Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for June 22nd, 2022. In today’s article, I’ve got two reviews for you to dig into. First up is an extensive look at Capcom Fighting Collection, due out later this week. Then we’ve got a look at Metal Max Xeno Reborn, a bit of a guilty pleasure. There are a handful of new releases to check out, and the usual lists of new and outgoing sales. Let’s get to it!
Reviews & Mini-Views
Capcom Fighting Collection ($39.99)
Capcom has been rereleasing a lot of its back catalog in recent years, and that sometimes makes things a little complicated. Take Capcom Fighting Collection, for example. If you own Capcom Arcade Stadium and are planning on picking up Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium, you’ll own seven out of the ten games featured on this compilation. And of the remaining three, two are minor variants of the third Darkstalkers game. There’s one truly plum exclusive on here, but there are other features that may make the overall package worth it for you. And of course, some of you may not have bought Capcom Arcade Stadium and don’t plan on buying its follow-up. Complicated.
Let’s first go over what you get in this package. There are ten Capcom arcade games in here, with five of them being drawn from the Darkstalkers series. You might remember there only being three Darkstalkers games. Well, you’re not entirely wrong. The third game saw two remixes in Japanese arcades, each of which brought back a few characters cut from the initial release while cutting an equal number of different ones. Other than the rosters, those remixes are functionally identical to that third game. Since Capcom has stuck to the arcade versions, there is no version of Darkstalkers 3/Vampire Savior in here that includes all of the characters in the manner that the home versions did.
You also get both games in the brief but memorable Pocket Fighter series. That includes the one non-fighting game on this Fighting Collection, Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo. It’s a fantastic puzzle game and its inclusion alone adds considerable weight to the value of this collection. While its praises aren’t sung as loudly, the fighting game spinoff Super Gem Fighter Mini Mix is a hilarious blast all on its own. A great little palate cleanser between rounds of the more serious fighting games, and with plenty of depth if you choose to mine it.
Naturally, Street Fighter makes an appearance here. But only a single appearance, which is understandable given it has a whole collection of its own. If you’re only going to have one, Hyper Street Fighter II: The Anniversary Edition is a good one. It was made to celebrate the fifteenth anniversary of the Street Fighter series, and allows you to choose from every Street Fighter II character in any of their Street Fighter II incarnations. It was a nice treat back in 2003, and it’s as good now as it was then.
The line-up is rounded out with a couple of lesser-known titles. Cyberbots: Full Metal Madness was on Capcom Arcade Stadium. It’s a mech fighting game perhaps best remembered for one of its characters, Jin Saotome, who made an appearance in the Marvel vs. Capcom series. It’s not my favorite Capcom fighter by any means, but it’s solid and unique enough to merit its inclusion here. You may find it more enjoyable than I do. It certainly has its fans.
Finally, we’ve got Red Earth. The first game on Capcom’s CPS III hardware, which went on to power Street Fighter III, it’s coming to home consoles for the very first time ever. And gosh, it is odd. You choose from four characters and battle against a series of monsters, leveling up as you go. It even has fatalities, which is a rarity in a Capcom game. Its small roster makes it less exciting against other human players, but it’s drop-dead gorgeous and certainly worth your time. This is the one game you won’t find on any of Capcom’s other collections, so if you want to play it this is where you’ll have to do it.
So yes, as we can see, it’s a great line-up of games that has considerable overlap with Capcom Arcade Stadium. They all play well, but do keep in mind these are the arcade versions so don’t expect any extras or features that were in any console ports you may remember. Of course, there are some other features and extras here to entice you to grab this set even if Red Earth doesn’t get your engine running. Chief among those is roll-back online play, a feature that Capcom Arcade Stadium doesn’t offer. Unfortunately, at least in the case of my personal testing, online play is very rough. Virtually unplayable. That could be just down to my own circumstances, but I tested a variety of other Switch fighters and the only one as laggy as this was, amusingly enough, Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection.
There is a museum mode here where you can look at some art for each game and listen to their soundtracks. There’s a variety of video and audio settings for each game, and you can remap your button controls. You have access to the dip switch settings for each game, and you can choose which regional version of each that you want to play. You can also make a save state and load it. Note that isn’t plural. One save state across all of the games. If you want to save in another game after saving in one, you’ll have to overwrite that first one. Your high scores in each game will save properly, though.
Capcom Fighting Collection is a pretty good collection of games, including some titles that we haven’t seen in these specific forms on home consoles before. It leans a little hard on the Darkstalkers games with some very slight variants that feel like they are padding the number out a bit. The overlap with other collections and my bad experiences with the online play keep me from recommending this too enthusiastically, but even with all of that taken into account, this is still worth picking up for fans of Capcom’s fighters.
SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5
Metal Max Xeno Reborn ($39.99)
Some games are B-games and know it, and while I know they’re not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, I’m actually rather fond of them. Metal Max Xeno Reborn is definitely a B-game that knows it. You’re exploring a post-apocalyptic world in your tank, battling giant ants and dinosaurs en route to defeating a genocidal AI that has decided the best way to save the Earth is to destroy humans. The graphics wouldn’t be out of place on a Vita, the UI sometimes feels like it crawled out of Hell itself, the collision detection can be hard to get a handle on, and the story is barely worth paying attention to.
And yet when I am out on the wastelands in my stupid tank hunting stupid target monsters on another stupid mission, I can’t help but have a pretty good time. The combat system is a turn-based affair with an active component, somewhat similar to the Active Time Battle system from Final Fantasy. You’re not always in your tank, and indeed you sometimes need to go on foot. These parts are less fun, as you’re forced to fight battles with non-tank weapons instead of a tank. You can recruit new party members, and there’s even a dog. You can level up the dog. The dog has a dog skill tree. Dog. Oh, and the other party members can level up and get new skills too. You can also salvage new tanks and parts, so your awesome tank is always becoming more awesome.
The basic loop of the game has you accepting various missions from your home base that have you exploring areas, fighting specific creatures, and so on. If you complete them successfully, a little meter that tracks how close humanity is to extinction will move in the right direction. If you waste too much time, it moves in the other direction. As you complete missions, you’ll meet new characters, gather resources, and become more powerful. Keep on going and eventually you’ll reach an ending of some sort. You’ll get some story bits here and there, but they barely matter. Just go have some fun with your tanks.
I could keep on breaking things down, but I don’t think I need to. If you’re into the concept and come into the game fully aware that it’s very much a budget affair, I think you’ll have a good time with Metal Max Xeno Reborn. It doesn’t try to be more than it is, which is an RPG where you ride around a post-apocalyptic open world Tokyo in cool tanks and blow up weird mutated monsters. That’s either good enough for you, or it isn’t.
SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5
New Releases
Roller Champions (Free)
Ubisoft’s free-to-play three-on-three arcade-style sports game. Your characters are all on roller skates/blades, so that’s the name sorted. The goal is to score points by throwing the ball through the hoop. And yes, it’s one of those games-as-a-service affairs with plenty of monetization hooks. The reception for it hasn’t been super-hot thus far as it’s apparently a bit thin on content. I suppose it’s free to try out if you’re curious. Personally, I’m not.
Why Pizza? ($4.99)
A valid line of inquiry, I suppose. However you choose to answer, this is a quirky physics-based platformer about delivering pizza. You play as this odd gangly pizza-headed giraffe thing and need to make your way through each level. You can also use a giant cartoon hand to pin part of your giraffe thing for various purposes. Pretty fun for what it is, and you sure can’t argue much with that price.
Firegirl: Hack ‘n Splash Rescue DX ($17.99)
You know, just last week I was saying how we don’t see a lot of games that use a firefighting theme beyond the rather excessive number of shoddy simulator-style games out there. The last one I can remember is Mighty Switch Force 2. Well, here’s another one. You play as Firegirl and need to head into various buildings to rescue people, putting out blazes along the way to earn extra time. It’s a platformer of sorts with procedurally-generated stages, and that can sometimes make things more complicated than they should be. Between stages, you can chill out at your firehouse. You can upgrade your gear and hire new staff during this downtime, helping you tackle further challenges. I’ll have a review of this one somewhat soon, I hope.
REDO! ($9.99)
A decent enough horror-themed Metroidvania-style non-linear adventure. It’s set in a dystopian world that has been taken over by biomachines. You play as a young woman who is trying to find what remains of the world while staying alive. Naturally, the combat takes its cues from the Souls games, as is the style these days. If you’re burnt out on Metroidvanias I don’t think this will change your mind, but if you’re hungry for another one right now you could do worse than this.
Drunken Fist 2: Zombie Hangover ($7.99)
If you loved Drunken Fist, here’s another one. You wake up in a city of shambling undead creatures, and naturally you’re going to get drunk and smash them all. It’s beat-em-up action with amusing ragdoll physics, and you once again have the ability to pee on just about anything and anyone. I get the sense that is a selling point for some of you. I didn’t care for the first game, so I’m not really the one to ask about this one.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
A small list today, but a few interesting games for sure. Ender Lilies is always worth grabbing, and I’m a big booster of Unavowed if you like your point-and-click style adventures. Andro Dunos II and Ganryu 2 have their first post-launch sales happening, too. The outbox is quite large, but I don’t have any particular recommendations to make from it. Just give it a look over to see if there’s anything you want.
Select New Games on Sale
Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights ($17.49 from $24.99 until 7/6)
Unavowed ($11.24 from $14.99 until 7/6)
Primordia ($11.24 from $14.99 until 7/6)
Super Kickers League ($14.99 from $24.99 until 7/9)
Fantasy Friends: Under the Sea ($14.99 from $24.99 until 7/9)
Andro Dunos II ($15.99 from $19.99 until 7/9)
Ganryu 2: Hakuma Kojiro ($15.99 from $19.99 until 7/9)
Hayfever ($4.49 from $14.99 until 7/12)
Ping Pong Arcade ($7.49 from $14.99 until 7/12)
Timelie ($9.99 from $19.99 until 7/12)
Cloudpunk ($9.99 from $24.99 until 7/12)
Blood will be Spilled ($1.99 from $14.99 until 7/12)
HoPiKo ($1.99 from $9.99 until 7/12)
Foreclosed ($5.99 from $19.99 until 7/12)
Bounty Battle ($4.99 from $24.99 until 7/12)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, Thursday, June 23rd
1979 Revolution: Black Friday ($1.99 from $11.99 until 6/23)
Apsulov: End of Gods ($16.49 from $29.99 until 6/23)
Aquatic Adv. of the Last Human ($1.99 from $12.99 until 6/23)
Battle Axe ($14.99 from $29.99 until 6/23)
Best Month Ever! ($14.99 from $19.99 until 6/23)
Bleed ($1.99 from $11.99 until 6/23)
Bleed 2 ($2.24 from $14.99 until 6/23)
Bloody Rally Show ($12.99 from $19.99 until 6/23)
Capcom Arcade Stadium Packs 1+2+3 ($19.99 from $39.99 until 6/23)
Clustertruck ($3.74 from $14.99 until 6/23)
Deadly Premonition Origins ($20.09 from $29.99 until 6/23)
Dicey Dungeons ($3.74 from $14.99 until 6/23)
Dragon’s Dogma Dark Arisen ($9.99 from $29.99 until 6/23)
Effie ($6.99 from $19.99 until 6/23)
Escape Game Aloha ($1.99 from $5.99 until 6/23)
Fantasy Strike Collector’s Pack ($49.99 from $99.99 until 6/23)
Fantasy Strike Core Pack ($9.99 from $19.99 until 6/23)
Glass Masquerade ($2.39 from $11.99 until 6/23)
Guts & Glory ($3.74 from $14.99 until 6/23)
Hello Neighbor ($9.99 from $39.99 until 6/23)
Hello Neighbor Hide & Seek ($7.49 from $29.99 until 6/23)
Hellpoint ($17.49 from $34.99 until 6/23)
Kill It With Fire ($3.74 from $14.99 until 6/23)
Kuukiyomi 2 Consider It More ($2.49 from $4.99 until 6/23)
Metro 2033 Redux ($6.24 from $24.99 until 6/23)
Metro Last Light Redux ($6.24 from $24.99 until 6/23)
Mr. Shifty ($3.74 from $14.99 until 6/23)
Omega Strike ($2.24 from $14.99 until 6/23)
orbit.industries ($14.99 from $19.99 until 6/23)
PGM Series Arcanion ($8.79 from $10.99 until 6/23)
PGM Series Block Slime Cave ($5.46 from $7.00 until 6/23)
PGM Series Buraigun ($9.59 from $11.99 until 6/23)
PGM Series Cham the Cat Adv. ($8.79 from $10.99 until 6/23)
PGM Series Dandan Z ($7.99 from $9.99 until 6/23)
PGM Series Dragon Peak ($4.99 from $9.99 until 6/23)
PGM Series Dungeon of Nazarick ($7.49 from $14.99 until 6/23)
PGM Series Fish Tornado ($3.99 from $4.99 until 6/23)
PGM Series Game Battle Tycoon ($11.99 from $14.99 until 6/23)
PGM Series Isekai Quartet Adv. ($9.89 from $14.99 until 6/23)
PGM Series Jewelinx ($6.39 from $7.99 until 6/23)
PGM Series Medium-Naut ($9.89 from $14.99 until 6/23)
PGM Series OH Holin Slash ($5.99 from $11.99 until 6/23)
PGM Series Oma2ri Adv. ($3.96 from $4.95 until 6/23)
PGM Series Oumuamua ($7.99 from $9.99 until 6/23)
PGM Series Puzzle Pedestrians ($7.49 from $14.99 until 6/23)
PGM Series Remote Bomber ($6.89 from $9.99 until 6/23)
PGM Series Rumble Dragon ($9.59 from $11.99 until 6/23)
PGM Series Shiba Mekuri ($4.88 from $5.49 until 6/23)
PGM Series Steel Sword Story S ($7.99 from $9.99 until 6/23)
PGM Series Steos ($4.99 from $9.99 until 6/23)
PGM Series Thunder Striker ($9.59 from $11.99 until 6/23)
PGM Series Werewolf Princess Kaguya ($4.99 from $9.99 until 6/23)
Phantom Trigger ($3.74 from $14.99 until 6/23)
Punch Club ($3.74 from $14.99 until 6/23)
Regency Solitaire ($7.19 from $11.99 until 6/23)
Road to Ballhalla ($3.74 from $14.99 until 6/23)
Secret Neighbor ($9.99 from $19.99 until 6/23)
Signs of the Sojourner ($7.99 from $19.99 until 6/23)
SpeedRunners ($3.74 from $14.99 until 6/23)
SpeedRunners: Deluxe Edition ($6.74 from $26.99 until 6/23)
Streets of Rogue ($9.99 from $19.99 until 6/23)
Sunless Sea: Zubmariner ($5.99 from $19.99 until 6/23)
SuperEpic: The Entertainment War ($1.99 from $17.99 until 6/23)
Surface Rush ($4.24 from $4.99 until 6/23)
The Amazing American Circus ($7.99 from $19.99 until 6/23)
The Sinking City ($9.99 from $49.99 until 6/23)
Totally Reliable Delivery Service ($7.49 from $14.99 until 6/23)
Tower of Time ($6.24 from $24.99 until 6/23)
Traditional Tactics Ne+ ($4.99 from $9.99 until 6/23)
Treasures of the Aegean ($11.99 from $19.99 until 6/23)
Ultionus: A Tale of Petty Revenge ($6.49 from $9.99 until 6/23)
Ultra Age ($14.99 from $29.99 until 6/23)
Uncanny Valley ($1.99 from $9.99 until 6/23)
Underhero ($5.09 from $16.99 until 6/23)
UnderMine ($9.99 from $19.99 until 6/23)
Unto the End ($9.99 from $24.99 until 6/23)
That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with the big Thursday releases, including things like Sonic Origins and Capcom Fighting Collection. There will be summaries of all of them, as usual. I’ll probably do a very quick recap of the Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Direct, and we’ll have the usual lists of sales. I hope you all have a great Wednesday, and as always, thanks for reading!
