Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for October 4th, 2022. In today’s article, we have a couple more mini-reviews for you to look at. They both have one-word titles that start with D. I didn’t plan that, it’s just how it worked out. After that, we have a small group of new releases to look at, plus the usual lists of new and outgoing sales. Let’s get to work!
Reviews & Mini-Views
Dorfromantik ($14.99)
Gosh, this one scratches an itch. Dorfromantik is a very relaxed strategic puzzle game where you place tiles to create a landscape. Based on how you arrange them, you’ll earn a certain number of points. If you need some kind of overarching goal, you could consider trying to the highest score possible to be one. As you complete sections, you’ll unlock new tiles types and get bonuses based on particularly nice arrangements, and your little village will slowly take shape. There are several different modes to play based on how much time you feel like putting in or how much of a challenge you want.
Dorfromantik is a pleasant game. It’s pleasant to look at, it’s pleasant to listen to, and it’s pleasant to poke at. The controls in this Switch version are a little awkward, and it’s clear the game wasn’t built for a controller interface, but they’re not so bad as to ruin the experience. If you’re looking for a very low-stress game to unwind with, Dorfromantik is just about the perfect ticket.
SwitchArcade Score: 4/5
Dropsy ($9.99)
Dropsy, the game, is a surprisingly traditional take on the point-and-click style adventure. It has some really nicely animated visuals, lots of interesting puzzles to solve, and a pretty big world to explore. There are a lot of oddball characters to meet and interact with, and the main character might be the biggest oddball of them all. Dropsy is a strange-looking clown with a tragic past who nevertheless is trying to make the world a happier place. He has a pretty simple way of going about that: hug everyone, and try to solve any immediate problems they have. That’s most of the game, at least until it goes completely bonkers at the end.
Dropsy prefers to show, not tell. Its symbolic approach to just about everything makes some things harder than they really need to be. It can be really difficult to figure out where to go or what to do because the game just isn’t big on guiding you. Whether that is a problem or not is up to the individual. But you will spend a lot of time wandering around even if you more or less figure out what to do, resulting in a game that feels very bloated. There’s something nice about how positive Dropsy tries to be, and I think, as a result, it is worth putting up with its flaws.
SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5
New Releases
Let’s Play Curling!! ($29.99)
Imagineer has a cute little curling game for us today. It has a few different modes of play and allows for up to four players via local multiplayer. You can use motion controls on the Joy-Cons to mimic the sweeping, if that’s something you want to do. It’s up you if you want to yell HURRY HARDER or whatever. If your neighbors get mad just tell them you are part Canadian and thus can’t help it. I’m sure they will be understanding.
Alfred Hitchcock – Vertigo ($39.99)
Okay, so first of all, this has almost nothing to do with the Alfred Hitchcock film whatsoever beyond hitching a ride on its name. It says it is loosely based on his films, and yes, “loosely" is the right word here. This one comes from the same developer as Blacksad: Under the Skin, so you can expect a certain level of competence. And that is what you will get. It’s a competent adventure game with a few good ideas and a few things that keep it from fully realizing its potential. I can’t recommend it with much vigor, but if you enjoy your adventure games you might find enough in here to like.
Let’s Sing ABBA ($39.99)
Here’s the latest Let’s Sing game, this time focusing on the music of Swedish pop giants ABBA. You get 31 songs from the band’s catalog to sing along to, including such well-known hits as Dancing Queen, Mamma Mia, Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!, and Waterloo. There’s even one song from ABBA’s new album Voyage. Dress up your avatar in ABBA outfits to really get into the spirit. And if you need a microphone, the Let’s Sing app on your smartphone is ready and waiting. I won’t be doing a review of this one due to an intergalactic law signed in 2007 that Shaun Musgrave will never ever sing ABBA again under penalty of the destruction of Earth. Sorry.
FerroSlug ($5.67)
I’m hoping Nape Games is a bit better at making puzzlers than it is at making platformers. FerroSlug sees you controlling a strange slug-like creature who is being observed in a lab. You need to find a way to the exit on each stage. Not seeing much here that excites me, but perhaps you feel differently.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
A decent little batch of new sales today. Nobody Saves the World hits a new low price, along with Cat Quest II, Songbird Symphony, Nexomon, and a few others. Not much in the outbox, but have a look at it anyway. And that’s all I’ve got for the introduction to the sales lists. Check them out.
Select New Games on Sale
Nobody Saves the World ($16.74 from $24.99 until 10/10)
Guacamelee Super Turbo CE ($3.74 from $14.99 until 10/10)
Guacamelee 2 ($5.99 from $19.99 until 10/10)
Guacamelee 2 Complete ($6.74 from $22.49 until 10/10)
TfS: Mutant Blobs Attack ($2.49 from $9.99 until 10/10)
Severed ($4.49 from $14.99 until 10/10)
Pinball FX3 Portal Pinball DLC ($1.19 from $2.99 until 10/10)
Pinball FX3 Williams Vol 3 DLC ($3.99 from $9.99 until 10/10)
Aqua Kitty UDX ($2.69 from $8.99 until 10/11)
Time on Frog Island ($19.99 from $24.99 until 10/13)
Re:Turn 2 – Runaway ($5.00 from $10.00 until 10/15)
Tormented Souls ($15.99 from $19.99 until 10/17)
Metal Max Xeno Reborn ($31.99 from $39.99 until 10/17)
Metal Max Xeno Reborn Deluxe ($39.99 from $49.99 until 10/17)
Arcade Spirits ($5.99 from $19.99 until 10/17)
Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers ($15.99 from $19.99 until 10/17)
Super Bullet Break ($17.99 from $19.99 until 10/17)
Maglam Lord ($26.79 from $39.99 until 10/17)
Maglam Lord Deluxe ($40.19 from $59.99 until 10/17)
Cat Quest ($6.49 from $12.99 until 10/17)
Cat Quest II ($2.99 from $14.99 until 10/17)
Kitiara Fables ($11.99 from $19.99 until 10/17)
Kitiara Fables Deluxe ($14.99 from $24.99 until 10/17)
Nexomon ($6.49 from $9.99 until 10/17)
Nexomon: Extinction ($9.99 from $19.99 until 10/17)
Aokana: Four Rhythms ($14.99 from $29.99 until 10/17)
Evergate ($3.49 from $9.99 until 10/17)
Root Film ($17.99 from $39.99 until 10/17)
Songbird Symphony ($2.54 from $16.99 until 10/17)
Aggelos ($7.49 from $14.99 until 10/17)
Is It Wrong to Pick Up Girls? ($9.99 from $39.99 until 10/17)
Bustafellows ($23.99 from $39.99 until 10/17)
Evoland Legendary Edition ($4.99 from $19.99 until 10/17)
Little Nightmares II ($14.99 from $29.99 until 10/17)
The Company Man ($13.99 from $19.99 until 10/17)
Lair of the Clockwork God ($4.99 from $19.99 until 10/24)
Behold the Kickmen ($1.99 from $3.99 until 10/24)
Thomas Was Alone ($1.99 from $9.99 until 10/24)
The Solitaire Conspiracy ($2.39 from $11.99 until 10/24)
Moorhuhn Jump & Run Traps & Treasures ($.389 12.99 until 10/24)
Moohuhn Jump & Run Traps & Treasures 2 ($3.89 from $12.99 until 10/24)
Regular Factory: Escape Room ($3.99 from $9.99 until 10/24)
Mysteries Under Lake Ophelia ($2.49 from $5.49 until 10/24)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, Wednesday, October 5th
Like No Other: Legend of Twin Books ($8.99 from $18.99 until 10/5)
Monster Hunter Rise + Sunbreak ($49.99 from $69.99 until 10/5)
Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak ($29.99 from $39.99 until 10/5)
Monster Hunter Stories 2 (429.99 from $59.99 until 10/5)
Origamihero Games Collection ($2.09 from $4.19 until 10/5)
Overlord Escape from Nazarick ($23.99 from $29.99 until 10/5)
Reknum DX ($3.99 from $4.99 until 10/5)
Wind Peaks ($7.49 from $14.99 until 10/5)
That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with more new releases, more sales, and perhaps some news or review content if I’m feeling energetic enough. I hope you all have a great Tuesday, and as always, thanks for reading!
