Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for September 2nd, 2024. While it's a holiday in the US, it's business as usual here in Japan. That means a Monday brimming with reviews – three from me and one from Mikhail. I'll be covering Bakeru, Star Wars: Bounty Hunter, and Mika and the Witch’s Mountain, while Mikhail tackles Peglin. We'll also have some news from Mikhail and a huge list of deals from Nintendo's Blockbuster Sale. Let's dive in!
News
Guilty Gear Strive Arrives on Nintendo Switch – January 2025
Arc System Works is bringing Guilty Gear Strive to the Nintendo Switch on January 23rd! This version includes 28 characters and rollback netcode for online play. While crossplay isn't included, it's still great news for offline play and battles with other Switch owners. Having loved it on Steam Deck and PS5, I'm definitely looking forward to this. Check out the official website [ttpp]here[/ttpp].
Reviews & Mini-Views
Bakeru ($39.99)
Let's be clear: Bakeru is not Goemon/Mystical Ninja. While developed by some of the same team, the similarities are superficial. Bakeru is its own game, and expecting a Goemon clone is unfair to both. Good-Feel, known for charming, polished platformers like Princess Peach: Showtime!, delivers a cute, low-friction experience here.
The story follows Issun and Bakeru, a tanuki with shape-shifting abilities, as they traverse Japan, battling enemies, collecting cash, and uncovering secrets. With over sixty levels, the journey is engaging, and the collectibles are particularly well-done, often reflecting the unique aspects of each region. Even a Japan veteran like myself learned new things!
The boss battles are a highlight, creative and rewarding spectacles. Bakeru takes some creative risks, with varying degrees of success, but the strong ones more than make up for any weaker ones. Its charm and likability shine through despite its flaws.
Performance on Switch is a concern, with a variable framerate that sometimes dips noticeably. While I'm not overly sensitive to this, those who are should be aware. Despite improvements since the Japanese release, issues remain.
Bakeru is a delightful 3D platformer with polished design and fun ideas. Its commitment to its concept is infectious. While framerate issues hold it back slightly on Switch, and those expecting Goemon will be disappointed, it's still a highly recommended title.
SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5
Star Wars: Bounty Hunter ($19.99)
The prequel trilogy era brought a wave of Star Wars games, and Star Wars: Bounty Hunter focuses on Jango Fett, Boba Fett's father. The game follows Jango's adventures as he hunts a Dark Jedi for Count Dooku, picking up extra bounties along the way.
The gameplay involves targeting and taking down various targets, utilizing weapons and a jetpack. While initially interesting, the repetitive gameplay and technical limitations of its 2002 release age it poorly. Targeting is clunky, cover mechanics are weak, and level design feels cramped.
Aspyr's port improves the visuals and performance, and the control scheme is better. However, the frustrating save system remains, meaning lengthy restarts are possible. The addition of a Boba Fett skin is a nice touch.
Star Wars: Bounty Hunter has a nostalgic charm, a definite flavor of early 2000s gaming. If you crave that specific type of retro experience, it might appeal. Otherwise, the janky gameplay might be too much.
SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5
Mika and the Witch’s Mountain ($19.99)
Inspired by Ghibli films, Mika and the Witch’s Mountain puts you in the shoes of a rookie witch whose broom breaks after a rather harsh initiation. To earn money for repairs, you take up package delivery, zipping around on your broom.
The gameplay is straightforward, focusing on deliveries and some side jobs. The vibrant world and characters add to the experience, but the Switch struggles with the performance at times, impacting resolution and framerate.
The game's dedication to its core mechanic can feel repetitive, and the performance issues on Switch are noticeable. However, if the concept appeals, you might enjoy the quirky characters and world.
SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5
Peglin ($19.99)
Peglin, a pachinko roguelike, is a more complete experience now with its 1.0 release. The gameplay involves aiming an orb at pegs to damage enemies and progress through zones. Upgrades, healing, and relics add strategic depth.
The Switch port performs well, though aiming isn't as smooth as on other platforms, and load times are longer. Touch controls mitigate the aiming issue.
The inclusion of in-game achievements is a welcome addition, compensating for the Switch's lack of system-wide achievements. Cross-save functionality across platforms is absent, but this is understandable for a smaller developer.
Despite some balance issues, Peglin is a fantastic addition to the Switch library, offering excellent use of the hardware's features. More free updates are planned. -Mikhail Madnani
SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
This is just a small selection of the many games on sale. Look for a separate article detailing the best picks.
Select New Sales
[List of Sales - Images and text are too extensive to reformat effectively within this response. The original formatting should be retained for optimal readability.]
That's all for today! Join us tomorrow for more reviews, new releases, sales, and news. Have a great Monday!
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