Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for May 13th, 2021. In today’s article, we’re going over all of the new releases of the day. It’s quite a long list, and it’s more interesting than it is good, I’d say. Well, I wouldn’t be surprised if one game or another catches your eye. It’s that kind of day. We also have the usual lists of incoming and outgoing sales for you to consider. Let’s get to it!
New Releases
Arcade Archives Guzzler ($7.99)
Hamster’s gone way back into the annals of history for this week’s selection. Back when it was known as Tehkan, Tecmo released Guzzler in 1983. One of a huge crowd of games inspired by Pac-Man, Guzzler sees you playing as a weird creature that has to put out fires by scooping up puddles and spraying them on the flames. It’s an odd one, but it’s not entirely unpleasant to play. Hamster has done the usual fine work of bringing it to the Switch, offering the usual selection of options to tweak. Hardly a must-have, but if you have a fondness for off-beat vintage games, there’s a good chance you’ll like this one.
Preston Sterling and the Legend of Excalibur ($3.99)
This game offers a combination of janky action sequences and bland exploration bits. Considering this comes from the developer behind Secret Files and Lost Horizon, it’s almost shockingly poor. It takes about an hour and change to get through, and has only a few inventory puzzles to solve, a few mini-games, and the aforementioned awkward action pieces to offer. I mean, hey, it’s really cheap. But even with that in mind, I’m not sure there’s even four bucks of entertainment in here. Back when I first played this, I assumed it was perhaps meant to be a teaser for a full-sized adventure, but that was years ago and I don’t think Preston has reappeared since. It’s a hard pass for me, at any rate.
Cooking Simulator – Pizza ($14.99)
The original Cooking Simulator is one of those games where you get a lot of amusement out of doing mundane tasks with finicky controls and physics. It’s as fun to watch as it is to play, and it’s easy to see why it caught on. One good turn deserves another, so here’s Cooking Simulator – Pizza. In broad strokes, it’s quite similar to its predecessor, just with a focus on preparing pizzas. Try to work your way through the Career mode, or hop right into Sandbox mode and get cooking with all of the ingredients unlocked. While the focus here is clearly more narrow than in the first game, the wide variety of potential toppings makes for some truly interesting creations. That is, if you can get one made and served without dropping it.
Connection reHaunted ($6.66)
Well, here’s the follow-up to the absolutely rancid Connection Haunted. Clearly enough people bought the first one that we now have a sequel to deal with. The first game was a lousy first-person shooter with horror elements that positioned itself as a 1990s throwback to cover for its horrid presentation. And here we are again, now with a 2 DARK 4 U price tag. If you somehow derived some joy from the first game, I guess this is for you. If you’re new to the series, I’d recommend just moving along.
Rise Eterna ($19.99)
We’re probably a while away from the next release in the Fire Emblem series, but today sees the release of a game that is clearly inspired by the 16-bit games in the franchise. Rise Eterna is a turn-based tactical RPG where you can recruit up to 14 characters to join your ranks and support your cause. Each has their own set of skills you can put to use in battle, and you can use gems crafted from loot to augment them further. There are even hidden characters and challenges to uncover as you make your way through the story. I’ve got my eye on this one but I haven’t had a chance to play it yet. I’ll let you know if it turns out awesome.
Taxi Driver – The Simulation ($14.99)
Polygon Art takes a break from war games to create something based on what is sometimes an equally scary battlefield: taxi driving. Choose your favorite from four taxis and get ready to make some… realistic money? Drive sensibly around a somewhat detailed city and bring your passengers where they want to go, safely and on time. That’s right, please leave your “""crazy""" stunts at the door. You will not earn extra tips by flying through the air. Follow the traffic rules and be a good driver. SEGA, please release Crazy Taxi on the Switch and save us from all of these lesser creations. Please.
Super Shape Shooter ($5.99)
Oh good, here’s Benjamin Kistler again. You know what’s weird about this? Mr. Kistler isn’t exactly a beacon of quality, but this game does actually have online multiplayer for up to four players. It’s an arena-based 2D shooter with three different characters, six different maps, and lots of hats to customize your character with. It’s probably not very good, but I give the developer credit for actually going the extra mile and getting that online play in there. And hey, it’s not very expensive.
Solitaire Card Games ($5.99)
Benjamin Kistler isn’t done with us yet today, either. Here’s a cheap collection of three of the more popular types of solitaire card games: Klondike, Spider, and Tripeaks. There are a few difficulty options and some stat tracking, but this is essentially a barebones take on the concept. For whatever reason, you can only play this one in handheld mode. Probably uses the touch controls. I’ve seen worse values for solitaire games on the eShop, but chances are good that if you wanted one of these you already own a better one.
Exodemon ($12.99)
Hey, another homage to 1990s FPS games. While I always appreciate the effort, some of these hit the mark better than others. Exodemon falls somewhere in the middle of the pack. The concept, which sees you playing as a scientist who ends up fused with an alien symbiote, is cool. The levels are quite dull, both in terms of visual variety and design. It really wants you to use your symbiote claw for melee attacks, which is interesting but not very evocative of classic games in the genre. It’s blazing fast, and combat is fun. Unfortunately, it’s also fairly short. So yes, middle of the pack. Don’t come into it looking for 1990s-style map navigation and non-stop shooting action, but if what you crave is speed and visceral thrills, you probably won’t be let down.
Space Commander: War and Trade ($9.99)
If there’s one thing people like to do in space games, it’s killing stuff. But if there’s a second thing people like to do in space games, it’s engaging in commerce. Space Commander: War and Trade has both of those things. By the way, if there’s a third thing people like to do in space games, it’s docking their ship while Strauss’s Blue Danube Waltz plays in the background. As far as I know, you can’t do that in this game. At any rate, I wish I could say that this is the Privateer/Freelancer experience you’re looking for, but the combat just isn’t very satisfying and the difficulty balance is all out of whack. It’s not bad, especially for ten bucks, but it definitely feels like it’s reaching for something it can’t quite grasp.
Death Crown ($12.99)
This game describes itself as a minimalist real-time strategy game. You control Death and command her army in a battle against humankind. It’s extremely simplified and a bit on the easy side, but it’s not unpleasant to play. The game description claims there’s local multiplayer support for co-op and versus play, but the data indicates it’s single-player only. One of those two things is incorrect, and I’m hoping it’s the latter. Reviews for this game in its original computer incarnation seem to be largely sunny, so if you’re cool with the concept you may want to take the leap.
Jin Conception ($15.00)
This seems like a cross between a turn-based RPG and a social deduction/"werewolf" game. There are eight playable characters in total. Three characters enter Final Layer, but only one returns. That one doesn’t seem to remember what happened in there. Will you believe them? Who can you trust? Your decisions will determine who your friends and enemies are, and ultimately lead to one of multiple endings. Some really nice pixel art in this one, and the premise seems solid. I’ll have to give it some extra time to see if it gels.
Kasiori ($7.00)
This is a matching puzzle game along the lines of things like Puyo Puyo or Columns with some cute characters and a colorful aesthetic. It has a single player mode where you just make matches until you can’t anymore, a CPU versus mode, and a two-player versus mode via local multiplayer. Not really the first thing I would think of when someone mentions the developer Success, but it looks alright for what it is. Props for seemingly not directly copying the mechanics of another falling block puzzle game.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
Quite a few sales even at the time of writing, which isn’t often the case on Thursdays. There are a bunch of Kemco RPGs on sale, along with some other goodies like Project Warlock, Raji: An Ancient Epic, and Pumpkin Jack. There will surely be more even by the time you’re reading this, so don’t blow all your money today. Unless you want to nab that pre-order discount on the Subnautica games, I suppose. I don’t think there’s anything terribly rare in the outbox, but do have a look.
Select New Games on Sale
Darkwood ($10.49 from $14.99 until 5/19)
Project Warlock ($8.99 from $14.99 until 5/19)
Tested on Humans: Escape Room ($7.99 from $9.99 until 5/20)
Under Leaves ($8.44 from $12.99 until 5/20)
Flying Soldiers ($4.85 from $17.99 until 5/23)
Naught ($4.99 from $19.99 until 5/23)
Hexagroove: Tactical DJ ($22.49 from $29.99 until 5/24)
Get Ogre It ($8.99 from $11.99 until 5/24)
Lichtspeer: Double Speer Edition ($2.99 from $9.99 until 5/26)
Regalia: Of Men & Monarchs ($14.99 from $24.99 until 5/26)
Mousecraft ($3.99 from $9.99 until 5/26)
Butcher ($3.99 from $9.99 until 5/26)
My Memory of Us ($4.49 from $14.99 until 5/26)
Cinders ($3.99 from $19.99 until 5/26)
Outbreak: Epidemic ($7.49 from $14.99 until 5/27)
Outbreak: The New Nightmare ($6.49 from $12.99 until 5/27)
Raji: An Ancient Epic ($12.49 from $24.99 until 5/28)
Gal*Gun Returns ($42.49 from $49.99 until 5/28)
Broken Lines ($12.49 from $24.99 until 5/28)
Depth of Extinction ($6.74 from $14.99 until 6/1)
Polyroll ($3.99 from $9.99 until 6/1)
Layers of Fear 2 ($26.99 from $29.99 until 6/1)
Fire: Ungh’s Quest ($13.49 from $14.99 until 6/2)
Ninja Epic Adventure ($3.39 from $3.99 until 6/2)
Olympic Basketball ($4.79 from $5.99 until 6/2)
Silver Chains ($16.49 from $24.99 until 6/2)
Pumpkin Jack ($19.79 from $29.99 until 6/2)
Doodle Derby ($1.99 from $7.99 until 6/2)
Colt Canyon ($7.49 from $14.99 until 6/2)
Outbuddies DX ($6.29 from $17.99 until 6/2)
Bloo Kid 2 ($1.99 from $4.99 until 6/2)
Dead End Job ($1.99 from $16.99 until 6/2)
Bridge Constructor Ultimate ($5.24 from $14.99 until 6/2)
Vambrace: Cold Soul ($8.24 from $24.99 until 6/2)
Truberbrook ($9.89 from $29.99 until 6/2)
Earth Atlantis ($1.99 from $14.99 until 6/2)
In Between ($1.99 from $11.99 until 6/2)
Super Blackjack Battle 2 Turbo ($1.99 from $7.99 until 6/2)
Toby: The Secret Mine ($1.99 from $11.99 until 6/2)
Tied Together ($1.99 from $14.99 until 6/2)
Revenant Saga ($6.49 from $12.99 until 6/3)
Revenant Dogma ($7.79 from $12.99 until 6/3)
Alvastia Chronicles ($6.49 from $12.99 until 6/3)
Sephirothic Stories ($8.99 from $14.99 until 6/3)
Frane: Dragons’ Odyssey ($7.79 from $12.99 until 6/3)
Legend of the Tetrarchs ($8.99 from $14.99 until 6/3)
Wizards of Brandel ($7.79 from $12.99 until 6/3)
Curious Cases ($3.99 from $4.99 until 6/3)
Project Starship ($1.99 from $4.99 until 6/3)
Project Starship X ($5.99 from $9.99 until 6/3)
Cave Bad ($3.49 from $4.99 until 6/3)
Synergia ($9.99 from $14.99 until 6/3)
Escape First ($3.99 from $4.99 until 6/3)
Escape First 2 ($3.99 from $4.99 until 6/3)
Escape First 3 ($3.99 from $4.99 until 6/3)
Wood Block Escape Puzzles ($2.99 from $3.99 until 6/3)
Escape 2088 ($3.20 from $4.00 until 6/3)
The Experiment: Escape Room ($3.19 from $3.99 until 6/3)
Takotan ($2.79 from $3.99 until 6/3)
Iro Hero ($3.89 from $12.99 until 6/3)
Miles & Kilo ($1.99 from $7.99 until 6/3)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, Friday, May 14th
12 is Better Than 6 ($1.99 from $9.99 until 5/14)
Back to Bed ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/14)
Barrier X ($2.09 from $2.99 until 5/14)
Bass Pro Shops: The Strike Championship ($9.99 from $19.99 until 5/14)
Battleship ($9.99 from $19.99 until 5/14)
Batu Ta Batu ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/14)
Cabela’s: The Hunt Championship ($9.99 from $19.99 until 5/14)
Clue: Classic Mystery Game ($14.99 from $29.99 until 5/14)
Corridor Z ($1.99 from $7.99 until 5/14)
CyberHive ($8.99 from $9.99 until 5/14)
Cycle 28 ($1.99 from $6.99 until 5/14)
Descenders ($14.99 from $24.99 until 5/14)
Dimension Drive ($1.99 from $12.99 until 5/14)
Doodle God: Evolution ($2.49 from $9.99 until 5/14)
Draw Chilly ($2.09 from $2.99 until 5/14)
Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams ($5.99 from $29.99 until 5/14)
Gibbous: A Cthulhu Adventure ($5.99 from $19.99 until 5/14)
Highrise Heroes: Word Challenge ($1.99 from $7.99 until 5/14)
Home Sheep Home: Farmageddon ($5.99 from $9.99 until 5/14)
Inferno 2 ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/14)
Island Maze ($1.99 from $2.99 until 5/14)
Lost Wing ($2.79 from $7.99 until 5/14)
Luckslinger ($7.99 from $9.99 until 5/14)
Lumini ($2.49 from $9.99 until 5/14)
Moon Raider ($6.99 from $9.99 until 5/14)
Peace, Death! Complete ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/14)
Quell ($1.99 from $7.99 until 5/14)
Quell Zen ($1.99 from $7.99 until 5/14)
Rad Rodgers Radical Edition ($5.99 from $29.99 until 5/14)
Rainswept ($2.49 from $9.99 until 5/14)
Skate City ($9.99 from $14.99 until 5/14)
Solitaire Card Games ($4.49 from $5.99 until 5/14)
Standby ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/14)
Subnautica ($26.99 from $29.99 until 5/14)
Subnautica: Below Zero ($26.99 from $29.99 until 5/14)
Swapperoo ($1.99 from $7.99 until 5/14)
Table Top Racing World Tour ($14.99 from $24.99 until 5/14)
The Bug Butcher ($1.99 from $7.99 until 5/14)
Trails & Traces: Tomb of Thomas Tew ($3.99 from $4.99 until 5/14)
War Dogs: Red’s Return ($1.99 from $3.99 until 5/14)
That’s all for today, friends. Tomorrow is the big day for this week. The Famicom Detective Club remakes, a pair of Subnautica games, and several more titles will make their case for your hard-earned gaming dollars. I hope you all have a stupendous Thursday, and as always, thanks for reading!
