Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for July 13th, 2020. We’ve got a big week of new games and updates ahead of us, but it all starts with a rather subdued Monday. I’m still working on my full review of CrossCode, but to hold you over we have a few Mini-Views to snack on. There’s a single new release to take a look at, though what exactly it is remains a bit unclear to me. Finally, the usual incoming and outgoing sales lists, which have a couple of interesting things to check out. Let’s ease into the week!
Mini-Views
Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 ($14.99)
Much like how Blaster Master Zero 2 felt like another helping of the successful and enjoyable Blaster Master Zero, so too does Curse of the Moon 2 feel like another ladle full of tasty classic Castlevania-style action. It’s an all-new adventure with new levels and bosses, and most importantly a trio of new playable characters to go along with the cast of the previous title. For all of that, this still feels very much like the first game. You get lots of neat level designs that can be approached in different ways with each character, some wild boss battles, and a great 8-bit aesthetic. The critical question, then, is really whether or not you want more of what you got last time. At least for me, the answer to that is a resounding “yes".
SwitchArcade Score: 4/5
Demon’s Rise – War for the Deep ($6.99)
In spite of a number of improvements in this port, Demon’s Rise is essentially just as it was in its mobile form. A little slow-paced, but quite satisfying. You assemble your party from a wide selection of characters both conventional and bizarre, then head into the dungeons for some well-done turn-based strategy. The competition in this genre is a lot stiffer on Switch, but Demon’s Rise counters that with an extremely reasonable price. It still feels very much like a game designed for touch controls, and the rather thin story will likely turn some players off. If you can muscle through the awkwardness and don’t mind a strategy RPG that leans hard into the mechanical side of things rather than the narrative end, you’ll likely enjoy what you get here.
SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5
Dongo Adventure ($0.99)
Yes, it’s only one dollar. Expectations need to be kept somewhat in check. But a dollar is still a dollar, and publisher QUByte actually has several reasonably good games available at that price point. Regrettably, Dongo Adventure is not one of them. It’s a very clunky platformer with really poor collision detection and an aesthetic that is all over the place. I can’t say I enjoyed any of the levels in the game at all, and that’s really saying something. There are lots of cheap games on the Switch eShop, and I think it’s less important to think about whether or not they’re worth the money and more about whether or not they’re worth your time. Dongo Adventure is not.
SwitchArcade Score: 1.5/5
New Releases
Lockstone ($5.00)
I can usually figure out the basic premise behind games even if I’m not given a chance to play them ahead of time, but in the case of Lockstone? You’ve got me. It’s definitely a puzzle game, it’s stage-based with more than 100 puzzles to solve, and there’s an actual narrative backing it. But what is the actual core mechanic behind those puzzles? The game’s description talks about it using established mechanics, but I’m not sure what other title it’s jumping off of. Well, I’m sure I’ll find out sooner or later. For now, I’ve said essentially all I can about this mysterious title.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
The most interesting sale in today’s new batch is for Deadly Premonition Origins. If you haven’t played it before and have an open mind for odd games, you’ll want to give it a shot. Other infrequent discounts include PONG Quest, Evoland Legendary Edition, and the recently-updated Rise: Race the Future. You may also want to check on Pizza Bar Tycoon, as the game is currently free if you own certain other Baltoro titles. Nothing too interesting in the outbox, but if you want to grab Superliminal before its launch sale is up, this is your last shot.
Select New Games on Sale
Deadly Premonition Origins ($14.99 from $29.99 until 7/27)
Moorhuhn Remake ($5.59 from $6.99 until 8/1)
Convoy: Tactical Roguelike ($11.24 from $14.99 until 7/19)
Duel Hand Disaster: Trackher ($4.99 from $9.99 until 7/13)
Safari Pinball ($1.49 from $2.99 until 7/30)
Adventure Pinball Bundle ($4.49 from $8.99 until 7/30)
Video Poker at Aces Casino ($3.99 from $7.99 until 7/24)
PONG Quest ($9.74 from $14.99 until 7/24)
WildTrax Racing ($5.99 from $7.99 until 7/30)
Food Truck – Asian Cuisine ($2.49 from $4.99 until 7/31)
Cubikolor ($4.49 from $8.99 until 7/25)
Varion ($2.49 from $4.99 until 7/25)
JumpHead: Battle4Fun! (4.49 from $8.99 until 7/25)
Served! ($2.99 from $5.99 until 7/25)
Tactical Mind ($0.49 from $2.99 until 7/20)
Tactical Mind 2 ($0.74 from $4.99 until 7/21)
Mad Carnage ($0.39 from $4.99 until 7/20)
FunBox Party ($0.39 from $1.99 until 7/20)
Doom & Destiny ($8.39 from $11.99 until 7/25)
Miner Warfare ($5.59 from $7.99 until 7/24)
Swaps & Traps ($0.39 from $8.99 until 7/20)
Atomic Heist ($0.79 from $7.99 until 7/21)
Island Maze ($1.49 from $2.99 until 7/20)
Pixel Gladiator ($1.49 from $6.99 until 7/20)
Pizza Bar Tycoon ($1.49 from $4.99 until 7/30)
Funny Bunny Adventures ($0.74 from $4.99 until 7/21)
ELEA: Paradigm Shift ($3.19 from $7.99 until 7/31)
Skull Rogue ($1.49 from $2.99 until 7/20)
Debtor ($0.47 from $2.99 until 7/21)
Carnage: Battle Arena ($7.49 from $14.99 until 7/24)
Bridge Strike ($3.98 from $6.99 until 7/21)
The Great Perhaps ($6.99 from $9.99 until 7/31)
Danger Mouse: Danger Games ($3.99 from $4.99 until 7/24)
Evoland Legendary ($9.99 from $19.99 until 7/21)
Rise: Race the Future ($11.54 from $16.49 until 8/1)
Northgard ($17.49 from $34.99 until 7/21)
Desktop Baseball ($5.04 from $7.20 until 7/31)
#womenUp, Super Puzzles Dream ($2.84 from $6.19 until 7/31)
Death Squared ($1.49 from $14.99 until 8/3)
Super One More Jump ($0.69 from $6.99 until 8/3)
Noir Chronicles: CoC ($1.49 from $14.99 until 8/3)
Golf Peaks ($1.49 from $4.99 until 8/3)
OTTTD ($0.79 from $7.99 until 8/3)
Assassin’s Creed III ($14.99 from $39.99 until 7/21)
Assassin’s Creed: Rebel Collection ($19.99 from $39.99 until 7/21)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, Tuesday, July 14th
64.0 ($1.49 from $2.99 until 7/14)
Airfield Mania ($0.99 from $5.99 until 7/14)
AngerForce: Reloaded ($6.99 from $9.99 until 7/14)
Candleman ($10.49 from $14.99 until 7/14)
Croc’s World ($0.99 from $4.99 until 7/14)
Farabel ($0.99 from $9.99 until 7/14)
Flood of Light ($2.49 from $4.99 until 7/14)
Genetic Disaster ($7.49 from $14.99 until 7/14)
Gerty ($10.39 from $12.99 until 7/14)
Heaven Dust ($5.59 from $7.99 until 7/14)
Jewel Fever 2 ($0.99 from $4.99 until 7/14)
Jewel Rotation ($0.99 from $5.99 until 7/14)
Pacific Wings ($0.99 from $4.99 until 7/14)
SELF ($4.89 from $6.99 until 7/14)
Spirit Roots ($1.99 from $6.99 until 7/14)
Sudoku Universe ($3.49 from $4.99 until 7/14)
Superliminal ($16.00 from $20.00 until 7/14)
Swarmriders ($0.49 from $1.99 until 7/14)
UNO ($2.99 from $9.99 until 7/14)
Water Balloon Mania ($0.99 from $4.99 until 7/14)
Wenjia ($5.59 from $7.99 until 7/14)
Yellow Fins ($0.99 from $4.99 until 7/14)
That’s all for today, friends. Tomorrow will see a few new releases including the latest from the nice folks at NIS America. We’ll also have whatever news and new sales that happen to pop up during the next 24 hours, and perhaps a review or two if I can get things sorted. I hope you all have a marvelous Monday, and as always, thanks for reading!
