Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for March 2nd, 2022. While Wednesday is normally a quiet day, there are a few interesting things going on this time. First up, our pal Mikhail has a full review of Konami’s roguelite revival GetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon. There are a few new releases today worth considering, though you may have seen them on other platforms before. There’s also a rather robust list of new sales to check out, along with the expiring discounts of the day. Let’s get started!
Reviews & Mini-Views
GetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon ($24.99)
Ever since GetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon was showcased by Konami at a Nintendo Direct, I was immediately sold on the aesthetic. The ukiyo-e inspired style looked gorgeous in that reveal, and I grabbed GetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon on Steam the moment it was available in early access. I make it a point to try and avoid buying early access releases, but the inclusion of the original Famicom game and bonus art and music for free made it an easy purchase last year. Following that launch, GetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon on Steam has gotten a few updates and it hit 1.0 alongside the release of the Nintendo Switch version a few weeks ago.
Unlike the original game, GetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon is an action roguelike similar to Dead Cells and to some degree, Blasphemous. It has a deep weapon and power-up system, multiple weapon styles, and some gorgeous boss and enemy designs. It felt pretty great back in early access on Steam, and now that the Nintendo Switch version has been released, some aspects of GetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon leave me disappointed, but there is room to grow here.
The core gameplay and combat is fun, but the progression feels very slow compared to other games in the genre. It will take you a few runs to not only get used to the systems, but also actually feel like you’re getting somewhere. I was hoping the progression would be addressed from early access, but even now on Nintendo Switch and the 1.0 PC release, it feels too slow.
Visually, I love GetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon, but some people might have trouble with clarity. There is a lot of visual noise during busy encounters, and while you can change the blood color, it still might feel a bit much for some. It is worth noting that I have had a lot of issues with background scrolling and visuals in Dead Cells on Nintendo Switch and Ori and the Will of the Wisps on Xbox, but I had no trouble with it here.
Audio design here is very good. The sound effects for combat and the environment are well done with good music. I wouldn’t really listen to the soundtrack outside the game like I do with Dead Cells, but the composers did a good job here.
Barring the gameplay-related issues, GetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon on Nintendo Switch has a few annoying technical issues. Compared to the PC version, it is noticeably less responsive. Even when playing on an old laptop, GetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon feels like you’re underwater on Nintendo Switch sometimes. Performance targets 30fps on Switch, but I noticed some slowdown. While I got used to the performance, I didn’t get over the input lag. Hopefully Konami can address this in future updates.
After a few content updates, GetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon has the potential to be an essential in the genre. Right now, it still feels like an early access game and one that has annoying technical issues on Nintendo Switch. Its biggest draw is the aesthetic and combat, but it needs to be polished and tweaked in its current state to be an easy recommendation when you have much better games in the genre on Nintendo Switch priced similarly. -Mikhail Madnani
SwitchArcade Score: 3/5
New Releases
Primordia ($14.99)
Oh hey, this game. Primordia has been out for a while on other platforms, and even came out on mobile several years ago. TouchArcade reviewed it then, and it seems our person really loved it. This is a fairly challenging point-and-click style adventure game about a future where humanity has slipped into mythology and machines populate the world. But even those machines are finally starting to fail, with power sources becoming scarcer and scarcer. This is a big problem for our protagonist Horatio, whose power source is suddenly stolen by a rogue robot. If you can’t recover it, you won’t survive. Neat game. I’ll be doing my own review of this Switch version early next week.
Zombie Rollerz: Pinball Heroes ($14.99)
This is a pinball adventure with roguelite elements where you need to use precision shots to fend off the zombie hordes. There are ten different heroes to choose from, each with their own skills and abilities, and you’ll be battling across four worlds with procedurally-generated challenges and eleven nasty bosses. This game has been available on Apple Arcade for a while, but if you prefer to play on Switch or just want some kind of semi-permanent ownership of it, here you go. I’ll have a review of this one soon if you need more details.
35MM ($9.99)
An odd, bleak adventure game that mashes together a walking simulator with some puzzles and a bit of action. It’s a post-apocalyptic tale about a pair of travelers journeying through the wastelands of Russia after a pandemic leaves the human population hanging by a thread. That would seem tacky if this game hadn’t originally been released in 2016. It’s a very vague game plotwise, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Reception on other platforms has been decent if not great. I’d say if you like the sound of the premise, give it a shot.
Simple Mini Golf ($3.49)
Benjamin Kistler has another probable template flip for us to enjoy today. It’s a completely basic mini golf game with no sense of style or interesting hooks to it. It features forty-five holes and support for up to eight players via local hot-seat multiplayer.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
DOOM is the word of the day. We’ve got some all-time low prices on some of the DOOM games, so if you’ve been waiting to load up on them this is the moment. PQube is also doing a pretty good sale on some of its games, if you happen to be hankering for some Gal*Gun or what-have-you. Raging Loop, that’s the one to get. Good stuff. There are also some decent games in the outbox, though I imagine most of them will be back on sale before too long. Check those lists regardless.
Select New Games on Sale
Megaquarium ($12.29 from $24.59 until 3/8)
Under Leaves ($1.99 from $12.99 until 3/8)
Little Mouse’s Encyclopedia ($4.99 from $12.99 until 3/8)
DOOM Eternal ($19.79 from $59.99 until 3/9)
DOOM Eternal Deluxe ($29.69 from $89.99 until 3/9)
DOOM 2016 ($9.99 from $39.99 until 3/9)
DOOM Slayers Collection ($17.49 from $49.99 until 3/9)
DOOM 1993 ($2.49 from $4.99 until 3/9)
DOOM II Classic ($2.49 from $4.99 until 3/9)
DOOM 3 ($2.49 from $9.99 until 3/9)
DOOM 64 ($2.49 from $4.99 until 3/9)
Raging Loop ($14.99 from $29.99 until 3/14)
Tokyo School Life ($7.49 from $14.99 until 3/14)
Kotodama 7 Mysteries of Fujisawa ($2.99 from $29.99 until 3/14)
Gal*Gun 2 ($9.89 from $29.99 until 3/14)
Gal*Gun 2 Complete ($26.99 from $59.99 until 3/14)
Gal*Gun Returns ($32.49 from $49.99 until 3/14)
Gun Gun Pixies ($14.99 from $49.99 until 3/14)
Our World is Ended. ($24.99 from $49.99 until 3/14)
Dusk Diver ($11.54 from $34.99 until 3/14)
All-Star Fruit Racing ($3.99 from $19.99 until 3/14)
Valthirian Arc Hero School ($7.49 from $14.99 until 3/14)
Zengeon ($13.99 from $19.99 until 3/14)
Root Letter: Last Answer ($8.99 from $29.99 until 3/14)
Warborn ($9.99 from $24.99 until 3/14)
Supermarket Shriek ($10.99 from $19.99 until 3/14)
Hell Warders ($7.49 from $14.99 until 3/14)
Nippon Marathon ($7.49 from $14.99 until 3/14)
Brief Battles ($2.24 from $14.99 until 3/16)
In My Shadow ($9.00 from $12.00 until 3/17)
The Unexpected Quest ($7.50 from $15.00 until 3/17)
Zotrix Starglider ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/21)
Kingdom Tales ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/21)
Kingdom Tales 2 ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/21)
Caveman Tales ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/21)
Family Vacation California ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/21)
Family Vacation 2: Road Trip ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/21)
Kaptain Brawe A Brawe New World ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/21)
Where Angels Cry ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/21)
Where Angels Cry TotF CE ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/21)
Tales from the Dragon Mountain ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/21)
Tales from the Dragon Mountain 2 ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/21)
The Last Days ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/21)
Mary Kay Andrews The Fixer Upper ($4.99 from $9.99 until 3/21)
Fate of the Pharaoh ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/21)
The Man with the Ivory Cane ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/21)
Ghost: Elisa Cameron ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/21)
1912 Titanic Mystery ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/21)
Faircroft’s Antiques ToT CE ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/21)
Myths of Orion: LftN ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/21)
Jewel Match Solitaire Winter ($7.99 from $9.99 until 3/21)
I Love Finding Pups! ($7.99 from $9.99 until 3/21)
I Love Finding Cats! ($7.99 from $9.99 until 3/21)
Suicide Guy ($1.99 from $7.99 until 3/22)
Suicide Guy: Sleepin Deeply ($1.99 from $5.99 until 3/22)
Divine Ascent ($3.49 from $4.99 until 3/22)
Kiai Resonance ($3.49 from $4.99 until 3/22)
Mind Scanners ($12.74 from $16.99 until 3/22)
Fly Punch Boom! ($5.99 from $14.99 until 3/22)
Stranded Deep ($17.49 from $24.99 until 3/22)
War of Stealth Assassin ($3.99 from $9.98 until 3/22)
Pacific Wings ($1.99 from $4.99 until 3/22)
Flip the Buddy ($2.39 from $2.99 until 3/22)
Adventure Field 4 ($4.99 from $9.99 until 3/22)
Isolation Story ($4.99 from $9.99 until 3/22)
Croc’s World ($1.99 from $4.99 until 3/22)
Croc’s World 2 ($1.99 from $5.99 until 3/22)
Croc’s World Run ($1.99 from $5.99 until 3/22)
9-Ball Pocket ($2.69 from $5.99 until 3/22)
Birds and Blocks ($1.99 from $4.99 until 3/22)
Airfield Mania ($1.99 from $5.99 until 3/22)
Super Arcade Soccer ($1.99 from $6.99 until 3/22)
Water Balloon Mania ($1.99 from $4.99 until 3/22)
Jewel Fever 2 ($1.99 from $4.99 until 3/22)
Yellow Fins ($1.99 from $4.99 until 3/22)
Jewel Rotation ($1.99 from $4.99 until 3/22)
16-Bit Soccer ($1.99 from $4.99 until 3/22)
Wild Pinball Bundle ($3.59 from $8.99 until 3/22)
Grand Prix Rock ‘N Racing ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/22)
WildTrax Racing ($1.99 from $7.99 until 3/22)
Rock ‘N Racing Off Road DX ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/22)
Power Racing Bundle 3 ($4.99 from $24.99 until 3/22)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, Thursday, March 3rd
#Funtime ($4.48 from $14.99 until 3/3)
Almost There: The Platformer ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/3)
Amnesia Collection ($5.99 from $29.99 until 3/3)
Antiquia Lost ($6.49 from $12.99 until 3/3)
Archlion Saga ($2.99 from $4.99 until 3/3)
Blasphemous ($6.24 from $24.99 until 3/3)
Bonds of the Skies ($6.49 from $12.99 until 3/3)
Breakpoint ($2.22 from $4.99 until 3/3)
Car Driving School Sim ($6.99 from $13.99 until 3/3)
Carnage: Battle Arena ($4.49 from $14.99 until 3/3)
Chronus Arc ($6.49 from $12.99 until 3/3)
Circa Infinity ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/3)
Cozy Grove ($10.49 from $14.99 until 3/3)
Cris Tales ($15.99 from $39.99 until 3/3)
Death Road to Canada ($7.49 from $14.99 until 3/3)
Deleveled ($3.44 from $9.99 until 3/3)
Dicey Dungeons ($7.49 from $14.99 until 3/3)
Dragon Lapis ($8.99 from $14.99 until 3/3)
Everdark Tower ($2.99 from $4.99 until 3/3)
Fracter ($3.11 from $6.99 until 3/3)
Golf With Your Friends ($4.99 from $19.99 until 3/3)
Gurgamoth ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/3)
Hollow Knight ($7.50 from $15.00 until 3/3)
Illusion of L’Phalcia ($6.49 from $12.99 until 3/3)
Jump King ($6.49 from $12.99 until 3/3)
Legend of the Tetrarchs ($7.49 from $14.99 until 3/3)
Mail Mole ($9.99 from $14.99 until 3/3)
Monster Sanctuary ($6.79 from $19.99 until 3/3)
Moving Out ($6.24 from $24.99 until 3/3)
Mr. Shifty ($3.74 from $14.99 until 3/3)
My Time at Portia ($7.49 from $29.99 until 3/3)
Neon Abyss ($9.99 from $19.99 until 3/3)
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl ($24.99 from $49.99 until 3/3)
Nickelodeon Kart Racers ($9.89 from $29.99 until 3/3)
Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2 ($19.99 from $39.99 until 3/3)
Overcooked Special Edition ($4.99 from $19.99 until 3/3)
Overcooked! 2 ($6.24 from $24.99 until 3/3)
Override 2: SML Ultraman Deluxe ($9.99 from $39.99 until 3/3)
Party Hard ($7.49 from $14.99 until 3/3)
Party Hard 2 ($9.99 from $19.99 until 3/3)
Piczle Puzzle & Watch Collection ($3.99 from $7.99 until 3/3)
Roundguard ($7.89 from $19.99 until 3/3)
Ruinverse ($8.99 from $14.99 until 3/3)
Rustler ($16.49 from $29.99 until 3/3)
Seek Hearts ($7.49 from $14.99 until 3/3)
Signs of the Sojourner ($14.99 from $19.99 until 3/3)
Space Otter Charlie ($9.66 from $14.99 until 3/3)
Streets of Rogue ($9.99 from $19.99 until 3/3)
Strikey Sisters ($2.99 from $9.99 until 3/3)
Sunless Sea: Zubmariner Edition ($11.99 from $19.99 until 3/3)
The Ambassador FT ($5.17 from $14.99 until 3/3)
The Bridge ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/3)
The Escapists 2 ($4.99 from $19.99 until 3/3)
The Escapists: CE ($2.99 from $14.99 until 3/3)
The Procession to Calvary ($11.24 from $14.99 until 3/3)
The Survivalists ($6.24 from $24.99 until 3/3)
Totally Reliable Delivery Service ($7.49 from $14.99 until 3/3)
Tower of Time ($14.99 from $24.99 until 3/3)
Trine: Ultimate Collection ($9.99 from $49.99 until 3/3)
Tumblestone ($1.99 from $14.99 until 3/3)
Uncanny Valley ($2.49 from $9.99 until 3/3)
Underhero ($8.49 from $16.99 until 3/3)
Unto the End ($16.24 from $24.99 until 3/3)
Worms Rumble ($3.74 from $14.99 until 3/3)
Worms W.M.D ($5.99 from $29.99 until 3/3)
Woven ($1.99 from $19.99 until 3/3)
Yoku’s Island Express ($4.99 from $19.99 until 3/3)
Yooka-Laylee ($9.99 from $39.99 until 3/3)
Yooka-Laylee & the Impossible Lair ($7.49 from $29.99 until 3/3)
That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with the first blast of new releases to end out the week, with titles like A Musical Story, Quest for Infamy, Gunborg, and more leading the charge. We’ll have summaries of all of them as usual, plus whatever sales roll in during the next day. I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday, and as always, thanks for reading!
