Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for July 24th, 2024. In today’s article, we deal with a rather normal Wednesday. I have a review of Epyx Rogue for you, and we then wade into the new releases of the day. There’s a certain theme to them, to be sure. Finally, the list of new sales is rather large today. NIS America and Koei Tecmo have some very good deals at the moment in particular. We’ve got those, plus the list of expiring sales for the day. Let’s get to the games!
Reviews & Mini-Views
Epyx Rogue ($7.99)
Oh hey, it’s Rogue. You know, of “roguelike" fame. Sure, this isn’t the original version of Rogue, as you can tell by it not looking like a bunch of ASCII letters and symbols. This is… I already guessed wrong on this once, and I’m not fully confident now either, but I’m reasonably sure this is the Amiga version of the game. It has a nicer presentation, depending on one’s love of at-marks and such, but at its core it is that same old beast that ensnared many of us in the old days. Perhaps even recently for some of us.
The big issue here is that this game was very much built for a keyboard, and while the Switch has quite a few buttons it’s not enough for the Amiga version of Rogue. While the folks handling this Switch version, Pixel Games UK, could have just taken the simple way out and relied on the software keyboard, they instead implemented a pretty clever ring menu for accessing several actions. Others can be performed using combinations of button presses. There are some occasions where you will have to pull up the software keyboard, but they are very rare. It takes some time to get used to, but once you do it works fairly well.
Playing a relatively early version of Rogue like Epyx Rogue really shows just how ahead of its time the game was. The number of games from this era of computing that are still fully engaging is relatively tiny. If you enjoy roguelike games and somehow haven’t had the chance to play the game that got the whole ball rolling, this is a really good way to do so. You even get an in-game manual with lots of information in it and a selection of achievements to aim for. Those who want the real deal experience can even turn off the ability to use save states.
Look, we aren’t hurting for games of this genre on the Switch by any means. With that said, I think there is a certain purity to the original design that is worth experiencing for any fan of roguelikes and roguelites. If you’re game to challenge the classic test of nerves and wits, this Switch release of Epyx Rogue is a fine way to do it. Some effort was put in here to make the game work on an interface it very much was not designed for, and I genuinely appreciate the extra bits like the manual and achievements.
SwitchArcade Score: 4/5
Select New Releases
Super Woden GP II ($12.99)
The highly enjoyable top-down racer returns with this cool sequel featuring more than one hundred and eighty vehicles, tons of tracks, and support for up to four players via local splitscreen multiplayer. The first game was a ton of fun, and I have little doubt about this one offering just as good of a time.
F1 Manager 2024 ($34.99)
Do you love racing, but not driving? This one might be for you, then. As the title says, you’re a manager of an F1 team. You’re handling all manner of things, from raising up talents, managing race strategies, and so on. Personally, I’ve never been able to get on much with this sort of thing, but I know many people who can get lost for weeks on end with them. Maybe that is you! If so, give this one a closer look.
Chrysolite ($14.99)
This one has nothing to do with racing. That’s called counter-programming, friends. You’re a young thief exploring the remains of a kingdom, and wouldn’t you know it? The darned place is full of dangerous creatures! This one is Soulslike-inspired, and I think the combat is… not exactly fancy dining here. But I have a hunch there’s something to this one. I’ll have to investigate further.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
One thing I will note about the sales today is that you should check the DLC on both Koei Tecmo and NIS America’s offerings, because there are some deals to be found there that are even rarer than the ones on the base titles. A good time to be stocking up on RPGs to take you through the month of August, at the very least. The outbox on the other hand appears to be leaning more into puzzle games. Well, I imagine you’ll scan both lists anyway. I’ll leave you to it.
Select New Sales
Dordogne ($12.99 from $19.99 until 7/27)
Chants of Sennaar ($14.99 from $19.99 until 7/27)
Expeditions: Mudrunner ($39.99 from $49.99 until 7/27)
Warhammer 40k Boltgun ($15.39 from $21.99 until 7/27)
Warhammer Age of Sigmar SG ($6.99 from $19.99 until 7/27)
Lapis x Labyrinth ($7.79 from $29.99 until 8/5)
Labyrinth Legend ($5.99 from $14.99 until 8/5)
Prinny 1 + 2 Bundle ($14.95 from $33.99 until 8/5)
Shadow Corridor ($5.99 from $14.99 until 8/5)
Fallen Legion Revenants ($9.99 from $39.99 until 8/5)
Fallen Legion Rise to Glory ($4.99 from $39.99 until 8/5)
Yomawari Lost in the Dark ($19.99 from $39.99 until 8/5)
Happy Birthdays ($7.99 from $39.99 until 8/5)
Penny-Punching Princess ($3.99 from $39.99 until 8/5)
Touhou Kobuto V ($4.99 from $19.99 until 8/5)
The Labyrinth of Galleria: TMS ($24.99 from $49.99 until 8/5)
GrimGrimoire OnceMore ($24.99 from $49.99 until 8/5)
Void Terrarium 2 ($19.99 from $39.99 until 8/5)
CRYMACHINA Deluxe ($47.99 from $79.99 until 8/5)
Arcadian Atlas ($11.99 from $19.99 until 8/5)
The Legend of Legacy HD ($34.99 from $49.99 until 8/5)
RPG Maker MV ($14.99 from $49.99 until 8/5)
Yurukill: Calumniation Games ($14.99 from $39.99 until 8/5)
Giraffe and Annika ($9.89 from $29.99 until 8/5)
Poison Control ($3.99 from $39.99 until 8/5)
Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny ($29.99 from $59.99 until 8/5)
Disgaea 7 Complete ($69.99 from $109.99 until 8/5)
Ys IX: Monstrum Nox Deluxe ($29.99 from $74.99 until 8/5)
Legend of Nayuta Boundless Trails ($24.99 from $39.99 until 8/5)
TLoH: Trails into Reverie Deluxe ($58.49 from $89.99 until 8/5)
R-Type Final 2 ($19.99 from $39.99 until 8/5)
LA-MULANA ($4.94 from $14.99 until 8/5)
LA-MULANA 2 ($9.99 from $24.99 until 8/5)
The Caligula Effect 2 Deluxe ($29.24 from $64.99 until 8/5)
The Cruel King and the Great Hero ($13.49 from $29.99 until 8/5)
Monark Deluxe Edition ($25.99 from $64.99 until 8/5)
LISA: Definitive Edition ($17.49 from $24.99 until 8/5)
Smile For Me ($8.99 from $14.99 until 8/5)
Death’s Gambit Afterlife ($10.99 from $19.99 until 8/5)
Virgo Versus The Zodiac ($11.99 from $19.99 until 8/5)
Doki Doki Literature Club Plus ($11.24 from $14.99 until 8/5)
Ty the Tasmanian Tiger 2 ($10.49 from $29.99 until 8/6)
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night ($11.99 from $39.99 until 8/7)
Terraria ($14.99 from $29.99 until 8/7)
Madshot ($1.99 from $19.99 until 8/7)
Grow: Song of the Evertree ($12.49 from $24.99 until 8/7)
Serial Cleaners ($7.49 from $24.99 until 8/7)
Eiyuden Chronicle Hundred Heroes ($37.49 from $49.99 until 8/7)
Eiyuden Chronicle Hundred Heroes Deluxe ($51.99 from $79.99 until 8/7)
Journey to the Savage Planet ($8.99 from $29.99 until 8/7)
Indivisible ($7.49 from $29.99 until 8/7)
Horace ($5.99 from $14.99 until 8/7)
Cook, Serve, Delicious ($5.19 from $12.99 until 8/13)
Fate/Samurai Remnant ($38.99 from $59.99 until 8/13)
Atelier Ryza ($23.99 from $59.99 until 8/13)
Atelier Ryza 2 ($29.99 from $59.99 until 8/13)
Atelier Ryza 3 ($38.99 from $59.99 until 8/13)
Atelier Arland Deluxe Pack ($58.49 from $89.99 until 8/13)
Atelier Dusk Trilogy Deluxe Pack ($58.49 from $89.99 until 8/13)
Atelier Mysterious Trilogy Deluxe Pack ($58.49 from $89.99 until 8/13)
Atelier Lulua ($29.99 from $59.99 until 8/13)
Atelier Sophie 2 ($29.99 from $59.99 until 8/13)
Atelier Marie Remake ($29.99 from $49.99 until 8/13)
Atelier Marie Remake Deluxe ($41.99 from $69.99 until 8/13)
Nelke & the Legendary Alchemists ($19.79 from $59.99 until 8/13)
Blue Reflection: Second Light ($23.99 from $59.99 until 8/13)
Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse ($34.99 from $49.99 until 8/13)
Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water ($27.99 from $39.99 until 8/13)
Warriors Orochi 4 Ultimate ($35.99 from $59.99 until 8/13)
Warriors Orochi 3 Ult. Deluxe ($41.99 from $69.99 until 8/13)
Samurai Warriors 5 ($29.99 from $59.99 until 8/13)
Dynasty Warriors 8 XL Definitive ($27.99 from $39.99 until 8/13)
Dynasty Warriors 9 Empires ($35.99 from $59.99 until 8/13)
Monster Rancher 1 & 2 DX ($20.99 from $29.99 until 8/13)
Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection ($26.79 from $39.99 until 8/13)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, July 25th
A Good Snowman is Hard to Build ($3.74 from $14.99 until 7/25)
A Monster’s Expedition ($12.49 from $24.99 until 7/25)
Aka ($4.54 from $12.99 until 7/25)
Alchemy Garden ($6.49 from $12.99 until 7/25)
Anomaly Agent ($8.99 from $14.99 until 7/25)
Astronite ($7.49 from $14.99 until 7/25)
Beholgar ($2.99 from $9.99 until 7/25)
Burst Hero ($7.19 from $11.99 until 7/25)
Cosmic Express ($3.74 from $14.99 until 7/25)
Cosmo Dreamer ($4.10 from $8.20 until 7/25)
Cyber Hunters ($10.99 from $19.99 until 7/25)
Detective Stella Porta Case ($5.24 from $10.49 until 7/25)
Doll Explorer ($8.79 from $10.99 until 7/25)
EDF: World Brothers Deluxe ($26.99 from $59.99 until 7/25)
Escape First Alchemist ($5.19 from $7.99 until 7/25)
God of Light Remastered ($1.99 from $4.99 until 7/25)
Golazo 2 ($2.99 from $14.99 until 7/25)
Harpoon Shooter! Nozomi ($6.98 from $9.98 until 7/25)
Jett Rider ($8.74 from $12.49 until 7/25)
Kid Tripp ($1.99 from $3.99 until 7/25)
Lazriel: The Demon’s Fall ($8.02 from $11.47 until 7/25)
Like Dreamer ($5.99 from $11.99 until 7/25)
Love Love School Days ($5.24 from $10.49 until 7/25)
Mechs V Kaijus ($9.09 from $12.99 until 7/25)
Patrick’s Parabox ($13.99 from $19.99 until 7/25)
Samurai Maiden ($29.99 from $59.99 until 7/25)
SANABI ($11.24 from $14.99 until 7/25)
Smoots Pinball ($4.19 from $5.99 until 7/25)
Sokobond ($3.74 from $14.99 until 7/25)
Sokobond Express ($11.99 from $14.99 until 7/25)
Space Storeship ($2.34 from $4.69 until 7/25)
Teared ($6.79 from $7.99 until 7/25)
TEMPUS ($3.49 from $6.99 until 7/25)
The Hundred Year Kingdom ($6.49 from $12.99 until 7/25)
Thunder Ray: Origins ($9.99 from $19.98 until 7/25)
Tiny Thor ($11.99 from $19.99 until 7/25)
Titanium Hound ($8.25 from $15.00 until 7/25)
Toridama2: Brave Challenge ($5.59 from $7.99 until 7/25)
Xuan Yuan Sword 7 ($35.99 from $39.99 until 7/25)
Yeah! You Want “Those Games", Right? ($7.99 from $9.99 until 7/25)
That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with the big list of Thursday new releases, plus whatever sales and major news items roll in over the course of the day. This day went completely off the rails for me, and I got about a quarter of what I wanted to get done finished. This is really not my week. Oh well! I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday, and as always, thanks for reading!
