Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for April 19th, 2019. This wild week is coming to a close, and we’ve got a bunch more new releases to look at today. Konami jumps into the Switch retro game market, Hamster closes the book on its NEOGEO releases, and something like a billion games have been discounted. There’s so much to cover today that there’s no space for news, so let’s get right to it!
New Releases
ACA NEOGEO Samurai Shodown V Special ($7.99)
Well, here it is: the last Arcade Archives NEOGEO release for the foreseeable future. With over 100 releases available now on the Switch, it’s safe to say most of the bases are covered for fans of SNK’s console. And what a way to go out. Samurai Shodown V Special, released in 2004, was the last official release for the NEOGEO. It brings 28 characters together for tense battles flavored by the new Overkill system that can end a match in one fell swoop. Hamster has done its usual work here, so you don’t have to worry too much about the quality. It’s the great game and the only reason I’m not highlighting as a solo release is that it will be included in the upcoming Samurai Shodown collection. If you just want one SamSho game, though? Yeah, this is a good one.
Secrets of Magic – The Book of Spells ($9.99)
This is a spooky-themed take on match-3 puzzles with some cute visuals and reliable if not very surprising gameplay. It even has a story, albeit a very simple one probably made for kids. But you know what? The game’s not bad. Not bad at all. Honestly, it’s been so long since I’ve played a straight-up match-3 game that wasn’t loaded with F2P nonsense that I had nearly forgotten how enjoyable they could be. Don’t come to this game looking for anything innovative, but so long as you keep that in mind, Secrets of Magic is a little bit of alright.
Everybody, Hearts! ($6.00)
Phew, some games are more challenging to stretch out to a paragraph than others. And this? This is a digital version of Hearts, the popular card game that my grandmother will beat you at any day of the week. Not even joking, she’s terrifyingly good at Hearts. So yeah, nothing too exciting here, but it basically has what you would need. Local networked play, online play, single-player against an AI, and eight optional rules you can turn on or off as you like. Seems like a fine game of Hearts. For everybody? Well, I don’t know about that. Maybe try Everybody, Pizza! for a more effective result, kind publisher.
Moai VI: Unexpected Guests ($18.99)
If you like games like Gnomes Garden or that other game from yesterday just like Gnomes Garden that I’ve already forgotten, you may like Moai VI. Somehow the sixth installment in the series, but the first one on the Switch. Anyway, you gather up resources and build things to complete missions as a story unfolds. These games must have a big audience somewhere, but I’ve never met them. If you know them, you could probably let them know this is on the Switch now. And that it costs roughly double what it does if you bought it on the computer instead. Great feature, that.
Arcade Classics Anniversary Collection ($19.99)
SwitchArcade Highlight!
I was hesitating about whether or not to highlight this or not. On the one hand, it’s eight bonafide Konami arcade classics, emulated nicely and bundled up for a reasonable price. There are some nice options such as rapid fire and save states that make these games a lot more accessible than they were originally. On the other hand, you don’t get as many options as Hamster’s Arcade Archives usually offer. You can’t change the screen orientation on the two vertical shoot-em-ups, for example. And most egregiously, you’re stuck with the versions of the game specific to the region you buy this set from. No matter where you grab it you’re not getting the optimal experience across the board, but generally the US versions are worse. But in the end, I can’t argue with the value here, especially for fans of shoot-em-ups. The set includes: Haunted Castle, Scramble, Gradius/Nemesis, Gradius 2/Vulcan Venture, A Jax/Typhoon, TwinBee, Salamander/Life Force, and Thunder Cross.
Croc’s World 2 ($5.99)
If you’re tired of playing Mario on your Switch and would rather play something similar to it but much, much, much worse, here’s Croc’s World 2. Fresh from the basement of the App Store, it offers sixty levels, four bosses, and a handful of power-ups. I suppose it is quite cheap, but why on Earth would anyone spend their time or money on something like this when there are so many wonderful platformers on this console? Please don’t answer this question. It is rhetorical.
You Died But a Necromancer Revived You ($8.99)
Hm, I wonder what the story of this game is? If only the title were more descriptive. Alas. Anyway, this is a kind of actiony-puzzley affair where you need to quickly haul your butt through rooms full of traps to reach the exit to the next floor. You really need to move, though, because the path behind you starts disappearing pretty fast. Passages are narrow, hazards are plenty, and all you have on your side is the fact that every time you die, a necromancer rev- ahhhhh, that’s the title. Got it. Cute game if you don’t mind some aggravation. Tons of characters, up to four player co-op, an endless mode to keep you busy after you’ve finished the main game, and procedurally-generated floors so that you’re never truly finished.
Iron Snout ($4.99)
I can’t deny that there are fun moments in Iron Snout. It’s a simple game where your pig stands in the middle of the screen and has to beat the stuffing out of oncoming wolves from all directions. It’s over-the-top violent, but cartoony and abstract enough that it can get away with it. The problem is that it’s so simple that it gets dull very fast. Simple games can definitely be fun, but this one? It mostly isn’t. If you really want to try it out and have an okay computer, it’s actually free-to-play on Steam. Safe to say that if you like it there, you’ll like it here.
Active Soccer 2019 ($11.99)
This game has its roots in a somewhat mediocre mobile soccer game. There are various improvements here, but it’s still a somewhat mediocre soccer game. It seems like the developers were inspired by the classic Sensible Soccer, but like most attempts to channel that title, it falls well short. If FIFA, Football Manager, or New Star Manager aren’t scratching your soccer itch, I suppose you could give this a shot? I can’t imagine you’ll find what you’re looking for here, but we live in a strange world where all kinds of things can happen.
Moto Rush GT ($14.99)
I feel like every game needs its gimmick, and Moto Rush GT has a pretty unique one. Namely, this game has full support for the Nintendo Labo Toy-Con Motorbike. So yeah, pull that thing out of the closet you stowed it in and get ready for some motorbike action. There are 12 different bikes, more than 100 levels, time attacks with ghost opponents, and so on. Please note that this is not a racing game. Rather, it’s kind of an endless driver with specific goals you need to accomplish in each level. I feel like it’s a bit expensive for what it is, but it’s somewhat fun, especially if you have the Toy-Con.
ALPHA ($5.00)
I feel like it’s strange for a Switch game to tout its lack of in-game purchases as a feature given that’s generally the normal state of affairs on the console, but hey, flex how you want to. This is an arena-based action game with some really nice spritework going for it. And that’s about it. Very simple, very straightforward, lasts a couple of hours at best, and priced appropriately for that. I feel like this genre is already fairly well-covered on the Switch, but if you need one more, this doesn’t seem like it’s completely terrible.
Construction Machines Simulator ($29.49)
There’s marketing text on the screenshots, friends. You know what that means, don’t you? That’s right, this is a mobile port! Specifically, this is a port of Construction Machines 2016 Mobile. It even uses the exact same screenshots on both stores. Of course, it’s free on mobile. With tons of ads and IAPs, naturally. I’m presuming you don’t to worry about that nonsense in this version, which means you can get right to the heart of the matter: an almost entirely forgettable construction/demolition game. SwitchArcade Tip: Spend your thirty bucks on something good instead.
Sales
I hope you’re prepared, because we’ve got a real onslaught on our hands today, friends. To be frank, most of this list is in the “go on sale every two weeks" club, but there are some incredible gems to be found in the bunch. Devil Engine and Momodora are on sale to celebrate Dangen Entertainment’s second anniversary, and both are awesome, tough games worth picking up. Sky Force Anniversary is a great game at any price, but all the better to save a few bucks. Don’t snooze on the outbox, either. Two Tribes’ full selection of Switch games is worth owning, with Toki Tori 2+ being especially wonderful. Well, I’ll let you look through it all yourselves from here.
New Games on Sale
Overcooked! 2 ($18.74 from $24.99 until 4/29)
Sudoku Relax ($3.50 from $5.00 until 5/8)
Super Kickers League ($9.74 from $14.99 until 4/22)
American Ninja Warrior: Challenge ($29.99 from $39.99 until 5/8)
Hard West ($13.99 from $19.99 until 5/2)
V.O.I.D. ($1.99 from $3.99 until 5/2)
Thea: The Awakening ($13.49 from $17.99 until 5/2)
Merchants of Kaidan ($4.99 from $9.99 until 5/8)
Halcyon 6: Starbase Commander ($16.99 from $19.99 until 5/2)
Bad Dream: Coma ($4.99 from $9.99 until 5/8)
Fishing Universe Simulator ($4.99 from $9.99 until 5/8)
The Office Quest ($2.99 from $11.99 until 4/30)
Clouds & Sheep 2 ($0.99 from $9.99 until 4/25)
Dynamite Fishing – World Games ($0.09 from $9.99 until 4/25)
Cake Laboratory ($2.39 from $2.99 until 5/8)
Guess the Character ($1.49 from $2.99 until 5/2)
Toki ($19.99 from $29.99 until 5/1)
Harvest Life ($19.99 from $29.99 until 5/4)
3D Billiards – Pool & Snooker ($15.99 from $19.99 until 5/2)
Sky Force Anniversary ($6.99 from $9.99 until 4/25)
Timber Tennis: Versus ($1.49 from $1.99 until 4/28)
MechaNika ($4.79 from $5.99 until 4/29)
Puzzle Wall ($3.99 from $7.99 until 5/2)
Super Hyperactive Ninja ($0.99 from $8.99 until 5/2)
Nickelodeon Kart Racers ($19.99 from $39.99 until 5/8)
Drift Legends ($6.99 from $9.99 until 5/8)
Syberia 3 ($24.99 from $49.99 until 5/1)
Big Buck Hunter Arcade ($11.99 from $29.99 until 5/8)
Rapala Fishing Pro Series ($11.99 from $29.99 until 5/8)
Goosebumps The Game ($11.99 from $29.99 until 5/8)
Trouserheart ($5.99 from $7.99 until 5/8)
Jettomero: Hero of the Universe ($6.50 from $13.00 until 4/25)
The Escapists: Complete Edition ($7.49 from $14.99 until 4/29)
Realpolitiks ($2.49 from $24.99 until 5/8)
Tiny Hands Adventure ($0.79 from $7.99 until 5/8)
Shut Eye ($0.39 from $3.99 until 5/8)
Spheroids ($1.99 from $9.99 until 5/6)
NoReload Heroes ($0.99 from $9.99 until 5/8)
Fossil Hunters ($14.44 from $16.99 until 5/2)
WHIP! WHIP! ($6.99 from $9.99 until 5/8)
Yesterday Origins ($9.99 from $29.99 until 5/1)
Mecha Storm ($11.99 from $19.99 until 5/2)
Immortal Redneck ($8.99 from $19.99 until 4/25)
Timberman VS ($0.19 from $1.99 until 5/8)
Glaive: Brick Breaker ($0.99 from $9.99 until 5/8)
Goetia ($0.99 from $9.99 until 5/2)
Sparkle Zero ($0.24 from $4.99 until 5/2)
NO THING ($0.19 from $1.99 until 5/2)
Neonwall ($0.99 from $9.99 until 5/2)
Sparkle 3 Genesis ($0.49 from $4.99 until 5/2)
Spy Chameleon ($5.99 from $7.99 until 4/25)
Millie ($0.24 from $4.99 until 5/2)
3D MiniGolf ($15.99 from $19.99 until 5/2)
Island Flight Simulator ($15.99 from $19.99 until 5/2)
Frederic 2: Evil Strikes Back ($0.49 from $4.99 until 5/2)
Qbik ($0.49 from $4.99 until 5/2)
The Escapists 2 ($9.99 from $19.99 until 4/29)
Frederic: Resurrection of Music ($0.59 from $5.99 until 5/2)
Caveman Warriors ($5.19 from $12.99 until 5/2)
Kid Tripp ($2.99 from $3.99 until 5/8)
Transcripted ($1.49 from $7.99 until 4/25)
Gear.Club Unlimited ($19.99 from $44.99 until 5/1)
Tallowmere ($3.49 from $7.99 until 5/2)
Cartoon Network: Battle Crashers ($11.99 from $29.99 until 5/8)
Axiom Verge ($15.99 from $19.99 until 4/25)
Semispheres ($4.99 from $9.99 until 4/25)
Lichtspeer: Double Speer Edition ($4.99 from $9.99 until 4/28)
Use Your Words ($12.74 from $14.99 until 5/2)
You Died But A Necromancer Revived You ($7.64 from $8.99 until 4/26)
Devil Engine ($15.99 from $19.99 until 4/26)
Double Cross ($13.99 from $19.99 until 4/27)
Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight ($11.99 from $14.99 until 4/26)
Super Sportmatchen ($11.99 from $14.99 until 4/26)
Tumblestone ($4.34 from $14.99 until 5/10)
The Bridge ($2.89 from $9.99 until 5/10)
Sales Ending This Weekend
Hyper Sentinel ($1.03 from $12.99 until 4/20)
Tardy ($4.99 from $9.99 until 4/20)
Cinders ($17.99 from $19.99 until 4/21)
Gnomes Garden 3: The Thief of Castles ($2.99 from $4.99 until 4/21)
My Memory of Us ($12.74 from $14.99 until 4/21)
Regalia: Of Men and Monarchs ($17.49 from $24.99 until 4/21)
RIVE: Ultimate Edition ($7.49 from $14.99 until 4/21)
Spartan ($1.19 from $3.99 until 4/21)
Superola and the Lost Burgers ($2.39 from $5.99 until 4/21)
Swords & Soldiers ($5.00 from $7.50 until 4/21)
Toki Tori ($2.49 from $4.99 until 4/21)
Toki Tori 2+ ($7.49 from $14.99 until 4/21)
That’ll do it for today. So which games did you pick up this week? What will you play this weekend? Besides what I’m playing for work reasons, I’m also planning to spend some time with that Konami Arcade Classics Anniversary Collection just for kicks. Feel free to comment and let me know what you’re up to! As for next week? Oh, nothing big. Just Mortal Kombat 11, Dragon’s Dogma, SteamWorld Quest, BoxBoy! + BoxGirl!, Picross S3, and a whole bunch of others. Be there, friends. You won’t regret it. As always, thanks for reading!
