News

SwitchArcade Round-Up: ‘Diablo II: Resurrected’ Dated, Reviews Featuring ‘Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection, and More

Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for June 14th, 2021. In today’s article, we’ve got a couple news snippets, a couple of reviews, a few new release summaries, and the usual lists of incoming and outgoing sales. Just a heads-up: I know this is E3 week, and I wish I could promise we’ll be keeping on top of all of the news in a timely fashion. As many readers know, I reside in Japan and generally tend to be asleep when things are happening in the United States. I’ll try to make sure the big stories can be found here, but if you’re looking for an on-the-minute source of Switch E3 info, this isn’t going to be the place. Sorry! With that said, let’s get to what we’ve got!

News

‘Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope’ Announced for 2022 Release

Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle was the amazing blend of Mario, the Rabbids, and XCOM that virtually no one ever asked for. A combination of an attention-catching idea, solid execution, and some good timing made the game a mega-hit, resulting in millions of copies sold across the world. A sequel was certainly warranted, and it seems like we’re getting one. Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope looks to the characters and feel of Super Mario Galaxy for its inspiration, and it looks like it will keep the good times rolling. Unfortunately, it won’t be out until next year. I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of this over the coming months.

‘Diablo II: Resurrected’ Arrives on Switch September 23rd, 2021

A Switch version of the upcoming Diablo II: Resurrected was announced for a 2021 release a while back, but a new trailer today has revealed a more specific date for the game. You can look forward to this spiffed up version of one of Blizzard’s best-selling and most beloved games when it hits the Switch on September 23rd, 2021. In the meantime, enjoy that delicious trailer.

Reviews & Mini-Views

Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection ($39.99)

While the Ninja Gaiden IP was never anywhere near close to being exclusive to Nintendo platforms back in the day, there’s no question its most popular incarnation in the old days was the trilogy of cinematic action games on Nintendo’s 8-bit console. The brand by and large went dormant for a while after that, only to make a comeback in a very unlikely place: Microsoft’s Xbox. This was a whole new take on Ninja Gaiden, guided by a development team whose primary experience up until then was in making fighting games. That game got a special edition upgrade, then a port to the PlayStation 3, and then a pair of sequels on both Microsoft and Sony’s platforms.

The modern incarnation of Ryu Hayabusa has made a few appearances on Nintendo platforms over the years, but up until now the only installment of the new series to pop up was the enhanced version of Ninja Gaiden 3, subtitled Razor’s Edge. A considerable improvement over the original version, but not really a patch on the first couple of games. Meanwhile, the PlayStation Vita of all things saw ports of the first two games. But hey, here we are. Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection brings versions of all three of the main chapters in the stylish action series to the Switch. A trio of games from the PlayStation 3/Xbox 360 generation shouldn’t be too much of a hassle to get running well on the Switch, should they?

Nothing is truly simple in this world, I suppose. First, let’s check specifically what we’ve got here. First is Ninja Gaiden Sigma, which originally appeared on the PlayStation 3 but was ported to the Vita. The version we get here falls somewhere between those two, and it actually runs really well. The game it’s based on is the best in the series, and having such a nice version of it playable at home or on the go is welcome. Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 again feels like it falls somewhere between the PlayStation 3 and Vita version, though a bit closer to the latter. It’s a really fun game even if it’s not as tight as the first, but this port has a lot of trouble keeping consistent performance when the action gets hot. The same can be said for Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge.

That means there have to be some provisos to what would otherwise be a very sunny recommendation for Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection. The price is great, the first game has been ported quite well, and you get a lot of great ninja action in one package. On the other hand, both the second and third game really should be running smoother than they are here. It can be really annoying on the more challenging difficulty levels to have the framerate and resolution flopping all over the place. I’m still going to give this a thumbs-up, but if you are sensitive to framerate and/or resolution inconsistency, you should probably stick with the original versions.

SwitchArcade Score: 4/5

Shieldwall Chronicles: Swords of the North ($7.99)

Shieldwall Chronicles is going to feel immediately familiar to anyone who has played either of the Demon’s Rise games that have been released on the Switch. Developer Wave Light Games has a basic style and each game tends to refine its gameplay systems rather than redefine them. You choose your party from thirty different characters, with fifteen varied classes. There’s a lengthy campaign on offer, with lots of loot and the usual morale system to add spice to the proceedings. The weaknesses are no surprise, either. Hits lack impact, the UI can be a bit cumbersome, and the tutorial is basically a big text dump. In spite of the rough edges, there’s a lot to enjoy here for your eight bucks provided you didn’t get your fill with the Demon’s Rise games already.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

New Releases

Minute of Islands ($19.99)

The Switch sure has a lot of neat adventure games. Here’s another one! A young mechanic named Mo is on a quest to save the world. No biggie. Well, maybe I shouldn’t say “save the world". Mo is a mechanic, and as such she aims to repair the world. It is pretty broken. Wield a special tool called the Omni Switch and solve a variety of puzzles as you peel away the layers of the story. Not to give away too much, but this is one of those games where nothing turns out to be what it initially looks like. Not too shabby, especially if you’re into unusual tales.

Beasts of Maravilla Island ($9.99)

Lots of games about photography recently, eh? In this one, you play as a wildlife photographer who travels to a magical island. The magic that protects Maravilla Island is starting to fade as humans stop believing in its power. You have to explore the island and take pictures of its fantastical inhabitants to make people believe again. There are more than 50 creatures to interact with and take pictures of, puzzles that you’ll need to solve with the assistance of said creatures, and three ecological zones to explore. I’m a bit spent on this concept for the moment, but if you’re hungry for more shutterbug antics, this seems like a solid choice.

Zombiotik ($12.41)

Here’s a party game where you need to outrun a deadly infection coming from a contaminated yogurt crate for as long as you can manage. If you get caught, you’ll become a zombie and can then join in on the efforts to take down the remaining human players. Up to eight people can play in local multiplayer, though that obviously means that handheld mode is out. If you like you can play by yourself, but something tells me the game isn’t going to shine its brightest in that way.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

A storm is coming. Nintendo has already announced that a huge sale with hundreds of titles will be kicking off on Tuesday, and that’s tomorrow for those keeping track at home like some decadent baron. I obviously won’t be doing an exhaustive list of those, so please look forward to some highlights when that sale kicks off. For now, we’ve got the weekend sales to look at. Some new games began their launch sales, and there are a few titles like Sakura in Gameland that we don’t see in these lists too often. Still, nothing really jumping out at me there and with tomorrow likely bringing some big deals, you may want to keep your cash in your pocket. As for the outbox, the most notable thing going on there is the end of the latest Ubisoft sale. Grab what you need, as it may be a harrowing ten days or so before the next Ubisoft sale.

Select New Games on Sale

Hatsune Miku Logic Paint S ($12.60 from $14.00 until 6/16)
Sakura in Gameland ($4.99 from $9.99 until 6/16)
Brawl Chess ($4.99 from $9.99 until 6/18)
Little Mouse’s Encyclopedia ($9.74 from $12.99 until 6/18)
Bear’s Restaurant ($11.69 from $12.99 until 6/18)
Treadnauts ($8.99 from $14.99 until 6/19)
Top Run ($3.24 from $4.99 until 6/20)
Mahjong Adventure ($5.19 from $7.99 until 6/20)
Highway Haste ($5.99 from $19.99 until 6/21)
Boom Blaster ($3.99 from $4.99 until 6/27)
Die With Glory ($5.59 from $6.99 until 6/27)
Yoko and Yuki: Dr. Rat’s Revenge ($3.99 from $4.99 until 6/27)
Son of a Witch ($5.99 from $14.99 until 6/28)
Quest for the Golden Duck ($1.99 from $9.99 until 6/28)
Rogue Bit ($1.99 from $4.99 until 6/28)


Watermelon Party ($1.99 from $4.99 until 6/28)
Seeders Puzzle Reboot ($1.99 from $9.99 until 6/28)
Windmill Kings ($1.99 from $9.99 until 6/28)
Lots of Slots ($3.99 from $7.99 until 6/28)
Yuppie Psycho ($8.33 from $16.66 until 6/28)
The Game is ON ($1.99 from $4.99 until 6/28)
Bring Them Home ($2.39 from $2.99 until 6/28)
Golf Story ($7.49 from $14.99 until 6/29)
West of Loathing ($6.93 from $11.00 until 6/30)
The Seven Chambers ($6.99 from $9.99 until 7/1)
Emily Archer & Curse of Tutankhamun ($6.99 from $9.99 until 7/1)
Mysterious Case of Jekyll & Hyde ($6.99 from $9.99 until 7/1)
Faircroft’s Antiques: THoGK ($6.99 from $9.99 until 7/1)
Skee-Ball ($2.49 from $4.99 until 7/1)
Julie’s Sweets ($4.99 from $9.99 until 7/1)
Q.U.B.E 2 ($14.99 from $19.99 until 7/1)


The Drama Queen Murder ($4.99 from $9.99 until 7/1)
Farm Mystery ($4.99 from $9.99 until 7/1)
Black Rainbow ($2.99 from $9.99 until 7/1)
Brightstone Mysteries: PH ($2.99 from $9.99 until 7/1)
Country Tales ($2.99 from $9.99 until 7/1)
Red Crow Mysteries: Legion ($2.99 from $9.99 until 7/1)
Burn! SuperTrucks ($2.87 from $7.99 until 7/2)
FootGoal! Tiki Taka ($1.99 from $4.99 until 7/2)
Crossbow: Bloodnight ($2.49 from $4.99 until 7/2)
Sun Wukong VS Robot ($3.99 from $4.99 until 7/2)
Vampire: The Masquerade CoNY ($7.99 from $19.99 until 7/2)
Vampire: The Masquerade SoNY ($7.79 from $12.99 utnil 7/2)
Cargo Crew Driver ($5.99 from $11.99 until 7/2)
Multilevel Parking Driver ($8.99 from $11.99 until 7/2)
Dungeonoid ($2.44 from $6.99 until 7/2)
WildTrax Racing ($2.79 from $7.99 until 7/2)
2in1: App Drive & Serial Killer/Sniper ($1.99 from $4.99 until 7/3)
Unrailed! ($9.99 from $19.99 until 7/3)
Red Ball Escape ($1.99 from $2.99 until 7/4)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, Tuesday, June 15th

8-Ball Pocket ($2.03 from $5.99 until 6/15)
All Walls Must Fall ($2.99 from $9.99 until 6/15)
Assassin’s Creed III: Remastered ($15.99 from $39.99 until 6/15)
BFF or Die ($4.79 from $7.99 until 6/15)
Blastful ($1.99 from $3.99 until 6/15)
Boot Hill Bounties ($7.49 from $14.99 until 6/15)
Boot Hill Heroes ($6.99 from $9.99 until 6/15)
Brunch Club ($3.62 from $14.49 until 6/15)
Caretaker ($1.99 from $7.99 until 6/15)
Caveman Chuck: Prehistoric Adv. ($2.00 from $4.00 until 6/15)
Child of Light Ultimate ($4.99 from $19.99 until 6/15)
Circuit Dude ($1.99 from $4.99 until 6/15)
Dark Quest 2 ($2.74 from $10.99 until 6/15)
Dark Tower: RPG Dungeon Puzzle ($2.50 from $5.00 until 6/15)
Despotism 3k ($2.74 from $10.99 until 6/15)


Dreaming Canvas ($1.99 from $4.99 until 6/15)
Drink More Glurp ($6.69 from $9.99 until 6/15)
Event Horizon ($1.99 from $5.99 until 6/15)
Farabel ($1.99 from $9.99 until 6/15)
Fluxteria ($1.99 from $6.99 until 6/15)
Freedom Finger ($4.99 from $14.99 until 6/15)
FunBox Party ($1.99 from $2.49 until 6/15)
Go! Birdie ($2.49 from $4.99 until 6/15)
Grood ($1.99 from $4.99 until 6/15)
Hungry Shark World ($2.49 from $9.99 until 6/15)
Inside Grass: A Little Adventure ($2.49 from $4.99 until 6/15)
Jeopardy! ($7.99 from $19.99 until 6/15)
JigSaw Abundance ($1.99 from $4.99 until 6/15)
JigSaw Solace ($1.99 from $3.99 until 6/15)
Jurassic Pinball ($2.00 from $2.99 until 6/15)


Just Dance 2020 ($19.99 from $39.99 until 6/15)
Magic Nations ($4.99 from $9.99 until 6/15)
Memory Lane ($1.99 from $4.99 until 6/15)
Monopoly ($9.99 from $39.99 until 6/15)
Mushroom Quest ($1.99 from $2.99 until 6/15)
Nerved ($1.99 from $8.99 until 6/15)
Overdriven Reloaded: Special ($1.99 from $7.99 until 6/15)
Pew Paw ($1.99 from $6.99 until 6/15)
Rayman Legends Definitive ($9.99 from $39.99 until 6/15)
Return of the Heir ($2.49 from $4.99 until 6/15)
RISK Global Domination ($9.99 from $19.99 until 6/15)
South Park: The Fractured But Whole ($14.99 from $59.99 until 6/15)
South Park: The Stick of Truth ($11.99 from $29.99 until 6/15)
Sports Party ($9.99 from $39.99 until 6/15)
Starlink: Battle for Atlas ($14.99 from $59.99 until 6/15)


Starlink: BfA Deluxe Edition ($23.99 from $79.99 until 6/15)
Story of a Gladiator ($2.74 from $10.99 until 6/15)
Trials Rising ($5.99 from $19.99 until 6/15)
Trials Rising Gold ($8.99 from $29.99 until 6/15)
Trivial Pursuit Live! ($9.99 from $19.99 until 6/15)
Valiant Hearts: The Great War ($4.99 from $19.99 until 6/15)
War-Torn Dreams ($1.99 from $6.99 until 6/15)
Wheel of Fortune ($7.99 from $19.99 until 6/15)
World Soccer Pinball ($2.00 from $2.99 until 6/15)

That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with… whatever the day brings, I suppose. Perhaps some surprise releases. Certainly some sales. Maybe a review or two. Probably some news. The chaos is coming, and no amount of angry guys named Jack are going to be enough to contain it. I hope you all have a great Monday, and as always, thanks for reading!