Nintendo Direct Highlights, Star Trader Review, New Releases Hit SwitchArcade

Hello fellow gamers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for August 27th, 2024! Today's update starts with some exciting news, followed by a review and a look at new releases. We'll wrap things up with the usual sales information. Let's dive in!

News

Nintendo Direct/Indie World Showcase Recap

As predicted by some industry insiders, Nintendo surprised us with a last-minute Nintendo Direct! The 40-minute presentation featured a Partner Showcase and an Indie World Showcase. While primarily focusing on third-party titles and indie games, it lacked any major first-party announcements or news about the next-generation Switch console. A detailed summary of the key highlights will be available tomorrow.

Reviews & Mini-Views

EGGCONSOLE Star Trader PC-8801mkIIsr ($6.49)

This untranslated EGGCONSOLE release presents a familiar dilemma: is the game enjoyable, and is it playable without knowing Japanese? Star Trader is an intriguing, albeit not exceptional, title. Falcom blends adventure game elements with side-scrolling shooter stages, but neither aspect shines particularly. The adventure segments boast appealing artwork, and the shooter's narrative approach is unique. Players interact with characters, undertake quests, and earn money to upgrade their ship, crucial for navigating the shooting sections.

The shooting sequences, however, suffer from the PC-8801's limitations, resulting in jerky scrolling. Even with smoother movement, the gameplay might not be outstanding. The game's structure is unclear, but Star Trader is more fascinating than truly fun. This leads to the language barrier issue. The adventure sections are text-heavy, requiring player input for optimal outcomes. Without understanding Japanese, players miss a significant portion of the game and hinder their progress due to insufficient credits for ship upgrades. While brute-forcing is somewhat possible, it significantly diminishes the experience.

Star Trader offers a glimpse into gaming history, showcasing a developer venturing beyond their usual style. However, the extensive Japanese text severely limits its appeal to Western audiences. While some enjoyment might be gleaned through experimentation, a strong recommendation is difficult.

SwitchArcade Score: 3/5

Select New Releases

Crypt Custodian ($19.99)

This top-down action-adventure game features Pluto, a recently deceased cat, banished from the afterlife and tasked with eternal cleaning duties. Players explore, battle enemies with a broom, encounter quirky characters, fight 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)

For fans of vibrant shooters with unique mechanics, the Dreamer series and Harpoon Shooter Nozomi are highly recommended. Don't miss out on 1000xRESIST – it's a must-buy! Other noteworthy titles on sale include Star Wars games, Citizen Sleeper, Paradise Killer, Haiku, the Robot, and the Tomb Raider collection. Check out 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! Join us tomorrow for a Direct recap, new game announcements, sales updates, and more reviews. Have a great Tuesday!