Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for November 13th, 2020. Yes, it’s Friday the 13th. That may be bad luck for some, but for the Switch? This is a pretty good day. Two fairly major third-party releases, and the rest of the line-up is no slouch either. We’ve got summaries of all the new games, plus the latest sales that have rolled in since yesterday. Let’s go for it!
New Releases
Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory ($59.99)
SwitchArcade Highlight!
Heck yeah, new Theatrhythm! Okay, they’re not using that word in the title, but that’s just what this is. Featuring music from pretty much all of the Kingdom Hearts games, and some story stuff that will probably somehow be crucial to understanding the plot of the next mainline game in the series, Melody of Memory is a must-have for fans of Square Enix and Disney’s hit series. But even if you’re not interested in any of that, this is still a fantastic rhythm game with a large and surprisingly varied list of songs. It also has that one song from Frozen, which will be a dealmaker for some and a dealbreaker for others. That’s just how it is.
Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered ($49.99)
SwitchArcade Highlight!
Electronic Arts has descended from its throne high in the heavens to grace us lowly Switch owners with another morsel from its catalog. This time it’s a remaster of the rather excellent 2010 Criterion entry into the Need for Speed series. Not only do you get a spiffed-up version of Need for Speed Hot Pursuit, but also all of the DLC plus some additional updates. There’s support for cross-platform online multiplayer and the autolog feature is here in full effect. This is a great racing game from a developer who was at its height as far as the genre was concerned, so having it on the Switch is a treat. Mikhail will be doing a review of this one, so please look forward to that if you need more details.
Let’s Sing 2021 ($39.99)
SwitchArcade Highlight!
Yesterday, you danced. Today, you sing. Yub-nub, indeed. You get 30 songs and videos to sing along to in this one, including Billie Eilish’s Bad Guy, Panic! At the Disco’s High Hopes, Linkin Park’s Somewhere I Belong, and Seal’s Kiss From a Rose. Aw man, that one’s great. There’s even a Disney song in here: I Just Can’t Wait to Be King from The Lion King. Sing solo or with friends, play the new Pop Chicken mini-game, and try to climb the online leaderboards to become the ultimate singing champion. You don’t need a microphone as long as you have a smartphone, and if you feel the need for more songs there is a selection of DLC you can purchase. I’ll be reviewing this one, but as you might expect it really comes down to the list of songs and how well you like them.
Family Feud ($29.99)
Ubisoft adds another to its line-up of games based on American gameshows with this rendition of Family Feud. No Steve Harvey, unfortunately. He was probably too expensive. Instead you get some generic dude who probably won’t be making you laugh too much with his banter. Well, we’re here to play the game anyway, aren’t we? And so you shall, in four different game modes. Classic mode sets you against a computer AI in a traditional Family Feud-style set-up. Party Battle allows you to take on friends or family members in local co-op, while Couch vs Couch gives you the chance to play with others online. Finally, there’s a Live Show feature that apparently allows you to broadcast your game and play with viewers? Not sure how that works, but it’s right there in the description. The game does what it needs to pretty well, for what it is. You use a cursor to type the first couple of letters for your answer and it will suggest a bunch of words to auto-complete with. Really doesn’t feel the same without Steve, though.
Guitar ($9.99)
Aw heck, it’s Sabec. Back again with another overpriced toy app that barely holds up to the garbo you can download for free from the gutters of the App Store. Play an acoustic, classic, or electric guitar in one of three modes of play. Basically, expect something on the level with Sabec’s previous Piano game. Too simple to make any decent music on, and certainly a poor use of ten dollars. That is probably several delicious Snickers bars you could buy instead. Imagine how much happier you would be, sinking your teeth into that chewy nougat and soft caramel. Several times, even. Yeah. That’s the good stuff.
Vera Blanc: Full Moon ($4.99)
Ratalaika’s latest release is an adventure game about a woman with the ability to read minds. She travels to a mysterious town to try to solve a serial murder case. All of the clues point to a werewolf, which would be completely absurd if the hero of the story weren’t a psychic. You’ll have to make choices along the way, ultimately leading to one of two endings. There are also some mini-games that you can play. The game has a nice comic-book look to it that helps it stand out from the crowd in this particular genre. If you’ve got a sharp memory and have been gaming on an iPhone long enough, you might remember this game from its iOS release… ten years ago. Wowza. It’s still on the App Store, too. Well, do what you will.
Unhatched ($4.99)
Unhatched is a card game that feels inspired in some ways by Reigns and in other ways by something more substantial like Slay the Spire. There’s a story here, and each battle is set up like a puzzle to solve rather than a war of attrition between warring decks of randomly drawn cards. It’s okay, but I think I prefer playing it on mobile. If you feel differently, this is a fine enough version of the game and it’s only a couple of bucks more here than it is on the App Store. There are so many great card games out there these days, and this one falls just a bit short of the upper shelf. Still worth giving it a go, though.
Super Star Panda ($9.99)
Well, this is cute if nothing else. You play as a little flying space panda, rocketing around the stages collecting stars. You use thrusting controls similar to those in Asteroids to get around, and you need to be very careful that you don’t hit any hazards. There are a couple of power-ups that will help you out now and then. Not the fanciest thing around, and it feels more like a five-dollar game than a ten-dollar one, but it’s alright. A little frustrating here and there, but that’s what arcade-style games are usually about. I’ll give it extra points for the absurd idea of having a panda in space. Those things can’t even properly survive in their own habitat, let alone the merciless vacuum of space!
Apparition ($9.99)
This is a first-person horror adventure game, so we’re already out of my field of expertise. I’ve looked in on this game’s reviews on PC and it seems to be reasonably well-liked. You’re basically trying to track down and communicate with spirits in a haunted forest. You use a Spirit Board to contact them, like you’re in elementary school again or something. Stalk spirits, stay out of their sight, and use your camera and audio recorder to get evidence to prove their existence. You’ll get more tools as you go, but be careful. Ghosts may well be fine about talking with you, but they certainly don’t like being recorded. One careless slip and you may end up joining their ranks.
Suguru Nature ($9.99)
Another number-filling logic puzzle game, Suguru Nature has you filling in marked off areas with numbers, taking care that you don’t have two of the same numbers adjacent to one another in any direction. You get 90 puzzles to work through, all set against chill backdrops depicting a variety of natural locations. Some relaxing tunes hang in the background as you do your work. Its launch discount sees the price cut all the way down to two bucks, and it’s probably worth that if you like logic puzzles. For ten bucks? Eh, I’m not feeling it. I imagine this will be on sale pretty often in the future, though.
Bus Driver Simulator ($29.99)
Wow, Ultimate Games is really going for it at that price. Thirty bucks, hunh? That’s a fairly big ask for what appears to be another spin on the usual simulator wheel. Hop in the driver’s seat of various buses and travel around European cities and suburbs. You can upgrade your buses, and you’ll have to stop in at gas stations and garages along the way to keep things running well. Some weather and time of day changes will occur, and you’ll naturally need to navigate traffic in some less than ideal conditions at times. There are different scenarios to complete, or you can just roll around in Free Mode and try to build up your cash reserves. I might review this one if I have the patience. We’ll see.
Zombie Blast Crew ($9.99)
Yay, more zombies. If you’ve played another Qubic Games release called Space Pioneer, you’ll find the gameplay of this one very familiar. Instead of exploring strange alien worlds, you’re moving neighborhood by neighborhood, trying to take each zone back from the zombie hordes. Different characters have different abilities, and you’ll need to make good use of your crew to take back your town from the undead. It’s fine for what it is, so if you’re on the lookout for another zombie-themed strategic action game, you may want to look into picking this one up.
Grim Legends 3: The Dark City ($14.99)
Beep, beep, beep. The Artifex Mundi hidden object adventure truck is backing up once again to deliver another treat for fans of the genre. In this third game in the Grim Legends series, Sylvia and her master Solomon go on a journey to the city of Lichtenheim. They need to track down a thief who has stolen the powerful Incarceri Stone that binds an otherworldly creature. Safe to say things will go south pretty quickly if they can’t recover it. But who is the thief? And why did they take the stone? The answers may rock your world. Or at least entertain you as you poke your way through the puzzles. Not my kind of thing, but if we’re at the third game in the series it’s clearly popular with many.
Beat Me! ($12.99)
Hey, another party battling game. Okay, sure. I guess people are bored of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate now, right? Hm. Anyway, this one does let you battle people online, provided you can find anyone. There are a number of different characters to choose from, but they don’t seem to be very well balanced. Definitely some haves and have-nots in the line-up. I suppose the highlight is the large selection of stages, with more than 100 in total. Each one has different properties and gimmicks to liven things up. Oh, and you can play local multiplayer, which is probably the way to go if you’re going to play this. At least the price is good? Not sure if that will be enough for it to find an audience, though.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
Well the first thing you need to look at is sitting at the top of the list. Adult Swim Games decided to have a one-day sale on its games, so titles like Samurai Jack, Duck Game, and Battle Chef Brigade can be had cheaply if you act fast. Beyond that, you’ll want to have a look at ABZU, which is 90% off and an absurd value at that price. RPG fans should consider Legrand Legacy for two dollars. It’s not the greatest game, but for that price I think it will satisfy. In the outbox, you’d best get on those No More Heroes releases soon if you want them at a slight discount.
Select New Games on Sale
Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time ($27.99 from $39.99 until 11/14)
Pool Panic ($7.49 from $14.99 until 11/14)
Duck Game ($7.79 from $12.99 until 11/14)
Rise and Shine ($7.49 from $14.99 until 11/14)
Rain World ($9.99 from $19.99 until 11/14)
Battle Chef Brigade Deluxe ($9.99 from $19.99 until 11/14)
ABZU ($1.99 from $19.99 until 11/19)
Townsmen – A Kingdom Rebuilt ($4.99 from $19.99 until 11/19)
Skybolt Zack ($9.99 from $19.99 until 11/19)
Forest Guardian ($9.34 from $10.99 until 11/19)
Brawl Chess ($6.99 from $9.99 until 11/19)
while True: learn() ($9.48 from $12.99 until 11/19)
Metaverse Keeper ($13.49 from $14.99 until 11/20)
Yonder: Cloud Catcher Chronicles ($17.39 from $29.99 until 11/21)
Syberia 1 & 2 ($9.79 from $34.99 until 11/25)
Mega Party: Tootuff Adventure ($8.99 from $29.99 until 11/25)
Offroad Racing – BxAxM ($9.99 from $19.99 until 11/25)
My Universe: My Baby ($20.99 from $29.99 until 11/25)
Blacksad: Under the Skin ($19.99 from $49.99 until 11/25)
Silk ($3.89 from $12.99 until 11/26)
Gnomes Garden ($0.99 from $4.99 until 11/26)
Legrand Legacy: TotF ($1.99 from $19.99 until 11/26)
Time Carnage ($7.79 from $12.99 until 11/26)
Unepic ($2.99 from $9.99 until 11/26)
Close to the Sun ($13.74 from $24.99 until 11/27)
Tiny Troopers Joint Ops XL ($3.50 from $12.99 until 11/27)
This War of Mine: Complete ($9.99 from $39.99 until 11/30)
Go All Out! ($2.59 from $12.99 until 12/2)
Bridge Constructor: The Walking Dead ($13.49 from $14.99 until 12/2)
SpyHack ($4.99 from $9.99 until 12/2)
Mini Island Challenge Bundle ($4.99 from $9.99 until 12/2)
Ultimate Fishing Simulator ($13.39 from $19.99 until 12/2)
Solitaire Klondike Minimal ($1.99 from $3.99 until 12/2)
Bomber Fox ($3.34 from $4.99 until 12/2)
Hot Shot Burn ($10.04 from $14.99 until 12/2)
Towaga: Among Shadows ($3.74 from $14.99 until 12/2)
Seeds of Resilience ($3.49 from $13.99 until 12/2)
Pixboy ($2.49 from $4.99 until 12/2)
Pack Master ($2.49 from $4.99 until 12/2)
Masky ($2.49 from $4.99 until 12/2)
They Came From the Sky ($1.99 from $4.99 until 12/2)
Cooking Simulator ($1.99 from $19.99 until 12/2)
Factotum 90 ($3.99 from $7.99 until 12/2)
Tennis Open 2020 ($1.99 from $9.99 until 12/2)
Ultimate Ski Jumping 2020 ($1.99 from $9.99 until 12/2)
Wanderlust Travel Stories ($2.99 from $14.99 until 12/2)
Fred3ric ($1.99 from $9.99 until 12/2)
‘n Verlore Verstand ($2.09 from $13.99 until 12/2)
Tyd wag vir Niemand ($1.99 from $9.99 until 12/2)
Dustoff Heli Rescue 2 ($4.00 from $8.00 until 12/2)
Animated Jigsaws: Japan Scenery ($4.99 from $9.99 until 12/2)
SoccerDie: Cosmic Cup ($1.99 from $6.99 until 12/3)
Sales Ending This Weekend
Battle Chef Brigade Deluxe ($9.99 from $19.99 until 11/14)
Deuces Wild: Video Poker ($5.61 from $7.49 until 11/14)
Duck Game ($7.79 from $12.99 until 11/14)
Pool Panic ($7.49 from $14.99 until 11/14)
Rain World ($9.99 from $19.99 until 11/14)
Rise and Shine ($7.49 from $14.99 until 11/14)
Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time ($27.99 from $39.99 until 11/14)
Save Your Nuts ($7.49 from $14.99 until 11/14)
Adventure Llama ($1.99 from $2.49 until 11/15)
Airheart: Tales of Broken Wings ($3.59 from $17.99 until 11/15)
Aragami: Shadow ($14.99 from $29.99 until 11/15)
Bossgard ($15.99 from $19.99 until 11/15)
Dark Burial ($1.99 from $3.99 until 11/15)
Depixtion ($1.99 from $7.99 until 11/15)
No More Heroes ($17.99 from $19.99 until 11/15)
No More Heroes 2 ($17.99 from $19.99 until 11/15)
Retro Arcade Shooter – AfP ($1.99 from $5.99 until 11/15)
Sparklite ($12.49 from $24.99 until 11/15)
Stranded Sails ($12.49 from $24.99 until 11/15)
The House of Da Vinci 2 ($7.49 from $9.99 until 11/15)
Tower Inferno ($2.99 from $7.99 until 11/15)
That’s all for today and this week, friends. Next week is another big one, with the highlights being Sniper Elite 4 and Serious Sam Collection coming on Tuesday, Bridge Constructor: The Walking Dead on Thursday, and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity incoming on Friday. There are also some big updates coming for Super Mario 3D All-Stars and Bubble Bobble 4 Friends. And that’s just the stuff we know about! I hope you all have an excellent weekend, and as always, thanks for reading!
