at one or two new releases, and I’m sure we’ll finally have some news to discuss as well. Perhaps some good new sales will also crop up. I hope you all have a decent Tuesday, and as always, thanks for reading!
