Hello gaming enthusiasts, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Roundup for August 27th, 2024. Today's update begins with some exciting news, followed by a game review and a look at a new release. We'll wrap things up with our usual sales reports. 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, featuring a combined Partner Showcase and Indie World Showcase. While primarily focused on third-party titles and indie games, the 40-minute presentation provided plenty of announcements. 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 despite the language barrier? Star Trader blends adventure game elements with side-scrolling shooter stages, but neither aspect fully shines. The adventure sections feature appealing artwork, offering a unique take on storytelling within a shoot 'em up format. Players engage in conversations, accept quests, and earn money to upgrade their ship – crucial for navigating the challenging action sequences.
The shooting segments, however, suffer from the PC-8801's limited scrolling capabilities, resulting in a jerky, less-than-ideal experience. The game's structure is unclear, with neither genre clearly taking precedence. While intriguing, Star Trader is ultimately more interesting conceptually than it is genuinely enjoyable to play. The language barrier significantly impacts the experience, as the text-heavy adventure portions are inaccessible to non-Japanese speakers, hindering both gameplay and overall enjoyment. While some progress is possible through trial and error, a fully satisfying playthrough is unlikely.
Star Trader offers a glimpse into gaming history, showcasing a developer venturing beyond their usual style. However, the significant amount of Japanese text makes it difficult to wholeheartedly recommend, except perhaps to those fascinated by obscure gaming history and willing to navigate the language barrier.
SwitchArcade Score: 3/5
Select New Releases
Crypt Custodian ($19.99)
This top-down action-adventure game follows Pluto, a recently deceased cat, who's banished from the afterlife and tasked with eternal cleaning duties. Players explore, battle enemies with a broom, meet eccentric characters, and expand their abilities. While a familiar formula, Crypt Custodian executes it well and is recommended for fans of the genre.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
This week's sales include noteworthy titles like the Dreamer series and Harpoon Shooter Nozomi for fans of colorful shooters. Don't miss the expiring sale on 1000xRESIST! Other notable sales include various Star Wars games, Citizen Sleeper, Paradise Killer, Haiku, the Robot, and Tomb Raider titles. Check the lists for more details!
Select New Sales
(List of new sales)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, August 28th
(List of expiring sales)
That concludes today's roundup. Join us tomorrow for a recap of the Nintendo Direct, along with new releases, sales, and more reviews. Thanks for reading!
