Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for August 16th, 2021. In today’s article, we’ve got a bit of news about upcoming releases, reviews of a handful of games including Dreamscaper, Dragon Star Varnir, Kosmonavtes: Escape Reality, and Super Hiking League DX, plus summaries of all of the new releases and sales that popped up over the weekend. We’ve also got a list of expiring sales for you to consider. It’s a big one today, friends. Let’s get to work!
News
‘Espgaluda II’ Coming to Switch September 9th
Given how popular shoot-em-ups have proven to be on the Switch, Cave’s formal arrival on the platform feels rather late. But they’re making up for lost time quickly, friends. A couple of months back, Mushihimesama came to the Switch via publisher Live Wire in a very nice, reasonably-priced port. The second game in that initiative is now on the horizon, and it’s a real corker: Espgaluda II. Originally released in the arcade in 2005, it has previously seen ports to the Xbox 360 and both iOS and Android. This will be its first new port in more than a decade, however. At present, Espgaluda II is set for release on the Switch on September 9th in Japan. While no release date has been announced yet for the West, you can probably expect it to be on that date or soon after.
‘Bloodrayne Betrayal: Fresh Bites’ Also Coming September 9th
Yeah, September 9th is already looking to be one of those days. Announced a couple of months back, Bloodrayne Betrayal: Fresh Bites brings WayForward’s slick 2D action take on the B-game vampire’s adventures to a variety of platforms including the Switch in a fancy new form. The game has now appeared in the upcoming games section of the eShop with a price of $19.99 and a release date of September 9th. I enjoyed going through this challenging game back in the day, and I’m rather interested to see how it holds up for me. If you haven’t played it before, do keep an eye on it. It’s pretty much the best thing Bloodrayne was ever involved with.
Reviews & Mini-Views
Dreamscaper ($24.99)
Roguelikes/lites that try to have a story are walking a dangerous tightrope, but Dreamscaper pulls it off quite well. Basically, between each run in the “dream world" you are kicked back to the “real world" where you can do certain things or make connections with people to improve your stats and abilities. It has an impact on the action-roguelite gameplay, but it’s also the vehicle through which the game does much of its storytelling. The great thing is that both parts work really well. The roguelite bits are enjoyable and satisfying, with an emphasis on careful timing and good strategy. It’s not “best in genre" stuff, but it’s very good. The moody atmosphere in the story segments and the light social mechanics gives the game a unique quality that helps it stand out in a busy genre.
The heavy nature of the story means that this game probably isn’t going to have the wide appeal of more humorous tales like Hades, but if you’re in the mood for something a little more introspective with some well thought-out mechanics backing it, Dreamscaper might fit the bill for you. This Switch version handles itself well, especially if you’re used to the usual slightly-long loading times that most ports to this platform seem to bring with them. On the sunnier side, I think this game benefits greatly from being on a handheld. It runs on the tougher side as games of this sort go, and digesting in smaller bites is that much easier with portable play as an option. Dreamscaper is a good choice for roguelite fans seeking their next challenge, and this Switch version is a great way to play it.
SwitchArcade Score: 4/5
Dragon Star Varnir ($29.99)
Ah, the world of Switch ports. Some are good, some are bad. Some of the good ones are unexpectedly good, and some of the bad ones are unexpectedly bad. I’m sorry to say that Dragon Star Varnir is of the latter sort. While this was originally a PlayStation 4 game, it was not a particularly attractive PlayStation 4 game. It’s hard to understand why something so humble should have such severe performance issues on the Switch, but this game certainly does. The exploration segments in particular are plagued with a horrible framerate and a very low resolution. Battles are a bit better, but they still don’t look great. Well, at least the cut-scenes aren’t too bad.
It’s unfortunate as Dragon Star Varnir is in most other respects one of the better efforts I’ve seen from Idea Factory and Compile Heart. The story, which sees a witch hunter turned into a witch and dealing with the fallout of that, is better written than I would have expected. The characters are more than a little familiar, but I can’t say I disliked them. The turn-based battle system brings elevation and positioning into the mix for satisfying results. There are also various choices to make that will have an impact on your affinity with other characters and how things ultimately wrap up. It’s a solid mid-tier JRPG. If you think you can deal with the technical issues, you may want to give it a look.
SwitchArcade Score: 3/5
Kosmonavtes: Escape Reality ($3.99)
This is a fairly short and simple adventure game. It follows the story of a woman who is hoping to join the Kosmonavtes and go to space. She seems to attract situations that require elaborate puzzle solving, but it all works out for her in the end. There are eight chapters here, each with two or three screens each. Generally each chapter features a number of item puzzles, one locked box of some kind that requires careful observation, and one or two longer logic puzzles to finish it off.
It’s not too difficult, and it only takes about an hour to get through it all if you don’t get stuck. If you do, there’s a really good hint system available. The art is well-done, for however much of it is here. It’s fun while it lasts, and the low price tag works in its favor. Kosmonavtes: Escape Reality is a decent choice for beginners to the adventure genre, or those who just want to chill out for a bit with a low-stress game.
SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5
Super Hiking League DX ($4.99)
There are no two ways about it, this game is at its best if you’ve got someone of a comparable level of skill to play it with. The whole concept of doing hiking races to the tops of each stage is a fun one, but the computer opponent seems to have two very distinct tracks: bumbling fool and hiking savant. The stages themselves aren’t exactly challenging enough to entertain without a well-matched opponent to hinder you. The hook mechanics are interesting but a little hard to wrap your head around, and in many levels you won’t even need to bother with them. Mastering them will give you an advantage, so there is some incentive there if you’re playing against another person. As you push into later levels, things get a little trickier. Sadly, the harder the stage gets the more likely it is that one of the two players will fall behind and be unable to catch up.
Super Hiking League DX has a cute look to it, the music is nice, and it’s a decent enough game to play. While the single-player mode is an amusing enough romp, if you don’t have another person to play with, the game gets old pretty quickly. Even the extra modes can only do so much, though the time attack does yield some fun for those who like to shave seconds off their best times. With a second player in tow, it can be a different matter. What were once fairly simple platforming challenges become utter chaos (in a good way!) if you have an opponent who is evenly matched with you. Those with a gap in skills will unfortunately find an even worse experience as there is no real way to catch up if you fall behind. There’s a good idea here and it almost pulls it off, but it just doesn’t quite gel to the point of reaching its full potential.
SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5
New Releases
Road 96 ($19.96)
It’s called Road 96 because the game takes place in 1996. Anyway, this is a procedurally-generated road trip game, with no two trips exactly alike. Meet interesting characters, make critical decisions, and watch the results of your actions play out. You’re traveling across a fictional authoritarian nation trying to reach the border and, presumably, freedom. There are thousands of different routes to take, and plenty of different things that can happen as you go down them. Make good choices and rely on your reflexes when you have to and you just might make it. I haven’t been able to try it yet, so I can’t really make any recommendations about it one way or another.
Stay Safe ($5.99)
Stay Safe is a somewhat simplified roguelike whose chief gimmick comes in the form of copies of other players. As you go on your happy dungeon-crawling way, you will occasionally run into copies of other players who will attack you with all of their stats, abilities, and gear. If you can defeat them, you will become the champion of that floor and your copy will haunt other players until it is defeated. Neat. The dungeon is procedurally generated of course, and your character is randomized each time you play. Can you conquer all 35 floors and escape? I played a bit of this one via its computer version and it can definitely be capricious in terms of its difficulty. It was also very prone to crashing, so I hope at least that part is better here. Not a bad game for its price, though.
Chess Gambit ($10.70)
Well, if you’re going to cover commonly trodden ground, the least you can do is give it an interesting coat of paint. Chess Gambit has some neat piece designs and a proper 3D board and environment, with a 2D option once the razzle-dazzle wears off. There are nine different levels of AI intelligence to play against, or you can go against another human player in local multiplayer. You can play with the buttons or use the touch screen. Beyond that, it’s just another chess game.
Volleyball Challenge ($4.99)
This is a pretty simple volleyball game from the folks at Ultimate Games. Use an assortment of super powers to get the edge in the match, like fireballs, super speed, and so on. As you win matches you’ll be able to upgrade your characters’ stats, making them stronger and able to last longer. You can also get a bevy of outfits to deck your players out in, because that’s a nice way to extend the lifespan of a simple game. Play against the computer opponent or challenge a friend or family member in local multiplayer. Nothing too fancy, but it seems fine enough for what it is.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
A lot of the usual weekend stuff, but there are a few interesting games in the list. Neo Cab is a decent pick-up for the price, and you really can’t go wrong with any of the games from No More Robots, especially Hypnospace Outlaw. As for the outbox, I’d say it’s worth considering Crysis Remastered and SmileBASIC 4 if you’re looking for less common discounts. Most of the rest will be back around before too long.
Select New Games on Sale
Silk ($1.99 from $12.99 until 8/20)
Arietta of Spirits ($17.99 from $19.99 until 8/20)
Carnage: Battle Arena ($4.49 from $14.99 until 8/20)
City Driving Simulator ($5.99 from $11.99 until 8/20)
4×4 Dirt Track ($5.99 from $11.99 until 8/20)
Car Driving School Simulator ($6.99 from $13.99 until 8/20)
Hyper Sentinel ($1.99 from $7.99 until 8/22)
Connect Color Dots ($7.95 from $9.95 until 8/22)
Hero Express ($2.99 from $4.99 until 8/22)
Firework ($1.99 from $14.99 until 8/22)
Mech Rage ($1.99 from $9.99 until 8/23)
Lily of the Hollow ($4.89 from $6.99 until 8/23)
The Last Campfire ($5.99 from $14.99 until 8/23)
Among Us ($4.00 from $5.00 until 8/23)
Soulslayer ($5.49 from $9.99 until 8/23)
Youkai Poetry ($5.19 from $6.99 until 8/23)
Reverse Memories ($5.19 from $6.99 until 8/23)
CrunchTime ($1.99 from $3.99 until 8/23)
Gaokao.Love.100Days ($6.99 from $11.99 until 8/23)
Event Horizon: Space Defense ($1.99 from $6.99 until 8/23)
Funny Bunny Adventures ($1.99 from $4.99 until 8/23)
Aborigenus ($1.99 from $4.99 until 8/24)
Diabolic ($1.99 from $4.99 until 8/24)
Girabox ($1.99 from $2.49 until 8/24)
Swaps & Traps ($1.99 from $8.99 until 8/24)
Island Maze ($1.99 from $2.99 until 8/24)
Pixel Gladiator ($1.99 from $6.99 until 8/24)
Tactical Mind 2 ($1.99 from $4.99 until 8/24)
Super Mutant Alien Assault ($1.99 from $9.99 until 8/27)
The Church in the Darkness ($3.99 from $19.99 until 8/27)
Neo Cab ($3.99 from $19.99 until 8/27)
In Other Waters ($10.49 from $14.99 until 8/27)
Genesis Noir ($10.49 from $14.99 until 8/27)
Sudoku Classic ($2.49 from $5.99 until 8/27)
Horned Knight ($4.19 from $5.99 until 8/27)
Framed Collection ($3.99 from $9.99 until 8/27)
Think of the Children ($2.59 from $12.99 until 8/27)
The Stillness of the Wind ($3.89 from $12.99 until 8/27)
Monstrum ($6.99 from $29.99 until 8/28)
Truck Driver ($29.99 from $49.99 until 8/28)
Defunct ($1.99 from $14.99 until 8/28)
Xenon Racer ($2.49 from $29.99 until 8/28)
Among the Sleep: Enhanced ($6.99 from $24.99 until 8/28)
Adam’s Venture: Origins ($6.99 from $39.99 until 8/28)
Dog Duty ($1.99 from $19.99 until 8/28)
Guards ($2.49 from $4.99 until 8/30)
Genetic Disaster ($2.99 from $14.99 until 8/30)
Rocket Rabbit: Coin Race ($1.99 from $7.99 until 8/30)
Switchy Road DeluX ($1.99 from $5.99 until 8/30)
Sector 781 ($3.98 from $5.91 until 8/31)
Aery: Little Bird Adventure ($3.49 from $6.99 until 8/31)
Aery: Sky Castle ($4.99 from $9.99 until 8/31)
Bridge Strike ($1.99 from $6.99 until 8/31)
Tanky Tanks ($2.99 from $5.99 until 8/31)
Retro Tanks ($2.99 from $5.99 until 8/31)
Techno Tanks ($2.49 from $4.99 until 8/31)
Life of Fly 2 ($4.99 from $9.99 until 8/31)
Super Arcade Soccer 2021 ($4.90 from $7.00 until 9/1)
Moto Racer 4 ($1.99 from $14.90 until 9/2)
Super Chariot ($1.99 from $14.90 until 9/2)
Toki ($1.99 from $14.90 until 9/2)
Offroad Racing: Buggy X ATV X Moto ($1.99 from $19.99 until 9/2)
Driving World: Aspen ($5.99 from $11.99 until 9/3)
Monster Truck XT Airport Derby ($5.99 from $11.99 until 9/3)
Barry the Bunny ($3.99 from $4.99 until 9/3)
Pop Blocks ($2.99 from $3.99 until 9/3)
.cat Milk ($1.99 from $9.99 until 9/3)
Bring Honey Home ($1.99 from $4.99 until 9/3)
Paratropic ($1.99 from $5.49 until 9/3)
Down in Bermuda ($3.99 from $19.99 until 9/3)
Speed Truck Racing ($4.99 from $9.99 until 9/3)
Saboteur! ($5.60 from $8.00 until 9/3)
Saboteur SiO ($7.69 from $10.99 until 9/3)
Construction Machines Simulator ($20.64 from $29.49 until 9/3)
Farm Mechanic Simulator ($20.64 from $29.49 until 9/3)
Truck Mechanic Simulator ($20.64 from $29.49 until 9/3)
Lust for Darkness: Dawn Edition ($10.49 from $14.99 until 9/3)
CMS ($2.99 from $14.99 until 9/4)
Zombie Hill Race ($1.99 from $9.99 until 9/4)
Hypnospace Outlaw ($7.99 from $19.99 until 9/5)
Nowhere Prophet ($9.99 from $24.99 until 9/5)
Not Tonight: Take Back Control ($2.49 from $24.99 until 9/5)
Yes, Your Grace ($7.99 from $19.99 until 9/5)
Abyss ($2.00 from $2.99 until 9/5)
99Seconds ($2.00 from $2.99 until 9/5)
99Moves ($2.00 from $2.99 until 9/5)
Rally Rock ‘N Racing ($1.99 from $9.99 until 9/5)
Metaloid: Origin ($3.49 from $6.99 until 9/5)
Rusty Spout Rescue Adv. ($3.49 from $6.99 until 9/5)
Descenders ($12.49 from $24.99 until 9/5)
The Skylia Prophecy ($3.49 from $6.99 until 9/5)
Sudoku Master ($2.00 from $2.99 until 9/5)
Park Inc ($2.00 from $2.99 until 9/5)
Galactic Trooper Armada ($2.99 from $5.99 until 9/5)
Space Aliens Invaders ($2.49 from $4.99 until 9/5)
Clay Skeet Shooting ($1.99 from $3.99 until 9/5)
Zombie Apocalypse ($1.99 from $3.99 until 9/5)
Jumping Stack Ball ($1.99 from $3.99 until 9/5)
Urban Street Fighting ($1.99 from $3.99 until 9/5)
Dynos & Ghosts ($2.49 from $4.99 until 9/5)
Ace Strike ($1.99 from $3.99 until 9/5)
Checkers Master ($2.49 from $4.99 until 9/5)
Archery Blast ($1.99 from $3.99 until 9/5)
Cosmic Top Secret ($1.99 from $9.99 until 9/5)
Zombie Raid ($1.99 from $3.99 until 9/5)
Mythic Ocean ($10.99 from $14.99 until 9/5)
Touchdown Pinball ($2.01 from $2.99 until 9/5)
Ghost Sweeper ($2.49 from $4.99 until 9/5)
Purrs in Heaven ($2.02 from $6.99 until 9/5)
Horror Pinball Bundle ($2.24 from $8.99 until 9/5)
Power Racing Bundle ($4.24 from $16.99 until 9/5)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, Tuesday, August 17th
16-Bit Soccer ($1.99 from $4.99 until 8/17)
Airfield Mania ($1.99 from $5.99 until 8/17)
Archaica: The Path of Light ($3.49 from $14.99 until 8/17)
Ary & the Secret of Seasons ($9.99 from $39.99 until 8/17)
Atomic Heist ($1.99 from $7.99 until 8/17)
Bear With Me: The Lost Robots ($1.99 from $4.99 until 8/17)
Birds and Blocks ($1.99 from $4.99 until 8/17)
Black Book ($21.24 from $24.99 until 8/17)
Breathing Fear ($1.99 from $4.99 until 8/17)
Bubsy: Paws on Fire! ($4.99 from $24.99 until 8/17)
Button City ($17.99 from $19.99 until 8/17)
Chameleon ($1.99 from $4.99 until 8/17)
Croc’s World ($1.99 from $4.99 until 8/17)
Croc’s World Run ($1.99 from $5.99 until 8/17)
Crysis Remastered ($14.99 from $29.99 until 8/17)
Dark Burial ($1.99 from $3.99 until 8/17)
Dead Dungeon ($1.99 from $4.99 until 8/17)
Drawful 2 ($5.49 from $9.99 until 8/17)
Dry Drowning ($12.49 from $24.99 until 8/17)
Dungeon and Puzzles ($6.49 from $9.99 until 8/17)
F-117A Stealth Fighter ($1.99 from $4.99 until 8/17)
Halloween Forever ($8.69 from $9.99 until 8/17)
Jewel Fever 2 ($1.99 from $4.99 until 8/17)
Jewel Rotation ($1.99 from $5.99 until 8/17)
Mad Carnage ($1.99 from $4.99 until 8/17)
Mahjong Masters ($3.99 from $5.99 until 8/17)
Ninjin: Clash of Carrots ($1.99 from $9.99 until 8/17)
One Person Story ($1.99 from $2.99 until 8/17)
Pacific Wings ($1.99 from $4.99 until 8/17)
Puss! ($2.99 from $11.99 until 8/17)
Remothered: Broken Porcelain ($14.99 from $29.99 until 8/17)
Skully ($7.49 from $29.99 until 8/17)
SmileBASIC 4 ($16.74 from $24.99 until 8/17)
Swordbreaker The Game ($1.99 from $4.99 until 8/17)
Water Balloon Mania ($1.99 from $4.99 until 8/17)
Willy Morgan & Curse of Bone Town ($19.99 from $24.99 until 8/17)
Yellow Fins ($1.99 from $4.99 until 8/17)
That’s all for today, friends. There are a few releases that are worth thinking about like Space Invaders Invincible Collection and Greak: Memories of Azur, and we’ll have summaries of everything as usual. We’ll also have whatever news and sales come along in the next day, along with one or two reviews. I hope you all have a marvelous Monday, and as always, thanks for reading!
