Hiya light readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Spherical-Up for September sixth, 2024. Effectively, that is the final one. You’ll see yet another particular from me subsequent week with a couple of evaluations which have particular embargo dates, however that is the ultimate common SwitchArcade Spherical-Up for TouchArcade by yours actually. We’ve been at this for a number of years and I want I may have seen the Change by way of to its finish with these articles, however circumstances dictate one other course. We’re going out with one other chunky one, with a pair of evaluations from our pal Mikhail, a pair of Shaun evaluations, a handful of latest launch summaries, and the standard lists of latest and expiring gross sales. Let’s trip one final time!
Evaluations & Mini-Views
Health Boxing feat. HATSUNE MIKU ($49.99)
After Imagineer’s success with the Health Boxing video games that led to the hilarious however good Health Boxing Fist of the North Star, I didn’t know what IP the group would work with for a brand new health sport. When Health Boxing feat. HATSUNE MIKU was introduced, I assumed it was a sensible collaboration, however was curious to see how the sport felt after Fist of the North Star. I’ve been taking part in it over the previous couple of weeks alongside Ring Match Journey and I’m impressed with Health Boxing feat. HATSUNE MIKU in some ways.
In the event you’re new to the Health Boxing sequence, these video games, because the title suggests, use boxing and rhythm sport actions to get you into form by way of each day workout routines, mini-games that additionally get you sweating, and extra. With Health Boxing feat. HATSUNE MIKU, everybody’s favourite vocaloid will get in on the motion and there’s even a separate devoted mode for her songs along with the traditional songs included on this launch. Remember that this can be a Pleasure-Con solely sport so you possibly can’t play it with a Professional Controller or any third occasion equipment so far as I’m conscious.
As with different video games within the sequence, there are issue choices, a free coaching mode to do as you please, warmups, and monitoring with reminders and the systemwide alarm that may remind you even when your Change is in sleep mode. There are cosmetics you possibly can unlock by way of the factors you earn by taking part in as effectively. I can’t touch upon the DLC but, however as for the bottom launch, I preferred Health Boxing feat. HATSUNE MIKU greater than Fist of the North Star other than one difficulty.
The audio in Health Boxing feat. HATSUNE MIKU is nice, however the primary teacher’s voice isn’t nice. I ended up turning this voice down as a result of it felt misplaced with the remainder of the sport, and simply sounded a bit weirdly directed.
Similar to the Health Boxing Fist of the North Star launch from Imagineer, Health Boxing feat. HATSUNE MIKU is a stable fitness-focused sport that does an amazing job of bringing Miku to the world of Health Boxing to try to attraction to her followers. Whereas it’s a competent health sport with its each day exercise, customization, and monitoring, I really feel like it will be higher as a complement to one thing like Ring Match Journey or your personal different train routine relatively than being the only train you do throughout the week. -Mikhail Madnani
SwitchArcade Rating: 4/5
Magical Delicacy ($24.99)
Magical Delicacy from sKaule and Whitethorn Video games is one I hadn’t paid a lot consideration to till a buddy of mine linked me to an Xbox Recreation Cross announcement for it. Since then, I’ve performed it on Change as effectively, however really feel prefer it wants a bit extra time within the oven. I like Metroidvania-style platformers and cooking video games, but it surely looks like Magical Delicacy takes the great bits of each genres whereas not placing them collectively in one of the simplest ways doable. This ends in a sport I like in elements, however one the place the issues damage a bit extra.
You play as Flora who’s a younger witch in a narrative that’s equal elements mysterious, magical, and healthful. Your goal is to cook dinner meals and craft for numerous of us, and I used to be shocked at how effectively the exploration was carried out other than the backtracking that irritated me generally. I anticipated it to be missing in comparison with the cooking and crafting, however the group nailed the Metroidvania components. There are some points with substances within the crafting and in how stock is managed. That is made a bit worse by the UI that I took some time to get used to with interplay.
Magical Delicacy makes an amazing first impression with its beautiful pixel artwork visuals, pretty music, and tons of settings. The latter consists of UI scale and textual content choices which might be each very helpful when taking part in on Change in handheld mode. I really feel like Magical Delicacy would have benefited quite a bit from an early entry launch or will from potential updates.
In relation to the Change model, it performs very effectively other than some seemingly body pacing-related hiccups. It has good rumble as effectively. Having performed it on Xbox Collection X, that is undoubtedly a sport I’d play extra on a conveyable so a Change or Steam Deck model could be greatest. I simply play the style extra on handhelds.
Magical Delicacy is a sport I ought to’ve cherished given it’s mainly a mix of a Metroidvania and a crooking/crafting sport, but it surely feels a bit of undercooked (I couldn’t resist) in elements due to some stock and backtracking points. Whereas it’s a excellent sport proper now that feels at residence on Change, a couple of high quality of life updates and sprucing will make it a necessary. -Mikhail Madnani
SwitchArcade Rating: 4/5
Aero The Acro-Bat 2 ($5.99)
Plenty of corporations tried their hand on the entire mascot platformer factor within the 16-bit period within the wake of Sonic the Hedgehog‘s explosive success. Like, the sheer variety of them is simply baffling. Much more than I remembered. Not lots of them managed to see sequels, however Aero The Acro-Bat is a part of that elite few. How every member of that membership bought there may be its personal story, however in Aero’s case it appears to have been a mixture of the primary sport going over effectively sufficient, and sheer drive of will to try to make fetch occur. Sadly, fetch didn’t occur. Aero spin-off Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel launched a number of months after Aero 2, however outdoors of that Aero was by no means seen in one other unique title once more.
Does that make Aero The Acro-Bat 2 a foul sport? I don’t suppose so. It doesn’t look like it was a sufficiently big success to advantage one other follow-up, on the very least. However then once more, Sunsoft’s dad or mum firm had just lately misplaced a ton of cash on a foul funding involving golf programs, and that definitely put it in a fiscally conservative temper for some time. Both approach, I don’t suppose the fault could be positioned on the standard of the sport. It’s nearly as good as the primary sport was, with all that means. A extra polished expertise that in shedding a few of these tough edges loses a few of its character, however an honest sufficient platforming romp.
I used to be totally anticipating this launch to be in Ratalaika’s typical emulation wrapper, however a lot to my shock there’s been an improve within the presentation. This feels much more tailored for the sport, and when it comes to each choices and extras I believe this can be a much better expertise general. Field and handbook scans, achievements, a gallery of sprite sheets, a jukebox, a bunch of cheats, and extra. I frankly haven’t any complaints in any respect about how the sport performs and the suite of options right here. The one nit I’ll decide is that you just solely get the Tremendous NES model of the sport right here. I really feel just like the SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive model ought to have been included too, simply to maintain everybody pleased.
Those that loved Aero The Acro-Bat ought to naturally give Aero The Acro-Bat 2 a shot. I even suppose those that have been barely postpone by the primary sport’s quirks might need a greater time right here. I actually must commend Ratalaika for stepping up its sport with the emulation wrapper for this launch. Maybe I’m being grasping, however I’d like to see the primary sport up to date with an identical interface only for consistency. A superb launch for Aero followers and people on the look out for 16-bit platformers to play, and one which makes me optimistic for the remaining reissues of this sequence.
SwitchArcade Rating: 3.5/5
Metro Quester | Osaka ($19.99)
I bought fairly a little bit of enjoyment out of the unique Metro Quester when it launched some time again. It’s a little bit of a bear to get into, however when you perceive its guidelines and what it’s a must to do, it’s an immensely satisfying dungeon-crawling turn-based RPG. Experimenting with occasion builds to attempt to discover the optimum group was a process I really loved taking over. With that in thoughts, I used to be very pleased to see that there was one other sport within the sequence coming. Metro Quester | Osaka feels a bit of extra like an enlargement pack than a correct sequel, however I’m more than pleased with that given how a lot I bought out of the unique.
The story here’s a prequel to the unique sport, and we’ve moved to Osaka as a setting. You get an entire new dungeon to discover, and a few new character varieties to try this exploring with. Osaka is a a lot wetter location, so that you’ll want to make use of your canoe to journey over the water in locations. With the brand new dungeon comes new weapons, abilities, and enemies to take care of. Positively extra to chew on right here for many who have wrung out the unique sport, and for those who had fun there then you’ll get pleasure from this one, too.
That stated, this sport shares a lot of its broader mechanics with the unique Metro Quester. In the event you want an evidence, please take a look at my assessment of that sport for extra particulars. Brief model: turn-based fight, top-down dungeon exploration, and an entire lot of inching your approach outward a bit of additional every time earlier than having to move again to camp. You realize, the good things. Those that are careless will discover themselves in sizzling water in a short time, as planning and cautious play is virtually a necessity on this sport.
Those that discovered themselves totally absorbed in Metro Quester will discover loads to get pleasure from in Metro Quester | Osaka, and new gamers ought to most likely simply skip proper to this sport. It’s extra of an enlargement pack than a sequel, however that by no means ought to be taken as a foul factor. Quite, it simply looks like the designer wished to ship gamers on one other journey that pushes out the present techniques in some fascinating methods. It’s definitely a sport you’ll must be affected person with to get probably the most out of, however these prepared to take a position the time will benefit from the dividends.
SwitchArcade Rating: 4/5
Choose New Releases
NBA 2K25 ($59.99)
NBA 2K is again… in 25 kind! You realize, I discover myself questioning one thing. What occurs to the title of this sequence after we hit the 12 months 2100? NBA 2K100? Simply feels bizarre. We’ll have to speak about that when the scenario arises, I suppose. Apparently this 12 months’s model has improved gameplay, a brand new function referred to as Neighborhood, and a few nonsense about MyTEAM. I’m not going to fake to know what’s happening right here, so as a substitute I’ll simply toss out the quantity of house you’ll want in your reminiscence card for this sport after which transfer on. Right here we go. 53.3 GB!
Shogun Showdown ($14.99)
Obtained room in your coronary heart for an additional riff on Darkest Dungeon? This one has a Japanese-inspired setting, and there are a couple of bits in right here that change issues up a bit of. Setting all of that apart, that is very a lot a well-known type of sport and I believe it’s an honest sufficient instance of such to be of curiosity to these on the hunt for an additional one.
Aero The Acro-Bat 2 ($5.99)
Effectively, there’s a assessment up above this part, however in case you’re within the behavior of skipping down the web page, let me fill you in. That is the considerably extra polished sequel to the profitable Aero The Acro-Bat, all carried out up in Ratalaika’s emulator wrapper. Stated wrapper was given extra effort for this launch, and it appears to be like good! The model of the sport included is the Tremendous NES one, and you’ll play the North American launch or the Japanese one. I want the Genesis/Mega Drive model was in right here, however I can’t think about Aero followers being sad with this general outdoors of that.
Sunsoft is Again! Retro Recreation Choice ($9.99)
Sunsoft is again! Okay, Sunsoft has been again for some time now, and also you most likely don’t want a trio of heretofore non-localized Famicom video games to promote you on that. So as a substitute let the video games promote you on themselves, as you get a trio of distinctive and various titles on this bunch. A side-scrolling motion platformer, an journey sport, and an action-RPG of types. I reviewed this set a few days in the past, so I counsel checking that out for those who want extra particulars. Brief model: for those who like bizarre outdated video games, this can be a good pick-up.
Gross sales
(North American eShop, US Costs)
Some enjoyable stuff within the inbox at present, together with a extremely good worth on the Cosmic Fantasy Assortment. Slightly pricey at its regular worth, however at 40% off I believe it’s price contemplating for retro RPG followers. I’ll additionally name out the pleasurable platformer Tinykin, which is at its lowest worth but. Have an excellent look by way of these lists and see what catches your eye.
Choose New Gross sales
Zombie Military Trilogy ($8.74 from $34.99 till 9/12)
Zombie Military 4: Useless Struggle ($14.99 from $49.99 till 9/12)
Wild Seas ($2.49 from $4.99 till 9/12)
Chants of Sennaar ($14.99 from $19.99 till 9/13)
The Home of Da Vinci 3 ($4.99 from $9.99 till 9/13)
Warhammer 40k: Boltgun ($15.39 from $21.99 till 9/13)
Toziuha Night time: Dracula’s Revenge ($1.99 from $4.99 till 9/16)
Monkey Barrels ($7.49 from $14.99 till 9/19)
Banchou Ways ($15.99 from $19.99 till 9/19)
Transiruby ($10.49 from $14.99 till 9/19)
Picontier ($19.99 from $24.99 till 9/19)
Kamiko ($1.99 from $4.99 till 9/19)
Fairune Assortment ($3.99 from $9.99 till 9/19)
Alchemic Dungeons DX ($3.19 from $7.99 till 9/19)
Ninja Smasher! ($6.39 from $7.99 till 9/19)
Ninja Striker! ($1.99 from $3.99 till 9/19)
Nice Ambition of the Slimes ($9.59 from $11.99 till 9/19)
Shinobi Non Grata ($11.99 from $14.99 till 9/19)
Let’s Construct a Zoo ($7.99 from $19.99 till 9/20)
Owlboy ($8.74 from $24.99 till 9/20)
Hakuoki: Wind & Blossom ($44.99 from $49.99 till 9/20)
Omen of Sorrow ($7.99 from $19.99 till 9/20)
Dungeonoid 2 Awakening ($4.49 from $8.99 till 9/20)
The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt CE ($23.99 from $59.99 till 9/22)
Knights of Grayfang ($10.49 from $14.99 till 9/26)
Gale of Windoria ($7.49 from $14.99 till 9/26)
Justice Chronicles ($7.49 from $14.99 till 9/26)
Armed Emeth ($7.49 from $14.99 till 9/26)
Jinshin ($10.49 from $14.99 till 9/26)
Alphadia Genesis ($7.49 from $14.99 till 9/26)
Grace of Letoile ($10.49 from $14.99 till 9/26)
Tinykin ($6.24 from $24.99 till 9/26)
Despot’s Recreation ($4.99 from $19.99 till 9/26)
Cosmic Fantasy Assortment ($29.99 from $49.99 till 9/26)
Cosmic Fantasy ($15.90 from $26.50 till 9/26)
Cosmic Fantasy 2 ($15.90 from $26.50 till 9/26)
Spirittea ($15.99 from $19.99 till 9/26)
Punch Membership 2: Quick Ahead ($9.99 from $19.99 till 9/26)
Railway Empire 2 ($37.49 from $49.99 till 9/26)
Lil’ Guardsman ($11.99 from $19.99 till 9/26)
Potion Craft Alchemist Simulator ($11.99 from $19.99 till 9/26)
Euphoria ($1.99 from $14.99 till 9/26)
Of The Pink, the Gentle, & Ayakashi ($25.06 from $50.13 till 9/26)
Fashionable Fight Blackout ($1.99 from $7.99 till 9/26)
The Pals of Ringo Ishikawa ($8.99 from $14.99 till 9/26)
Arrest of a Stone Buddha ($8.99 from $14.99 till 9/26)
Fading Afternoon ($16.99 from $19.99 till 9/26)
Astor: Blade of the Monolith ($14.99 from $24.99 till 9/26)
Tamarak Path ($8.99 from $14.99 till 9/26)
Inflexible Pressure Redux ($3.99 from $19.99 till 9/26)
Yaga ($6.24 from $24.99 till 9/26)
Rabi-Ribi ($13.99 from $19.99 till 9/26)
Gross sales Ending This Weekend
Useless in Vinland: True Viking ($2.79 from $27.99 till 9/7)
Gunslugs ($4.79 from $7.99 till 9/7)
Gunslugs 2 ($4.79 from $7.99 till 9/7)
Heroes of Loot ($4.79 from $7.99 till 9/7)
Heroes of Loot 2 ($5.99 from $9.99 till 9/7)
Meganoid ($5.39 from $8.99 till 9/7)
NOISZ re:||COLLECTION G ($19.99 from $24.99 till 9/7)
Phoenotopia: Awakening ($6.99 from $19.99 till 9/7)
Area Grunts ($8.39 from $13.99 till 9/7)
Stardash ($5.99 from $9.99 till 9/7)
Superhot ($9.99 from $24.99 till 9/7)
Dormitory Love ($24.49 from $34.99 till 9/8)
Dying Gentle: Definitive Version ($9.99 from $49.99 till 9/8)
Fur Squadron ($2.79 from $6.99 till 9/8)
Tchia: Oleti Version ($23.44 from $34.99 till 9/8)
That’s all for at present, this week, this month, this 12 months, and endlessly, buddies. I haven’t been very loud about this, however this isn’t solely the tip of the SwitchArcade Spherical-Up, but in addition of my eleven and a half years at TouchArcade. I’ll nonetheless be writing right here and there at my weblog at Put up Recreation Content material in addition to placing up unique articles on my Patreon, however aside from that I believe I’m hanging up the ol’ webs on this particular form of work. Twenty-six years on this finish of the enterprise is an effective run, and I’m prepared for brand new challenges. Do search for me at one of many aforementioned locations, hit me up on BlueSky and say hello, and for those who’re a elaborate govt seeking to rent a really seasoned author, I’m your man.
With that stated, I’ll lengthen the very best doable gratitude to all of TouchArcade’s readers for being with me on this leg of my life’s journey. I treasure all of you greater than you possibly can know. I want you all of the sincerest happiness in your lives, and endlessly and all the time – thanks for studying.