Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for March 29th, 2021. It’s a relatively quiet day so far, but we’ve got a couple of new releases to look at anyway. There’s a bit of news, though it’s more of a reminder than anything. We’ve also got Mini-Views of three games, and I’m trying a slightly different approach with them today. There are also the usual lists of incoming and outgoing sales for you to look over. Let’s head on in and check things out!
News
Reminder: ‘Super Mario 3D All-Stars’ and ‘Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light’ Will Be Delisted From the eShop Soon
The end of March is fast approaching. Along with the change of the season and the end of the fiscal year, the close of March also marks the official end of Nintendo’s Mario 35th Anniversary festivities. And its Fire Emblem 30th Anniversary festivities, such as they were. With that, a number of products and services will be wrapping up their runs. Super Mario Bros. 35 will end its service at the end of March 31st and will no longer be playable. Some merch will be removed from sale. And perhaps worst of all, Super Mario 3D All-Stars will be delisted from the Nintendo eShop. Physical shipments will also cease, though any stock still out there will be available while supplies last. The same goes for Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light, the official Western localization of the original game in the series. Assuming you’re able to find the physical release of that one, the codes inside the box will still be redeemable for now. But you will not be able to buy it on the eShop as of April 1st, so if you want it, now is the time to act. Mmm, artificial scarcity.
Mini-Views
Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town ($49.99)
At the end of the day, a slightly-broken, somewhat unambitious Story of Seasons game is still a Story of Seasons game. I have a lot of issues with Pioneers of Olive Town. It suffers from technical issues even after a few updates, with the framerate flopping all over the place depending on how much you’ve got going on with your farm. The townspeople, normally one of the more enjoyable aspects of a Story of Seasons entry, are relatively flat here. By and large, they don’t have anything interesting to say and feel like inconsequential NPCs in a JRPG town. Most of the new elements, like the heavy reliance on Maker machines, make the game more tedious, and in most other respects the game is content to rest on the laurels of the established formula.
That said, the established formula is a strong one. The loop of farming, fishing, animal care, and mining to keep all of your money-making wheels in motion remains extremely compelling. It’s a very hard game to stop playing, even when the bits meant to break up the routine aren’t quite up to snuff. It’s no Stardew Valley, but I can at least appreciate its more focused approach even if I don’t prefer it. The art style is very charming, and while the townspeople didn’t really shine I can’t say I found them annoying either. There were at least a couple of sessions in my time with the title that I was surprised by my console informing me my battery was low. I had gotten so lost in the work that I didn’t even notice the time had passed. It’s a typical Story of Seasons game in most regards, no better but also no worse. Perhaps that’s sufficient.
SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5
Overcooked: All You Can Eat! ($39.99)
There are a few angles you could be approaching this release from. Perhaps you’re the sort that owns both Overcooked! games and all of the DLC, and loved every bit of it. I’m sorry to say that there isn’t much here that will be new for you. Not nothing, mind you. But very little. Perhaps you own one of the two games already. It’s a slightly better deal for you, as this includes every bit of content released across both games thus far and then some, with enough added features that it may be worth completing your collection by buying this over the remaining individual parts. Tough call.
If you have never played Overcooked! before and don’t own any of the games, this is your one-stop ticket to an incredible amount of ridiculously good multiplayer fun. Like, there’s a decent enough single-player experience in here, but head over to the multiplayer and you’ll be having wild times hand over fist. Even if you don’t have anyone to play with locally, all of the content from both games now has online multiplayer support, with cross-play helping you find fellow chefs more quickly and easily than ever. In spite of the shared concept driving every stage, arena, and add-on in this package, the game keeps finding new ways to surprise you and change the rules. It’s one of the finest party games on the Switch, so if that’s a thing you’re shopping for you really can’t go wrong here.
SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5
Barrage Fantasia ($9.99)
The Switch really is a shoot-em-up paradise. No matter which specific flavor of the genre you like, you’re probably covered. There are even a number of solid choices for those who want to get their feet wet with the genre. Barrage Fantasia is one such game. It’s not that there isn’t something here for veterans, because it adapts nicely to high-level play. But if you usually skip on shoot-em-ups because their scoring systems are too confusing or the games are just too hard, you may want to give this one a go. It has colorful visuals, lots of options you can pick from to give yourself an easier time, and plenty of modes that you can use to practice.
You can choose a bunch of options and accessories for your ship before jumping in, with those selections expanding as you play. Your basic shot comes in two types, with a standard shot that lets you maneuver quickly and a double shot that slows you down. You also have a bomb that you can trigger, with a meter slowly building up over time that will replenish one stock when it fills. Using the bomb attack will turn bullets into hearts, which you can collect to fill up your heart meter faster. When that fills up, one of your life points will be restored. It’s a very forgiving system. With solid gameplay, extra modes to play around with, and nice features like being able to play in portrait mode (a must-have for a Switch vertical shooter in my opinion, Barrage Fantasia has just enough sizzle to stick its head above the pack.
SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5
New Releases
The Game of Life 2 ($29.99)
Board games don’t tend to get sequels, but video games often do. Such is the case with The Game of Life, the classic board game created by Milton Bradley and now owned by, I think, Hasbro. The board game has had a lot of changes over the years, but has always kept its name. The video game version, specifically the mobile one, got a sequel. It mostly plays the same as the original, but with an extra aspect where you’re building three different stats alongside accumulating wealth, just to make things more interesting. It’s this game that has been brought to Switch by Marmalade Game Studio. You can play with others online or via local pass-and-play, and it includes a few different themes to choose from. Additional themes are available as DLC. What can I say? It’s The Game of Life with a few tweaks. My family and I played a few rounds on it and we had fun. Less clean-up involved than with the board game and no one could cheat. If that sounds good to you, here you go.
Gallic Wars: Battle Simulator ($4.99)
This one describes itself as a roguelike tactical strategy game. The art style combined with the setting seems to be trying to evoke Asterix, which I suppose isn’t that weird of an idea. Anyway, you engage in battles stage-by-stage by sending your troops out to attack or defend as necessary. Nothing too fancy. It’s quite short, a bit buggy, and the difficulty balancing is all over the place. In fact, I think that’s why they’ve chosen to call it a “roguelike" game, because there really aren’t many roguelike elements here. If I understand the game properly, it really just means that if you do badly at a couple of battles, you’re better off restarting. Reasonable price, but I’m not sure it’s worth it.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
Lots of stuff to consider today, friends. Missile Dancer just got an update and is on sale to celebrate that. All of the Secret Files and Lost Horizon games are on sale for great prices, so if you like point-and-click style adventure games go ahead and fill your bag. But really though, there’s quite a bit in there. Have a good look through the list. The most notable things in the outbox are Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted and, if you have the budget for it, the excellent puzzler Touhou Spell Bubble. In general, this week looks to be a little quieter for new releases than we’ve seen in a while, so it might be a good time to load up on discounts. Do what you have to.
Select New Games on Sale
Missile Dancer ($7.99 from $9.99 until 4/1)
Clue: Classic Mystery Game ($14.99 from $29.99 until 4/2)
Battleship ($9.99 from $19.99 until 4/2)
Carnage: Battle Arena ($2.99 from $14.99 until 4/2)
City Driving Simulator ($5.99 from $11.99 until 4/2)
4×4 Dirt Track ($5.99 from $11.99 until 4/2)
Car Driving School Simulator ($6.99 from $13.99 until 4/2)
Secret Files: Tunguska ($3.74 from $14.99 until 4/3)
Secret Files 2: Puritas Cordis ($3.74 from $14.99 until 4/3)
Secret Files 3 ($3.74 from $14.99 until 4/3)
Secret Files Sam Peters ($1.99 from $6.99 until 4/3)
Lost Horizon ($3.74 from $14.99 until 4/3)
Lost Horizon 2 ($3.74 from $14.99 until 4/3)
Let’s Sing Country ($29.24 from $44.99 until 4/3)
Let’s Sing 2020 ($29.24 from $44.99 until 4/3)
Super Star Panda ($2.99 from $9.99 until 4/3)
Dirt Bike Insanity ($2.39 from $7.99 until 4/3)
SuperMoose ($2.39 from $7.99 until 4/3)
Solar Blast ($1.99 from $4.99 until 4/3)
War Truck Simulator ($2.39 from $7.99 until 4/3)
Gallic Wars: Battle Simulator ($3.99 from $4.99 until 4/4)
Strike Suit Zero: DC ($5.99 from $19.99 until 4/4)
Adventures of Pip ($3.99 from $9.99 until 4/5)
Grand Guilds ($9.99 from $19.99 until 4/8)
Horned Knight ($4.79 from $5.99 until 4/8)
Towertale ($1.99 from $9.99 until 4/8)
High Noon Revolver ($1.99 from $2.99 until 4/8)
Gnome More War ($1.99 from $2.99 until 4/8)
Vigil: The Longest Night ($16.49 from $21.99 until 4/11)
Death Race 2020 ($1.99 from $5.99 until 4/11)
Lily of the Hollow ($4.89 from $6.99 until 4/12)
Soulslayer ($5.49 from $9.99 until 4/12)
CrunchTime ($1.99 from $3.99 until 4/12)
Gaokao.Love.100Days ($6.99 from $11.99 until 4/12)
Breathedge ($19.99 from $24.99 until 4/13)
Flashback ($1.99 from $19.99 until 4/14)
Dreaming Canvas ($1.99 from $4.99 until 4/14)
JigSaw Solace ($1.99 from $3.99 until 4/14)
JigSaw Abundance ($1.99 from $4.99 until 4/14)
War-Torn Dreams ($1.99 from $6.99 until 4/14)
Fluxteria ($1.99 from $6.99 until 4/14)
Caretaker ($1.99 from $7.99 until 4/14)
Memory Lane ($1.99 from $4.99 until 4/14)
Blacksad: Under the Skin ($14.99 from $49.99 until 4/14)
Nerved ($1.99 from $8.99 until 4/14)
Syberia 1 & 2 ($1.99 from $34.99 until 4/14)
Power Racing Bundle 2 ($8.49 from $16.99 until 4/15)
One Escape ($3.99 from $4.99 until 4/15)
Luckslinger ($7.99 from $9.99 until 4/15)
Speedway Bundle S&T ($9.99 from $19.99 until 4/15)
Mastercube ($2.19 from $5.49 until 4/15)
Panzer Dragoon: Remake ($6.24 from $24.99 until 4/15)
Crypt of the NecroDancer ($3.99 from $19.99 until 4/15)
BallzOut ($2.00 from $2.50 until 4/16)
Olympic Boxing ($5.99 from $7.99 until 4/16)
Silver Chains ($17.49 from $24.99 until 4/16)
Truck Simulator ($5.99 from $11.99 until 4/16)
Shinobi Blade ($4.85 from $9.90 until 4/16)
Little Squire’s Quest ($4.85 from $9.90 until 4/16)
Tied Together ($1.99 from $14.99 until 4/16)
Bloo Kid 2 ($1.99 from $4.99 until 4/16)
Dead End Job ($1.99 from $16.99 until 4/16)
Bridge Constructor Ultimate ($5.24 from $14.99 until 4/16)
Outbuddies DX ($6.29 from $17.99 until 4/16)
Colt Canyon ($7.49 from $14.99 until 4/16)
Super Club Tennis ($9.98 from $29.99 until 4/16)
Doodle Derby ($1.99 from $7.99 until 4/16)
Pumpkin Jack ($19.79 from $29.99 until 4/16)
Banana Treasures Island ($4.85 from $9.90 until 4/16)
Truberbrook ($10.49 from $29.99 until 4/16)
Deadly Fighter 2 ($1.99 from $3.99 until 4/16)
Vambrace: Cold Soul ($8.74 from $24.99 until 4/16)
Earth Atlantis ($1.99 from $14.99 until 4/16)
In Between ($1.99 from $14.99 until 4/16)
Super Blackjack Battle 2 Turbo ($1.99 from $7.99 until 4/16)
Toby: The Secret Mine ($1.99 from $11.99 until 4/16)
Moorhuhn Remake ($5.59 from $6.99 until 4/17)
Super Arcade Racing ($4.99 from $9.99 until 4/17)
Glyph ($13.99 from $19.99 until 3/31)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, Tuesday, March 30th
99Vidas – Definitive ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/30)
Animated Jigsaws: Animals ($3.99 from $9.99 until 3/30)
Ary & the Secret of Seasons ($19.99 from $39.99 until 3/30)
Astro Duel Deluxe ($1.99 from $7.99 until 3/30)
Bear With Me: Lost Robots ($1.99 from $4.99 until 3/30)
Beast Quest ($5.99 from $29.99 until 3/30)
Deer Drive Legends ($3.99 from $19.99 until 3/30)
Degrees of Separation ($5.99 from $19.99 until 3/30)
Dig Dog ($1.99 from $3.99 until 3/30)
Dogurai ($1.99 from $4.99 until 3/30)
Dustoff Heli Rescue 2 ($3.20 from $8.00 until 3/30)
Fall Gummies ($1.99 from $7.99 until 3/30)
Fantasy Tower Defense ($1.99 from $4.99 until 3/30)
Five Nights at Freddy’s: HW ($14.99 from $29.99 until 3/30)
Flatland Vol.1 ($1.99 from $4.99 until 3/30)
Half Dead ($2.49 from $4.99 until 3/30)
Happy Animals Bowling ($2.49 from $4.99 until 3/30)
Hardcore Maze Cube ($1.99 from $2.49 until 3/30)
I Saw Black Clouds ($11.69 from $12.99 until 3/30)
Knowledge Trainer: Trivia ($2.99 from $14.99 until 3/30)
Ninjin: Clash of Carrots ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/30)
Override 2: Super Mech League ($19.49 from $29.99 until 3/30)
Override: Mech City Brawl ($14.99 from $29.99 until 3/30)
Perfect Traffic Simulator ($2.49 from $9.99 until 3/30)
Piczle Colors ($4.80 from $12.00 until 3/30)
Piczle Lines 500 More Puzzles ($3.99 from $9.99 until 3/30)
Piczle Lines DX ($5.99 from $14.99 until 3/30)
Piczle Lines DX Bundle ($7.99 from $19.99 until 3/30)
Pure Mahjong ($4.99 from $9.99 until 3/30)
Puzzle Wall ($3.19 from $7.99 until 3/30)
Remothered: Broken Porcelain ($19.49 from $29.99 until 3/30)
Rock of Ages 3: Make & Break ($14.99 from $29.99 until 3/30)
Royal Tower Defense ($1.99 from $7.99 until 3/30)
Shakes on a Plane ($4.99 from $19.99 until 3/30)
Skully ($14.99 from $29.99 until 3/30)
Space Elite Force 2 ($1.99 from $4.99 until 3/30)
Sweet Witches ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/30)
Table Soccer Foosball ($2.49 from $4.99 until 3/30)
The Legend of Ninja ($1.99 from $7.99 until 3/30)
Total Arcade Racing ($6.99 from $9.99 until 3/30)
Touhou Spell Bubble ($43.99 from $54.99 until 3/30)
Trine 4: Nightmare Prince ($7.49 from $29.99 until 3/30)
Trine: Ultimate Collection ($14.99 from $49.99 until 3/30)
Troll and I ($2.99 from $29.99 until 3/30)
Ubermosh: Omega ($1.99 from $4.99 until 3/30)
Voxelgram ($5.59 from $7.99 until 3/30)
Zen Chess Collection ($1.99 from $3.99 until 3/30)
That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with a number of new releases to check out, including Afterpulse, Narita Boy, Ty the Tasmanian Tiger 2, and more. I should have another review or Mini-View for you, and of course whatever news and new sales pop up will be included as well. I hope you all have a merry Monday, and as always, thanks for reading!
