Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for May 6th, 2021. This is another relatively quiet Thursday, with about ten new releases on the schedule. We’ve got summaries of all of them, naturally. We also have the usual lists of incoming and outgoing sales for you to peruse. Since there was a couple of big news items since we last checked in, I’ve included those as well. June is looking like it’s going to be straight fire, friends. Let’s go!
News
Nintendo Announces ‘Game Builder Garage’ for June 11th Release
One thing Nintendo has been experimenting with more and more in recent years is giving players creation tools. Super Mario Maker, Nintendo Labo, and even the landscaping features in Animal Crossing: New Horizons have allowed players to put their ideas into games in a big way. Here’s the latest: Game Builder Garage. It’s a simplified programming tool of sorts, allowing you to make basic games in a manner not entirely different from what those who dug deeply into Nintendo Labo found. It will be getting both a physical and digital release on June 11th for a price of $29.99.
‘Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2’ Will Arrive on Switch on June 25th
It’s that usual Activision pattern. A game comes out on other platforms, Activision swears up and down it’s not coming to Switch, then announces it for Switch a bit later, then releases it a bit after that. The latest in that line is Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2, and we finally have a release date for the Switch version. You can get ready to grind, ollie, kickflip, and revert your way through the classic stages on June 25th. The price will be a very fair $39.99, and the game looks to be getting a physical version to go along with its digital release.
New Releases
Raiden IV x MIKADO remix ($29.99)
SwitchArcade Highlight!
Originally released in arcades back in 2007, Raiden IV was once a cutting edge example of the shoot-em-up genre in both good and bad ways. It’s seen a couple of revisions, getting better with each release, and this Nintendo Switch version may well be the best of the bunch. Granted, all it really has over the last release is a (very good) new soundtrack option and the portability that the Switch inherently offers. It’s an excellent vertical shoot-em-up, and its Overkill mechanic is as enjoyable as ever. I’ll have a review of this one soon if you need more details.
Arcade Archives The Astyanax ($7.99)
Perhaps the word ‘Astyanax’ jogs a memory in your brain. If so, you’re either a fan of Greek mythology deep cuts or video game deep cuts. In the case of the latter, you are likely remembering an NES game with anime-style cutscenes and a big clunky character dealing with swarms of rudely-placed enemies. This 1989 arcade game from Jaleco shares a name and some gameplay elements with that NES game, but it’s actually its own thing. A little closer to Legendary Axe, which was from the same designer. It’s decent. Not great, but decent. Hamster’s done its usual fine job with it, of course.
CyberHive ($9.99)
Sexy space bee-girl survival game. Bet you didn’t expect to read that combination of words today, eh friend? Anyway, this is a relatively short simulation game with a Missile Command-like combat system bolted onto it. You need to manage your hive of cute bee-girls, finding the resources to make the energy gel they need to survive. If you get into any fights, you’ll resolve them in the aforementioned combat system. Research upgrades, assign bee-girls to various tasks, and so on. The description makes it sound like it’s going to be a deep Star Control 2-style space epic, but it’s actually rather single-minded in practice.
Skate City ($14.99)
Snowman’s Skate City makes its way to Switch after a successful run on Apple Arcade. Coming from the publisher that brought us Alto’s Odyssey, Skate City is as stylish as you would expect. It’s a 2D skateboarding game filled with tricks and customization elements, and I enjoy taking it out for a run on my iPhone now and then. You can try to conquer more than 100 challenges or just relax with the free skate mode. It’s alright, but with Tony Hawk right around the corner and most readers of this site likely maintaining Apple Arcade subscriptions, it’s not easy to recommend this Switch incarnation. Still, if you really enjoyed the game and want a bit more screen real estate than your mobile device can offer, this might be of interest to you.
Beach Bounce Remastered ($9.99)
You may have been expecting a beach volleyball game or something, but no, this is a visual novel. Your character gets invited to his grandmother’s beach resort, and he’s looking forward to a relaxing vacation. Unfortunately, his grandmother is suddenly hospitalized and he ends up having to run the resort. He’ll meet a variety of girls who are clearly a bit lonely, and the choices you make will determine what happens. In its original form, this is an adult game. The raunchier bits have been removed from this release, allowing you to enjoy its mediocre porn-level plot in all of its glory. It’s pretty weak, even by the standards of adult visual novels.
Nongunz: Doppelganger Edition ($14.99)
The original Nongunz became a cult favorite when it released on PC a few years back. It’s a roguelite action-platformer where you trek through dark dungeons where essentially everything is out to get you, even your own gear. It’s a tough game that takes some effort to get into due to its bizarre nature. This new Doppelganger Edition adds some new modes, most notably a co-op mode where a buddy can join up with you in local multiplayer. Definitely not for everyone, and it’s hard to say whether any given person will take to it or not. If you’re feeling experimental and willing to be patient with a game that is decidedly off the beaten path, you may want to take a closer look at this.
Techno Tanks ($4.99)
Well, this is the third game from EpiXR Games that follows the exact same formula. Slightly different paint job, this time with a neon theme, but the gameplay is identical to Retro Tanks and Tanky Tanks. Up to four players can join in on the fun via local multiplayer. Battle through more than 50 levels in the campaign mode, or go all-out in a versus battle. Basically just Atari Combat or Namco’s Battle City with a few additions and a slightly more modern presentation. At least it’s cheap?
Poker Pretty Girls Battle: Fantasy World ($5.99)
Eastasiasoft has a formula, and they’re sticking to it. Take a mundane concept, like say Texas Hold ‘Em Poker, add anime ladies in various states of undress, price it reasonably, and collect the profits. The anime ladies are fantasy-themed this time, giving you a wide variety of character to play against such as a big-boobed elf, a big-boobed demon, a big-boobed, wizard, and a big-boobed temple maiden. There are sixteen girls in all to choose from as your opponents, and they each have their own playing style. You won’t have access to them all right away, so you’ll have to unlock more by playing. Single-player only, but I’m sure it’s a competent enough game of cards.
Go! Birdie ($4.99)
A rather simple game where on each level you have to guide your little bird around a top-down maze, collecting all the fruit and avoiding enemies. There are some power-ups you can grab that will give you temporary powers. You’ll also play the occasional bonus level where you race against a timer to grab all of the fruit. It reminds me a lot of the Oliver Twins game Go! Dizzy Go!, and looking at the title that’s probably not a pure coincidence. That game was enjoyable enough, if a bit bland. I suspect this will be the same.
My Little Fast Food Booth ($3.99)
This is another one of those games where you’re preparing food for somewhat impatient customers. This developer made an ice cream-themed one before, and now we’ve got a very familiar type of cuisine for this genre: fast food. Burgers, mainly. There’s a career mode with 24 levels to play, a free mode where you just keep on going to your heart’s content, and some items you can pick up to customize your booth a bit. A very plain, straightforward take on this kind of game, but if this is your bag then the price is probably right.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
A fair number of sales have already come in today. There will be more tomorrow, I’m sure. Notables today include ToeJam & Earl, Groove Coaster Wai Wai Party!!!!, and Hero-U: Rogue to Redemption. As for the outbox, the Star Wars Day sales are wrapping up. R-Type Dimensions EX and Shakedown: Hawaii are worth considering as well. Have a look through both lists as usual, however. I’m not the arbiter of all that is good and awesome, after all.
Select New Games on Sale
Treachery in Beatdown City ($9.99 from $19.99 until 5/10)
Highway Haste ($4.99 from $19.99 until 5/11)
The Darkside Detective: AFitD ($11.69 from $12.99 until 5/12)
Cyber Protocol ($1.99 from $9.99 until 5/13)
Clumsy Rush ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/13)
Nirvana Pilot Yume ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/13)
OMG Police: Car Chase TV ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/13)
Super Shape Shooter ($4.49 from $5.99 until 5/13)
Death Crown ($11.69 from $12.99 until 5/13)
Art Sqool ($3.89 from $12.99 until 5/13)
Red Rope: Don’t Fall Behind ($3.89 from $12.99 until 5/17)
ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove ($4.79 from $14.99 until 5/18)
Infernal Radiation ($7.19 from $7.99 until 5/19)
Run the Fan ($1.99 from $3.99 until 5/19)
Hero-U: Rogue to Redemption ($13.99 from $19.99 until 5/19)
3000th Duel ($7.49 from $14.99 until 5/20)
Street Power Soccer ($20.09 from $29.99 until 5/20)
Nine Parchments ($4.99 from $19.99 until 5/20)
Trine Enchanted Edition ($3.74 from $14.99 until 5/20)
Trine 2: Complete Story ($4.24 from $16.99 until 5/20)
Trine 3: Artifacts of Power ($4.99 from $19.99 until 5/20)
Boreal Blade ($1.99 from $3.99 until 5/20)
Rising Hell ($8.99 from $9.99 until 5/20)
Deuces Wild: Video Poker ($3.74 from $7.49 until 5/21)
MazezaM: Puzzle Game ($2.75 from $5.50 until 5/21)
Crayon Shinchan: Kasukabe Runner!! ($5.99 from $9.99 until 5/22)
Collapsed ($9.75 from $15.00 until 5/24)
Groove Coaster Wai Wai Party!!!! ($44.99 from $59.99 until 5/24)
Smash Boats ($9.99 from $14.99 until 5/25)
Flood of Light ($2.49 from $4.99 until 5/27)
Subsurface Circular ($2.99 from $5.99 until 5/27)
Sudoku Universe ($3.49 from $6.99 until 5/27)
Anger Force Reloaded ($6.99 from $9.99 until 5/27)
64.0 ($1.99 from $2.99 until 5/27)
Candleman ($9.99 from $14.99 until 5/27)
SELF ($3.49 from $6.99 until 5/27)
Wenjia ($5.59 from $7.99 until 5/27)
Heaven Dust ($3.99 from $7.99 until 5/27)
Never Breakup ($6.99 from $9.99 until 5/27)
Robozarro ($2.79 from $6.99 until 5/27)
Cruel Bands Career ($2.79 from $3.99 until 5/27)
Waifu Uncovered ($4.89 from $6.99 until 5/27)
Moero Crystal H ($27.99 from $39.99 until 5/27)
Crawlco Block Knockers ($5.39 from $8.99 until 5/27)
Retrace: Memories of Death ($4.79 from $7.99 until 5/27)
Aarog ($2.79 from $3.99 until 5/27)
Poker Pretty Girls Battle ($4.79 from $5.99 until 5/27)
Bishouo Battle Cyber Panic! ($4.19 from $5.99 until 5/27)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, Friday, May 7th
#Breakforcist Battle ($1.99 from $9.99 until 5/7)
Astro Bears ($1.99 from $6.99 until 5/7)
BE-A Walker ($1.99 from $9.99 until 5/7)
Bob Help Them ($4.99 from $7.99 until 5/7)
Crash Drive 2 ($1.99 from $8.99 until 5/7)
Deployment ($1.99 from $9.99 until 5/7)
Discovery ($5.99 from $7.99 until 5/7)
Doug Hates His Job ($4.89 from $6.99 until 5/7)
Dragon Pinball ($2.00 from $2.99 until 5/7)
Drink More Glurp ($6.99 from $9.99 until 5/7)
Driving World: Nordic Challenge ($8.99 from $11.99 until 5/7)
Dynamite Fishing ($1.99 from $9.99 until 5/7)
Earthworms ($1.99 from $7.99 until 5/7)
Gnome More War ($1.99 from $2.99 until 5/7)
Grand Guilds ($1.99 from $19.99 until 5/7)
Hamster Bob ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/7)
Heal: Console Edition ($5.59 from $6.99 until 5/7)
High Noon Revolver ($1.99 from $2.99 until 5/7)
Little Mouse’s Encyclopedia ($8.44 from $12.99 until 5/7)
Lode Runner Legacy ($5.99 from $11.99 until 5/7)
Marooners ($1.99 from $14.99 until 5/7)
Mars Power Industries ($1.99 from $3.99 until 5/7)
R-Type Dimensions EX ($7.49 from $14.99 until 5/7)
Shakedown: Hawaii ($9.99 from $19.99 until 5/7)
SlabWell: Kaktun’s Alpaca ($1.99 from $7.99 until 5/7)
Snowball Collections Bubble ($2.99 from $5.99 until 5/7)
Speedway Racing ($3.99 from $9.99 until 5/7)
Star Wars Episode I Racer ($7.49 from $14.99 until 5/7)
Star Wars Jedi Academy ($9.99 from $19.99 until 5/7)
Star Wars Jedi Outcast ($4.99 from $9.99 until 5/7)
Stunt Kite Party ($1.99 from $9.99 until 5/7)
Superola and the Lost Burgers ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/7)
Tank Battle Heroes ($3.99 from $7.99 until 5/7)
The Way Remastered ($1.99 from $14.99 until 5/7)
Titans Pinball ($2.00 from $2.99 until 5/7)
Top Speed: Drag & Fast Racing ($1.99 from $7.99 until 5/7)
Towertale ($1.99 from $9.99 until 5/7)
Unhatched ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/7)
Void Space Racing ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/7)
Warplanes: WW1 Sky Aces ($6.99 from $9.99 until 5/7)
That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with what I’m assuming will be a giant list of new sales, plus summaries of the rest of the new releases for the week. I’m not seeing anything super exciting in the list at a quick glance, but closer looks often yield pleasant results. There may well be some surprises, too. That’s how it usually goes around these parts. I hope you all have an excellent Thursday, and as always, thanks for reading!
