News

SwitchArcade Round-Up: ‘Hyper Echelon’, ‘HellGunner’, and Today’s Other New Releases, Plus the Latest Sales and News

Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for May 13th, 2022. We’ve got a little bit of news today before we head into the remaining releases for the week. Fewer big guns today, but there are a few decent games if you’ve a mind to find something to play. We’ve also got a decent-sized list of new sales to check out, plus the expiring sales for the weekend. Let’s wrap up the week!

News

The Next Nintendo 64 Switch Online Release is ‘Kirby 64’, Due Next Week

Another month, another addition to the Nintendo 64 Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack app. This time it’s Kirby’s turn as Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards heads to the service. This was the first Kirby game to be presented in polygons, but it still more or less plays like a 2D game. Good stuff. It will be added to the service on May 20th, which is next Friday if you don’t have a calendar handy. Will that be the only addition to the various NSO retro game apps for May? Perhaps, but who can predict these things anymore? Not me, not Sebgo, not anyone.

New Releases

Pixel Game Maker Series LAB ($6.99)

Play as a fox who has to explore and ultimately escape an empty research facility in this horror adventure game. You wake up in the dark lab with no knowledge of what has happened. Everyone is gone, and something dangerous is lurking in the shadows. Collect information from the computers scattered around and uncover the mystery behind why there isn’t a soul in sight. Some nice art, at the very least.

HellGunner ($4.99)

The latest Switch release from Ratalaika games is a top-down shooter for one or two players via local multiplayer. You get twenty levels to battle through, and each area is capped off with a boss battle. Nothing too fancy, but the price seems about right for what you get.

Connecto ($2.99)

Sure, this seems like a cute enough puzzler for the low price it’s asking. You launch dots with numbers on them into the field, seeking to connect them with as many other dots as the number reads. Do that and they’ll disappear, earning you some points. As the game goes on, the numbers get bigger and it gets harder to keep the field clean. If you run out of space on the field, that’s the end of your game.

Hyper Echelon ($19.99)

If you have happy memories of games like Tyrian or Raptor, then you’re probably going to like Hyper Echelon a lot. It’s a vertical shooter with big Western computer shooter energy, and if you need a more modern reference think of the likes of the Sky Force games. Yes, that means you’ll probably reach a point where you will have to do some grinding to upgrade your ship in order to move forward. But as long as you don’t mind that aspect (or perhaps even enjoy it?) you’ll have a great time with this one.

Construction Machines SIM: Bridges, Buildings, and Constructor Trucks Simulator ($14.99)

Another construction sim game. Squint and you probably won’t be able to tell it apart from the last few. Heck, don’t even squint. I know there are a lot of people that enjoy these sorts of affairs, and they might be excited to have another one. Personally, I can’t find a single new thing to say about this.

The Rusty Sword: Vanguard Island ($0.99)

A buck, hunh? I am immediately suspicious, but let’s have a look. Well hey, that looks alright. But the catch is that this little Zelda-inspired adventure takes about twenty minutes to clear in its entirety. It’s not a particularly satisfying twenty minutes, either. It feels like a very well-made pitch for a full game. But hey, just a buck. I leave this difficult choice up to you.

Doctor Hospital: Hypocondriac Simulator ($2.99)

You’re at the hospital and the doctors doubt you because you’ve cried wolf too many times. They’re going to ask you an array of questions and you’ll need to answer them just right if you want them to save your life. There are more than twenty questions to answer, multiple endings based on your answers, and chests to unlock that will have new characters. Probably not as good as three tasty Snickers bars.

SHMUP Mania ($5.00)

A rather non-descript vertical shoot-em-up with little in the way of distinguishing features. Frankly, I don’t think that’s enough to cut it when there are so many great options in the genre on the Switch at or around this price point.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

It’s a healthy list of sales in the inbox today, if not necessarily the biggest we’ve seen. If I had to pick out a few to cast your eyes on, it would be Panzer Paladin, Steel Assault, and Dark Deity, but there are lots of good ones in there. Check that list. The weekend outbox doesn’t have a whole lot to get excited about, but you’re here anyway so you might as well look it over as well.

Select New Games on Sale

Panzer Paladin ($9.99 from $19.99 until 5/16)
Mercenary Kings Reloaded ($9.99 from $19.99 until 5/16)
Steel Assault ($7.49 from $14.99 until 5/16)
Flinthook ($7.49 from $14.99 until 5/16)
OPUS: Rocket of Whispers ($8.09 from $8.99 until 5/18)
OPUS: Echo of Starsong ($22.49 from $24.99 until 5/18)
Wolfstride ($13.49 from $14.99 until 5/18)
Axiom Verge 2 ($17.99 from $19.99 until 5/19)
Roundguard ($7.79 from $19.99 until 5/19)
Soundfall ($25.49 from $29.99 until 5/19)
Cozy Grove ($9.72 from $14.99 until 5/19)
Riverbond ($4.99 from $24.99 until 5/19)
Angelo & Deemon: OHoaQ ($8.54 from $14.99 until 5/20)
Secret Files Tunguska ($1.99 from $14.99 until 5/20)
Secret Files 2 Puritas Cordis ($1.99 from $14.99 until 5/20)


Secret Files Sam Peters ($1.99 from $6.99 until 5/20)
Secret Files 3 ($1.99 from $14.99 until 5/20)
Lost Horizon ($1.99 from $14.99 until 5/20)
Lost Horizon 2 ($1.99 from $14.99 until 5/20)
Bonkies ($2.99 from $14.99 until 5/23)
Regalia Of Men & Monarchs ($9.99 from $24.99 until 5/23)
WARSAW ($5.99 from $19.99 until 5/23)
Winds of Change ($11.99 from $19.99 until 5/23)
Project Warlock ($5.99 from $14.99 until 5/23)
Japanese NEKOSAMA Escape TMC ($4.99 from $9.99 until 5/26)
Dark Deity ($17.49 from $24.99 until 5/26)
Signs of the Sojourner ($14.99 from $19.99 until 5/26)
Godstrike ($7.49 from $14.99 until 5/26)
Jetboard Joust ($4.99 from $9.99 until 5/26)
Airborne Kingdom ($19.99 from $24.99 until 5/26)


Ruin Raiders ($12.99 from $19.99 until 5/26)
Clouzy! ($11.99 from $14.99 until 5/26)
The Procession to Calvary ($11.24 from $14.99 until 5/26)
Underhero ($8.49 from $16.99 until 5/26)
3000th Duel ($5.99 from $14.99 until 5/26)
Omega Strike ($3.74 from $14.99 until 5/26)
Shikhondo Soul Eater ($4.19 from $13.99 until 5/26)
Flippin Kaktus ($9.95 from $11.99 until 5/26)
Amazing Superhero Squad ($5.59 from $6.99 until 5/26)
Bleed ($2.99 from $11.99 until 5/26)
Bleed 2 ($3.74 from $14.99 until 5/26)
The Aquatic Adv. of the Last Human ($3.24 from $12.99 until 5/26)
Tower of Time ($12.49 from $24.99 until 5/26)
Sunless Sea: Zubmariner Edition ($11.99 from $19.99 until 5/26)
Monster Energy Supercross 2 ($3.74 from $24.99 until 5/27)


MotoGP 20 ($3.74 from $24.99 until 5/27)
Dungeons of Dreadrock ($5.00 from $10.00 until 5/27)
Dog’s Donuts ($2.99 from $3.99 until 5/27)
Late Shift ($7.14 from $12.99 until 5/27)
Aces of the Luftwaffe Squadron ($4.49 from $14.99 until 5/27)
Monobot ($9.09 from $12.99 until 5/27)
Path: Through the Forest ($2.09 from $5.99 until 5/27)
Chefy-Chef ($3.99 from $4.99 until 5/27)
Ancient Islands ($9.36 from $12.49 until 5/30)
My Little Dog Adventure ($4.99 from $9.99 until 5/31)
Spheroids ($1.99 from $7.99 until 5/31)
Gibbon: Beyond the Trees ($10.04 from $14.99 until 6/1)
TENS! ($1.99 from $9.99 until 6/1)
New Terra ($19.99 from $24.99 until 6/1)
The Adv. of Elena Temple DE ($1.99 from $4.99 until 6/2)


ibb & obb ($1.99 from $14.99 until 6/2)
Card Shark ($16.99 from $19.99 until 6/2)
Mini Motor Racing X ($1.99 from $19.99 until 6/2)
inbento ($2.49 from $4.99 until 6/2)
The Sinking City Deluxe ($12.99 from $64.99 until 6/2)
Baby Storm ($9.99 from $19.99 until 6/2)
Kuukiyomi: Consider It! ($2.49 from $4.99 until 6/2)
Headland ($9.99 from $19.99 until 6/2)
Goblin Sword ($1.99 from $4.99 until 6/2)
Conduct Together! ($1.99 from $19.99 until 6/2)
Fly Together! ($1.99 from $15.00 until 6/2)
Summer Days ($3.99 from $4.99 until 6/2)
Koi DX ($2.00 from $5.00 until 6/2)
Pan-Pan A Tiny Big Adventure ($2.00 from $5.00 until 6/2)


Mercenaries Rebirth: CotWL ($16.99 from $19.99 until 6/2)
Mercenaries Series Bundle ($29.74 from $34.99 until 6/2)
Evil Tonight ($13.49 from $14.99 until 6/2)
Armed to the Gears ($2.99 from $11.99 until 6/2)
To the Top, Mammoth! ($5.00 from $10.00 until 6/2)
Rise: Race the Future ($9.89 from $16.49 until 6/2)
Seven Pirates H ($33.99 from $39.99 until 6/2)

Sales Ending This Weekend

7th Sector ($9.99 from $19.99 until 5/14)
A Winter’s Daydream ($2.99 from $5.99 until 5/14)
Active Neurons ($2.49 from $4.99 until 5/14)
Active Neurons 2 ($2.49 from $4.99 until 5/14)
Active Neurons 3 ($2.49 from $4.99 until 5/14)
Arkan the Dog Adventurer ($2.49 from $4.99 until 5/14)
Bargain Hunter ($7.49 from $12.49 until 5/14)
Bitmaster ($2.49 from $4.99 until 5/14)
Blood Waves ($4.99 from $9.99 until 5/14)
Breeder Homegrown DC ($2.49 from $4.99 until 5/14)
Drowning ($1.99 from $2.99 until 5/14)
Dull Grey ($2.49 from $4.99 until 5/14)
Escape from Life Inc ($4.99 from $9.99 until 5/14)
Escape from Tethys ($4.99 from $9.99 until 5/14)
Flowing Lights ($4.99 from $9.99 until 5/14)


Gnome More War ($1.99 from $2.99 until 5/14)
Grand Guilds ($1.99 from $19.99 until 5/14)
GraviFire ($2.49 from $4.99 until 5/14)
Hero-U Rogue to Redemption ($6.99 from $19.99 until 5/14)
High Noon Revolver ($1.99 from $2.99 until 5/14)
Mind Maze ($2.49 from $4.99 until 5/14)
North ($1.99 from $2.99 until 5/14)
Rift Keeper ($4.99 from $9.99 until 5/14)
Stellatum ($4.99 from $9.99 until 5/14)
Stranded Deep ($17.49 from $24.99 until 5/14)
The Mooseman ($3.49 from $6.99 until 5/14)
The Tower of Beatrice ($2.99 from $5.99 until 5/14)
Time Tenshi ($8.99 from $14.99 until 5/14)
Towertale ($1.99 from $9.99 until 5/14)
Arcadia Fallen ($22.49 from $24.99 until 5/15)


Dyna Bomb ($1.99 from $3.99 until 5/15)
Everhood ($9.99 from $14.99 until 5/15)
Ghost Sweeper ($2.49 from $4.99 until 5/15)
Metaloid: Origin ($3.49 from $6.99 until 5/15)
Rusty Spout Rescue Adventure ($3.49 from $6.99 until 5/15)
Speed Truck Racing ($1.99 from $9.99 until 5/15)
The Skylia Prophecy ($3.49 from $6.99 until 5/15)
Touchdown Pinball ($1.99 from $3.00 until 5/15)

That’s all for today and this week, friends. We’ll be back next week with more new games like Cotton Fantasy, Snow Bros. Special, and others. There will be some reviews, perhaps some news, and certainly some sales. It should be a good time. For now though, I shall rest. I hope you all have a great weekend, and as always, thanks for reading!