Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for May 12th, 2021. Today’s article features summaries of the several new games that hit the eShop today, along with a bit of news and a bunch of sales. Not the busiest we’ve been lately, but there’s a couple of games worth considering today even before you crack into the discounts. Not bad for a Wednesday, really. But don’t spend too much today, because the next two days are going to be wild. Let’s go!
News
Grab a Bat for the Next ‘Super Smash Bros.’ Event
It’s that time of the week again, friends. The next weekend event for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has been announced, and it’s once again focused on a group of items. It’s a tournament event, and it’s centered around melee weapons that you can use to clobber your foes upside their heads. The Home Run Bat obviously springs to mind, but less amusing items like the Beam Sword, Death’s Scythe, and various other clubs and swords will also work. The event kicks off on Friday and runs for the usual three days through the weekend.
New Releases
Retro Machina ($19.99)
SwitchArcade Highlight!
An isometric puzzle-action game where you play as a little robot who’s trying to get fixed and get home. To do that, it will have to make its way through hostile environments and past other robots that see it as nothing more than junk. What happened to all the humans that once lived in the city? Maybe you’ll figure that out too. The main gimmick here is the robot’s ability to jack into and control other robots. You’ll have to use all the abilities they have to offer in order to solve the puzzles that block your way. And when all else fails, your trusty wrench can be used to beat some sense into your foes. I really enjoyed the demo for this game on PC, so I’m going to take a punt on the full version.
Tested on Humans: Escape Room ($9.99)
As you can probably guess from the title, this is an escape room puzzle game. It’s from the makers of Palindrome Syndrome, and it seems to have been reasonably well-received when it launched on computers a few months ago. In particular, the puzzles themselves seem to have gone over well. The story… less so. But you know, it’s a ten-dollar escape room game. Great stories are the exception rather than the norm, I’d think. Apparently some of the puzzles are similar to those in Palindrome Syndrome, so it’s maybe not best to play these back-to-back.
Calculator ($9.99)
Aw heck, it’s Sabec. Calculator has somehow caught the eye of various big-pants influencers and such, but regular readers of the Round-Up know that over-priced, virtually useless software is Sabec’s stock in trade. Anyway, this is a scientific calculator. No more, no less. As Sabec things go, this isn’t the worst thing they’ve put out. Plus, imagine the sheer comedy when you whip out your Switch at the local Safeway to add up the cost of your groceries. Your mobile phone is dead but somehow your Switch isn’t? You’re in luck! Have bad eyes but want to do some serious mathematics? Dock your Switch and enjoy the glory of a big-screen scientific calculator. Countless applications!
Rift Racoon ($4.99)
A teleporting racoon? Ugh, that sounds like nothing but trouble. This is a platformer featuring a racoon named Tucker who gains the ability to teleport. He can also do usual racoon things like climbing, jumping, and eating trash. Okay, maybe the last one isn’t in this game. He has to make his way through 50 challenging levels, using his unique skills to get around obstacles and traps. Seems like a serviceable platformer, if that’s a thing that you’re on the hunt for.
Fire: Ungh’s Quest ($14.99)
This is a short but highly enjoyable adventure game about a caveman who is searching for fire after his carelessness sees his tribe’s fire put out. It’s colorful, charming, and never terribly difficult. Reviews have been quite favorable on other platforms, though almost all of them find it to be a bit too brief. It takes a couple of hours to finish, so I’ll leave it to you as to whether or not that price works for you. The computer version regularly goes on sale on Steam for a buck, so you can always grab it over there if you’re trying to save some money.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
The outbox is a fair bit bigger than the inbox today, but there are some good games in that list of new sales. Redeemer: Enhanced Edition is pretty cool, Kona has a very interesting story to tell, and those Scribblenauts games can’t get much cheaper. Your eyes may be drawn to the outgoing list, and there are certainly some treasures to consider. Arc System Works titles like Guilty Gear, BlazBlue, and the Double Dragon & Kunio-Kun Retro Brawler Bundle are very cheap and well-worth grabbing if you like fighters and beat-em-ups. Touhou Luna Nights and Touhou Spell Bubble are both awesome, and adventure game fans will want to look at Alternate Jake Hunter and The Missing. Check the lists and see if anything appeals to you.
Select New Games on Sale
Phoenix Wright: AA Trilogy ($19.99 from $29.99 until 5/19)
Redeemer: Enhanced Edition ($8.99 from $29.99 until 5/19)
Ash of Gods: Redemption ($11.99 from $29.99 until 5/19)
Windbound ($17.99 from $29.99 until 5/19)
9 Monkeys of Shaolin ($17.99 from $29.99 until 5/19)
Kona ($4.99 from $19.99 until 5/19)
Bakugan: Champions of Vestroia ($14.99 from $49.99 until 5/20)
Scribblenauts Mega Pack ($7.99 from $39.99 until 5/20)
Scribblenauts Showdown ($3.99 from $39.99 until 5/20)
Cars 3: Driven to Win ($7.99 from $39.99 until 5/20)
Pathway ($12.79 from $15.99 until 5/27)
Pet Shop Snacks ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/31)
Infinite: Beyond the Mind ($2.49 from $9.99 until 6/1)
Infliction: Extended Cut ($9.99 from $19.99 until 6/1)
Nine Witches: Family Disruption ($9.99 from $19.99 until 6/1)
The Deer God ($1.99 from $7.99 until 6/1)
Subdivision Infinity DX ($7.49 from $14.99 until 6/1)
Croc’s World 2 ($1.99 from $5.99 until 6/1)
Super Space Serpent Secondary ($3.49 from $9.99 until 6/1)
Rift Racoon ($3.99 from $4.99 until 6/2)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, Thursday, May 13th
20XX ($8.99 from $17.99 until 5/13)
AeternoBlade II: DR ($14.99 from $19.99 until 5/13)
Alternate Jake Hunter: Daedalus ($4.80 from $39.99 until 5/13)
Art Sqool ($3.89 from $12.99 until 5/13)
Assault Gunners HD Edition ($4.99 from $9.99 until 5/13)
Azure Reflections ($12.49 from $24.99 until 5/13)
Balthazar’s Dream ($2.00 from $8.00 until 5/13)
Battojutsu ($3.99 from $4.99 until 5/13)
Bit Dungeon Plus ($2.24 from $8.99 until 5/13)
Blazblue CentralFiction Special ($19.50 from $49.99 until 5/13)
Blazblue Cross Tag Battle ($5.00 from $19.99 until 5/13)
Boris the Rocket ($12.74 from $14.99 until 5/13)
Break Dot ($3.99 from $4.99 until 5/13)
Byakko-tai Samurai Boys ($13.99 from $19.99 until 5/13)
Car Quest ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/13)
Chaos Code: New Sign of Catastrophe ($6.70 from $9.99 until 5/13)
Clumsy Rush ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/13)
Crazy Strike Bowling EX ($3.99 from $9.99 until 5/13)
Cyber Protocol ($1.99 from $9.99 until 5/13)
Damascus Gear Operation Osaka ($2.40 from $19.99 until 5/13)
Dead or School ($11.99 from $29.99 until 5/13)
Dead Z Meat ($4.99 from $9.99 until 5/13)
Death Crown ($11.69 from $12.99 until 5/13)
Destruction ($3.99 from $9.99 until 5/13)
Diamond Girl ($13.99 from $19.99 until 5/13)
Double Dragon ($3.50 from $4.99 until 5/13)
Double Dragon & Kunio-Kun Bundle ($10.00 from $39.99 until 5/13)
Double Dragon 2: The Revenge ($3.50 from $4.99 until 5/13)
Double Dragon 3: The Sacred Stones ($3.50 from $4.99 until 5/13)
Double Dragon 4 ($3.50 from $6.99 until 5/13)
Exorder ($1.99 from $12.99 until 5/13)
Fault: Milestone Two Side Above ($11.99 from $14.99 until 5/13)
GensokyoDefenders ($9.99 from $19.99 until 5/13)
Gensou Skydrift ($19.19 from $23.99 until 5/13)
Ghoulboy ($1.99 from $9.99 until 5/13)
Grand Prix Rock ‘N Racing ($2.99 from $9.99 until 5/13)
Guilty Gear ($6.90 from $9.99 until 5/13)
Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus R ($9.80 from $14.99 until 5/13)
Here Be Dragons ($8.09 from $17.99 until 5/13)
Hyperforma ($2.09 from $14.99 until 5/13)
Ice Cream Surfer ($2.00 from $8.00 until 5/13)
In Celebration of Violence ($6.49 from $12.99 until 5/13)
Inferno Climber: Reborn ($4.75 from $13.99 until 5/13)
Keen: One Girl Army ($2.49 from $4.99 until 5/13)
Kill la Kill -IF ($10.00 from $19.99 until 5/13)
Lines Infinite ($1.99 from $3.99 until 5/13)
Lines X ($1.99 from $3.99 until 5/13)
Lost Artifacts: Time Machine ($3.99 from $9.99 until 5/13)
Madoris R ($4.00 from $5.00 until 5/13)
Monkey Wall ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/13)
Mushroom Heroes ($2.39 from $5.99 until 5/13)
MXGP3: Official Motocross ($2.99 from $29.99 until 5/13)
My Bewitching Perfume ($13.99 from $19.99 until 5/13)
Mystic Fate ($4.99 from $9.99 until 5/13)
Nirvana Pilot Yume ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/13)
Number Place 10000 ($2.94 from $5.89 until 5/13)
Odysseus Kosmos & his Robot Quest ($11.99 from $14.99 until 5/13)
Of Mice and Sand Revised ($6.69 from $9.99 until 5/13)
OMG Police: Car Chase TV ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/13)
Ox Logic Puzzle 1000 ($7.00 from $14.00 until 5/13)
Princess Closet ($17.49 from $24.99 until 5/13)
Refreshing Sideways Puzzle: GH ($16.79 from $27.99 until 5/13)
Riverbond ($4.99 from $24.99 until 5/13)
Rotating Brave ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/13)
Sakura Succubus ($7.99 from $9.99 until 5/13)
Sea King Hunter ($3.99 from $9.99 until 5/13)
Shisen-Sho NIKAKUdori ($1.99 from $3.99 until 5/13)
Six Sides of the World ($2.50 from $10.00 until 5/13)
Sorry, James ($4.99 from $9.99 until 5/13)
Soul Axiom Rebooted ($7.79 from $12.99 until 5/13)
Speed Dating for Ghosts ($2.37 from $6.99 until 5/13)
Super Arcade Soccer ($2.02 from $6.99 until 5/13)
Super Shape Shooter ($4.49 from $5.99 until 5/13)
Super Soccer Blast ($5.99 from $7.99 until 5/13)
Sushi Reversi ($9.99 from $13.99 until 5/13)
The Big Journey ($4.99 from $9.99 until 5/13)
The Demon Crystal ($4.99 from $9.99 until 5/13)
The Missing: JJ Macfield ($7.50 from $29.99 until 5/13)
Touhou Luna Knights ($14.39 from $17.99 until 5/13)
Touhou Spell Bubble ($41.24 from $54.99 until 5/13)
Train Station Simulator ($14.29 from $21.99 until 5/13)
Trax: Build It Race It ($2.99 from $14.99 until 5/13)
Under the Jolly Roger ($12.99 from $19.99 until 5/13)
UORiS DX ($4.50 from $9.00 until 5/13)
Urban Trial Playground ($1.99 from $14.99 until 5/13)
Urban Trial Tricky ($4.94 from $14.99 until 5/13)
Warhammer 40k: Space Wolf ($8.99 from $17.99 until 5/13)
Wayout ($2.49 from $4.99 until 5/13)
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? ($22.49 from $29.99 until 5/13)
Worldend Syndrome ($10.00 from $39.99 until 5/13)
Yumemidori Nostalgia ($13.99 from $19.99 until 5/13)
ZOMB ($1.99 from $9.99 until 5/13)
That’s all for today, friends. Tomorrow is Thursday, and that means we’ll have a bunch of new releases to look at. Games like Death Crown, Rise Eterna, and Kasiori will be fully summarized along with the rest of the latest. Friday’s the big day this week, but I’ve no doubt that Thursday will have some games of interest for most. I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday, and as always, thanks for reading!
