Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for March 8th, 2021. In today’s article, we’ve got a handful of Mini-Views for you to check out. There will be more in tomorrow’s article, along with at least one full-sized review. We also catch up with the new releases that hit over the weekend, with a summary of each so you know what to pick up (probably nothing) and what to avoid (hello Pix Arts!). We round things out with the usual lists of incoming and outgoing sales, today featuring some spiffy MAR10 Day discounts. Let’s a-go!
Mini-Views
PAKO Caravan ($7.99)
An amusing twist on the classic game Snake, PAKO Caravan has you trying to clear out a variety of goals on each level as the caravan of cars behind you stretches out further and further. With its refreshing visuals and extra goals, it certainly has something to offer over the vintage title it pays homage to. At the same time, the core appeal isn’t that different from that rather simple experience either. Button controls make this an easier affair to control over the mobile original, and that’s a good thing when you’re chasing down the tougher objectives. Ultimately, it’s a well-polished spin that is fun to pick up now and then for a few minutes, if not much more than that.
SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5
Super Metboy! ($9.99)
Quirky, cute, and fun. That’s how I would describe Super Met Boy!. While there are shades of other games in here, I don’t know that I’ve played anything with quite the same set-up. I enjoyed the gameplay mechanics, with each Met character having a different way of attacking that forces you to change your tactics even on familiar stages. The fact that you can’t attack with bobbing up into the air means you have to consider your position while trying to mount an offense, and when the screen gets thick with enemies that can be quite the challenge. The random power-up selection between stages makes each run a little different, and the meta-goal of unlocking more character and modification chips makes it all too easy to try again after you lose. Throw in a really attractive presentation, and you’ve got an excellent arcade-style game with a style all its own.
SwitchArcade Score: 4/5
Sir Lovelot ($9.99)
Sir Lovelot is a very pleasant game to play, following in the mold of things like Super Meat Boy, Celeste, and their ilk. Your goal on each stage is to collect the daisy and bring it to the princess in her tower. That will involve a whole lot of jumping, dashing, and wall-jumping around deadly obstacles that will kill you in a single hit. You can hit back against the enemies, and if you defeat them they’ll stay gone even if you die. Indeed, much of what you’ve done is preserved if you die, which makes this a much more forgiving game than the usual in this sub-genre. There’s a certain spice missing that keeps this from being genuinely great, but it’s an enjoyable enough romp for fans of challenging platformers.
SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5
Duel On Board ($7.99)
I can see what this game is going for, and it appears to achieve it. You might think it’s going to be a completely manic battle between the two characters, and it kind of is, but you have to be a little strategic with your actions. Your movements are tied to turns, in a sense. You need to move forward as reaching the center of the ship is the goal, but if the enemy shoots while you try to do that, you’ll get knocked back. So you have to quickly gauge what the opponent is going to do and then react appropriately. There are plenty of wrenches thrown in the works, of course, and while it is turn-based it plays out at a rather quick speed. A little too quick, I think. It makes it hard to strategize, and if you’re up against another human things often devolve into a slog that drags out for far too long. There are enough variations and alternate modes that if you find a like-minded friend you can get a good bit of mileage out of Duel On Board, and that’s nice. In the ocean of party games on the Switch, this isn’t a big drip but it’s not exactly a shower of joy either.
SwitchArcade Score: 3/5
New Releases
Noble Armada: Lost Worlds ($19.99)
On paper, this is a really neat game. It’s a real-time strategy game of sorts where you control a fleet of up to four ships in space battles. You play as one faction vying against four others, moving from planet to planet trying to increase your influence and control. Battles are slower-paced affairs, feeling more like boat battles than the zippy space fights seen in other games. It has great lore backing it, as it is set in a long-running and well-loved pen-and-paper RPG property. If you can get around the awkward controls and generally badly laid-out UI you’ll find a whole lot of content here, but it’s a big hurdle to overcome.
Animal Bomber ($4.99)
Piotr Skalski’s latest low-cost release is a pretty blatant knock-off of Hudson’s Bomberman. There doesn’t seem to be much added to the formula, and it’s single-player only so don’t expect any multiplayer shenanigans. On the positive side, there are more than 85 levels to play through here, so in terms of content it is certainly holding up its end of the deal. It comes off reasonably polished in terms of its visual presentation, too. Even if it isn’t terribly original, it will probably scratch the single-player Bomberman itch for those who have only five dollars to spend on such a fanciful whim.
Ace Strike ($3.99)
I guess for a Pix Arts game, this doesn’t look completely horrible. I’m sure it plays badly, but you know, it looks okay in screenshots. Baby steps. Fly in one of four helicopters and shoot at various targets to complete missions. You have both missiles and machine guns. I guess this is the Pix Arts take on Thunder Blade. I wouldn’t expect much in the way of content or quality, but if you don’t know that about this publisher by now, you haven’t been reading for very long.
Video Poker Collection ($9.95)
A relative no-frills assortment of 15 poker machines, presumably offering a number of variants on the gambling game. The presentation is about as plain as can be, and I can’t imagine you’ll find much here that you wouldn’t in any number of free mobile apps. Still, this does have an advantage over some of the other dubious video poker games on the Switch by virtue of having that assortment. I’ll stick to the slots in Dragon Quest 11, personally.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
It’s MAR10 Eve Eve, and Nintendo has already rolled out its associated sales to mark the occasion. Some great Mario games on offer, and at least one Luigi game. Apart from those titles, there’s nothing particularly exciting about today’s inbox. The outbox also isn’t terribly interesting today, but do have a look through both lists just to be sure your view lines up with mine.
Select New Games on Sale
Talisman: Digital ($13.99 from $19.99 until 3/12)
Coast Guard: Beach Rescue ($4.79 from $11.99 until 3/12)
Gas Station: Highway Services ($4.79 from $11.99 until 3/12)
Detective Driver: Miami Files ($4.79 from $11.99 until 3/12)
City Bus Driving Simulator ($4.79 from $11.99 until 3/12)
Western 1849 Reloaded ($3.99 from $7.99 until 3/13)
Treadnauts ($4.49 from $14.99 until 3/13)
Mario Tennis Aces ($38.99 from $59.99 until 3/14)
Super Mario Party ($38.99 from $59.99 until 3/14)
Super Mario Maker 2 ($38.99 from $59.99 until 3/14)
Luigi’s Mansion 3 ($38.99 from $59.99 until 3/14)
Mario & Sonic at the 2020 Olympics ($38.99 from $59.99 until 3/14)
Pixel Gladiator ($1.99 from $6.99 until 3/15)
Bubble Cats Rescue ($1.99 from $3.99 until 3/15)
Swaps and Traps ($1.99 from $8.99 until 3/15)
Solitaire Deluxe Bundle 3 in 1 ($1.99 from $14.99 until 3/15)
Aborigenus ($1.99 from $4.99 until 3/15)
Girabox ($1.99 from $2.49 until 3/15)
Tactical Mind 2 ($1.99 from $4.99 until 3/15)
Diabolic ($1.99 from $4.99 until 3/15)
Event Horizon: Space Defense ($1.99 from $6.99 until 3/15)
Funny Bunny Adventures ($1.99 from $4.99 until 3/16)
Rainswept ($2.99 from $9.99 until 3/18)
Lost Wing ($2.79 from $7.99 until 3/18)
Bonkies ($10.49 from $14.99 until 3/18)
The Bug Butcher ($3.19 from $7.99 until 3/18)
Inferno 2 ($1.99 from $4.99 until 3/18)
Batu Ta Batu ($1.99 from $4.99 until 3/18)
Back to Bed ($1.99 from $4.99 until 3/18)
Art Sqool ($6.49 from $12.99 until 3/18)
Dimension Drive ($2.59 from $12.99 until 3/18)
Lumini ($3.49 from $9.99 until 3/18)
Rally Road: Crashy Car Racing ($1.99 from $4.99 until 3/21)
Demetrios: BIG Cynical Adventure ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/22)
Xenon Valkyrie+ ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/22)
Riddled Corpses EX ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/22)
Archaica: Path of Light ($3.97 from $14.99 until 3/22)
The Great Perhaps ($4.49 from $9.99 until 3/22)
Spirit Roots ($2.44 from $6.99 until 3/22)
Yuoni: Rises ($8.99 from $12.99 until 3/22)
Sinner: Sacrifice for Redemption ($4.74 from $18.99 until 3/22)
Bridge Builder Adventure ($2.99 from $14.99 until 3/22)
Build a Bridge! ($2.99 from $14.99 until 3/22)
Funbox Party ($1.99 from $2.49 until 3/23)
Estranged: The Departure ($2.99 from $5.99 until 3/24)
Warp Shift ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/25)
Dreaming Sarah ($3.99 from $4.99 until 3/25)
Rock ‘N Racing Bundle: OR&R ($5.99 from $19.99 until 3/25)
Deadly Days ($4.74 from $18.99 until 3/26)
Leisure Suit Larry: WDDD ($7.99 from $19.99 until 3/26)
Dragon Pinball ($2.00 from $2.99 until 3/26)
Titans Pinball ($2.00 from $2.99 until 3/26)
Speedway Racing ($3.99 from $9.99 until 3/26)
Arcanoid Breakout ($2.49 from $4.99 until 3/26)
Ace Strike ($2.99 from $3.99 until 3/26)
Zombie Hill Race ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/26)
Warplanes WW1 Sky Aces ($6.99 from $9.99 until 3/26)
Down in Bermuda ($7.99 from $19.99 until 3/26)
Pancake Bar Tycoon ($3.49 from $4.99 until 3/26)
Restless Hero ($4.19 from $6.99 until 3/27)
Tauronos ($4.19 from $6.99 until 3/27)
Johnny Rocket ($2.99 from $4.99 until 3/27)
Soul Searching ($2.99 from $9.99 until 3/27)
EQQO ($2.00 from $6.00 until 3/27)
Infini ($3.60 from $12.00 until 3/27)
Journey of the Broken Circle ($4.80 from $8.00 until 3/27)
Rock ‘N Racing Bundle: OR&GP ($5.99 from $19.99 until 3/27)
America Wild Hunting ($2.99 from $3.99 until 3/27)
Sir Eatsalot ($6.49 from $12.99 until 3/28)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, Tuesday, March 9th
Ace Invaders ($4.99 from $9.99 until 3/9)
Ary & the Secret of Seasons ($19.99 from $39.99 until 3/9)
Bear With Me: Lost Robots ($1.99 from $4.99 until 3/9)
Beast Quest ($5.99 from $29.99 until 3/9)
Colorful Colore ($2.09 from $2.99 until 3/9)
Croc’s World 3 ($1.99 from $4.99 until 3/9)
Deer Drive Legends ($3.99 from $19.99 until 3/9)
Degrees of Separation ($5.99 from $19.99 until 3/9)
Gemini ($1.99 from $3.99 until 3/9)
Ninjin: Clash of Carrots ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/9)
Override 2: Super Mech League ($23.99 from $29.99 until 3/9)
Override: Mech City Brawl ($14.99 from $29.99 until 3/9)
Remothered: Broken Porcelain ($19.49 from $29.99 until 3/9)
Rock of Ages 3: Make & Break ($14.99 from $29.99 until 3/9)
Skull Rogue ($1.99 from $2.99 until 3/9)
Skully ($14.99 from $29.99 until 3/9)
Spider Solitaire ($1.99 from $8.99 until 3/9)
Tactical Mind ($1.99 from $2.99 until 3/9)
Trine 4: Nightmare Prince ($7.49 from $29.99 until 3/9)
Trine: Ultimate Collection ($14.99 from $49.99 until 3/9)
Troll and I ($2.99 from $29.99 until 3/9)
That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with more review content, along with whatever news and new sales that come along in the next day. There aren’t any new releases on the schedule apart from Apex Legends, but we’ll take a quick look at that along with any surprises that happen to show up. I hope you all have a magnificent Monday, and as always, thanks for reading!
