Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for September 19th, 2022. In today’s article, we’ve got a full review of Splatoon 3. I liked it a lot, which I’m sure makes me some kind of daring iconoclast. Always looking out for the niche stuff, I am. After that, we have summaries of the new releases of the day. Return to Monkey Island is the big one there. After that, it’s the usual lists of new and expiring sales. Let’s get started!
Reviews & Mini-Views
Splatoon 3 ($59.99)
There’s a bit of a discussion in some circles about Splatoon 3 and the nature of sequels. As sequels go, Splatoon 2 had a lot going for it. It was the first sequel and thus had lots of potential additions and fixes to implement based on player feedback from the original game. It was the first game in the series on new hardware, came in the first several months of that new console’s life, and followed on from a predecessor that was on a relatively minor console.
Splatoon 3 arrives in different circumstances. Splatoon 2, particularly after all of its updates and the arrival of the Octo Expansion, was a well-rounded game with very few obvious flaws to address. Splatoon 3 is a rare case of a second first-party Nintendo sequel on the same hardware, and it’s arriving fairly late in the game. A lot of people already own Splatoon 2 for their Switch, and Splatoon 3 has to make the case that those people need it. In its corner is the fact that roughly a hundred million more Switch consoles have been sold since its predecessor released.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Splatoon 3 is more of a refinement over Splatoon 2 than something that completely rewrites the rules. There are some new weapons and sub-weapons to use, a new single-player campaign to play through, some new maps, a bunch of new customization options, three-way Turf Wars, a card game, a locker you can decorate and share with other players, and a whole lot of little quality of life improvements. But in terms of how the game looks and plays, this is by and large the same as the previous game. This may end up changing as new content arrives, but here and now Splatoon 3 is a very modest follow-up to the second game.
The question, then, is if that is a problem for you. If you enjoy the online multiplayer frenzy of Splatoon, this game is mostly where the action is going to be from now on. While there isn’t anything here that redefines the series, what new stuff has been added is most welcome and helps liven the well-worn meta of Splatoon 2. The new single-player mode is quite fun and adds to the surprising amount of lore this series carries. Three-way battles play out exactly the way you would expect, and they are brilliantly chaotic. I think this all makes for a worthy follow-up, but I can also imagine some feeling differently about it.
At least for my tastes, Splatoon 3 is a great new chapter in a fantastic series. While more of an evolution than a revolution, it adds enough new things to liven things up for veteran players while also being the new de facto point of entry for new players. I’m not really sure where Nintendo can take the series from here, but I suppose that’s a problem for a couple of years from now after the team has done its thing updating this game. For now, I think we all have enough room in our lives for another helping of colorful, charming, ink-flinging action.
SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5
New Releases
Return to Monkey Island ($24.99)
SwitchArcade Highlight!
I never expected Ron Gilbert to return to the Monkey Island series, let alone pick up the story from where he left off. But that’s just what that is, so you’ll have to check your memories of the games past the first two at the door. Melee Island is under new management these days, and they’re not the friendliest bunch. Even good ol’ Stan has been arrested for “marketing-related crimes"! It’s up to Guybrush Threepwood to step back into his pirate booties and save the day while achieving a bit of glory along the way. I haven’t played this yet, but if there is one thing that I know for sure, it’s that when Ron Gilbert works on an adventure game, that’s a scene you want to make.
Kraken Smash: Volleyball ($5.00)
Time for a multiplayer-focused game about colorful squids competing with each other in a friendly sport. No, not that one. This one is a bit more humble, offering up some local multiplayer volleyball fun for up to four players. Simple fun, and priced as such.
Magicians’ Chase: Missing Curry Recipe ($8.99)
This is a vaguely Mega Man-ish action platformer with six different characters you can use. Each one has a main weapon and a sub-weapon, and you’ll have to use them to battle your way through various stages and nine different bosses. The pixel art looks cute, if nothing else.
Venice Taxi Boats ($12.99)
Sure, we’ve all made some crazy money in the past, but have you ever made some crazy money… in a boat?! The latest game from BoomHits sees you using a variety of boats to navigate the canals of the famous city, completing a wide array of missions or just enjoying the sights. Basically, it’s this publisher’s usual driving game but with an aquatic twist.
Animal Drifters ($4.99)
It’s Gametry, so realistically there is a 95% chance this is an asset flip. I’m not going to go digging to find out. The important thing is that this is an entirely soulless Mario Kart wannabe for one player only. That five-dollar price tag might feel tempting, but you can grab other kart racers on sale for not much more than this and have a far better time.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
A few things of note in the inbox today, with the first major post-launch sale for Metallic Child and its DLC, plus some discounts on Thunderful’s titles. In the outbox, there is almost nothing. Seriously, just four games. Have a look through both lists and see if there’s anything you want to grab.
Select New Games on Sale
Metallic Child ($20.99 from $29.99 until 9/23)
Milky Way Prince: Vampire Star ($10.49 from $14.99 until 9/24)
Two Hundred Ways ($10.19 from $11.99 until 9/24)
OlliOlli World ($20.09 from $29.99 until 9/29)
OlliOlli World Rad Edition ($30.14 from $44.99 until 9/29)
Parkasaurus ($18.74 from $24.99 until 9/30)
Crypt of the Necrodancer ($3.99 from $19.99 until 9/30)
Wolflame ($2.79 from $6.99 until 10/1)
Gigantic Army ($3.59 from $8.99 until 10/1)
Armed 7 DX ($2.79 from $6.99 until 10/1)
Satazius Next ($2.79 from $6.99 until 10/1)
Shmup Collection ($5.99 from $14.99 until 10/1)
BouncyBoi in Puzzle Land ($7.47 from $14.95 until 10/2)
My Lovely Daughter ($5.99 from $14.99 until 10/3)
My Lovely Wife ($11.99 from $14.99 until 10/3)
Paradise Island Driver ($5.19 from $12.99 until 10/7)
The Dark Prophecy ($7.99 from $9.99 until 10/7)
Zombie Rollerz: Pinball Heroes ($5.99 from $14.99 until 10/7)
Wildcat Gun Machine ($6.99 from $14.99 until 10/7)
AER Memories of Old ($1.99 from $19.99 until 10/7)
Unrailed ($4.99 from $19.99 until 10/7)
The Suicide of Rachel Foster ($4.99 from $19.99 until 10/7)
Logic Pic ($5.59 from $7.99 until 10/7)
Blackguards 2 ($7.99 from $14.99 until 10/8)
Firegirl: Hack ‘n Splash Rescue DX ($14.39 from $17.99 until 10/8)
Say No! More ($7.49 from $14.99 until 10/8)
SteamWorld Quest ($8.74 from $24.99 until 10/8)
SteamWorld Heist UE ($3.99 from $19.99 until 10/8)
SteamWorld Dig ($1.99 from $9.99 until 10/8)
SteamWorld Dig 2 ($5.99 from $19.99 until 10/8)
Anthill ($1.99 from $9.99 until 10/8)
Rise: Race the Future ($8.24 from $16.49 until 10/9)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, Tuesday, September 20th
Barn Finders ($9.99 from $19.99 until 9/20)
Lumote: The Mastermote Chronicles ($13.99 from $19.99 until 9/20)
Super Mombo Quest ($6.36 from $15.90 until 9/20)
The Falconeer: Warrior ($17.99 from $29.99 until 9/20)
That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with more releases, more sales, another review or two, and perhaps a few other things. I’m still sorting through Tokyo Game Show stuff while also trying to properly recover from Tokyo Game Show. It’s a delicate balancing act. I hope you all have a great Monday, and as always, thanks for reading!
