News

SwitchArcade Round-Up: ‘Asha in Monster World’ Release Date, ‘Boris the Rocket’ and Today’s Other New Releases and Sales

Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for May 5th, 2021. In today’s article, we’ve got a couple of news bits to check out before we fly right into the new releases for the day. Wednesdays aren’t usually too stacked for new games, but we’ve got six to check out. Beyond those summaries, we’ve got the usual lists of incoming and outgoing sales to look at. Let’s get on with it!

News

‘Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World’ Arrives in the West on May 28th

Monster World IV is one of my favorite games on the SEGA Genesis. I think it’s nearly perfect as-is, and served as a great way to close the book on the Monster World series for a couple of decades. That’s why I was a bit terrified when I heard that it was being remade as a 2.5D game, even with the original developers involved. Juggling the potential gains with the potential losses just made it look very risky to me. When the game hit shelves in Japan a few weeks ago, I picked it up anyway. And you know what? It’s fine. Still cute and charming, with a few little improvements outside of the obvious visual changes. It’s a nice way to experience a great game. You’ll get your chance to check for yourself when the game arrives in the West on May 28th. We’ll have a full review of the game after it’s out.

Sing and Dance in the Next ‘Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’ Event

It’s Wednesday, and as usual we’ve got the announcement of a new event for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. It’s a Spirit Board event, and it’s all about characters who sing and dance. No amateurs, either. It’s the ones who can do it well. Participate in the event and you’ll earn more snacks than usual. As it always does, the event kicks off on Friday. It’ll run for three days through the weekend, so get in there and show off your talent. Or I guess beat up the talent? I’m not sure exactly how to frame it.

New Releases

Boris the Rocket ($14.99)

You play as a Soviet missile operator during the Cold War in this unusual strategy/survival game. You’ll have to withstand the extreme cold and the occasional visit from bears, as one does in the north. If you get too stressed, relax with a delicious cup of condensed milk. Protect your homeland by shooting down all of the incoming rockets, and when you run out of missiles do what you can to put together more. You’re the only one manning the base, so you’ll have to hoof it to make sure everything gets done. Reviews on this one have been pretty favorable on other platforms, so if the concept sounds cool to you, by all means.

Infernal Radiation ($8.99)

This game is set in a place called Halloween Island where heat is generated by a special reactor that draws power from burning souls in hell. Well, I can’t imagine anything going wrong with that. Oh, it did. I see. An accident causes infernal radiation to contaminate the island, and it will take a special kind of exorcist to clean it up. It seems to be some kind of blend between a clicker and a rhythm game? With RPG elements? The response to the PC version seems to have been okay, but I don’t know. It’s just not speaking to me. Maybe you feel differently.

Dull Grey ($4.99)

This is a visual novel from the folks at Provodnik Games, who we last saw on iOS with Railways of Love. I can’t say too much about this one, but their previous game showed a lot of promise and seeing that this one has already scored a couple of awards I’m looking forward to digging into it. It’s apparently a story about growing up and the search for happiness in a somber world. And it’s only five bucks, which isn’t too shabby. If you’re looking for a visual novel that steps off the usual trails, this might be of interest. I’ll have a review of it next week.

Highway Haste ($19.99)

Piotr Skalski, you’ve gone completely mad. This exact same game launched on mobile two weeks ago for ninety-nine dingly-doo cents. That’s not “ninety-nine cents plus horrifying IAPs" or anything. It’s ninety-nine cents, full stop. Twenty dollars, Piotr? Really? You know, if this was cheap it might be amusing diversion. You get fifteen cars to choose from, six levels that sometimes look a bit nice, and even a cool inside-the-car view. But it’s not cheap, is it? You can get Horizon Chase Turbo for the same price. It’s not too far away from Burnout Paradise Remastered, even.

Save me Mr Tako: Definitive Edition ($14.99)

I enjoyed Save me Mr Tako in its original form well enough, but it definitely was a game in need of a bit of polishing. Unfortunately, the original publisher decided it wasn’t interested in paying for patches even though the developer wanted to do them. There was some drama, and the upshot is that the original version was delisted by the old publisher and this new, updated version has been made available through a new one. It includes new difficulty modes, a lot of balance changes, a new hint system, an auto palette option, a new sound test mode, some border images, and more added content and quality of life improvements. Unfortunately, the nature of what went down means you’ll have to buy the game again to get these improvements.

2in1 – Application Driver and Serial Killer/Sniper ($4.99)

As it says in the title, you get two games here for your fiver. The first, Application Driver, sees you as some sort of wild for-hire driver. Pick up your passengers and get them where they want to go as fast as possible, even if you have to roll over a few pedestrians to do it. The other game is Serial Killer/Sniper, and it seems to be a fairly straightforward sniping game. You’re positioned at the top of a building and you’re just sort of trying to kill whoever you can because you’ve snapped. Something like that. Both games seem like simple joys at best, but I suppose the price is competitive.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

Pretty much nothing but the usual suspects today, but there are some good ones in there. The Mega Man games are on sale again, as are the Trine games. Explosive Dinosaurs continues to have one of the best game titles going. There’s quite a lot in the outbox today, and I’ll call specific attention to Blizzard Arcade Collection. It’s a great set and even with just a modest discount it’s a steal. Rune Factory 4 Special is also worth considering. It isn’t on sale that often, and it’s a really cool hybrid of action-RPG and slow-life Harvest Moon-style simulation.

Select New Games on Sale

Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince ($7.49 from $29.99 until 5/11)
Trine: Ultimate Collection ($14.99 from $49.99 until 5/11)
Beast Quest ($5.99 from $29.99 until 5/11)
Override: Mech City Brawl ($14.99 from $29.99 until 5/11)
Override 2: Super Mech League ($19.49 from $29.99 until 5/11)
Kine ($9.99 from $19.99 until 5/11)
Degrees of Separation ($5.99 from $19.99 until 5/11)
#Funtime ($6.65 from $14.99 until 5/11)
The Ambassador: FT ($6.65 from $14.99 until 5/11)
Deleveled ($4.93 from $9.99 until 5/11)
Space Otter Charlie ($11.97 from $14.99 until 5/11)
Breakpoint ($2.46 from $4.99 until 5/11)
Fracter ($3.45 from $6.99 until 5/11)
Remothered: Broken Porcelain ($14.99 from $29.99 until 5/11)
The Bridge ($1.99 from $9.99 until 5/11)


Tumblestone ($1.99 from $14.99 until 5/11)
Almost There: The Platformer ($1.99 from $9.99 until 5/11)
Gurgamoth ($1.99 from $9.99 until 5/11)
Roundguard ($8.87 from $19.99 until 5/11)
Ninjin: Clash of Carrots ($1.99 from $9.99 until 5/11)
Troll & I ($2.99 from $29.99 until 5/11)
Deer Drive Legends ($3.99 from $19.99 until 5/11)
Bear With Me: The Lost Robots ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/11)
Rock of Ages 3: Make & Break ($7.49 from $29.99 until 5/11)
Skully ($7.49 from $29.99 until 5/11)
Ary & the Secret of Seasons ($9.99 from $39.99 until 5/11)
Cozy Grove ($13.49 from $14.99 until 5/11)
Let’s Sing 2018 ($23.99 from $59.99 until 5/12)
Let’s Sing 2019 ($23.99 from $59.99 until 5/12)


Mega Man 11 ($14.99 from $29.99 until 5/12)
Mega Man Legacy Collection ($9.99 from $14.99 until 5/12)
Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 ($9.99 from $19.99 until 5/12)
Mega Man X Legacy Collection ($9.99 from $19.99 until 5/12)
Mega Man X Legacy Collection 2 ($9.99 from $19.99 until 5/12)
Mega Man Zero/ZX Collection ($19.79 from $29.99 until 5/12)
Warsaw ($11.99 from $19.99 until 5/18)
Vasara Collection ($1.99 from $9.99 until 5/19)
Spooky Chase ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/19)
-KLAUS- ($3.74 from $14.99 until 5/19)
Space Elite Force ($1.99 from $2.99 until 5/19)
Daylife in Japan: Pixel Jigsaw ($1.99 from $3.99 until 5/19)
Chill Panda ($1.99 from $9.99 until 5/25)
16-Bit Soccer ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/25)
Birds and Blocks ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/25)


Yellow Fins ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/25)
Pacific Wings ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/25)
Space Ribbon ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/25)
Water Balloon Mania ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/25)
Pinball Lockdown ($1.99 from $5.99 until 5/25)
Laraan ($4.20 from $6.00 until 5/25)
Explosive Dinosaurs ($5.59 from $7.99 until 5/25)
Croc’s World ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/25)
Croc’s World Run ($1.99 from $5.99 until 5/25)
Airfield Mania ($1.99 from $5.99 until 5/25)
Jewel Fever 2 ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/25)
Jewel Rotation ($1.99 from $5.99 until 5/25)
Crazy Zen Mini Golf ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/25)
Gunpig: Firepower for Hire ($3.49 from $4.99 until 5/25)
What Comes After ($4.89 from $6.99 until 5/25)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, Thursday, May 6th

10 Second Run Returns ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/6)
112th Seed ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/6)
Battle Princess Madelyn ($4.99 from $19.99 until 5/6)
Battle Princess Madelyn Royal ($3.74 from $14.99 until 5/6)
Behind the Screen ($3.99 from $9.99 until 5/6)
Billion Road ($17.99 from $29.99 until 5/6)
Black Jack World Tour ($2.39 from $3.99 until 5/6)
Black Paradox ($4.49 from $14.99 until 5/6)
Blacksea Odyssey ($3.24 from $12.99 until 5/6)
Blizzard Arcade Collection ($16.99 from $19.99 until 5/6)
Bouncing Hero ($3.49 from $4.99 until 5/6)
Bubsy: Paws on Fire ($4.99 from $24.99 until 5/6)
Buildings Have Feelings Too! ($15.99 from $19.99 until 5/6)
Catherine Full Body ($24.99 from $49.99 until 5/6)
Chameleon ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/6)


Citizens Unite!: Earth X Space ($22.49 from $29.99 until 5/6)
Creepy Tale ($3.49 from $9.99 until 5/6)
Cubers: Arena ($5.99 from $14.99 until 5/6)
DayD: Through Time ($2.99 from $9.99 until 5/6)
Deadly Days ($3.79 from $18.99 until 5/6)
Defoliation ($3.99 from $9.99 until 5/6)
Demon Pit ($2.99 from $9.99 until 5/6)
Dominate: Board Game ($2.47 from $9.89 until 5/6)
Don’t Knock Twice ($5.62 from $12.49 until 5/6)
Dragon Lapis ($9.74 from $14.99 until 5/6)
Dull Grey ($3.99 from $4.99 until 5/6)
Dungeon and Puzzles ($7.49 from $9.99 until 5/6)
Ephemeral Fantasy on Dark ($26.59 from $37.99 until 5/6)
F-117A Stealth Fighter ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/6)
Fall of Light: Darkest Edition ($4.49 from $14.99 until 5/6)


Fernz Gate ($6.49 from $12.99 until 5/6)
Football Drama ($8.99 from $9.99 until 5/6)
Frost ($3.89 from $12.99 until 5/6)
Golem Gates ($7.49 from $24.99 until 5/6)
Hexxagon: Board Game ($2.47 from $9.89 until 5/6)
Horned Knight ($4.79 from $5.99 until 5/6)
Infection: Board Game ($2.47 from $9.89 until 5/6)
Jacks or Better: Video Poker ($3.74 from $7.49 until 5/6)
Kid Tripp ($1.99 from $3.99 until 5/6)
Letter Quest Remastered ($2.99 from $11.99 until 5/6)
Levelhead ($11.99 from $19.99 until 5/6)
Lunch A Palooza ($7.99 from $15.99 until 5/6)
Miden Tower ($9.74 from $14.99 until 5/6)
Monkey King: Master of Clouds ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/6)


Monster Slayers ($3.74 from $14.99 until 5/6)
Monster Viator ($9.74 from $14.99 until 5/6)
Multi Quiz ($4.99 from $9.99 until 5/6)
My Little Fast Food Booth ($2.99 from $3.99 until 5/6)
Nefarious ($3.74 from $14.99 until 5/6)
Nowhere Prophet ($12.49 from $24.99 until 5/6)
Null Drifter ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/6)
Odallus: The Dark Call ($3.59 from $11.99 until 5/6)
Oniken: Unstoppable ($2.99 from $9.99 until 5/6)
Persona 5 Strikers ($41.99 from $59.99 until 5/6)
Push the Box – Puzzle Game ($4.44 from $8.89 until 5/6)
Radio Commander ($11.24 from $14.99 until 5/6)
Raiden IV x MIKADO remix ($26.99 from $29.99 until 5/6)
Reverse Crawl ($3.24 from $12.99 until 5/6)
Rock ‘N Racing Bundle 3 in 1 ($9.99 from $24.99 until 5/6)


Rune Factory 4 Special ($23.99 from $39.99 until 5/6)
Seek Hearts ($9.74 from $14.99 until 5/6)
Shadow Bug ($6.29 from $8.99 until 5/6)
Skelly Selest ($2.99 from $9.99 until 5/6)
Slain: Back From Hell ($4.99 from $19.99 until 5/6)
Slayaway Camp: Butcher’s Cut ($3.74 from $14.99 until 5/6)
Snakeybus ($7.19 from $11.99 until 5/6)
Steam Prison ($49.11 from $65.49 until 5/6)
Straimium Immortaly ($4.07 from $11.99 until 5/6)
Super Arcade Soccer 2021 ($6.40 from $8.00 until 5/6)
Super Blood Hockey ($7.49 from $14.99 until 5/6)
Tallowmere ($2.79 from $6.99 until 5/6)
Tardy ($1.99 from $9.99 until 5/6)
Teslagrad ($4.49 from $14.99 until 5/6)
The Copper Canyon Dixie Dash ($3.74 from $7.49 until 5/6)


The Unholy Society ($1.99 from $9.99 until 5/6)
Turmoil ($2.99 from $14.99 until 5/6)
Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion ($11.99 from $14.99 until 5/6)
Under Leaves ($8.44 from $12.99 until 5/6)
UnExplored ($4.50 from $15.00 until 5/6)
Valfaris ($11.24 from $24.99 until 5/6)
Verlet Swing ($5.09 from $14.99 until 5/6)
Void Gore ($3.49 from $4.99 until 5/6)
Wallachia: Reign of Dracula ($9.99 from $14.99 until 5/6)
Without Escape ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/6)
World to the West ($9.99 from $19.99 until 5/6)
XenoRaptor ($4.49 from $14.99 until 5/6)
Yes, Your Grace ($9.99 from $19.99 until 5/6)
Yodanji ($2.49 from $4.99 until 5/6)
Zombie’s Cool ($2.99 from $3.99 until 5/6)

That’s all for today, friends. Tomorrow is Thursday, which usually means a lot of new games to check out. Let me take a quick look at the schedule. Okay, not a ton on there yet. The best of the bunch looks to be Raiden IV x Mikado Remix, but I’m sure some surprises will roll in. We’ll have summaries of everything, naturally. We’ll also have whatever sales come along, but I’m not expecting much in that regard. I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday, and as always, thanks for reading!