Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for March 15th, 2022. In today’s article, I’ve got a pair of reviews for two big games: Triangle Strategy and Persona 4 Arena Ultimax. They’re both pretty good. We’ve also got four new releases to look at, and I can’t say any of them are poor. Finally, we’ve got a big list of new sales including a bunch of Capcom games among others, and the usual list of expiring sales to consider. Let’s get started!
Reviews & Mini-Views
Triangle Strategy ($59.99)
Triangle Strategy has a few things going for it right off the hop. First of all, it’s using that nifty HD-2D thing that debuted in Octopath Traveler and dazzled many. Sure, it’s a trick we’ve seen before but it’s still uncommon enough a sight to catch the eye. Secondly, we’ve all been waiting an awfully long time for another Final Fantasy Tactics game and if you squint a little Triangle Strategy appears to be close enough.
It certainly seems to have the right pieces: political intrigue, turn-based battles on isometric fields, dialogue that is perhaps a little too flowery and verbose at times for its own good. As you make your way through the game you’ll upgrade your existing units and recruit new ones. But as you play it, you come to realize that it is its own thing, and to the extent that it tries to imitate Final Fantasy Tactics it doesn’t quite get there. A strong effort, to be sure, but if it was that easy to replicate greatness I suppose everyone would do it.
The story is set in a continent called Norzelia where bordering nations once had a bloody battle with each other known as the Saltiron War. It, uh, was them fighting over who got the salt and the iron. Scarce resources, that kind of thing. Flash forward thirty years and tensions are starting to brew again. Serenoa Wolffort, his fiancée Princess Frederica Aesfrost, his pal Prince Roland, and a cast of other characters get swept up in this growing wave. You’ll be prompted to make choices along the way, which will determine Serenoa’s convictions. Those in turn will affect which story path you’re on and who will join you or take arms against you. An interesting plot, albeit one that doesn’t really give much effort to making its characters worth caring much about.
While you will be spending a considerable amount of time reading text and advancing the story, you’ll also be doing a lot of battling. By and large these work as they do in almost any other isometric strategy RPG, from Tactics Ogre to Mercenaries Saga. But there are some interesting features to help set things apart here. You can interact with the environment in a lot of different ways, using it to your tactical advantage in a way I haven’t seen in many other games of this sort. Managed to fool your foes into getting their toes wet? Send a little shock their way and watch science work. Whatever the mechanics may lack in innovation at times, it’s all quite functional and well-built.
Although Triangle Strategy might not be the second coming of Final Fantasy Tactics that some are hoping for, it’s an excellent entry into the tactical RPG genre that should have players enraptured for dozens of hours. Just be prepared to spend an awful lot of time with characters who have a tendency to talk too much and say too little. The plot itself is intriguing enough and the gameplay mechanics compelling enough to keep you coming back, but one can’t help but pine for the character work of the games that clearly inspired this one.
SwitchArcade Score: 4/5
Persona 4 Arena Ultimax ($29.99)
If you’re a Switch owner looking for a good fighting game, particularly one rich in solo content, you’re going to really like Persona 4 Arena Ultimax. It has an absurdly extensive story mode with more plot than you’ve likely ever seen in a fighting game before. There are tons of characters drawn from Persona 3 and Persona 4 to use, and the gameplay is fast and fun. It runs really well on the Switch, too. Naturally you can play against another player, either locally or online. My limited testing with the online play was generally solid, though skipping the introduction sequence before each fight caused some serious issues in this mode.
With all that said, it’s important to acknowledge that this game is launching on other platforms at the same time. Apart from portable play, this Switch version doesn’t have much over those other versions and has a few drawbacks of note. It’s not quite as crisp in docked mode as it could be, and while the other versions will be getting rollback netcode and other additional features for smoother and more complete online play, the Switch version is going to have to make do with what it’s got right now. Those who are looking to play online in any serious capacity and have other options may want to exercise them.
Those willing to overlook a few flaws will find this to be a rather enjoyable game with a considerable amount to offer. All of the content that was available as DLC in previous versions of the game is here from the get-go, and that adds up to an awful lot. The cast of characters is great, with plenty of varied play styles for you to experiment with. It’s essentially a given by this point with a Persona game but the art style and music are both outstanding. If you haven’t played any of the previous games in the Persona series you might be a little lost with the plot, but if you can stick with the story you’ll catch up as much as you need to.
Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is a great fighter with a lot of modes and features to enjoy. While its presentation isn’t quite up to snuff with some of the other versions of the game, relative to other Switch games in the genre it carries itself well enough. Some missing online features will be of more concern to those who intend to take their battles into the digital space, but overall this is a strong pick-up for Persona fans and those looking for a little on-the-go pugilism alike.
SwitchArcade Score: 4/5
New Releases
Dawn of the Monsters ($29.99)
If you’re going to do a beat-em-up, it can’t hurt to have a gimmick. And if you’re going to have a gimmick, giant monsters aren’t a bad one. Pick from four different giant monsters and save the world from other giant monsters by brutally slaughtering them with your bare claws and/or paws. There are thirty-five missions set across various real-world environments, and you can power up your beast using DNA augments along the way. I’ll have a review of this one soon, but for now I’ll say that if you like the premise you’ll probably enjoy the game. It plays well enough and it certainly delivers on the kaiju charm.
MacGuffin’s Curse ($9.99)
Play as a werewolf protagonist in this top-down puzzle adventure game. You get more than one hundred and fifty rooms to solve and plenty of side quests to tackle. It also leans hard into comedy, which may or may not work for you. Well, this one has been out for about ten years on other platforms including mobile, so it’s a fairly known quantity. Fun enough, but the mechanics wear thin before the stage count gets anywhere near running dry, so you’re really counting on the writing to carry you forward.
Phantom Breaker: Omnia ($39.99)
Another anime-themed fighting game, and a pretty decent one at that. There are twenty playable characters in total, including guest characters from Steins;Gate and Chaos;Head. There are also three different fighting styles, allowing you to put a spin on each character that suits you best. You can play against the computer or versus another player either locally or via online multiplayer, but I’ve seen mixed reports on how well the latter works. This is actually an enhanced version of a previously Japan-only Xbox 360 line of fighters, and includes everything that was in the most updated version plus a little extra mustard.
The Cruel King and the Great Hero ($29.99)
I already wrote a review of this one yesterday, but in case you missed it we’ll quickly summarize. This is a rather sluggish and bland RPG bolted to an incredibly charming storybook tale with a neat presentation. A little human girl named Yuu is adopted by the Dragon King and seeks to become a hero. The Dragon King dotes on her and wants to help her reach her goal, but also worries about her. Guide Yuu on her steps to true heroism with a little help from her monster friends and family. As long as you’re willing to put up with some so-so gameplay, there’s something worth experiencing here.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
Lots of Capcom games on sale again, and you can’t go wrong with most of them. Lots of other good games in there like Hypnospace Outlaw and Dadish, so make sure you really dig into that list. As for the outbox, now is the time to get your hands on Hatsune Miku’s games if you’ve had your eye on them. Sales on those are infrequent enough that it may be a few months or more before they come back around again. Do what you must.
Select New Games on Sale
Think of the Children ($2.59 from $12.99 until 3/20)
Neo Cab ($3.99 from $19.99 until 3/20)
In Other Waters ($5.99 from $14.99 until 3/20)
Super Mutant Alien Assault ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/20)
Suzerain ($11.69 from $17.99 until 3/20)
No Longer Home ($9.74 from $14.99 until 3/20)
Framed Collection ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/20)
Genesis Noir ($8.99 from $14.99 until 3/20)
The Stillness of the Wind ($2.59 from $12.99 until 3/21)
WarriOrb ($2.59 from $12.99 until 3/21)
Dragon Marked For Death AA/FF ($8.24 from $14.99 until 3/22)
Catlateral Damage Remeowstered ($10.04 from $14.99 until 3/22)
Cyber Fight ($4.89 from $6.99 until 3/24)
Ghosts n Goblins Resurrection ($19.79 from $29.99 until 3/28)
Shinsekai Into the Depths ($14.99 from $19.99 until 3/28)
Street Fighter 30th Anniversary ($11.99 from $29.99 until 3/28)
Ultra Street Fighter II ($19.99 from $39.99 until 3/28)
Capcom Beat ‘Em Up Bundle ($9.99 from $19.99 until 3/28)
Mega Man 11 ($14.99 from $29.99 until 3/28)
Mega Man Legacy Collection ($9.99 from $14.99 until 3/28)
Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 ($9.99 from $19.99 until 3/28)
Mega Man X Legacy Collection ($9.99 from $19.99 until 3/28)
Mega Man X Legacy Collection 2 ($9.99 from $19.99 until 3/28)
Mega Man Zero/ZX Collection ($19.79 from $29.99 until 3/28)
Resident Evil 0 ($12.99 from $19.99 until 3/28)
Resident Evil ($12.99 from $19.99 until 3/28)
Resident Evil 4 ($14.99 from $19.99 until 3/28)
Resident Evil 5 ($14.99 from $19.99 until 3/28)
Resident Evil 6 ($14.99 from $19.99 until 3/28)
Resident Evil Revelations ($7.99 from $19.99 until 3/28)
Resident Evil Revelations 2 ($7.99 from $19.99 until 3/28)
Okami HD ($9.99 from $19.99 until 3/28)
Capcom Arcade Stadium Packs 1+2+3 ($29.99 from $39.99 until 3/28)
Capcom Arcade Stadium Ghosts n Goblins ($0.99 from $1.99 until 3/28)
Devil May Cry ($9.99 from $19.99 until 3/28)
Devil May Cry 2 ($9.99 from $19.99 until 3/28)
Devil May Cry 3 SE ($11.99 from $19.99 until 3/28)
Onimusha Warlords ($7.99 from $19.99 until 3/28)
Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen ($14.99 from $29.99 until 3/28)
Phoenix Wright AA Trilogy ($14.99 from $29.99 until 3/28)
The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles ($24.99 from $39.99 until 3/28)
Ace Attorney Turnabout Collection ($39.59 from $59.99 until 3/28)
Monster Hunter Generations Ult. ($11.99 from $39.99 until 3/28)
Monster Hunter Rise Deluxe ($46.19 from $69.99 until 3/28)
Monster Hunter Stories 2 WoR ($39.59 from $59.99 until 3/28)
Monster Hunters Stories 2 Deluxe ($46.19 from $69.99 until 3/28)
BOT.vinnik Chess ($2.19 from $2.99 until 3/28)
Cultist Simulator ($5.99 from $19.99 until 3/28)
Chess Ace ($3.19 from $7.99 until 3/29)
One Line Coloring ($2.79 from $6.99 until 3/29)
Hexologic ($2.00 from $2.99 until 3/29)
Trancelation ($3.99 from $9.99 until 3/29)
Super Fowlst ($1.99 from $9.99 until 4/3)
Super Fowlst 2 ($1.99 from $10.00 until 4/3)
Dadish ($1.99 from $9.99 until 4/3)
Dadish 2 ($1.99 from $9.99 until 4/3)
Blood Will Be Spilled ($1.99 from $14.99 until 4/4)
Jenny LeClue Detectivu ($3.99 from $24.99 until 4/4)
Purrs in Heaven ($1.99 from $6.99 until 4/4)
Not Tonight: Take Back Control ($2.49 from $24.99 until 4/4)
Hypnospace Outlaw ($7.99 from $19.99 until 4/4)
Yes, Your Grace ($2.99 from $19.99 until 4/4)
The Company Man ($17.99 from $19.99 until 4/4)
Nowhere Prophet ($14.99 from $24.99 until 4/4)
Descenders ($12.49 from $24.99 until 4/4)
Summer in Mara ($9.99 from $24.99 until 4/4)
The Wardrobe EB Edition ($1.99 from $19.99 until 4/4)
Feudal Alloy ($1.99 form $16.99 until 4/4)
Dating Life: Miley X Emily ($4.99 from $9.99 until 4/4)
Enigmatis 2: TMoR ($2.09 from $14.99 until 4/4)
Magi Trials ($6.69 from $9.99 until 4/4)
Bunny Bounce ($2.49 from $4.99 until 4/4)
Beauty Bounce ($2.49 from $4.99 until 4/4)
Sakura Santa ($6.69 from $9.99 until 4/4)
Sakura Succubus 4 ($6.69 from $9.99 until 4/4)
Grim Legends 2: SotDS ($2.09 from $14.99 until 4/4)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, Wednesday, March 16th
7th Sector ($9.99 from $19.99 until 3/16)
A Winter’s Daydream ($2.99 from $5.99 until 3/16)
Active Neurons 2 ($2.49 from $4.99 until 3/16)
Active Neurons 3 ($2.49 from $4.99 until 3/16)
Active Neurons: Puzzle Game ($2.49 from $4.99 until 3/16)
Arcaea ($27.99 from $39.99 until 3/16)
Arkan: The Dog Adventurer ($2.49 from $4.99 until 3/16)
Bitmaster ($2.49 from $4.99 until 3/16)
Blood Waves ($4.99 from $9.99 until 3/16)
Breeder Homegrown: Director’s Cut ($2.49 from $4.99 until 3/16)
Brief Battles ($2.24 from $14.99 until 3/16)
Clan N ($7.49 from $14.99 until 3/16)
Drowning ($1.99 from $2.99 until 3/16)
Duggy ($5.24 from $6.99 until 3/16)
Dull Grey ($2.49 from $4.99 until 3/16)
Escape from Life inc ($4.99 from $9.99 until 3/16)
Escape from Tethys ($4.99 from $9.99 until 3/16)
GraviFire ($2.49 from $4.99 until 3/16)
Hatsune Miku Connecting Puzzle ($8.54 from $14.00 until 3/16)
Hatsune Miku Logic Paint S ($8.54 from $14.00 until 3/16)
Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA MM ($19.69 from $39.39 until 3/16)
Hextones ($1.99 from $2.99 until 3/16)
Madness Beverage ($11.24 from $14.99 until 3/16)
Mind Maze ($2.49 from $4.99 until 3/16)
North ($1.99 from $2.99 until 3/16)
RazerWire: Nanowars ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/16)
Rift Keeper ($4.99 from $9.99 until 3/16)
Splatter ($1.99 from $4.98 until 3/16)
Stellatum ($4.99 from $9.99 until 3/16)
The Mooseman ($3.49 from $6.99 until 3/16)
The Sokoban ($8.99 from $17.99 until 3/16)
The Tower of Beatrice ($2.99 from $5.99 until 3/16)
Urban Flow ($1.99 from $14.99 until 3/16)
Wuppo: Definitive Edition ($1.99 from $14.99 until 3/16)
That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with more new releases, plenty of sales, and perhaps a bit of news. I’m pretty exhausted from playing through all the games for recent reviews, so tonight I think I’m just going to rest my eyes. I hope you all have a great Tuesday, and as always, thanks for reading!
