News

SwitchArcade Round-Up: ‘DOOM’ Classics Go Physical, ‘The Game of Life 2’ Mini-View, Plus Today’s New Releases and Sales

Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for March 30th, 2021. In today’s article, we’ve got a little bit of news about one of Limited Run Games’ new items, a Mini-View of The Game of Life 2, and summaries of all of today’s new releases including the cool-looking Narita Boy. We’ve also got the usual lists of incoming and outgoing sales, in case that’s the kind of thing that gets your motor running. Let’s get to it!

News

‘DOOM: The Classics Collection’ Coming from Limited Run Games

DOOM. You know it, you probably love it, and there’s a high chance you’ve bought it several times over the last few decades. Well, Limited Run Games has another way for you to buy DOOM coming up. DOOM: The Classics Collection puts DOOM, DOOM II, and DOOM 3 together onto one cartridge. It will be available in a few different versions, as is often the case with Limited Run Games. The standard version should be easy enough to get your hands on, provided you order it within the four-week period it’s available. The other versions may be slightly more difficult to get your hands on. Pre-orders begin this Friday on the Limited Run Games website.

Mini-Views

The Game of Life 2 ($29.99)

You know, I’m not sure how necessary a review of this game is, but let’s give it a shot. This is a video game take on the classic board game, with a few tweaks to merit the number in the title. Like the original, you’re competing with other players to see who can end the game with the most money. You’ll spin the spinner, land on spaces, and get or lose money based on which space or card you draw. There are a few places where you can choose between two branches, but by and large this is a game of chance. The new additions for this sequel add a minor element of strategy into the mix, but only a small one. Additional cash will be rewarded based on earned skill points, and if you happen to have the most skill points of all of the players you’ll earn a bonus for that as well. You’ll often have to choose between actions, each of which offers different rewards. You can work towards pure cash or try to earn those bonuses.

The board is presented in 3D with lots of animated elements to bring it to life. There are some mild customization elements in terms of your gender, costume, and vehicle, but otherwise you can expect a similar experience to playing the board game. You also get a few different skins for the board that change the cosmetics but nothing else. More will be available as DLC if you like them well enough. You can play alone against computer opponents, head online to play against other people, or pass around a controller in the comfort of your own home if you want to do the local multiplayer thing. It’s a good substitute for the board game, provided you want to play The Game of Life. I find the original board game a bit shallow and this video game version is no different, but it’s a decent enough game to play with younger kids.

SwitchArcade Score: 3/5

New Releases

Narita Boy ($24.99)

Got room on your Switch for another super-stylish Metroidvania game? Narita Boy has a storyline with a vague whiff of Tron about it, and gameplay involving swinging around your sweet Techno-sword. There are big bosses to fight, synth tunes to listen to, and lots of cool-looking places to explore. I’m not sure whether he’s named after the city or the airport, but perhaps the story will reveal that. Or probably not. It’s not as though it matters, I guess. Anyway, lots of people are raving about this one, so it’s probably worth looking into.

Afterpulse ($19.99)

Wow, that’s a blast from the past. Regular TouchArcade readers may remember this one from its mobile release six years ago. I don’t think it was a fantastic game by any means at its launch, but through updates it eventually garnered a solid following. It’s now on the Switch, bringing its squad-based third-person shooting action to the platform. This purchase includes a Fast Pass that helps you get more rewards and make progress more quickly. Obviously, you won’t be wanting to buy this if you’re looking for single-player fun. If you want some online multiplayer kicks? Well, I’m not the guy to ask about that. It seems like a good port of the game, at the very least.

Ty the Tasmanian Tiger 2: Bush Rescue HD ($29.99)

The follow-up to Krome’s flawed-but-fun 3D platformer Ty the Tasmanian Tiger is following in its predecessor’s footsteps by making the leap to HD. The graphics have been spiffed up and a few additions have been made, but for the most part this is the 2004 platformer with all that implies. I remember this being a decent sequel that played things pretty safe, but it did have a surprisingly substantial kart racing element to it. Anyway, if you’ve got a hankering for a 3D platformer with that sixth-generation console feel, you could do a lot worse than this for a lot more money. I’m… I’m trying to not stare at Balan Wonderworld, but it’s right there. Awkward.

Balloon Girl ($7.99)

Well, I never expected an indie homage to the Game Boy title Balloon Kid. What a nice surprise! Choose from four different playable characters and head out to over 50 levels. Grab the balloons and watch out for hazards. This doesn’t look like it’s an auto-scroller, so it’s at least different from the game that inspired it in that major way. I don’t know if this is going to be a good game or not, but I loved Balloon Kid enough when I was young that I’m willing to give it a shot.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

Oh sweet, Wild Guns Reloaded is on sale. That’s definitely worth grabbing. Avoid those Harvest Moon games, they’re not very good. Other items worth considering in today’s list include Paradise Killer, Thimbleweed Park, and Framed Collection. Lots of stuff in the outbox, but there isn’t anything I’m jumping up and down to point out. Just take a look through it and see if anything grabs you.

Select New Games on Sale

Wild Guns Reloaded ($9.99 from $19.99 until 4/4)
Harvest Moon: Light of Hope ($19.99 from $39.99 until 4/4)
Harvest Moon: Mad Dash ($9.99 from $19.99 until 4/4)
Top Run ($2.49 from $4.99 until 4/4)
Cosmic Defenders ($1.99 from $4.99 until 4/4)
Legends of Ethernal ($9.99 from $19.99 until 4/4)
Mahjong Adventure ($6.39 from $7.99 until 4/4)
Reel Fishing: Road Trip Adv. ($14.99 from $29.99 until 4/4)
Paradise Killer ($13.99 from $19.99 until 4/5)
Framed Collection ($3.99 from $9.99 until 4/5)
Think of the Children ($2.59 from $12.99 until 4/5)
In Other Waters ($10.49 from $14.99 until 4/5)
The Stillness of the Wind ($3.89 from $12.99 until 4/5)
Neo Cab ($3.99 from $19.99 until 4/5)
Super Mutant Alien Assault ($1.99 from $9.99 until 4/5)


The Church in the Darkness ($3.99 from $19.99 until 4/5)
Food Truck Tycoon ($1.99 from $4.99 until 4/5)
Sticky Monsters ($2.98 from $9.95 until 4/5)
Thimbleweed Park ($7.99 from $19.99 until 4/5)
Snake vs Snake ($3.59 from $3.99 until 4/7)
Say No! More ($13.49 from $14.99 until 4/9)
Cooking Tycoons 2: 3 in 1 ($1.99 from $12.99 until 4/12)
The Unexpected Quest ($11.25 from $15.00 until 4/17)
Perseverance ($1.99 from $4.99 until 4/18)
Blood Breed ($1.99 from $5.99 until 4/18)
Knight Squad 2 ($11.99 from $14.99 until 4/18)
Chess Ace ($1.99 from $7.99 until 4/18)
Super Jumpy Ball ($4.49 from $4.99 until 4/18)
Energy Cycle Edge ($1.99 from $4.99 until 4/18)
Spiral Splatter ($1.99 from $4.99 until 4/18)
Alteric ($1.99 from $4.99 until 4/18)


Where Are My Friends? ($2.39 from $5.99 until 4/18)
Save the Ninja Clan ($1.99 from $4.99 until 4/18)
Grim Legends 2: SotDS ($2.09 from $14.99 until 4/19)
S.N.I.P.E.R. – Hunter Scope ($1.99 from $14.99 until 4/19)
Persian Nights 2: Moonlight Veil ($2.09 from $14.99 until 4/19)
Paratopic ($2.19 from $5.49 until 4/19)
Urban Flow ($1.99 from $14.99 until 4/19)
Trancelation ($1.99 from $9.99 until 4/19)
Destrobots ($4.99 from $9.99 until 4/19)
Castle of Heart ($1.99 from $14.99 until 4/19)
Warplanes: WW2 Dogfight ($4.99 from $9.99 until 4/19)
Jet Kave Adventure ($13.39 from $19.99 until 4/19)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, Wednesday, March 31st

AO Tennis 2 ($23.99 from $59.99 until 3/31)
Aqua Moto Racing Utopia ($9.99 from $39.99 until 3/31)
Baila Latino ($7.99 from $9.99 until 3/31)
Beat Me! ($2.46 from $12.99 until 3/31)
Bee Simulator ($9.99 from $39.99 until 3/31)
Blossom Tales: Sleeping King ($6.74 from $14.99 until 3/31)
Brick Breaker ($2.49 from $9.99 until 3/31)
Caveman Tales ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/31)
Clustertruck ($7.49 from $14.99 until 3/31)
Colossus Down ($14.39 from $17.99 until 3/31)
Community Inc ($7.49 from $14.99 until 3/31)
Dangerous Relationship ($10.49 from $14.99 until 3/31)
Deep Diving Adventures ($2.99 from $19.99 until 3/31)
Deployment ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/31)
Enchanting Mahjong Match ($1.99 from $4.99 until 3/31)


Escape From Life inc ($7.99 from $9.99 until 3/31)
Escape Trick 35 Enigmas ($9.99 from $19.99 until 3/31)
Farmer’s Dynasty ($15.99 from $39.99 until 3/31)
Funghi Explosion ($9.99 from $19.99 until 3/31)
Gakuen Club ($12.49 from $24.99 until 3/31)
Garage ($7.49 from $14.99 until 3/31)
Glyph ($13.99 from $19.99 until 3/31)
Graveyard Keeper ($9.99 from $19.99 until 3/31)
Gunma’s Ambition ($4.99 from $9.99 until 3/31)
Guts & Glory ($7.49 from $14.99 until 3/31)
Hello Neighbor ($19.99 from $39.99 until 3/31)
Hello Neighbor Hide & Seek ($14.99 from $29.99 until 3/31)
Heroes of the Monkey Tavern ($4.99 from $9.99 until 3/31)
Hunting Simulator ($9.99 from $39.99 until 3/31)
Kaptain Brawe: Brawe New World ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/31)


Kingdom Tales ($6.99 from $9.99 until 3/31)
Kingdom Tales 2 ($6.99 from $9.99 until 3/31)
Mahjong ($2.49 from $9.99 until 3/31)
Mega Party: Tootuff Adv. ($5.99 from $29.99 until 3/31)
Mr. Shifty ($7.49 from $14.99 until 3/31)
My Diggy Dog 2 ($2.49 from $9.99 until 3/31)
My Secret Pets ($10.49 from $14.99 until 3/31)
My Universe: Pet Clinic ($22.49 from $29.99 until 3/31)
Myths of Orion: LftN ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/31)
Nightshade ($28.79 from $47.99 until 3/31)
Oceanhorn: MoUS ($6.74 from $14.99 until 3/31)
Omega Labyrinth Life ($27.59 from $59.99 until 3/31)
Outbreak: New Nightmare ($5.19 from $12.99 until 3/31)
Party Hard ($7.49 from $14.99 until 3/31)
Party Hard 2 ($9.99 from $19.99 until 3/31)


Phantom Trigger ($7.49 from $14.99 until 3/31)
Pool Billiard ($1.99 from $7.99 until 3/31)
Pub Encounter ($8.49 from $16.99 until 3/31)
Punch Club ($7.49 from $14.99 until 3/31)
Road to Ballhalla ($7.49 from $14.99 until 3/31)
Secrets of Me ($10.49 from $14.99 until 3/31)
Slayin 2 ($3.49 from $11.99 until 3/31)
Snow Moto Racing Freedom ($9.99 from $39.99 until 3/31)
Solitaire Klondike Black ($1.99 from $4.99 until 3/31)
Speedrunners ($7.49 from $14.99 until 3/31)
Streets of Rogue ($9.99 from $19.99 until 3/31)
Strikey Sisters ($4.99 from $9.99 until 3/31)
Super Chariot ($1.99 from $14.90 until 3/31)
Syberia 2 ($1.99 from $29.99 until 3/31)
Tales from Dragon Mountain ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/31)


Tales from Dragon Mountain 2 ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/31)
Tennis World Tour ($7.49 from $29.99 until 3/31)
Tetraminos ($2.49 from $9.99 until 3/31)
The Amazing Shinsengumi: HiL ($5.99 from $11.99 until 3/31)
The Card: Poker, Etc ($1.99 from $4.99 until 3/31)
The Charming Empire ($12.49 from $24.99 until 3/31)
The Final Station ($9.99 from $19.99 until 3/31)
The Golf ($3.99 from $9.99 until 3/31)
The Man With the Ivory Cane ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/31)
The Number Puzzle ($2.49 from $4.99 until 3/31)
Toki ($1.99 from $14.99 until 3/31)
Totally Reliable Delivery Service ($7.49 from $14.99 until 3/31)
Unto the End ($17.49 from $24.99 until 3/31)
Urban Trial Playground ($2.99 from $14.99 until 3/31)
Urban Trial Tricky ($2.99 from $14.99 until 3/31)


Venture Kid ($2.50 from $10.00 until 3/31)
Where Angels Cry ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/31)
Where Angels Cry: TotF CE ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/31)
Whip! Whip! ($4.99 from $9.99 until 3/31)
WRC 8 FIA Rally ($12.49 from $49.99 until 3/31)
Wuppo: Definitive ($4.99 from $14.99 until 3/31)
Zotrix Starglider ($6.99 from $9.99 until 3/31)

That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with a handful of new releases to look at, along with whatever news and sales come along in the next day. Oddly, I’ve found myself getting back into playing my 3DS lately. I’m about thirty hours into Dragon Quest 7 at this point, and I think it gets even better on your fourth playthrough. I’ll be back onto the Switch soon of course, but for now I am enjoying myself. What are you all playing? Anyway, I hope you all have a great Tuesday, and as always, thanks for reading!