Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for November 21st, 2022. In today’s article, we start things off with a handful of reviews. I’ve got my takes on McPixel 3 and Once Upon a Jester for you, while our pal Mikhail has a pair of otome visual novel Mini-Views on offer. There are only a couple of new releases to look at, but nothing to get too excited about. After that, we’ve got a giant list of new sales which I presume is the opening salvo in this year’s barrage of Black Friday sales. Let’s get to it!
Reviews & Mini-Views
McPixel 3 ($9.99)
Sometimes you play a game, finish it, and find yourself wondering what the hell you just played. That’s where I was at last night with McPixel 3 after spending about five hours playing through the whole thing in a couple of sittings. The first game is probably familiar to long-time TouchArcade readers, and this sequel is very similar to it but with the volume turned up in almost every way. If this is your first time encountering the series, it basically boils down to a bunch of timed puzzles that have several wrong answers and only one right one. The wrong ones often lead to silly outcomes, so it’s fun to chase them all down just to see what happens.
For those really well-versed in their gaming history, McPixel 3 reminds me a lot of the SEGA-CD game Panic!. The basic goal in each scene is to make sure McPixel either survives or wins. There are various hot spots you can click on, and the successful answer is rarely the one that makes the most sense at a glance. Pretty much everything you pull on will produce some kind of effect, and things can get really weird in a hurry. Pass or fail, you’ll move on to the next scene in the sequence. You keep replaying the sequence until you pass every scene, but the sequence will skip over anything you’ve successfully solved.
The game keeps track of every interesting thing you do, and each scene keeps a tally of the percentage of things you’ve found. You’ll earn a coin for all of these, and you’ll get a bonus batch of coins for getting 100% of them in a scene. Coins are used to unlock new stages, but the flow is decent enough that you’ll rarely have to hit those completions to progress. I did have to stop twice in my playthrough to go back and earn coins, though. But there’s a joy in finding all of those gags and trying to figure out the madness of the game’s logic, so it’s not that terrible of an outcome.
The humor can be a bit crude but it’s more absurd than anything else. I wouldn’t call it laugh out loud funny, as I really only chuckled a couple of times in my playthrough, but it is consistently amusing. You never quite know what is coming, and while some of the action events are a bit clumsy, nothing sticks around long enough to be annoying. The controls are good, with a button showing you all the hot spots and touch enabled for those playing in handheld mode.
I’ll be frank: if you don’t vibe with McPixel 3‘s extremely quirky sense of humor, you’ll have a miserable time with it. If you do? You’ll have a great time chasing down every last gag, good or bad. There were a couple of bits that didn’t work with me (one sequence was way too self-indulgent for my liking), but overall I found the game hard to put down until I had seen every last stupid thing it had to offer.
SwitchArcade Score: 4/5
Once Upon a Jester ($14.99)
Once Upon a Jester is a unique adventure/rhythm game that makes a really dynamite first impression. You play as Jester who, along with his friend Sok, pretty much just lives to cause mischief in pursuit of a big score. He gets wind of a competition that would give him and Sok access to the Royal Palace which houses the ultra-shiny Royal Diamond. The idea is that the greatest theater performers in the land (which consists of three towns, more or less) will have a chance to perform at the Palace. Jester and Sok figure this is an easy win, despite their general lack of theatrical experience.
The game loop is fairly straightforward. You go into the town to see what people are talking about and try to get a feel for what kind of show they want to see. Next, you choose your poster, which effectively decides which of the four general play types you want to perform. You can customize the poster, but that’s just for fun. Then it’s time for the performance, where you’ll make some dialogue choices and do a variety of quick-time actions to steer the play in the desired direction. Things can veer off course pretty quickly, so exactly what story you tell is going to vary even when using the same play type. Depending on how well you please the audience, you’ll earn one to five bouquets. Your goal is to earn fifteen bouquets in each town.
The whole thing is soaked in the spirit of improv, for better or worse. Many of the voice actors are apparently from the development staff, the songs definitely sound made up on the spot, and a lot of the lines used are the first takes. I can believe all of that, but it gives the game an odd charm that I can’t deny. It’s a very cute game, and the irreverence of it all is quite endearing. The characters, story, and overall presentation are enjoyable for the few hours the game lasts. I wish I could say the same about the gameplay mechanics in the performances, which become a little too rote far too quickly. There just isn’t enough variety here despite the brief running time.
I applaud the creative spirit behind Once Upon a Jester, and I had a decent time playing through it. I’d love to see these characters again, and I hope to see more from this developer in the future. The game thankfully reaches its conclusion before the novelty wears out completely, but some parts of it get a little repetitive even within that span of time. It’s an affable affair, and its quirky charms are worth experiencing even with a few shortcomings in tow.
SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5
Amnesia: Memories ($49.99)
Amnesia: Memories was one of the two gateway games for many otome fans I know. It was either that or Hakuoki that pulled people into the genre that has kept Aksys Games and more recently Idea Factory International busy on the visual novel side. Amnesia: Memories has also been ported across multiple platforms including PC and mobile following the console releases. We reviewed the iOS version seven years ago. With so many PS Vita otome games coming to Switch, it was only a matter of time before Amnesia: Memories made the jump.
If you already played Amnesia: Memories before, you can safely skip this release. The Switch version is worth grabbing on sale if you’re new to this world, and I know I will be getting it eventually to go alongside my physical edition of Amnesia: Later x Crowd to complete the set, but I wish this was priced appropriately given its age and price on other platforms. Newcomers to the series will find a lot to like here, but it is definitely overpriced right now. –Mikhail Madnani
SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5
Amnesia: Later x Crowd ($49.99)
Amnesia: Later x Crowd is a fandisc bundle release that has finally been released in the West on Nintendo Switch. Unlike Amnesia: Memories that has been ported just about everywhere and available at a fraction of the Switch version’s asking price, Amnesia: Later x Crowd is available only on Nintendo Switch, and it is a fantastic deal if you enjoyed Amnesia: Memories.
Amnesia: Later x Crowd is a bundle featuring two fandisc games released in Japan for the price of a single Switch release in the West. It includes a lot of new story content, mini-games, and more packaged with Idea Factory’s lovely interface. It is an essential for fans of the first game. Hakuoki or Amnesia are likely the first otome game many people played, and this will serve as a nice well-priced way to revisit the world of Amnesia if you’ve been craving more from the characters.
If you’re new to the world of Amnesia and just bought Amnesia: Memories on Switch or played it across its many ports and re-releases, this is an easy recommendation. It is more than worth the asking price and is one of the better otome releases from Idea Factory International. As far as fandiscs go, this took a while to release in the West, but the wait has been worth it. -Mikhail Madnani
SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5
New Releases
Camper Van Simulator 2 ($12.99)
If you didn’t get enough hot camper van action in Camper Van Simulator, here’s 2 Camper Van 2 Simulator from BoomHits. Ten different vehicles, lots of missions to complete, and some nice outdoor locations to drive around in. Those who like to wait for deep discounts likely won’t have to wait long.
That’s a Cow ($5.99)
Yep, that’s a cow alright.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
So yes, Black Friday. It’s this week. You can tell because it’s Monday and we’ve got like a hundred new sales. As I tend to with lists this big, I will throw my hands up and let you all have a look through the discounts on your own. Have a gander at the outbox too, just in case.
Select New Games on Sale
A Juggler’s Tale ($10.79 from $17.99 until 11/24)
Magic Potion Millionaire ($10.49 from $14.99 until 11/26)
Lost Castle ($1.99 from $9.99 until 11/28)
My Lovely Daughter ($5.99 from $14.99 until 11/28)
My Lovely Wife ($11.24 from $14.99 until 11/28)
Sinner: Sacrifice for Redemption ($3.79 from $18.99 until 11/28)
Moon Raider ($2.49 from $9.99 until 11/28)
Atelier Ryza: ED&tSH ($29.99 from $59.99 until 11/29)
Atelier Ryza 2: LL&tSF ($29.99 from $59.99 until 11/29)
Warp Frontier ($11.24 from $14.99 until 11/29)
Slice, Dice & Rice ($5.03 from $17.99 until 11/29)
dweeMIXED Thwee Pack ($11.99 from $19.99 until 11/29)
Pawarumi ($9.99 from $19.99 until 11/29)
Hidden Through Time ($3.99 from $7.99 until 11/29)
War Party ($4.99 from $9.99 until 11/29)
Guns, Gore and Cannoli ($4.99 from $9.99 until 11/29)
Guns, Gore and Cannoli 2 ($6.49 from $12.99 until 11/29)
A Fold Apart ($4.99 from $19.99 until 11/29)
Voice of Cards: Beasts of Burden ($23.99 from $29.99 until 11/29)
Various Daylife ($20.29 from $28.99 until 11/29)
Collection of SaGa: FF Legend ($11.99 from $19.99 until 11/29)
Romancing SaGa 2 ($7.49 from $24.99 until 11/29)
Romancing SaGa 3 ($8.69 from $28.99 until 11/29)
SaGa Frontier ($14.99 from $24.99 until 11/29)
SaGa Scarlet Grace Ambitions ($8.99 from $29.99 until 11/29)
Yeah Yeah Beebiss II ($7.49 from $9.99 until 11/29)
Wytchwood ($12.99 from $19.99 until 11/29)
Super Meat Boy Forever ($3.99 from $19.99 until 11/29)
Broken Sword 5 ($2.99 from $29.99 until 11/29)
Soundfall ($14.99 from $29.99 until 11/29)
Teacup ($6.49 from $9.99 until 11/29)
realMyst Masterpiece Edition ($5.99 from $19.99 until 11/29)
Grindstone ($9.99 from $19.99 until 11/29)
Superbrothers Sword & Sworcery EP ($4.99 from $9.99 until 11/29)
Calico ($5.99 from $11.99 until 11/29)
Best Day Ever ($8.99 from $14.99 until 11/29)
Scrapnaut ($7.55 from $11.99 until 11/29)
MacGuffin’s Curse ($7.49 from $9.99 until 11/29)
Thea 2: The Shattering ($12.59 from $19.99 until 11/29)
Angry Alligator ($12.49 from $29.99 until 11/29)
Wunderling ($1.99 from $14.99 until 11/29)
Beach Buggy Racing 2 ($5.99 from $19.99 until 11/29)
StarCrossed ($1.99 from $9.99 until 11/29)
Aground ($7.49 from $14.99 until 11/29)
Garden Story ($11.99 from $19.99 until 11/29)
MLB The Show 22 ($9.99 from $59.99 until 11/29)
MLB The Show 22 Deluxe ($36.99 from $99.99 until 11/29)
Princess Farmer ($9.74 from $14.99 until 11/29)
Axiom Verge 2 ($15.99 from $19.99 until 11/29)
Axiom Verge 1 + 2 ($27.98 from $39.98 until 11/29)
Snooker 19 ($12.24 from $34.99 until 11/29)
Chess Ultra ($4.37 from $12.49 until 11/29)
Poker Club ($15.39 from $21.99 until 11/29)
Ironcast ($4.54 from $12.99 until 11/29)
The Spectrum Retreat ($4.54 from $12.99 until 11/29)
Subnautica ($14.99 from $29.99 until 11/29)
Subnautica Below Zero ($14.99 from $29.99 until 11/29)
Hob: Definitive Edition ($3.99 from $19.99 until 11/29)
Torchlight II ($4.99 from $19.99 until 11/29)
Torchlight III ($9.99 from $39.99 until 11/29)
Crash Bandicoot N Sane Trilogy ($19.99 from $39.99 until 11/29)
Crash Bandicoot 4 ($19.99 from $39.99 until 11/29)
Crash Team Racing Nitro Fueled ($15.99 from $39.99 until 11/29)
Spyro Reignited Trilogy ($19.99 from $39.99 until 11/29)
Diablo II Resurrected ($19.99 from $39.99 until 11/29)
Overwatch 2: Watchpoint Pack ($23.99 from $39.99 until 11/29)
Blizzard Arcade Collection ($9.99 from $19.99 until 11/29)
Perpetuum Mobile ($2.49 from $4.99 until 11/29)
Robo Revenge Squad ($15.00 from $20.00 until 11/29)
Mayhem Brawler ($11.99 from $19.99 until 11/29)
Pascal’s Wager DE ($15.99 from $19.99 until 11/29)
The Last Cube ($14.99 from $19.99 until 11/29)
Of Mice and Sand Revised ($4.09 from $9.99 until 11/29)
Chaos Code New Sign of Catastrophe ($5.89 from $9.99 until 11/29)
Code Shifter ($3.74 from $14.99 until 11/29)
Plague Inc Evolved ($5.09 from $14.99 until 11/29)
Armello ($9.99 from $19.99 until 11/29)
Sir Lovelot ($3.99 from $9.99 until 11/29)
New Super Lucky’s Tale ($14.99 from $29.99 until 11/29)
Blackmoor 2 ($3.99 from $4.99 until 11/29)
Smash Club: Streets of Shmeenis ($2.40 from $3.00 until 11/29)
Buissons ($3.99 from $7.99 until 11/29)
Castle Morihisa ($5.99 from $14.99 until 11/29)
AnShi ($4.99 from $17.99 until 11/29)
Cook, Serve, Delicious 2 ($2.00 from $12.99 until 11/29)
Cook, Serve, Delicious 3 ($7.99 from $19.99 until 11/29)
Achtung! Cthulhu Tactics ($8.74 from $24.99 until 11/29)
Inferno 2 ($1.99 from $4.99 until 12/2)
Devastator ($2.79 from $6.99 until 12/2)
Ever Forward ($3.74 from $14.99 until 12/2)
Hoa ($3.74 from $14.99 until 12/2)
SpongeBob Krusty Cook-Off ($4.94 from $14.99 until 12/2)
Squish ($5.99 from $14.99 until 12/2)
Superbeat: XONiC ($7.49 from $29.99 until 12/2)
MUSNYX ($7.49 from $29.99 until 12/2)
Guts ‘N Goals ($3.74 from $14.99 until 12/2)
Bladed Fury ($4.99 from $19.99 until 12/2)
Ikai ($5.99 from $14.99 until 12/2)
#Drive ($3.24 from $12.99 until 12/2)
Good Pizza, Great Pizza ($2.49 from $9.99 until 12/2)
Attack on Beetle ($3.29 from $5.99 until 12/2)
Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrection ($14.99 from $29.99 until 12/5)
PGA Tour 2K21 ($14.99 from $59.99 until 12/5)
NBA 2K23 ($26.99 from $59.99 until 12/5)
NBA 2K23 Jordan Edition ($49.99 from $99.99 until 12/5)
OlliOlli World Rad Edition ($30.14 from $44.99 until 12/5)
The Outer Worlds ($19.79 from $59.99 until 12/5)
BioShock: The Collection ($9.99 from $49.99 until 12/5)
Tales from the Borderlands ($14.99 from $24.99 until 12/5)
Sid Meier’s Civ VI Anthology ($27.99 from $69.99 until 12/5)
Commandos 3: HD Remaster ($26.99 from $29.99 until 12/5)
Slime’s Journey ($3.99 from $4.99 until 12/5)
Crysis Remastered Trilogy ($29.99 from $49.99 until 12/8)
Port Royale 4 ($24.99 from $49.99 until 12/9)
Starbase Startopia ($24.99 from $49.99 until 12/9)
Ramp Bike Jumping ($2.99 from $9.99 until 12/10)
World Soccer Cup 2022 ($3.49 from $4.99 until 12/11)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, Tuesday, November 22nd
An American Werewolf in LA ($2.49 from $4.99 until 11/22)
Attentat 1942 ($7.74 from $15.49 until 11/22)
Invert ($1.99 from $9.99 until 11/22)
Jets’n’Guns ($2.79 from $6.99 until 11/22)
Jets’n’Guns 2 ($5.99 from $14.99 until 11/22)
Little Noah: Scion of Paradise ($11.99 from $14.99 until 11/22)
Little Noah: SoP DLC Pass ($3.99 from $4.99 until 11/22)
Little Noah: SoP Special Edition ($15.99 from $19.99 until 11/22)
Mr Maker 3D Level Editor ($1.99 from $9.99 until 11/22)
SGC – Short Games Collection 1 ($7.10 from $19.99 until 11/22)
Shmup Mania ($1.99 from $9.99 until 11/22)
Silent Sector ($11.04 from $12.99 until 11/22)
Striker Modes ($1.99 from $9.99 until 11/22)
Super Cyborg ($2.99 from $6.99 until 11/22)
Super Snake Block ($1.99 from $9.99 until 11/22)
Svoboda 1945: Liberation ($12.59 from $17.99 until 11/22)
That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with more reviews, more new releases, more sales, and perhaps some news. I hope you all have a great Monday, and as always, thanks for reading!
