Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for August 25th, 2020. In today’s article, we’ve got a couple of news bits that will get the hearts of SEGA fans a-fluttering. There are a handful of new releases to look at, including an excellent new title from some people who worked on 80 Days and Sunless Skies, and a big list of sales with only a few games worth caring about in it. Such is how it goes some days. Let’s slide on in and check it all out!
News
‘Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World’ Coming to Switch Early 2021
Ahhhhh! Ahhhhh! I am very excited right now, friends! Publisher ININ Games (Bubble Bobble 4 Friends, Darius Cozmic Collection) and developer Artdink (A-Train, Neo Atlas 1469) have just announced Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World, a sequel to the 1994 SEGA Genesis classic Monster World IV. It sees the protagonist of that game, Asha, heading out on an all-new adventure. In a bit of awesome news, many of the key people behind the original Monster World/Wonder Boy games are returning to help develop this game. Series creator Ryuichi Nishikawa will be directing, composer Shinichi Sakamoto will be handling sound design, artist Maki Ozora will be involved in the art design, and creative manager Takanori Kurihara will… presumably be managing creatively? These key members of the now-defunct Westone haven’t come together on a game in a very long time, so I’m thrilled to see what they come up with here. The game is set to arrive on Switch and other platforms in early 2021.
‘SEGA AGES Herzog Zwei’ Hits Japan This Week
All good things come to an end, and this week marks at least the planned ending of the Switch SEGA AGES line. The nineteenth and last announced game in the series, Herzog Zwei, will launch in Japan this Thursday. If you’re not well-versed in your Technosoft lore, Herzog Zwei released on the Genesis and was by some accounts the inspiration for Westwood Studios’s Dune 2, the game generally seen to have kicked off the RTS genre as we know it. And indeed, you can see the nuts and bolts here. It’s a cross between a shooter and an RTS, and it’s super-fun in multiplayer. So what did M2 do here? They only went and added online play to the game. There’s also an extensive new training mode to teach you how to play, a save game feature for single-player mode, and a bunch of other extras. The game will sell for the usual price of 999 yen, and I expect it will include a full English translation for those of you with the means and motivation to buy it from the Japanese eShop. Western release details are yet to be announced but it’s probably not that far away.
New Releases
Over the Alps ($12.99)
SwitchArcade Highlight!
Hey friend, do you like the games of Failbetter and inkle? If so, you’ll want to check out Over the Alps, a new narrative adventure from some people who worked at the aforementioned companies. You play as a spy in 1939 Switzerland in what the description calls a Hitchcockian World War 2 thriller. There’s the branching narrative and multiple endings you would expect from people who worked on 80 Days and Sunless Skies, with a feel more similar to the former. The writing is sharp and the game is just a great ride all around. I’d give it a very strong recommendation, particularly if you’ve enjoyed some of the games this team previously worked on.
Giraffe and Annika ($29.99)
I can see what this game is going for, and I wish I could say it accomplishes it well. You play as a little catgirl named Annika who finds herself waking up on the island of Spica. Her memory is shaky, but she soon meets an odd fellow named Giraffe who directs her on a quest to collect some important doodads. What follows is a rather short and light adventure game with some mild action elements. It’s a really cute game and I think the low level of difficulty makes it a nice choice for people new to the genre, but the weak dungeon designs and somewhat stiff feel of the controls really hurt the overall quality.
Street Power Soccer ($49.99)
I miss when we used to get high-budget, over-the-top takes on sports, and Street Power Soccer aims to deliver on part of that equation. Instead of starring fancy soccer millionaires doing fancy soccer things, it stars fancy influencer millionaires doing fancy soccer things. It offers an arcade-style take on the sport plus a bevy of mini-games and alternate modes, and has support for online play for two players. The animations are really elaborate, but I can’t really speak to how the game plays because I haven’t put my hands on it yet. It’s easy enough to set out to make the NBA Jam of some sport or another, but it’s another thing entirely to pull it off.
No Straight Roads ($39.99)
This is a strange hybrid of rhythm game and platformer with tons of style and charm to spare. What I’ll say about it is that sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn’t. The rhythm stuff is where it feels most at home, but something feels a bit off about the controls. The platforming is almost always awkward and I’m not sure what it really adds to the experience. Even the writing is up and down, with some funny jokes and enjoyable character work blended in with a whole lot of flat humor and awkward dialogue. I love the look of the game and the music is pretty great, but as a package I can’t say that I’m feeling it.
BringIt to MOM ($19.99)
This looks like a neat enough platformer with lots of enjoyable but familiar gimmicks. It has 50 levels to play through and two different endings. The visuals aren’t going to win any points for originality, opting for the simple geometric look seen in so many indie platformers before. Really, the biggest problem with it is that price. Twenty bucks gets you a lot of good times on the Switch eShop, and I’m not sure that the best use of it is on a fairly generic title that you’ll probably plow through in a single evening.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
Well, the Kingdom Rush games are on sale. That’s nice. Beyond that, this list is mostly dire. Lots of games from Ultimate, whose games are generally anything but. The outbox is a bit more interesting, and I’d like to highlight the action-packed Metroidvania Dead or School simply because it doesn’t go on sale all that often. Well hey, you don’t have to listen to me about all of this. Go through the lists yourselves and see if anything strikes your fancy. There’s plenty of cheap games in there, so perhaps even the poor ones may sufficiently entertain.
Select New Games on Sale
Kingdom Rush Frontiers ($7.99 from $9.99 until 8/31)
Kingdom Rush ($7.99 from $9.99 until 8/31)
Syder Reloaded ($10.79 from $11.99 until 9/1)
North ($1.49 from $2.99 until 9/13)
Swim Out ($3.99 from $5.99 until 8/31)
It’s Spring Again ($0.99 from $1.99 until 9/13)
Bouncy Bob ($0.10 from $0.99 until 8/31)
The Mooseman ($3.49 from $4.99 until 9/13)
Sigi ($2.49 from $4.99 until 9/13)
Drowning ($1.49 from $2.99 until 9/13)
Avenger Bird ($0.23 from $2.30 until 8/31)
Pet Care ($0.14 from $1.49 until 8/31)
Guess the Word ($0.18 from $1.89 until 8/31)
I Wanna Fly ($0.24 from $2.42 until 8/31)
Little Shopping ($0.14 from $1.49 until 8/31)
Blood Waves ($4.99 from $9.99 until 9/13)
Sushi Time! ($0.49 from $4.99 until 9/14)
Godly Corp ($0.79 from $7.99 until 8/31)
Theatre Tales ($0.14 from $1.49 until 8/31)
Hotel Dracula ($0.56 from $5.69 until 8/31)
Gym Hero – Idle Fitness ($0.22 from $2.29 until 8/31)
Darkest Hunters ($0.53 from $5.30 until 8/31)
Car Mechanic Manager ($0.39 from $3.99 until 8/31)
Car Trader ($0.39 from $3.99 until 8/31)
Chicken Rider ($0.39 from $3.99 until 8/31)
GoFishing 3D ($1.49 from $14.99 until 8/31)
Selma & the Wisp ($0.99 from $9.99 until 8/31)
Robot Squad Simulator ($1.49 from $14.99 until 8/31)
Scrap ($0.49 from $4.99 until 8/31)
Redneck Skeet Shooting ($0.49 from $4.99 until 8/31)
Bus Fix 2019 ($0.59 from $5.99 until 8/31)
Run the Fan ($0.49 from $3.99 until 9/7)
Garage Mechanic Simulator ($0.69 from $6.99 until 8/31)
Catch a Duck ($0.49 from $4.99 until 8/31)
The Tower of Beatrice ($2.99 from $5.99 until 9/13)
Epic Clicker Journey ($0.49 from $4.99 until 8/31)
Shadows 2: Perfidia ($0.79 from $7.99 until 8/31)
ESport Manager ($0.79 from $7.99 until 8/31)
Pantsu Hunter ($9.09 from 12.99 until 9/13)
Car Mechanic Simulator Pocket ($1.99 from $19.99 until 8/31)
A Winter’s Daydream ($2.99 from $5.99 until 9/13)
Stellatum ($7.49 from $14.99 until 9/13)
Billy Bomber ($0.50 from $5.00 until 8/31)
Ultra Off-Road 2019 Alaska ($1.89 from $18.99 until 8/31)
Ships ($1.39 from $13.99 until 8/31)
Blindy ($0.79 from $7.99 until 8/31)
The Mims Beginning ($0.89 from $8.99 until 8/31)
Bouncy Bob 2 ($0.50 from $5.00 until 8/31)
Rift Keeper ($4.99 from $9.99 until 9/13)
Down to Hell ($0.99 from $9.99 until 8/31)
Technosphere ($1.49 from $14.99 until 8/31)
Demolish & Build 2019 ($1.49 from $14.99 until 8/31)
WoM: Planar Conquest ($1.69 from $16.99 until 8/31)
Super Tennis ($0.59 from $5.99 until 8/31)
Motorcycle Mechanic Simulator ($0.69 from $6.99 until 8/31)
Music Racer ($4.89 from $6.99 until 9/13)
Please the Gods ($0.99 from $9.99 until 8/31)
7th Sector ($13.99 from $19.99 until 9/13)
Help Me Doctor ($0.79 from $7.99 until 8/31)
Incredible Adventures of Panda ($0.69 from $6.99 until 8/31)
Fishing Adventure ($0.99 from $9.99 until 8/31)
Otherworldly ($0.69 from $6.99 until 8/31)
Ski Sniper ($0.49 from $4.99 until 8/31)
AvoCuddle ($1.29 from $12.99 until 8/31)
Half Past Fate ($11.99 from $19.99 until 9/7)
Bug Academy ($1.29 from $12.99 until 8/31)
Bohemian Killing ($0.79 from $7.99 until 8/31)
CopperBell ($0.69 from $6.99 until 8/31)
Repressed ($0.79 from $7.99 until 8/31)
Wurroom ($0.99 from $1.99 until 9/13)
RMX Real Motocross ($0.69 from $6.99 until 8/31)
Solitaire Deluxe Bundle 3 in 1 ($2.99 from $14.99 until 9/14)
Doubles Hard ($0.59 from $5.99 until 8/31)
Shadows ($0.79 from $7.99 until 8/31)
Feathery Ears ($0.99 from $9.99 until 8/31)
Ailment ($0.79 from $7.99 until 8/31)
Climbros ($5.44 from $9.90 until 8/31)
Undead & Beyond ($6.04 from $10.99 until 8/31)
Awesome Pea 2 ($3.49 from $4.99 until 9/13)
Swords & Sandals: Spartacus ($7.14 from $12.99 until 8/31)
Gerty ($7.14 from $12.99 until 8/31)
Pangeon ($5.49 from $9.99 until 8/31)
The Executioner ($7.42 from $9.90 until 8/31)
Paint Your Pet ($3.74 from $4.99 until 8/31)
Golf Peaks ($1.99 from $4.99 until 9/14)
Irony Curtain ($1.99 from $19.99 until 9/14)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, Wednesday, August 26th
Agartha-S ($1.59 from $7.99 until 8/26)
Animated Jigsaws Collection ($9.99 from $24.99 until 8/26)
Asterix & Obelix XXL 2 ($8.99 from $29.99 until 8/26)
Black Paradox ($5.09 from $14.99 until 8/26)
Blacksad: Under the Skin ($19.99 from $49.99 until 8/26)
Blacksea Odyssey ($3.24 from $12.99 until 8/26)
Bleed Complete Bundle ($4.19 from $27.99 until 8/26)
Caveblazers ($3.74 from $14.99 until 8/26)
Chicken Range ($8.99 from $29.99 until 8/26)
Contraptions ($2.99 from $9.99 until 8/26)
Cooking Simulator ($9.99 from $19.99 until 8/26)
Couch Co-Op Bundle Vol.2 ($9.19 from $45.99 until 8/26)
Crash Dummy ($2.99 from $9.99 until 8/26)
Dead or School ($19.99 from $29.99 until 8/26)
Death Road to Canada ($7.49 from $14.99 until 8/26)
Demon Pit ($4.99 from $9.99 until 8/26)
Destiny’s Princess ($7.49 from $14.99 until 8/26)
Fall of Light: Darkest ($4.49 from $14.99 until 8/26)
Final Light, The Prison ($1.04 from $6.99 until 8/26)
Fred3ric ($2.49 from $9.99 until 8/26)
Frost ($3.89 from $12.99 until 8/26)
Gakuen Club ($16.24 from $24.99 until 8/26)
Garfield Kart Furious Racing ($11.99 from $29.99 until 8/26)
Glass Masquerade Pack ($3.29 from $21.99 until 8/26)
Gleaner Heights ($6.99 from $9.99 until 8/26)
Go All Out! ($3.24 from $12.99 until 8/26)
Golem Gates ($7.49 from $24.99 until 8/26)
Horizon Shift ’81 ($2.99 from $9.99 until 8/26)
Horror Bundle Vol. 1 ($6.09 from $30.49 until 8/26)
I am Ball ($3.49 from $4.99 until 8/26)
Indie Darling Bundle Vol.3 ($7.57 from $50.49 until 8/26)
Ink & HackyZack Bundle ($2.24 from $14.99 until 8/26)
Knock ‘Em Down! Bowling ($5.99 from $14.99 until 8/26)
kuso ($1.99 from $4.99 until 8/26)
Kuukiyomi: Consider It! ($3.74 from $4.99 until 8/26)
L.F.O. -Lost Future Omega- ($1.59 from $7.99 until 8/26)
Letter Quest Remastered ($2.99 from $11.99 until 8/26)
LOVE ($0.89 from $2.99 until 8/26)
Mad Bullets ($4.99 from $9.99 until 8/26)
Masky ($3.34 from $4.99 until 8/26)
Monster Slayers ($3.74 from $14.99 until 8/26)
Nefarious ($4.49 from $14.99 until 8/26)
Neo Atlas 1469 ($24.99 from $49.99 until 8/26)
Nightshade ($33.59 from $47.99 until 8/26)
Nyan Cat: Lost in Space ($4.99 from $9.99 until 8/26)
Odallus: The Dark Call ($4.07 from $11.99 until 8/26)
Offroad Racing – BxAxM ($12.99 from $19.99 until 8/26)
Omega Labyrinth Life ($29.99 from $59.99 until 8/26)
Oniken: Unstoppable ($3.39 from $9.99 until 8/26)
Pack Master ($3.34 from $4.99 until 8/26)
Paper Train ($4.99 from $9.99 until 8/26)
Pixboy ($3.34 from $4.99 until 8/26)
Pixel Art Bundle Vol.1 ($5.69 from $37.99 until 8/26)
Poly Puzzle ($2.49 from $4.99 until 8/26)
Pool Billiard ($1.00 from $7.99 until 8/26)
Pulstario ($0.25 from $0.99 until 8/26)
Red Siren: Space Defense ($4.99 from $9.99 until 8/26)
Reverse Crawl ($4.41 from $12.99 until 8/26)
Seeds of Resilience ($9.37 from $13.99 until 8/26)
She Remembered Caterpillars ($0.99 from $11.99 until 8/26)
Skelly Selest ($3.39 from $9.99 until 8/26)
Slain: Back From Hell ($4.99 from $19.99 until 8/26)
Slayaway Camp ($3.74 from $14.99 until 8/26)
Smash Rush ($4.99 from $9.99 until 8/26)
Snakeybus ($7.79 from $11.99 until 8/26)
Spartan ($1.19 from $3.99 until 8/26)
Spider Solitaire Black ($2.50 from $5.00 until 8/26)
Straimium Immortaly ($5.99 from $11.99 until 8/26)
Sudoku Relax ($3.75 from $5.00 until 8/26)
Super Blood Hockey ($4.49 from $14.99 until 8/26)
Tennis Open 2020 ($4.99 from $9.99 until 8/26)
The Amazing Shinsengumi ($5.99 from $11.99 until 8/26)
The Card: Poker, Texas Hold ‘Em ($1.49 from $4.99 until 8/26)
The Charming Empire ($16.24 from $24.99 until 8/26)
The Golf ($3.99 from $9.99 until 8/26)
The Men of Yoshiwara ($9.79 from $19.99 until 8/26)
Towaga: Among Shadows ($10.04 from $14.99 until 8/26)
Tower of Babel ($0.89 from $5.99 until 8/26)
Ultimate Ski Jumping 2020 ($4.99 from $9.99 until 8/26)
Unexplored ($4.49 from $14.99 until 8/26)
Valfaris ($12.49 from $24.99 until 8/26)
Vegas Party ($6.59 from $21.99 until 8/26)
Verlet Swing ($5.09 from $14.99 until 8/26)
Wanderlust Travel Stories ($3.74 from $14.99 until 8/26)
West of Loathing ($6.38 from $11.00 until 8/26)
XenoRaptor ($5.09 from $14.99 until 8/26)
Xtreme Club Racing ($1.48 from $9.89 until 8/26)
That’s all for today, friends. Tomorrow should be a little quieter on new releases but we’ll see what happens. There will be summaries of whatever comes, along with news bits and lists of sales as you like them. I may also have a review of Giraffe and Annika, but that will depend on how much time I have as usual. I hope you all have a good Tuesday, and as always, thanks for reading!
