Hello again, readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for August 27th, 2024. Today's update starts with some exciting news, followed by a game review and a look at a new release. We'll also cover the usual sales, both new and expiring. Tonight's Nintendo Direct is a mystery, but hopefully it'll add some extra excitement to tomorrow! Let's dive in.

News

Catch the Nintendo Direct/Indie World Showcase

As predicted by some industry insiders, Nintendo surprised us with a last-minute Nintendo Direct for August. We're in for a 40-minute showcase, combining Partner and Indie World highlights. Don't expect any first-party reveals or news about the next Switch console. By the time you read this, the presentation will likely be over, but you can watch it above. I'll share a summary of the key announcements tomorrow.

Reviews & Mini-Views

EGGCONSOLE Star Trader PC-8801mkIIsr ($6.49)

These untranslated EGGCONSOLE releases always boil down to two questions: Is the game itself any good, and is it playable without knowing Japanese? Star Trader is intriguing but not outstanding. Falcom blends a Japanese-style adventure with side-scrolling shooter elements, and neither aspect shines particularly. The adventure sections have appealing art, and the attempt to weave a narrative into a shoot 'em up is unique. Gameplay involves conversing with characters, taking on quests, and earning money to upgrade your ship. This is crucial for success in the action sequences.

The shooting sections, however, suffer from the PC-8801's limitations, resulting in jerky scrolling. Even with smooth scrolling, the gameplay might not be exceptional. It's unclear which aspect is meant to be the core experience, but ultimately, Star Trader is more interesting than it is truly good. This leads to our second question. The adventure parts are text-heavy, demanding player understanding for optimal progress. Without Japanese comprehension, you miss half the game and likely hinder your performance in the other half due to insufficient credits. While brute-forcing is possible, it won't be enjoyable.

Star Trader offers a glimpse into gaming history, showcasing a developer venturing beyond their usual style. Sadly, the abundance of Japanese text significantly limits its appeal to Western players. You might find some enjoyment experimenting, but a strong recommendation is difficult.

SwitchArcade Score: 3/5

Select New Releases

Crypt Custodian ($19.99)

This top-down action-adventure game stars Pluto, a recently deceased cat, who's banished from the afterlife palace for a mishap and sentenced to eternal cleaning. Explore, fight with your broom, meet quirky characters, battle bosses, and upgrade abilities. It's a familiar formula, but executed well. Fans of the genre should definitely check it out.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

If you enjoy colorful, quirky shooters, I recommend the Dreamer series and Harpoon Shooter Nozomi. All three are excellent. For those looking to add to their collection, I highly suggest 1000xRESIST. Other games worth considering are Star Wars titles, Citizen Sleeper, Paradise Killer, Haiku, the Robot, and perhaps some Tomb Raider titles. Browse the lists below!

Select New Sales

Return ($10.49 from $13.99 until 9/2)
Summer Daze: Tilly’s Tale ($2.99 from $14.99 until 9/9)
Please Fix the Road ($5.99 from $9.99 until 9/9)
Ticket to Ride ($26.99 from $29.99 until 9/9)
King ‘n Knight ($9.59 from $11.99 until 9/9)
Spiritfarer ($7.49 from $29.99 until 9/9)
Harpoon Shooter Nozomi ($6.98 from $9.98 until 9/16)
Like Dreamer ($5.99 from $11.99 until 9/16)
Cosmo Dreamer ($4.10 from $8.20 until 9/16)
Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate ($8.99 from $59.99 until 9/16)
Gluck ($5.59 from $6.99 until 9/16)
Love Love School Days ($4.19 from $10.49 until 9/16)
Ugly ($6.79 from $19.99 until 9/16)
Replik Survivors ($3.44 from $4.99 until 9/16)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, August 28th

1000xRESIST ($15.99 from $19.99 until 8/28)
Citizen Sleeper ($9.99 from $19.99 until 8/28)
Genesis Noir ($4.49 from $14.99 until 8/28)
Haiku, The Robot ($9.99 from $19.99 until 8/28)
Heads Up! Phones Down Edition ($1.99 from $39.99 until 8/28)
Legend Bowl ($18.74 from $24.99 until 8/28)
MythForce ($14.99 from $29.99 until 8/28)
Paradise Killer ($5.99 from $19.99 until 8/28)
Star Wars Battlefront Collection ($28.00 from $35.01 until 8/28)
Star Wars Bounty Hunter ($14.99 from $19.99 until 8/28)
Star Wars Episode I Racer ($7.49 from $14.99 until 8/28)
Star Wars Jedi Academy ($9.99 from $19.99 until 8/28)
Star Wars Jedi Outcast ($4.99 from $9.99 until 8/28)
Star Wars KotOR ($7.49 from $14.99 until 8/28)
Star Wars KotOR II: Sith Lords ($7.49 from $14.99 until 8/28)
Star Wars Republic Commando ($7.49 from $14.99 until 8/28)
Star Wars The Force Unleashed ($9.99 from $19.99 until 8/28)
Super Mutant Alien Assault ($1.99 from $9.99 until 8/28)
Suzerain ($4.49 from $17.99 until 8/28)
The Pale Beyond ($9.99 from $19.99 until 8/28)
Times & Galaxy ($17.99 from $19.99 until 8/28)
Tomb Raider I-III Remastered ($22.49 from $29.99 until 8/28)

That's all for today. We'll be back tomorrow with a recap of the Direct, new game releases, sales, and possibly more reviews. Have a great Tuesday, and thanks for reading!