Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for March 11th, 2022. In today’s edition, we’ve got a bunch of new releases to check out. Chex Quest, .hack//G.U. Last Recode, Cosmos Bit, Two Hundred Ways, and more will hit the eShop today, and we’ve got summaries of all of them. As usual for a Friday, we’ve also got a number of new sales to check out. Let’s head on out and see what’s what!
New Releases
.hack//G.U. Last Recode ($49.99)
Just under twenty years ago, a somewhat interesting experiment kicked off on the PlayStation 2. Bandai (at this point still Namco-less) and CyberConnect 2 released the first entry in the .hack series, RPGs that told a story of a game within a game. The full story was broken across four games, each coming a few months after the last, and you could carry over your progress from game to game. Kind of a so-so RPG, but the concept was neat and people got into it. More .hack stuff came, including a second series of games called .hack//G.U.. Those games were collected in a remaster a little while ago for PlayStation 4 and PC, and now here they are on Switch. If you measure a game’s worth by how much time you get per dollar, this one is for you.
Cosmos Bit ($4.99)
This is a short little Metroidvania game that aims to present an Amstrad CPC look to its planet-plumbing adventure. It comes from the same developer as Swords & Bones and Thunderflash, so I think you can expect a reasonable level of competence in its execution of its core gameplay mechanics. With abilities to unlock, four bosses to beat, and some puzzles to solve, Cosmos Bit will probably give you your five dollars’ worth.
Hotel Transylvania: Scary-Tale Adventures ($39.99)
Mavis and Drac hop into the world of fairy tales in this 3D platformer based on the Sony Pictures animated movies. Each world is patterned after a different fairy tale, with an amusing twist or two to fit them into the Hotel Transylvania theme. Probably not the greatest game in this genre on the Switch, but if you or your kids are fans of the movie series, you’ll probably have a good enough time.
Syndrome ($24.99)
A science-fiction themed survival horror game, Syndrome has some initial promise but it quickly unravels into a rather unremarkable mash of badly-implemented ideas from better games. Are there worse horror games on the eShop? Oh heavens, yes. But most of them cost a fraction of what this one does, so it’s hard to say which is a poorer use of one’s money.
Chex Quest HD ($4.99)
The original Chex Quest was a neat DOOM conversion that was packed with Chex cereal way back in the day. Lots of kids got it because it was basically free, and a cult following developed for the game. I mean, a DOOM engine game by any other name smells almost as sweet. That cult following gave someone the idea to remake the game minus the DOOM engine, and that is pretty much where things started to go wrong. It’s cheap enough that you might want to play it for a laugh. But you can do that for free via the PC version if you really want to.
Two Hundred Ways ($11.99)
The sequel to One Hundred Ways, it’s another big bunch of tricky ball-rolling puzzles to solve. Two hundred of them, to be precise. You’ll have to make use of more than forty different tools to help you guide each ball to its goal, and there can be up to three balls and three layers per stage. Think Marble Madness, but considerably more complicated at times.
Om Nom: Coloring, Toons & Puzzle ($3.99)
Essentially what it says on the tin. Enjoy coloring some pictures of Om Nom, do some jigsaw puzzles with Om Nom in them, play some Connect the Dots with Om Nom, and watch some cartoons of Om Nom. It’s loaded to the gills with IAP, but you can buy a $9.99 pack that includes everything. Might be good for the little ones.
Dual Brain Complete Edition ($26.99)
This is a collection of the three previously-released Dual Brain games, with a couple of extra categories to round them out. You get thirty different brain-teasing minigames across five categories. Coming in at only a few bucks cheaper than Big Brain Academy and with no multiplayer options whatsoever, this is a bit of a tough sell.
Cyber Pool ($4.99)
It’s a billiards game with that neon aesthetic that so many games love to use these days. There are forty different tables to play on, and six different modes to dig into including some local multiplayer options. Up to four players can join in for cooperative and competitive fun. The variety of table shapes give this a bit of a miniature golf feeling, which certainly lends some freshness to this well-worn concept.
Truck Simulator USA Car Games – Driving Games & Car 2022 ($11.99)
Man, screw off with that title. Nonsense word salad. How irritating. Handheld mode only, because it’s probably an Android port. Low effort trash.
Pipes Master ($2.99)
You always know that when Benjamin Kistler, Pix Arts, Piotr Skalski, or Gametry introduces a new template flip to the eShop, the others won’t be far behind with their own flips. So here’s Gametry’s take on the pipe puzzle template we’ve seen in various forms from the other bad boys of the eShop bargain basement. You get 250 levels.
Detective Inspector: Mysterious Clues ($2.99)
But Gametry isn’t finished yet. Here’s a “spot the differences" game that purports to offer more than two hundred levels. Most likely another template flip.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
A nice assortment of new sales to look at, even if there’s nothing particularly unusual in the batch. Axiom Verge 2, I suppose. Which isn’t to say there aren’t good games in the list, as there are plenty. If you’re a regular scanner of these sales, you’ll recognize many of them. Perhaps you have already bought some of them. Perhaps you will buy some today. Perhaps you will wait until next time. Not much happening in the weekend outbox. Check it anyways.
Select New Games on Sale
Axiom Verge 2 ($17.99 from $19.99 until 3/17)
Doraemon Story of Seasons ($14.99 from $49.99 until 3/17)
Namco Museum ($7.49 from $29.99 until 3/17)
Namco Museum Archives Vol 1 ($4.99 from $19.99 until 3/17)
Namco Museum Archives Vol 2 ($4.99 from $19.99 until 3/17)
Katamari Damacy Reroll ($7.49 from $29.99 until 3/17)
Mr Driller DrillLand ($7.49 from $29.99 until 3/17)
Taiko no Tatsujin Rhythmic Adv. ($24.99 from $49.99 until 3/17)
Taiko no Tatusjin Drum n Fun ($9.99 from $49.99 until 3/17)
Beast Quest ($1.99 from $19.99 until 3/17)
Curved Space ($4.99 from $19.99 until 3/17)
Troll & I ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/17)
Deer Drive Legends ($1.99 from $19.99 until 3/17)
The House of Da Vinci 2 ($4.99 from $9.99 until 3/18)
Demolition Crew ($2.50 from $5.00 until 3/18)
Raji An Ancient Epic ($12.49 from $24.99 until 3/20)
Danmaku Unlimited 3 ($4.99 from $9.99 until 3/22)
Baldur’s Gate I & II EE ($9.99 from $49.99 until 3/22)
Planescape Torment & Icewind Dale EE ($9.99 from $49.99 until 3/22)
Neverwinter Nights EE ($9.99 from $49.99 until 3/22)
SpongeBob Krusty Cook-Off ($4.94 from $14.99 until 3/22)
Johnny Turbo’s Arcade, Assorted ($1.99 from $7.99 until 3/24)
Retro Classix #1 Data East ($7.99 from $19.99 until 3/24)
Johnny Turbo’s Heavy Burger ($2.49 from $9.99 until 3/24)
Child of Light Ultimate ($4.99 from $19.99 until 3/24)
Valiant Hearts The Great War ($4.99 from $19.99 until 3/24)
Child of Light + Valiant Hearts ($7.49 from $29.99 until 3/24)
Starlink BfA Deluxe Edition ($19.99 from $79.99 until 3/24)
South Park The Fractured But Whole ($14.99 from $59.99 until 3/24)
Rayman Legends DE ($9.99 from $39.99 until 3/24)
Just Dance 2021 ($24.99 from $49.99 until 3/24)
Just Dance 2022 Deluxe ($32.99 from $59.99 until 3/24)
RISK Global Domination ($7.99 from $19.99 until 3/24)
UNO Ultimate ($7.99 from $19.99 until 3/24)
Wheel of Fortune ($7.99 from $19.99 until 3/24)
Monopoly + Monopoly Madness ($27.49 from $49.99 until 3/24)
Jeopardy! ($7.99 from $19.99 until 3/24)
Trivial Pursuit Live ($7.99 from $19.99 until 3/24)
Sports Party ($7.99 from $39.99 until 3/24)
Trials Rising ($5.99 from $19.99 until 3/24)
Trials Rising Gold ($8.99 from $29.99 until 3/24)
Hungry Shark World ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/24)
Skulls of the Shogun ($4.99 from $19.99 until 3/24)
Galak-Z The Void DE ($3.74 from $14.99 until 3/24)
Real Heroes: Firefighter ($3.74 from $14.99 until 3/24)
Legendary Fishing ($4.49 from $29.99 until 3/24)
Make the Burger ($2.99 from $3.99 until 3/24)
OctaFight ($1.99 from $5.99 until 3/24)
Demon’s Rise War for the Deep ($1.99 from $6.99 until 3/24)
Gnomes Garden 3 ($2.49 from $4.99 until 3/25)
Spitlings ($8.99 from $14.99 until 3/25)
Dynamite Fishing ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/25)
Lyrica ($15.99 from $19.99 until 3/25)
Clouds & Sheep 2 ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/25)
MotoGP 18 ($2.99 from $19.99 until 3/25)
MXGP3 Official Motocross ($1.99 from $19.99 until 3/25)
Savage Halloween ($1.99 from $4.99 until 3/25)
Daylife in Japan Jigsaw Puzzle ($1.99 from $3.99 until 3/25)
UBERMOSH:BLACK ($1.99 from $3.99 until 3/25)
Arcade Fuzz ($1.99 from $3.99 until 3/25)
Shapeshooter ($1.99 from $3.99 until 3/25)
Dracula Frames ($1.99 from $3.99 until 3/25)
Red Ronin ($1.99 from $7.99 until 3/25)
Swarmriders ($1.99 from $3.99 until 3/25)
Underland ($1.99 from $7.99 until 3/25)
Super Korotama ($2.99 from $4.99 until 3/25)
Puzzle Car ($1.99 from $3.99 until 3/25)
Missing Features: 2D ($1.99 from $3.99 until 3/25)
Vasara Collection ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/25)
Steamroll: Rustless ($5.99 from $9.99 until 3/25)
The Savior’s Gang ($2.99 from $4.99 until 3/25)
Milli & Greg ($1.99 from $3.99 until 3/25)
Space Elite Force ($1.99 from $2.99 until 3/25)
War Solution Casual Math Game ($1.99 from $3.99 until 3/25)
ASMR Journey Jigsaw Puzzle ($1.99 from $3.99 until 3/25)
Chess Knights Shinobi ($1.99 from $3.99 until 3/25)
Puzzletronics ($1.99 from $3.99 until 3/25)
Spooky Chase ($1.99 from $4.99 until 3/25)
Monkey Wall ($3.99 from $4.99 until 3/25)
Deiland Pocket Planet ($8.99 from $19.99 until 3/27)
RoboPhobik ($2.99 from $9.99 until 3/28)
Amazing Princess Sarah ($4.80 from $8.00 until 3/28)
From Earth to Heaven ($3.49 from $6.99 until 3/28)
Air Bounce Jump n Run ($2.99 from $5.99 until 3/28)
My Little Dog Adventure ($4.99 from $9.99 until 3/28)
Life of Fly ($7.49 from $14.99 until 3/28)
Aery Broken Memories ($7.49 from $14.99 until 3/28)
Aery Calm Mind ($4.49 from $8.99 until 3/28)
Murder Diaries ($4.99 from $9.99 until 3/28)
Murder Diaries 3 ($4.99 from $9.99 until 3/28)
Doomsday Vault ($7.99 from $19.99 until 3/28)
Red Rope Don’t Fall Behind ($3.89 from $12.99 until 3/31)
Ghoulboy ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/31)
Baobabs Mausoleum Ep.1 ($1.99 from $5.99 until 3/31)
Baobabs Mausoleum Ep.2 ($1.99 from $6.99 until 3/31)
Baobabs Mausoleum Ep.3 ($1.99 from $5.99 until 3/31)
Baobabs Mausoleum Grindhouse ($5.89 from $19.99 until 3/31)
Circle of Sumo ($2.99 from $9.99 until 3/31)
JDM Racing 2 ($3.49 from $4.99 until 3/31)
Soulblight ($3.74 from $14.99 until 3/31)
Goblin Sword ($1.99 from $4.99 until 3/31)
Path Through the Forest ($2.09 from $5.99 until 3/31)
Dragon Snakes ($1.99 from $3.99 until 3/31)
Super Arcade Soccer 2021 ($3.50 from $7.00 until 3/31)
A Hole New World ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/31)
Gnome More War ($1.99 from $2.99 until 3/31)
Monobot ($10.39 from $12.99 until 3/31)
Kuukiyomi Consider It ($2.49 from $4.99 until 3/31)
High Noon Revolver ($1.99 from $2.99 until 3/31)
Towertale ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/31)
Grand Guilds ($1.99 from $19.99 until 3/31)
Airheart: ToBW ($2.69 from $17.99 until 3/31)
Mahluk Dark Demon ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/31)
Crazy Oce ($2.09 from $5.99 until 3/31)
Summer Sweetheart ($6.99 from $19.99 until 3/31)
DreamGallery ($2.09 from $5.99 until 3/31)
Sales Ending This Weekend
Azurebreak Heroes ($1.99 from $6.99 until 3/12)
Bus Driver Simulator Countryside ($10.49 from $14.99 until 3/12)
Cattails ($7.49 from $14.99 until 3/12)
Detective Di Silk Road Murders ($3.89 from $12.99 until 3/12)
Farmers Co-Op: Out of This World ($9.09 from $12.99 until 3/12)
Haven ($14.99 from $24.99 until 3/12)
Aliens Drive Me Crazy ($4.20 from $6.00 until 3/13)
Anthill ($2.49 from $9.99 until 3/13)
Cubicity ($2.04 from $6.00 until 3/13)
Dragon Hills ($5.60 from $8.00 until 3/13)
Find The Balance ($2.49 from $4.99 until 3/13)
Hardway Party ($2.49 from $4.99 until 3/13)
Instant Farmer ($1.99 from $2.99 until 3/13)
Lazy Galaxy Rebel Story ($5.27 from $7.99 until 3/13)
Luna’s Fishing Garden ($5.27 from $7.99 until 3/13)
Merchant of the Skies ($9.89 from $14.99 until 3/13)
Potata: Fairy Flower ($3.60 from $12.00 until 3/13)
Sorcerer Knights ($1.99 from $14.99 until 3/13)
SteamWorld Dig ($2.49 from $9.99 until 3/13)
SteamWorld Dig 2 ($6.99 from $19.99 until 3/13)
SteamWorld Heist Ultimate ($4.99 from $19.99 until 3/13)
SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech ($8.74 from $24.99 until 3/13)
Time Tenshi ($8.99 from $14.99 until 3/13)
That’s all for today, and this week. We’ll be back next week with more games, more sales, more reviews, and some news. I’m going to try to make a final push through Triangle Strategy this weekend so that I can get a review ready for you all early next week. I hope you all have a great weekend, and as always, thanks for reading!
