Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for April 19th, 2021. In today’s article, we’ve got Mini-Views for three recent releases: TikiPod’s Astro Aqua Kitty, Crescent Moon and Ratalaika’s Ravensword: Shadowlands, and NISA’s Poison Control. We take a look at a handful of new releases as well, though it’s not a particularly impressive bunch. Things finish up with the usual lists of incoming and outgoing sales. Let’s get on with it!
Mini-Views
Astro Aqua Kitty ($14.99)
The original Aqua Kitty was an excellent homage to the classic Defender by Eugene Jarvis that added just enough to make it feel distinct. Astro Aqua Kitty takes things a lot farther, retaining the speed and multidirectional action of its predecessor while adding deeper mechanics and considerably larger levels. There’s a great deal of exploration involved in playing the game, which nicely complements the white-knuckle shooting action. It doesn’t go as far as being a Metroidvania or anything, but you’re going to have to poke around some fairly sprawling areas to complete the goals needed to move forward. As you look around, you’ll run into groups of enemies that will put your shooting and maneuvering skills to the test. As you battle enemies you’ll earn experience and level up, allowing you to build your strength as you see fit.
While this new approach costs the game some of the pick-up-and-play energy that the original game embodied so well, it gains in terms of being a denser, richer experience all around. It helps that the shooting action doesn’t miss a beat. You would think it would be harder to throw waves at the player in satisfying ways with this set-up, but a careful use of space, obstacles, and gated-off sections makes each battlefield enjoyable to deal with. The bosses also deliver, with some incredible challenges to overcome. And yes, it doesn’t hurt that the whole thing has a cat theme. If you’re interested in the idea of having arcade-style shoot-em-up action grafted onto a more expansive framework, you’ll probably want to give Astro Aqua Kitty a shot.
SwitchArcade Score: 4/5
Ravensword: Shadowlands ($6.99)
When Ravensword: Shadowlands hit the App Store back in December of 2012, it felt like pure magic. Here was an original iOS RPG from an independent publisher that sold for under ten bucks and felt like it was years ahead of its peers. No, it wasn’t as gorgeous or substantial as a proper Elder Scrolls game, but compared to other mobile games it was both jaw-dropping and rich in content. When I revisited the game in 2016 for the RPG Reload, I said that if the game had just come out in that year, it would have easily been considered one of the best on the platform. With five more years of water under the bridge and set into the ecosystem of a whole other platform, how does Ravensword: Shadowlands fare today? Surprisingly, not too bad, but it is certainly showing its age.
The good points? It’s still a lot of fun to bash your way through, defeating enemies and completing sub-quests as you build up your character. It’s still a great value, as its low price point gives it an advantage over many RPGs of similar quality on the Switch. It has been hit hardest in its visuals. Keep in mind that this is a fairly direct port. These models and textures were never meant to be seen on screens this large. And they do come off awfully rough. The physics and animation also look quite poor at times. Truly, this looks and sounds like a seven-dollar game in 2021. But it still plays well, and I found myself getting sucked into its simple pleasures once again. It may not be ahead of its time anymore, but there’s still something worth appreciating here.
SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5
Poison Control ($39.99)
Let’s get it out of the way immediately: Poison Control‘s gameplay mechanics aren’t particularly compelling. I’ve played worse third-person shooters, but this one is missing a lot of the niceties that have become standard in the genre and doesn’t give you much of note to compensate. You wander around bland stage layouts and shoot enemies while also using your other self to clean up the poison laying around. The character switching initially spices things up, but I got tired of it quickly. The visual theming of these levels is nice, at least. Each one is trying to pack in some meaning connected with the person you’re trying to help. I found this kept me going more than any of the action did.
The story fares far better. You wake up in the afterlife, and not in the good place. You quickly find yourself teamed up with a strange demon named Poisonette, who strikes a deal with you that could see you returned to the land of the living and her sent to Heaven. All you have to do is help remove the poison from the minds of various living humans who are going through some kind of problem. Some of these situations address very heavy topics, and I found myself at least somewhat intrigued at how each of them would resolve. The ongoing mystery of Poisonette and your own situation made for a compelling overarching plot, one good enough that I wanted to play through to the end in spite of the somewhat unimpressive mechanics.
SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5
New Releases
Archery Blast ($3.99)
Hey, Pix Arts. I don’t think you’re supposed to hold a bow like that. Oh, whatever. It’s not like this is an arche… oh, it is an archery game. Well, there you go. Pix Arts applies its usual quality sheen to the sport of archery and gets the expected result. Travel to different locations to practice your skills at aiming and shooting in more than 60 levels. Hit the targets, try to get a high score. A very basic shooting gallery experience that has some colorful visuals going for it and little else.
Get Ogre It ($11.99)
This is another roguelite, but it’s at least got a new idea or two. First of all, this is mostly about escaping rather than trying to fight. Second, your form will constantly change between that of a goblin and that of a human. Depending on which form you are in, some NPCs will be friendly and some will be hostile. A lot of game involves managing where you are when those form changes hit, because you won’t survive long if you get surrounded by enemies. Due to the nature of the experience it feels more like a puzzle game than a roguelite at times, but that’s probably better than doing the same old thing. Also, extra points for that title. I like it a lot.
Connect It! ($2.99)
Okay, this looks almost exactly like that Colorfall game that came out last Friday. Bizarre. So I’m guessing there’s some popular game that both of them are ripping off here, and I just don’t know what it is. This one comes from Piotr Skalski and is playable in handheld mode only, but ol’ Piotr has at least described the game better than Colorfall did. This is essentially Slitherlink/PathPix from a different perspective. You get more than 200 levels to play, which is probably more than you’ll ever want. On price, content, and description I suppose I’ll give the nod to this take over Colorfall.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
Still a few more games slipped onto the discount list over the weekend. 2K Games and Ubisoft rolled in with their usual selections of games, and while it’s hardly rare to see these titles on sale, the bulk of them are quite decent. Not you, WWE 2K18. Most of the games Limited Run has published digitally are on sale as well, in case you haven’t picked them up before. The Cook, Serve, Delicious! games are also worth picking up if you enjoy time management stuff. My cheap pick of the day is Super Skelemania, a short but enjoyable Metroidvania that you can grab right now for a mere two-and-a-half bucks. Do take a look at the outbox on your way through too.
Select New Games on Sale
Pancake Bar Tycoon ($2.49 from $4.99 until 4/23)
The Skylia Prophecy ($5.59 from $6.99 until 4/23)
Let’s Cook Together ($13.99 from $19.99 until 4/23)
Them Bombs! ($9.79 from $13.99 until 4/23)
Wide Ocean Big Jacket ($1.99 from $7.99 until 4/26)
Moon Hunters ($3.74 from $14.99 until 4/26)
The Shrouded Isle ($3.74 from $14.99 until 4/26)
WWE 2K18 ($19.79 from $59.99 until 4/26)
WWE 2K Battlegrounds ($15.99 from $39.99 until 4/26)
NBA 2K21 ($19.79 from $59.99 until 4/26)
PGA Tour 2K21 ($19.79 from $59.99 until 4/26)
XCOM 2 Collection ($14.99 from $49.99 until 4/26)
The Outer Worlds ($29.99 from $59.99 until 4/26)
BioShock: The Collection ($19.99 from $49.99 until 4/26)
BioShock Remastered ($7.99 from $19.99 until 4/26)
BioShock 2 Remastered ($7.99 from $19.99 until 4/26)
BioShock Infinite: Complete ($7.99 from $19.99 until 4/26)
Borderlands Legendary Collection ($19.99 from $49.99 until 4/26)
Borderlands GOTY Edition ($11.99 from $29.99 until 4/26)
Borderlands: Handsome Collection ($15.99 from $39.99 until 4/26)
NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 ($7.49 from $29.99 until 4/26)
Carnival Games ($9.99 from $39.99 until 4/26)
Sid Meier’s Civilization VI ($19.79 from $59.99 until 4/26)
Leisure Suit Larry: WDDD ($7.99 from $39.99 until 4/27)
Quench ($7.99 from $19.99 until 4/30)
Wuppo: Definitive ($6.99 from $14.99 until 4/30)
Golf Story ($7.49 from $14.99 until 4/30)
BFF or Die ($5.99 from $7.99 until 4/30)
Immortals Fenyx Rising ($29.99 from $59.99 until 5/1)
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World ($11.99 from $14.99 until 5/1)
Assassin’s Creed: Rebel Collection ($19.99 from $39.99 until 5/1)
Starlink: BfA Deluxe ($23.99 from $79.99 until 5/1)
Mario + Rabbids KB Gold ($19.99 from $79.99 until 5/1)
Just Dance 2021 ($19.99 from $49.99 until 5/1)
Family Feud ($14.99 from $29.99 until 5/1)
Cosmic Star Heroine ($5.99 from $14.99 until 5/1)
Cthulhu Saves Christmas ($3.99 from $9.99 until 5/1)
Saturday Morning RPG ($3.99 from $9.99 until 5/1)
Revenge of the Bird King ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/1)
Night Trap 25th Anniversary ($5.99 from $14.99 until 5/1)
Double Switch 25th Anniversary ($5.99 from $14.99 until 5/1)
Cook, Serve, Delicious 2 ($2.59 from $12.99 until 5/1)
Cook, Serve, Delicious 3 ($12.99 from $19.99 until 5/1)
Stab Stab Stab! ($3.99 from $9.99 until 5/2)
Immortal Planet ($5.99 from $14.99 until 5/2)
Tetsumo Party ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/2)
Thea: The Awakening ($7.19 from $17.99 until 5/2)
Steamburg ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/2)
Die for Valhalla! ($2.39 from $11.99 until 5/2)
Space Blast Zom A Matching Game ($1.99 from $7.99 until 5/3)
Animal Pals Bubble Pop ($3.99 from $7.99 until 5/3)
Yuppie Psycho: Executive ($8.33 from $16.66 until 5/3)
King Lucas ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/3)
Jump, Step, Step ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/3)
Captain Cat ($3.49 from $6.99 until 5/3)
Spell Casting: Purrfectly Portable ($4.99 from $9.99 until 5/3)
Super Skelemania ($2.49 from $4.99 until 5/3)
Path to Mnemosyne ($2.99 from $9.99 until 5/3)
Circuits ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/3)
Sweet Witches ($1.99 from $9.99 until 5/5)
Battle Princess Madelyn ($4.99 from $19.99 until 5/6)
Battle Princess Madelyn Royal ($3.74 from $14.99 until 5/6)
Deadly Days ($3.79 from $18.99 until 5/6)
Rock ‘N Racing Bundle 3 in 1 ($9.99 from $24.99 until 5/6)
Super Arcade Soccer 2021 ($6.40 from $8.00 until 5/6)
Tardy ($1.99 from $9.99 until 5/6)
Little Mouse’s Encyclopedia ($8.44 from $12.99 until 5/7)
Superola and the Lost Burgers ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/7)
The Way Remastered ($1.99 from $14.99 until 5/7)
Void Space Racing ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/7)
Earthworms ($1.99 from $7.99 until 5/7)
Driving World: Nordic Challenge ($8.99 from $11.99 until 5/7)
Heal: Console Edition ($5.59 from $6.99 until 5/7)
SlabWell: Kaktun’s Alpaca ($1.99 from $7.99 until 5/7)
Bob Help Them ($4.99 from $7.99 until 5/7)
Snowball Collections Bubble ($2.99 from $5.99 until 5/7)
Mars Power Industries ($1.99 from $3.99 until 5/7)
Crash Drive 2 ($1.99 from $8.99 until 5/7)
Marooners ($1.99 from $14.99 until 5/7)
BE-A Walker ($1.99 from $9.99 until 5/7)
Tank Battle Heroes ($3.99 from $7.99 until 5/7)
Top Speed: Drag & Fast Racing ($1.99 from $7.99 until 5/7)
Shakedown: Hawaii ($9.99 from $19.99 until 5/7)
Astro Bears ($1.99 from $6.99 until 5/7)
Speedway Racing ($3.99 from $9.99 until 5/7)
Dragon Pinball ($2.00 from $2.99 until 5/7)
Titans Pinball ($2.00 from $2.99 until 5/7)
Hamster Bob ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/7)
Unhatched ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/7)
Warplanes: WW1 Sky Aces ($6.99 from $9.99 until 5/7)
Rock ‘N Racing Bundle OR & GP ($5.99 from $19.99 until 5/8)
Crossbow: Bloodnight ($2.49 from $4.99 until 5/8)
Party Games 15 in 1 ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/9)
Slash Ninja ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/9)
Urban Street Fighting ($2.99 from $3.99 until 5/9)
Bubble Bubble Ocean ($2.99 from $4.99 until 5/9)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, Tuesday, April 20th
Agatha Knife ($5.99 from $11.99 until 4/20)
Ary & the Secret of Seasons ($19.99 from $39.99 until 4/20)
BATTLLOON ($3.49 from $6.99 until 4/20)
Bear With Me: Lost Robots ($1.99 from $4.99 until 4/20)
Beast Quest ($5.99 from $29.99 until 4/20)
Chiki-Chiki Boxy Racers ($4.99 from $9.99 until 4/20)
Colorful Colore ($1.99 from $2.99 until 4/20)
Deer Drive Legends ($3.99 from $19.99 until 4/20)
Degrees of Separation ($5.99 from $19.99 until 4/20)
Dogfight ($1.99 from $9.99 until 4/20)
Elemental Knights R ($2.00 from $8.64 until 4/20)
Fight ($1.99 from $9.99 until 4/20)
Guitar ($1.99 from $9.99 until 4/20)
Manticore: Galaxy on Fire ($3.99 from $19.99 until 4/20)
MechaNika ($2.99 from $5.99 until 4/20)
Metro 2033 Redux ($9.99 from $24.99 until 4/20)
Metro: Last Light Redux ($9.99 from $24.99 until 4/20)
Monkey Business ($1.99 from $9.99 until 4/20)
Necrosphere Deluxe ($3.99 from $7.99 until 4/20)
Night Vision ($1.99 from $9.99 until 4/20)
Ninjin: Clash of Carrots ($1.99 from $9.99 until 4/20)
Nordlicht ($2.59 from $3.99 until 4/20)
Override 2: Super Mech League ($19.49 from $29.99 until 4/20)
Override: Mech City Brawl ($14.99 from $29.99 until 4/20)
Remothered: Broken Porcelain ($14.99 from $29.99 until 4/20)
Rock of Ages 3: Make & Break ($9.89 from $29.99 until 4/20)
Skee-Ball ($2.49 from $4.99 until 4/20)
Skull Rogue ($1.99 from $2.99 until 4/20)
Skully ($8.99 from $29.99 until 4/20)
Soulblight ($3.74 from $14.99 until 4/20)
Survival ($1.99 from $9.99 until 4/20)
Tactical Mind ($1.99 from $2.99 until 4/20)
Teddy Gangs ($1.99 from $9.99 until 4/20)
The Midnight Sanctuary ($4.99 from $9.99 until 4/20)
Tiny Metal ($7.49 from $14.99 until 4/20)
Tokyo Dark: Remembrance ($9.99 from $19.99 until 4/20)
Trine 4: Nightmare Prince ($7.49 from $29.99 until 4/20)
Trine: Ultimate Collection ($14.99 from $49.99 until 4/20)
Troll and I ($2.99 from $29.99 until 4/20)
WeakWood Throne ($2.99 from $4.99 until 4/20)
That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with… something, I hope. There aren’t any new games on the schedule, so we may have to fall back on some review stuff if the news and sales don’t come through. We’ll have to see what happens. I hope you all have a fantastic Monday, and as always, thanks for reading!
