Welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for October 12th, 2023. Shaun is feeling under the weather today so your pal Mikhail is handling today’s slightly different SwitchArcade Round-Up. There’s a bit of interesting news today, a review from yours truly, notable new eShop releases, and more. Let’s go to it!
News
Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash Releases on February 2nd, 2024
Bandai Namco Entertainment announced that the 2v2 battler with online co-op and and a story based on the Jujutsu Kaisen anime and manga, Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash launches worldwide on February 2nd, 2024. Why is every publisher trying to release things in the last week of January or early February? Either way, Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash will let you relive the original story of Jujutsu Kaisen with over 15 playable fighters. There will be a standard, Digital Deluxe, and Ultimate Edition available on Switch and other platforms.
Mortal Kombat 1 Gets a Huge Patch on Switch
The first major patch for Mortal Kombat 1 is live on Switch. If you missed my review of the game on Steam Deck (which you can read here), I also covered the Xbox Series X and Switch versions that I bought. Today, a huge update went live with promises of improvements to loading times and performance. The update was around 27GB, and I actually just deleted it and reinstalled the game for this patch which is 1.5.0. Having tried the game a bit post-patch, it still isn’t great. If I were you, I’d hold off on buying Mortal Kombat 1 on Switch until we see more improvements.
Reviews & Mini-Views
Company of Heroes Collection ($29.99)
When Feral Interactive announced the Company of Heroes Collection for Switch, I was pretty surprised. I figured the developer and publisher would bring more of its iOS catalogue to Switch, but I didn’t expect Company of Heroes. Company of Heroes Collection on Switch sees the RTS classic make its console debut as well, and the conversion is excellent, but this isn’t my favorite way to play Company of Heroes.
Company of Heroes Collection on Switch is priced at $29.99, and it includes the base game and both paid expansions: Opposing Fronts and Tales of Valor. On iOS, the Company of Heroes Collection is priced at $19.99 with the same content. If you’re new to RTS games, there’s no better starting point, but keep in mind that this control scheme is unique to the Switch version. If you haven’t played Company of Heroes in any form before, read my iPad review here.
Speaking of control schemes, Company of Heroes Collection on Switch only has controller support. There is no touchscreen support. Company of Heroes on iOS has support for touch controls and keyboard & mouse gameplay. Having now played the game’s mobile, tablet, and Switch versions, I’m surprised at how well Feral Interactive brought over this gameplay to various control schemes.
On Switch, it took me a bit to get used to the controls, but I didn’t struggle at all since I recently played Company of Heroes 3 on Xbox, and have been playing many “built for keyboard and mouse" games on a controller through the years. This new control option for Company of Heroes on Switch is excellent, and it feels like a nice middle ground between the touch interface and usual controller binding. I hope Feral Interactive manages doing more conversions like this for Switch.
Visually, there’s no denying the downgrade from the higher-end iOS versions of Company of Heroes here on Switch. It isn’t a bad-looking game, but after getting used to how it runs, loads, and looks on iPad Pro, this version isn’t as nice.
In its current state, Company of Heroes Collection doesn’t include multiplayer. That is being added next year with cross platform support for mobile and Switch. Company of Heroes Collection does include the Skirmish mode, many maps across the campaigns, and more. There’s a ton of quality content included in this release, and it is well-worth it even at its higher asking price compared to the iOS version.
If you don’t have access to an iPad or just want to play Company of Heroes with a controller, the Switch version is superb value with its excellent conversion. My favorite portable version remains the iPad, but there’s no denying how good Company of Heroes feels on Switch in this conversion.
SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5
Notable New Releases
Company of Heroes Collection ($29.99)
As you can see above, the Company of Heroes Collection from Feral Interactive is excellent, and well worth your time if you want to sample an RTS classic on Switch. This version includes the base game and all DLC. Multiplayer will be added in an update next year alongside the mobile version.
River City Rival Showdown ($24.99)
River City Rival Showdown is an enhanced version of the original 1989 River City Ransom rebuilt for modern platforms with improved backgrounds, tighter controls, online play, and more. It also includes a 2D fighting game mode.
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 Special Edition ($49.99)
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 Deluxe Edition ($39.99)
Alongside a big update to the game that never dies, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 also received two new bundles on the eShop with Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 Special Edition and Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 Deluxe Edition. These include the base game and a plethora of DLC. The DLC varies by bundle, but the Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 Special Edition includes the base game, Super Pass, Super Pack (1-4), Super Pass Bonus, Hero of Justice Pack Set, and more. Both the Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 Special Edition and Deluxe Edition are discounted until October 25th.
Cook, Serve, Delicious! ($12.99)
The original Cook, Serve, Delicious! has hit consoles for the first time with this Nintendo Switch release. I’ve always wanted this on modern platforms, and I’m glad it finally happened. If you missed my review of this classic from yesterday, read it here. Cook, Serve, Delicious! is also getting a remaster next year, but this classic on Switch hopefully means we are one step closer to the iOS version being updated for modern screens.
Saltsea Chronicles ($24.99)
I’ve been playing Saltsea Chronicles over the last few weeks, and enjoying it quite a bit. I’ll save my full thoughts for my review in the near future, but this is a story-driven adventure game from the developers of Mutazione and more. It has a gorgeous aesthetic and plays amazing on Switch.
subpar pool ($99.99)
When the developer of rymdkapsel has a new game coming out, I will pay attention. I adore rymdkapsel, and based on the time I’ve spent in subpar pool on iPhone, it is another amazing experience. subpar pool is an adventure game that blends pool and golf. It has procedurally generated levels with various challenges and a steady pace of unlocks to keep things fresh. subpar pool’s interactions and visuals are also sublime. I can’t wait to play more of this.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
Select New Games on Sale
Backbeat ($18.74 from $24.99 until 10/19)
Half Past Fate ($3.99 from $19.99 until 10/19)
Windjammers 2 ($9.99 from $19.99 until 10/26)
Gunman Tales ($3.49 from $6.99 until 10/26)
Arenas of Tanks ($1.99 from $4.99 until 10/26)
A Frog’s Job ($1.99 from $4.99 until 10/26)
7 Days of Rose ($1.99 from $4.99 until 10/26)
Gematombe ($7.49 from $14.99 until 10/26)
Headbangers in Holiday Hell ($2.99 from $5.99 until 10/26)
Panda Punch ($1.99 from $4.99 until 10/26)
Garlic ($10.49 from $14.99 until 10/26)
ChronoBreach Ultra ($2.99 from $4.99 until 10/26)
Tricks Magician ($2.99 from $4.99 until 10/26)
The Fairy’s Song ($5.99 from $9.99 until 10/26)
Cat Souls ($2.99 from $4.99 until 10/26)
Kuroi Tsubasa ($2.99 from $4.99 until 10/26)
Replikator ($4.99 from $9.99 until 10/26)
Cyber Citizen Shockman ($4.19 from $5.99 until 10/26)
Little Disaster ($2.49 from $4.99 until 10/26)
Gruta ($2.49 from $4.99 until 10/26)
Petite Adventure ($1.99 from $4.99 until 10/26)
Wonderland Nights: White Rabbit’s Diary ($3.49 from $6.99 until 10/26)
CyberHeroes Arena DX ($2.49 from $4.99 until 10/26)
DoraKone ($2.99 from $4.99 until 10/26)
Billy 101 ($2.49 from $4.99 until 10/26)
Ultra Pixel Survive ($2.49 from $4.99 until 10/26)
Light of Life ($2.49 from $4.99 until 10/26)
Metamorphosis ($2.99 from $24.99 until 10/30)
Ace Antigravity Combat Racing ($13.99 from $19.99 until 11/1)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, Friday, October 13th
Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader? ($19.79 from $29.99 until 10/13)
Bot Gaiden ($8.99 from $14.99 until 10/13)
Cry Babies Magic Tears: The Big Game ($33.99 from $39.99 until 10/13)
Cyber Citizen Shockman 2 ($4.79 from $5.99 until 10/13)
NASCAR Heat Ultimate Edition+ ($17.49 from $24.99 until 10/13)
NASCAR Rivals ($19.94 from $34.99 until 10/13)
Raid on Taihoku ($8.79 from $10.99 until 10/13)
Super Woden GP ($7.19 from $11.99 until 10/13)
The House of Da Vinci 3 ($6.49 from $9.99 until 10/13)
The Red Exile: Survival Horror ($3.49 from $4.99 until 10/13)
Wings of Bluestar ($8.99 from $14.99 until 10/13)
Sorry for not including notable sales here. I’m sure Shaun will make up for that when he is better (Shaun in at the last minute with the save! -Shaun). That’s all for today’s slightly tweaked SwitchArcade. Hopefully Shaun is feeling fine so he can get back to his favorite bin bunch on the eShop. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday, and as always, thanks for reading!
