Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for April 11th, 2024. It’s Thursday, and that means we’ve got a lot of new releases to look at. Too many, if you ask me. But there are some good games in here, and some interesting ones as well. Those two are not always the same thing, mind you. After checking out the new games, we’ll head on over to the usual lists of new and expiring sales. That will be the lot of it, because there is only so much I can do in a day. Let’s get to business!
New Releases
Slave Zero X ($24.99)
The Slave Zero I remember was a somewhat clunky 3D action game on the Dreamcast. Almost twenty-five years later, and now we have a 2.5D action game follow-up? Yeah, I can dig that. It reminds me a lot of Strider 2, the real Strider 2, except with a whole lot of Devil May Cry shoveled into the bowl. Intensely difficult and demanding, but if that’s your cup of coffee then you’ll likely appreciate this game a whole lot. Mikhail enjoyed it a fair bit when he reviewed it on the Steam Deck, and while I won’t be reviewing this Switch version I will certainly back up his thoughts on the game.
Hero’s Hour ($17.99)
Sir, I know a game inspired by Heroes of Might & Magic when I see one, and this is a game inspired by Heroes of Might & Magic. A turn-based strategy game with real-time combat, but one that uses procedural generation for its maps to spice things up. I don’t think this is going to be for everyone by any means, but there’s definitely something to this game that I can’t bring myself to dislike.
Moonglow Bay ($24.99)
Part business sim, part fishing game, and part RPG, Moonglow Bay tries to do a lot of things and while I won’t say it completely fumbles the ball on any of them, it just doesn’t stick together the way it should. It’s kind of boring and repetitive, and it’s unfortunately full of bugs. I’ll be doing a review of this one soon where I’ll try to sort my feelings out with a little more clarity, but here and now I will say this feels like a wasted opportunity.
Sophia the Traveler ($8.99)
Search for the hidden objects… in the charming illustrations!
Loretta ($14.99)
Dangen’s got a curious one for us today, friends. It’s a psychological thriller of sorts, following a 1940s housewife named Loretta who one day learns of both her husband’s infidelity and a rather cushy life insurance policy filed in his name. What happens next? Well, that’s going to depend on you, but there are a number of endings this tale can work its way to. This is a rather tense narrative adventure, but if you find the set-up interesting I think you’ll enjoy how it unfolds.
Ato ($14.99)
Who ordered the extremely good pixel art bunny samurai Metroidvania game? Your dinner is ready, come and pick it up. Ato nails pretty much all the fundamentals, but what really sets it apart comes in its unique one-on-one samurai duel boss fights. You’ll need razor-sharp timing to survive these battles, but when you wrap your head around parrying and countering, it’s really something else. A very cool game, and I’m glad to see it finally come to the Switch.
Hatsumira -From the Future Undying- ($44.99)
The creative team behind the Fruit of Grisaia series is back with another visual novel, this one following the adventures of a Japanese fighter pilot who crash lands in a fantasy world with dragons, mermaids, and other demihumans. Is this his chance to build a harem? Well, maybe not. Just like the world he left, this new world is embroiled in a horrible war. The hero wants to get back home, but he also can’t just sit by and let his new friends suffer. What will he do? You’ll have to read to find out. And indeed, that is all you will be doing. No choices here, just a story.
Let’s! Revolution! ($19.99)
Puzzle game? Strategy game? Roguelite? This game is a mix of all of those things. While I will openly say that I do not care for the title (maybe let’s not make fun of the quirks of EFL speakers who are doing their best), the gameplay is quite compelling. This game went over very well on computers, and it seems like the type of game that should fit the Switch to a tee. I’m pretty sure our pal Mikhail is going to review this one, so we’ll find out for sure then.
The Kindeman Remedy ($7.99)
If you’ve ever wanted to be a mad doctor but have some commitment issues, this might be for you. You play as the evil Dr. Kindeman as he performs torturous experiments on people in the name of mad science. An unusual concept, to be sure, but I must note that opinions on this were rather divided when it hit other platforms. Some found it to be a quirky slice of devilish fun, while others found it to be simply boring. Apparently this is what 3D Realms is up to these days, which is interesting. Well, do what you will with it.
EGGCONSOLE Dragon Slayer IV Draslefamily MSX2 ($6.49)
The latest EGGCONSOLE release takes us away from NEC’s computers over to the MSX2 for a heaping helping of Dragon Slayer. Specifically, Dragon Slayer IV, which some of you might know under the name its NES port used in the West: Legacy of the Wizard. Swap between the various family members and use their unique skills to conquer an incredibly large dungeon. As usual for EGGCONSOLE, the in-game text is mainly in Japanese. That said, this isn’t the most text-heavy of games and there are plenty of English walkthroughs for the NES version that should help you in a pinch. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Arcade Archives VS. Super Xevious Mystery of Gump ($7.99)
This week in Arcade Archives, we swing back around to Nintendo’s VS arcade system for VS. Super Xevious Mystery of Gump. This 1986 game, which should not be confused with the similarly titled Super Xevious, originated on the Famicom and doubles down on the kinds of things that were proving popular with Japanese games of the era. That means a lot of opaque, borderline nonsense secrets that you need to find in order to finish the game. This arcade version ups the difficulty when compared to the console original, and I don’t think that was a great idea. This is a very controversial game, but this release at least gives you some help with sorting out the more esoteric puzzles. Run from it, Forrest.
Oxytone ($7.99)
Sometimes you only have to see ten seconds of game footage to know something is for you, and that’s me with Oxytone. This is one of those chill games where you’re just placing and rotating tiles, and here what you’re trying to do is make the longest continuous path you possibly can. You’ll get more points the longer it runs, and watching it do its thing is a lot of fun. If you enjoy things like Dorfromantik, this should be up your alley.
Cirrus Business ($6.99)
Oh, one of those games the PR people like to call “cozy", eh? You play as a cloud named Cloudi and you need to restore your land to its former beauty after some jerks named Slobsters ruin things. You’ll have to grow magical crops and rely on your friends and their abilities to help you with the things you can’t do. The price is certainly competitive, but can this game do what it has to in order to stand out in such a busy category on the platform? Time will tell, not me. It’s got a great title, at least.
Die Again ($11.99)
This is a top-down shooter whose chief gimmick is that when you die, you’ll immediately possess the body of a near-by enemy. If there isn’t anyone around, then you’re done. That gives each of the more than one hundred levels a distinctly puzzle-ish feeling, as you try to plan your actions around strategically dying. A really cool idea, but we’ll have to see if the game can properly execute on it.
Ruff Ghanor ($19.99)
All I’m saying is that if you make a cardbuilding turn-based roguelite game, a category that is intensely competitive on the Switch, and you name your main character Ruff, and that character isn’t a cool dog but instead is just a guy smoldering with generic rage? You’ve failed. I don’t care that the Steam user reviews are really good! The game looks cool, but that isn’t the point. You had one job, and you blew it!
Jorel’s Brother and The Most Important Game of the Galaxy ($14.99)
This is a point-and-click style adventure game based on an award-winning Brazilian animation, and acts almost like an interactive episode. Jorel’s Brother is a kid in a very unusual family, and he has a super-cool brother named Jorel. Yes, I figured that out myself. One day, a video game falls from the sky and it ends up leading Jorel’s Brother on a galaxy-spanning adventure. It certainly has a nice look to it, I’ll give it that much. It has received a warm reception on the other platforms it has released on, and I’m sure it will do just fine on Switch as well.
Mimi the Cat: Mimi’s Scratcher ($4.99)
A cute little Sokoban-style puzzler where you have to guide Mimi to her scratcher in each stage. This will usually involve manipulating boxes that are strewn about, using them as stepping stones to reach higher places or make jumps. Not the fanciest dining, but if you like this kind of puzzle it’s a solid enough pick for the price.
Mad Experiments 2: Escape Room ($12.99)
Solve the puzzles and make your escape… from Professor Cheshire’s institute!
Escape Game The Deserted House ($9.99)
Solve the puzzles and make your escape… from a deserted house!
Cleaning Queens 2: Sparkling Palace ($5.99)
Search for the hidden objects… in a particularly filthy palace!
Football Cup 2024 ($14.99)
It’s the 2024 version! Someone must be buying these, because this has basically become a yearly series. I’m not really qualified to say what’s new here, so consider this nothing more than notice that the game is out.
The Bin Bunch
Steel Sand Mars Chronicles – Survival Simulator ($12.99)
Motorcycle Extreme Driver: Moto Racing Simulator ($4.99)
Hentai Girls Puzzle ($3.99)
Hentai Girls: Athlete Crush ($3.99)
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
Some small lists, but worth looking through just to see what grabs you. You can never go wrong with the Spelunky games, and I will always point out Parasite Pack for some indie NES thrills. Not a whole lot to worry about in that outbox, but give it a glance anyway.
Select New Sales
Brotato ($3.99 from $4.99 until 4/24)
Spelunky ($4.99 from $9.99 until 4/25)
Spelunky 2 ($9.99 from $19.99 until 4/25)
Jorel’s Brother & TMIGotG ($13.49 from $14.99 until 4/25)
Seduce Me: The Complete Story ($4.99 from $9.99 until 4/25)
Gastro Force ($3.49 from $6.99 until 4/25)
Super Brawl Rush ($2.49 from $4.99 until 4/25)
Parasite Pack ($3.19 from $7.99 until 4/25)
Remote Life ($9.49 from $18.99 until 4/25)
Anodyne 2: Return to Dust ($7.99 from $19.99 until 4/25)
Brigandine: TLoR ($19.99 from $49.99 until 4/25)
9 Years of Shadows ($13.99 from $19.99 until 5/1)
The Serpent Rogue ($1.99 from $19.99 until 5/1)
Ruin Raiders ($1.99 from $19.99 until 5/1)
Terracotta ($1.99 from $19.99 until 5/1)
Neon Blight ($1.99 from $19.99 until 5/1)
To The Rescue! ($1.99 from $19.99 until 5/1)
Yooka-Laylee & the Impossible Lair ($2.99 from $29.99 until 5/1)
Dreamscaper ($6.24 from $24.99 until 5/1)
CLOSER ($4.19 from $5.99 until 5/1)
Jetboard Joust ($1.99 from $9.99 until 5/1)
Worms WMD ($5.99 from $29.99 until 5/1)
Yoku’s Island Express ($3.99 from $19.99 until 5/1)
Mars Base ($1.99 from $19.99 until 5/1)
Bravery and Greed ($7.99 from $19.99 until 5/1)
The Knight Witch ($6.79 from $19.99 until 5/1)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, April 12th
Another World Mahjong Girl ($6.99 from $9.99 until 4/12)
Crimson Spires ($6.99 from $19.99 until 4/12)
Dungeon of the Endless ($3.99 from $19.99 until 4/12)
Flower Shop: Winter in Fairbrook ($7.99 from $9.99 until 4/12)
Football Manager 2024 Touch ($33.49 from $49.99 until 4/12)
Inkulinati ($19.99 from $24.99 until 4/12)
Kingdom of Arcadia ($1.99 from $5.99 until 4/12)
Marble Maid ($3.99 from $9.99 until 4/12)
Nine Parchments ($4.59 from $19.99 until 4/12)
Retro Mystery Club Vol.2 Beppu Case ($7.90 from $9.90 until 4/12)
Rough Justice ’84 ($15.99 from $19.99 until 4/12)
Trine 2: Complete Story ($3.90 from $16.99 until 4/12)
Trine 3: TAoP ($4.59 from $19.99 until 4/12)
Trine Enchanted Edition ($3.44 from $14.99 until 4/12)
That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with the remaining releases of the week, plus whatever sales and major news items roll in during the course of the day. I have to go to the fancy hospital tomorrow, but it’s just a regular check with no tests so it should be an in and out thing. I might be a little late, but I think I’ll have plenty of time to do the article. I hope you all have a terrific Thursday, and as always, thanks for reading!
