Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for December 21st, 2020. We’re on the final march to Christmas and the end of the year, so things are probably going to be a little slower than usual around these parts. Today at least has plenty to offer. There are a few new releases to look at, lots of sales to consider, and a full review of Space Invaders Forever. Let’s get our week started right!
Reviews
Space Invaders Forever ($29.99)
Space Invaders is a very important game in the history of the medium. Not just for establishing one of the most popular genres, but also because its popularity ignited the Japanese game industry, and it’s hard to imagine where we would be right now had that not happened. The thing about pioneering titles is that they rarely age well, and while Space Invaders has a certain charm in its simple gameplay, I think it’s safe to say that not many people in 2020 are going to happily hunker down with it for hours on end.
One of the neat things about Taito is that they love to play with the Space Invaders concept. Perhaps that’s out of necessity, as it’s easily the company’s strongest brand even now. But whatever the reason, there are lots of cool variants on Space Invaders. Gathering up a bunch of those would make for a dandy collection, wouldn’t it? And it did: the Space Invaders Invincible Collection grabbed eight games from the history of the series and bundled them in one package. For about fifty to sixty dollars, you could own the Japanese version of that set in either physical or digital form. In the West, it’s thus far a physical exclusive which will cost you at least sixty bucks no matter how you go about it.
I don’t know why there isn’t a digital version in the West, but Taito and ININ Games have put together a different offering for digital fans. And also those who want to save a little money, but I’ll get to that in a bit. Space Invaders Forever is essentially the Invincible Collection minus five games, all the way down to sharing the same menu interface. It’s available digitally and physically for thirty dollars, making it a more reasonable purchase for those who aren’t die-hard Invader fans. But is it still worth it with all of the cuts? I think so.
As mentioned, the Invincible Collection included eight games. You got original Space Invaders in both black-and-white and color versions, and yes those did count as two separate games. There was also Space Invaders Part 2, sometimes known as Space Invaders Deluxe, which added a few new enemy types and between-stage cutscenes. Next, Majestic Twelve and its Western version Super Space Invaders ’91, a rather nice update of the original game that felt a bit quaint even at the time of its release in spite of its many improvements and twists.
Then there’s Space Invaders Extreme, the excellent DS/PSP update of the game that incorporated colorful visuals and rhythm elements to create something stylish and very fun. Fans of multiplayer might like Space Invaders Gigamax 4 SE, a home version of a gimmicky four-player Space Invaders that was played on the sides of buildings and such in Japan. The set is rounded out with Arkanoid vs. Space Invaders, a more or less direct port of the mobile mash-up that even here is spun out into its own application thanks to its touch-only nature.
Space Invaders Forever only includes the three games in that last paragraph, and while that may seem like a harsh cut at first blush, it’s useful to look at what’s really being lost and what remains. You’re missing out on three fairly similar variants on the original Space Invaders and two near-identical regional variants on another admittedly fun game. Are those five-but-really-two games worth the extra price? For me they were, but I’m weird. For most people, if you asked them to pay thirty bucks for a collection with just the games that were cut, I doubt a lot would go for it.
The more important question is whether what remains justifies the price. It’s closer than I’m fully comfortable with, but I believe it does. If Taito dropped Space Invaders Extreme as-is on the eShop for fifteen to twenty bucks, I wouldn’t even blink at that. Arkanoid vs. Space Invaders is quite a bit of fun as well, though you are limited to playing it in handheld mode as it requires touch controls. I think it covers its fair share of the asking price. I’m less thrilled with Space Invaders Gigamax 4 SE. It’s fun if you have other people to play with, but you can tell it was designed as a multiplayer experience if you try to play it solo. But hey, Space Invaders Extreme over-performs for its part of the package so I suppose we can afford a little under-performance on Gigamax‘s part.
Think of Space Invaders Forever as Space Invaders Extreme with a little extra mustard, and you won’t be disappointed with the package. It’s not great as a compilation thanks to the cuts from the Invincible Collection, but as an enjoyable handful of shooters it makes the grade well enough. Just keep in mind that beyond Extreme the other games in the package have some asterisks involved. I hope the Invincible Collection eventually gets a digital release so that players can choose their preferred experience, but taken as it stands, this is a good dive back into the recent history of Space Invaders.
SwitchArcade Score: 4/5
New Releases
Killer Chambers ($9.99)
This is a quirky little action-platformer with small rooms full of ways to die. Honestly, it’s kind of an unfair game. There’s almost no way to see most of the traps and lethal threats coming, so you’ll just die and have to remember it for next time. But I suppose that’s the point of it. It’s all about learning the sequence of things and executing your moves perfectly in order to survive. There are more than 40 rooms to make your way through, and only the most patient of players will be able to reach the end. Some people aren’t going to be able to get along with this game, but those that can will find a lot to like in it.
Traffix ($4.99)
Well, you’ve probably seen games similar to this before. You control the flow of traffic by manipulating traffic signals, trying to keep things running smoothly. There are some extra gimmicks thrown in here and there to add some spice, but the core gameplay is easy to understand. There are various kinds of vehicles to deal with, each requiring a slightly different approach. The familiar three-star system is in place here, presumably giving you incentive to replay levels if you can still bring yourself to care about three-star systems. You do get something for getting those three stars, so if you’re enjoying the game you probably should care. A nice clean visual style makes it simple to parse and easy on the eyes.
Smart Moves ($5.99)
Ternox and Grin Robot have another interesting game for players to consider with Smart Moves, a puzzle game that kind of looks like a roguelite until you get into its rhythm. You need to collect all the chests in each level, making your way around enemies and obstacles as you go. If you can’t avoid the enemies, you need to make sure you land the first hit. Since they move when you do, you basically have to take advantage of the environment to make sure they move into your space before you move into theirs. Not bad at all, really.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
There are some good sales in today’s list, but you’re going to have to act fast on some of them. Specifically, 2K Games is having a sale on several of its games that will finish tomorrow. Ubisoft is running yet another sale, with recent releases like Immortals Fenyx Rising and Just Dance 2021 in the list. There are some other interesting sales in there, including Wallachia‘s first post-launch sale, so do have a look through and see what you can find amongst the usual suspects. Visual novel fans will want to check out the outbox to make sure they’ve got everything they want from Spike Chunsoft’s latest sale.
Select New Games on Sale
Borderlands Legendary Collection ($29.99 from $49.99 until 12/22)
Borderlands: GotY Edition ($17.99 from $29.99 until 12/22)
Borderlands: Handsome Collection ($23.99 from $39.99 until 12/22)
XCOM 2 Collection ($19.99 from $49.99 until 12/22)
BioShock: The Collection ($29.99 from $49.99 until 12/22)
BioShock Remastered ($11.99 from $19.99 until 12/22)
BioShock 2 Remastered ($11.99 from $19.99 until 12/22)
BioShock Infinite Complete ($11.99 from $19.99 until 12/22)
L.A. Noire ($24.99 from $49.99 until 12/22)
PGA Tour 2K21 ($29.99 from $59.99 until 12/22)
WWE 2K Battlegrounds ($23.99 from $39.99 until 12/22)
Cinders ($5.99 from $19.99 until 12/24)
Regalia: Men & Monarchs ($14.99 from $24.99 until 12/24)
Deployment ($1.99 from $9.99 until 12/24)
My Memory of Us ($5.99 from $14.99 until 12/24)
Butcher ($2.99 from $9.99 until 12/24)
Tangle Tower ($12.99 from $19.99 until 12/26)
Blackmoor 2 ($3.74 from $4.99 until 12/26)
Tilt Pack ($1.99 from $14.99 until 12/28)
Dead Dungeon ($1.99 from $4.99 until 12/28)
Sweet Witches ($1.99 from $9.99 until 12/28)
Atomic Heist ($1.99 from $7.99 until 12/28)
One Person Story ($1.99 from $2.99 until 12/28)
Broken Lines ($16.24 from $24.99 until 12/28)
Paratopic ($3.29 from $5.49 until 12/28)
Dark Burial ($1.99 from $3.99 until 12/28)
Pew Paw ($1.99 from $6.99 until 12/29)
WeakWood Throne ($2.99 from $4.99 until 12/29)
Grood ($2.49 from $4.99 until 12/29)
Farabel ($1.99 from $9.99 until 12/29)
Mushroom Quest ($1.99 from $2.99 until 12/29)
Mad Carnage ($1.99 from $4.99 until 12/29)
Tardy ($1.99 from $9.99 until 12/29)
Event Horizon ($1.99 from $5.99 until 12/29)
Magic Nations Card Game ($4.99 from $9.99 until 12/31)
Caveman Chuck ($2.00 from $4.00 until 12/31)
Dark Tower: RPG Puzzle ($2.50 from $5.00 until 12/31)
Rogue Robots ($5.99 from $14.99 until 12/31)
Western 1849 Reloaded ($5.59 from $7.99 until 12/31)
Embracelet ($8.39 from $11.99 until 12/31)
1001 Ultimate Mahjong 2 ($6.99 from $9.99 until 12/31)
The Long Dark ($23.44 from $34.99 until 12/31)
Inside Grass ($2.49 from $4.99 until 12/31)
The Escapists Complete ($3.74 from $14.99 until 1/1)
The Escapists 2 ($4.99 from $19.99 until 1/1)
Rayman Legends Definitive ($9.99 from $39.99 until 1/1)
Child of Light Ultimate ($4.99 from $19.99 until 1/1)
Valiant Hearts ($4.99 from $19.99 until 1/1)
Starlink Battle for Atlas ($14.99 from $59.99 until 1/1)
Starlink Deluxe Edition ($23.99 from $79.99 until 1/1)
The Room ($2.49 from $9.99 until 1/1)
South Park Stick of Truth ($11.99 from $29.99 until 1/1)
South Park Fractured But Whole ($14.99 from $59.99 until 1/1)
Immortals Fenyx Rising ($39.99 from $59.99 until 1/1)
Assassin’s Creed III ($15.99 from $39.99 until 1/1)
Assassin’s Creed Rebel Collection ($19.99 from $39.99 until 1/1)
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle ($14.99 from $59.99 until 1/1)
Mario + Rabbids Gold ($19.99 from $79.99 until 1/1)
Trials Rising Standard ($5.99 from $19.99 until 1/1)
Trials Rising Gold ($8.99 from $29.99 until 1/1)
Just Dance 2020 ($29.99 from $39.99 until 1/1)
Just Dance 2021 ($29.99 until $49.99 until 1/1)
Family Feud ($19.99 from $29.99 until 1/1)
Raging Justice ($3.74 from $14.99 until 1/1)
Risk Global Domination ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/1)
Wheel of Fortune ($7.99 from $19.99 until 1/1)
Jeopardy! ($7.99 from $19.99 until 1/1)
Monopoly ($9.99 from $39.99 until 1/1)
UNO ($3.99 from $9.99 until 1/1)
Trivial Pursuit Live ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/1)
Sheltered ($3.74 from $14.99 until 1/1)
Down to Hell ($2.99 from $9.99 until 1/1)
I Wanna Fly ($2.10 from $2.42 until 1/1)
Planet Alpha ($1.99 from $19.99 until 1/1)
Technosphere ($2.24 from $14.99 until 1/1)
Yoku’s Island Express ($4.99 from $19.99 until 1/1)
Mugsters ($2.99 from $14.99 until 1/1)
Death Squared ($0.99 from $14.99 until 1/1)
City Driving Simulator ($5.99 from $11.99 until 1/1)
Gas Station: Highway Services ($5.99 from $11.99 until 1/1)
Godly Corp ($2.39 from $7.99 until 1/1)
My Time at Portia ($7.49 from $29.99 until 1/1)
Yooka-Laylee ($9.99 from $39.99 until 1/1)
Yooka-Laylee & Impossible Lair ($11.99 from $29.99 until 1/1)
Overcooked Special ($4.99 from $19.99 until 1/1)
Overcooked! 2 ($12.49 from $24.99 until 1/1)
Worms WMD ($7.49 from $29.99 until 1/1)
The Survivalists ($18.74 from $24.99 until 1/1)
GoFishing 3D ($2.99 from $14.99 until 1/1)
Selma & the Wisp ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/1)
Scrap ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/1)
Redneck Skeet Shooting ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/1)
Ships ($2.09 from $13.99 until 1/1)
Blindy ($3.19 from $7.99 until 1/1)
OTTTD ($0.47 from $7.99 until 1/1)
The Mims Beginning ($2.69 from $8.99 until 1/1)
Bouncy Bob 2 ($2.00 from $5.00 until 1/1)
Bus Fix 2019 ($2.39 from $5.99 until 1/1)
Automachef ($5.09 from $14.99 until 1/1)
Garage Mechanic Simulator ($2.79 from $6.99 until 1/1)
Catch a Duck ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/1)
Hotel Dracula ($2.27 from $5.69 until 1/1)
Epic Clicker Journey ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/1)
Shadows ($2.39 from $7.99 until 1/1)
Moving Out ($14.99 from $24.99 until 1/1)
Feathery Ears ($2.99 from $9.99 until 1/1)
Golf With Your Friends ($11.99 from $19.99 until 1/1)
Ailment ($2.39 from $7.99 until 1/1)
Climbros ($2.97 from $9.90 until 1/1)
Crown Trick ($15.99 from $19.99 until 1/1)
Maze ($3.49 from $6.99 until 1/1)
Poltergeist Crusader ($2.99 from $5.99 until 1/1)
Detective Puz ($2.99 from $5.99 until 1/1)
The Long Return ($4.49 from $8.99 until 1/1)
Boss Rush: Mythology ($4.49 from $8.99 until 1/1)
Undead & Beyond ($2.19 from $10.99 until 1/1)
Shadows 2: Perfidia ($3.19 from $7.99 until 1/1)
ESport Manager ($3.19 from $7.99 until 1/1)
Billy Bomber ($2.00 from $5.00 until 1/1)
Ultra Off-Road 2019 Alaska ($2.27 from $18.99 until 1/1)
Blasphemous ($12.49 from $24.99 until 1/1)
Car Mechanic Sim Pocket ($2.39 from $19.99 until 1/1)
Gym Hero ($1.99 from $2.29 until 1/1)
Darkest Hunters ($2.12 from $5.03 until 1/1)
Car Mechanic Manager ($2.19 from $3.99 until 1/1)
Car Trader ($2.19 from $3.99 until 1/1)
Chicken Rider ($2.19 from $3.99 until 1/1)
Detective Driver: Miami Files ($5.99 from $11.99 until 1/1)
City Bus Driving Simulator ($5.99 from $11.99 until 1/1)
4×4 Dirt Track ($5.99 from $11.99 until 1/1)
Demolish & Build 2018 ($2.24 from $14.99 until 1/1)
WoM: Planar Conquest ($6.79 from $16.99 until 1/1)
Super Tennis ($2.39 from $5.99 until 1/1)
Motorcycle Mechanic Sim ($2.09 from $6.99 until 1/1)
Please the Gods ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/1)
Help Me Doctor ($2.39 from $7.99 until 1/1)
Incredible Adv. of Super Panda ($2.09 from $6.99 until 1/1)
Fishing Adventure ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/1)
Otherworldly ($2.09 from $6.99 until 1/1)
Ski Sniper ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/1)
House Flipper ($12.49 from $24.99 until 1/1)
Ageless ($8.99 from $14.99 until 1/1)
The Executioner ($2.07 from $9.90 until 1/1)
Oneiros ($5.49 from $10.99 until 1/1)
Paint Your Pet ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/1)
Swords & Sandals: Spartacus ($2.59 from $12.99 until 1/1)
Gerty ($2.72 from $12.99 until 1/1)
Pangeon ($2.09 from $9.99 until 1/1)
Neon Abyss ($14.99 from $19.99 until 1/1)
AvoCuddle ($2.59 from $12.99 until 1/1)
Ramageddon ($2.39 from $7.99 until 1/1)
Her Majesty’s Ship ($3.29 from $10.99 until 1/1)
Vampire’s Fall: Origins ($4.54 from $12.99 until 1/1)
Going Under ($14.99 from $19.99 until 1/1)
Nubarron: Unlucky Gnome ($2.99 from $9.99 until 1/1)
Indygo ($2.09 from $6.99 until 1/1)
Tank Mechanic Simulator ($8.99 from $17.99 until 1/1)
Bohemian Killing ($2.39 from $7.99 until 1/1)
CopperBell ($2.09 from $6.99 until 1/1)
Repressed ($2.39 from $7.99 until 1/1)
Car Driving School Simulator ($6.99 from $13.99 until 1/1)
RMX Real Motocross ($2.09 from $6.99 until 1/1)
Doubles Hard ($2.39 from $5.99 until 1/1)
Perfect Traffic Simulator ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/2)
Fantasy Tower Defense ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/2)
Locomotion ($2.19 from $10.99 until 1/2)
Dark Arcana: The Carnival ($8.99 from $14.99 until 1/3)
Super Space Snake ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/3)
Princess Closet ($17.49 from $24.99 until 1/3)
Diamond Girl ($15.99 from $19.99 until 1/3)
My Bewitching Perfume ($13.99 from $19.99 until 1/3)
Never Breakup ($6.99 from $9.99 until 1/4)
Black Hole ($3.95 from $5.99 until 1/4)
Cruel Bands Career ($2.79 from $3.99 until 1/4)
64.0 ($1.99 from $2.99 until 1/4)
SELF ($4.89 from $6.99 until 1/4)
Heaven Dust ($5.59 from $7.99 until 1/4)
Wenjia ($5.59 from $7.99 until 1/4)
Watermelon Party ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/4)
Seeders Puzzle Reboot ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/4)
Inside My Radio ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/4)
Ethan: Meteor Hunter ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/4)
A Ch’ti Bundle ($3.19 from $15.99 until 1/4)
Airheart: Tales of Broken Wings ($2.69 from $17.99 until 1/4)
Postal Redux ($6.99 from $9.99 until 1/4)
Flood of Light ($2.49 from $4.99 until 1/4)
AngerForce Reloaded ($6.99 from $9.99 until 1/4)
Sudoku Universe ($3.49 from $6.99 until 1/4)
Candleman ($9.99 from $14.99 until 1/4)
World to the West ($11.99 from $19.99 until 1/5)
Vampire: Coteries of NY ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/5)
Tower of Babel: No Mercy ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/5)
Teslagrad ($8.99 from $14.99 until 1/5)
Azuran Tales: Trials ($1.99 from $12.99 until 1/6)
Push the Box: Puzzle ($4.44 from $8.89 until 1/7)
Lines X ($1.99 from $3.99 until 1/7)
Lines Infinite ($1.99 from $3.99 until 1/7)
The Big Journey ($2.99 from $9.99 until 1/7)
Sorry, James ($2.99 from $9.99 until 1/7)
Jewel Wars ($3.99 from $9.99 until 1/7)
Ankh Guardian: TotDT ($1.99 from $7.99 until 1/7)
Wayout ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/7)
Jacks or Better: Video Poker ($3.74 from $7.49 until 1/7)
Deuces Wild: Video Poker ($3.74 from $7.49 until 1/7)
Shinobi Spirits S: LoH ($4.89 from $8.99 until 1/7)
Super Arcade Soccer ($2.09 from $6.99 until 1/7)
MazezaM: Puzzle ($2.75 from $5.50 until 1/7)
Grand Prix Rock’N Racing ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/7)
Rock’N Racing Off Road DX ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/7)
FootGoal! Tiki Taka ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/7)
#Halloween, Puzzles Dream ($1.99 from $5.99 until 1/7)
Starship Avenger O:TBE ($2.49 from $4.99 until 1/7)
Suguru Nature ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/7)
jetPIN ($5.39 from $5.99 until 1/7)
Dominate: Board Game ($4.94 from $9.89 until 1/7)
Infection: Board Game ($4.94 from $9.89 until 1/7)
Tiny Racer ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/8)
Freddy Spaghetti ($3.99 from $4.99 until 1/8)
Bring Them Home ($2.00 from $2.99 until 1/8)
Strike: Ten Pin Bowling ($7.49 from $9.99 until 1/8)
Wallachia: RoD ($10.99 from $14.99 until 1/9)
Apparition ($5.99 from $9.99 until 1/9)
Summer in Mara ($13.74 from $24.99 until 1/9)
Dark Quest 2 ($2.19 from $10.99 until 1/9)
Fobia ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/9)
Story of a Gladiator ($2.19 from $10.99 until 1/9)
Robots Under Attack! ($3.59 from $5.99 until 1/9)
Shmubedi Boo ($5.99 from $9.99 until 1/9)
Choices That Matter: AtSWO ($3.59 from $5.99 until 1/9)
Super Arcade Racing ($4.99 from $9.99 until 1/10)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, Tuesday, December 22nd
AI: The Somnium Files ($23.99 from $59.99 until 12/22)
BioShock: The Collection ($29.99 from $49.99 until 12/22)
BioShock Remastered ($11.99 from $19.99 until 12/22)
BioShock 2 Remastered ($11.99 from $19.99 until 12/22)
BioShock Infinite Complete ($11.99 from $19.99 until 12/22)
Borderlands Legendary Collection ($29.99 from $49.99 until 12/22)
Borderlands: GotY Edition ($17.99 from $29.99 until 12/22)
Borderlands: Handsome Collection ($23.99 from $39.99 until 12/22)
Funny Bunny Adventures ($1.99 from $4.99 until 12/22)
HyperBrawl Tournament ($14.99 from $24.99 until 12/22)
Katana Kami: A WotS Story ($14.99 from $29.99 until 12/22)
L.A. Noire ($24.99 from $49.99 until 12/22)
PGA Tour 2K21 ($29.99 from $59.99 until 12/22)
PixelJunk Monsters 2 ($2.99 from $14.99 until 12/22)
Robotics;Notes DaSH ($17.49 from $34.99 until 12/22)
Robotics;Notes Elite ($17.49 from $34.99 until 12/22)
Steins;Gate 0 ($11.99 from $29.99 until 12/22)
Steins;Gate Elite ($23.99 from $59.99 until 12/22)
Steins;Gate: Darling’s Embrace ($11.99 from $29.99 until 12/22)
Super Chariot ($2.08 from $14.90 until 12/22)
The Forbidden Arts ($5.99 from $14.99 until 12/22)
Vigil: Longest Night ($18.69 from $21.99 until 12/22)
WWE 2K Battlegrounds ($23.99 from $39.99 until 12/22)
XCOM 2 Collection ($19.99 from $49.99 until 12/22)
YU-NO: A Girl Who Chants Love ($19.99 from $49.99 until 12/22)
That’s all for today, friends. Tomorrow will see a few more new releases that we’ll check into, along with whatever news and new sales come along. There may also be some reviews or Mini-Views, depending on how I’m feeling. I’m feeling a bit rough of late, as some readers will have picked up on, but I’ll do my best for you all. We’ll also have some special articles coming as the year comes to a close, so do look forward to them. I hope you all have a good Monday, and as always, thanks for reading!
