Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for August 22nd, 2024. In todayâs article, we continue to bear witness to the slow yet clear decline of Switch releases in this eighth year. Itâs Thursday, but we donât even have a dozen games worth mentioning today. Even among the ones we have, there isnât anything that is jumping out. Sure, itâs August. Things are going to pick up soon. But itâs still odd to see such dry Thursdays, even at this time of the year. At least the sales are healthy. Letâs have a look at all of that!
Play as Jules Verne, who has been brought into a world sprung from his own imagination, in this adventure game. Heâll join forces with Captain Nemo as they try to fend off an evil force determined to destroy all imagination, which I reckon would be pretty bad. Solve puzzles, engage in dialogue, and enjoy the story. An interesting premise, and thatâs a big part of the battle when it comes to this genre.
A prequel story to Rise Eterna, this looks to be a base defense-style game to me. Build your team and use your limited resources to deploy them against the enemy. Seems fine for what it is, even if what it is isnât terribly novel. With more than forty stages to play, it will keep you busy for a few days at least.
One of those stress relief games. Youâre an office worker and you have a sledgehammer. You can break pretty much everything in the office. Go for it. Play the ten-level campaign mode, or enjoy the infinite Mayhem Mode as you like. The affordable price is about right for the experience on offer.
A choice-based narrative adventure where you pick from nine different characters and try to survive a trip to the Ring Sculptorsâ base. On top of making choices at various points, there are also stats to manage, dice rolls to try to luck out on, and plenty of endings to uncover as a result.
This is a side-scrolling action-platformer in the vein of games like Castlevania or Valis. You play as a sword-wielding warrior on a quest to vanquish evil. Or at least I presume thatâs the story, anyway. All I know is that there is a fellow named Kronoss and his castle must be stormed. A decent game with a pretty lively soundtrack backing it. Nothing Iâd run down the street yelling about, but it might scratch an itch.
An affordable Metroidvania-style game starring a mummy. Itâs really rough around the edges, but for the price you might not mind. I at least appreciate the novel protagonist. Shame about the ropey collision detection, though.
Taitoâs 1990 beat âem up featuring puppet ninjas is the latest Arcade Archives release. Up to four players can join in on the fun via local multiplayer, and thatâs probably the best way to enjoy this one. Even going alone, the wacky tone makes this an enjoyable game to play through. The mechanics arenât as tight as in the better titles in this genre from Capcom or Konami, but thereâs some charm in the janky nature of it all.
Hereâs a visual novel with some simulation elements. Maybe it isnât right to call it a visual novel because of those elements? Forgive me if my choice of words isnât on point. Your character ends up homeless on a mysterious island, and soon runs into a witch that is having some problems of her own. They decide to work together, and theyâre eventually joined by several others. Can this rag-tag group survive Toyotoki Island and grow along the way? Play to find out! I should write box copy, I swear.
When you think of Nihon Falcom, you definitely think of⌠shoot âem ups? Okay, maybe not. But this one did happen back in the day, and as you might expect itâs not an orthodox take by any means. There are adventure game scenes mashed in with the shooting action here, and your skill at handling trading will determine your available funds for upgrades. Naturally, this is all in Japanese. EGGCONSOLE and all that. If I think itâs even remotely playable for someone who canât understand the language, Iâll do a review soon.
(North American eShop, US Prices)
Another sale for 1000xRESIST. Buy 1000xRESIST. Maybe Freedom Planet 2 and Haiku, the Robot too, depending on your tastes. The latest sales from id Software and Inti-Creates are finishing up today, so fill your boots while you can. Check those lists!
Select New Sales
1000xRESIST ($15.99 from $19.99 until 8/28)
Times & Galaxy ($17.99 from $19.99 until 8/28)
Super Mutant Alien Assault ($1.99 from $9.99 until 8/28)
The Pale Beyond ($9.99 from $19.99 until 8/28)
Suzerain ($4.49 from $17.99 until 8/28)
Paradise Killer ($5.99 from $19.99 until 8/28)
Genesis Noir ($4.49 from $14.99 until 8/28)
Citizen Sleeper ($9.99 from $19.99 until 8/28)
Haiku, The Robot ($9.99 from $19.99 until 8/28)
Ebenezer & the Invisible World ($13.99 from $19.99 until 8/29)
Freedom Planet 2 ($18.74 from $24.99 until 9/5)
Deadcraft ($5.99 from $19.99 until 9/5)
Silent Hope ($13.99 from $39.99 until 9/5)
Untitled Goose Game ($9.99 from $19.99 until 9/5)
Corpse Party ($9.99 from $19.99 until 9/5)
Akibaâs Trip: Undead & Undressed ($14.99 from $29.99 until 9/5)
Wing of Darkness ($5.99 from $29.99 until 9/5)
SCHiM ($17.49 from $24.99 until 9/5)
Marchen Forest ($6.99 from $34.99 until 9/5)
Violet Wisteria ($7.49 from $14.99 until 9/6)
Oops, I Said Yes?! ($20.99 from $29.99 until 9/9)
even if TEMPEST Dawning Connections ($34.99 from $49.99 until 9/9)
Pirate Bloopers ($1.99 from $9.99 until 9/11)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, August 23rd
Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 ($14.99 from $29.99 until 8/23)
Berserk Boy ($14.00 from $20.00 until 8/23)
Blaster Master Zero 3 ($7.49 from $14.99 until 8/23)
Bloodstained Curse of the Moon 2 ($5.99 from $14.99 until 8/23)
CounterAttack: Uprising ($4.49 from $14.99 until 8/23)
Dead End City ($9.89 from $14.99 until 8/23)
DOOM ($7.99 from $39.99 until 8/23)
DOOM 3 ($3.99 from $9.99 until 8/23)
DOOM 64 ($1.99 from $4.99 until 8/23)
DOOM Eternal ($9.99 from $39.99 until 8/23)
Dragon Marked for Death ($7.49 from $14.99 until 8/23)
Fireside ($11.99 from $14.99 until 8/23)
For The Warp ($1.99 from $17.99 until 8/23)
Froggie ($2.99 from $4.99 until 8/23)
Gal Guardians: Demon Purge ($13.74 from $24.99 until 8/23)
Gunvolt Records: Cychronicle ($10.49 from $14.99 until 8/23)
Little Kitty, Big City ($19.99 from $24.99 until 8/23)
Luminous Avenger iX 2 ($12.49 from $24.99 until 8/23)
PuzzMiX ($2.99 from $3.99 until 8/23)
QUAKE ($3.99 from $9.99 until 8/23)
Quake II ($3.99 from $9.99 until 8/23)
Sally Face ($8.99 from $14.99 until 8/23)
TES V: Skyrim ($29.99 from $59.99 until 8/23)
TES V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition ($34.99 from $69.99 until 8/23)
Umbraclaw ($17.49 from $24.99 until 8/23)
Wolfenstein II: TNC ($5.99 from $39.99 until 8/23)
Yohane the Parhelion: Blaze in the Deepblue ($20.39 from $29.99 until 8/23)
Thatâs all for today, friends. Weâll be back tomorrow with the remaining releases for the week, plus whatever sales and major news items roll in during the course of the day. Weâve been getting so many thunderstorms lately around here. Hot and sunny during the day, stormy in the evening. Very odd, and not conducive to the laundry schedule. Oh well. I hope you all have a thrilling Thursday, and as always, thanks for reading!
Select New Releases
Verne â The Shape of Fantasy ($14.99)
Play as Jules Verne, who has been brought into a world sprung from his own imagination, in this adventure game. Heâll join forces with Captain Nemo as they try to fend off an evil force determined to destroy all imagination, which I reckon would be pretty bad. Solve puzzles, engage in dialogue, and enjoy the story. An interesting premise, and thatâs a big part of the battle when it comes to this genre.
Rise Eterna War ($9.99)
A prequel story to Rise Eterna, this looks to be a base defense-style game to me. Build your team and use your limited resources to deploy them against the enemy. Seems fine for what it is, even if what it is isnât terribly novel. With more than forty stages to play, it will keep you busy for a few days at least.
As Per My Last Email ($6.29)
One of those stress relief games. Youâre an office worker and you have a sledgehammer. You can break pretty much everything in the office. Go for it. Play the ten-level campaign mode, or enjoy the infinite Mayhem Mode as you like. The affordable price is about right for the experience on offer.
Ring Sculptors ($14.99)
A choice-based narrative adventure where you pick from nine different characters and try to survive a trip to the Ring Sculptorsâ base. On top of making choices at various points, there are also stats to manage, dice rolls to try to luck out on, and plenty of endings to uncover as a result.
Argol â Kronossâ Castle ($8.99)
This is a side-scrolling action-platformer in the vein of games like Castlevania or Valis. You play as a sword-wielding warrior on a quest to vanquish evil. Or at least I presume thatâs the story, anyway. All I know is that there is a fellow named Kronoss and his castle must be stormed. A decent game with a pretty lively soundtrack backing it. Nothing Iâd run down the street yelling about, but it might scratch an itch.
Ataraxie ($4.99)
An affordable Metroidvania-style game starring a mummy. Itâs really rough around the edges, but for the price you might not mind. I at least appreciate the novel protagonist. Shame about the ropey collision detection, though.
Arcade Archives The Ninja Kids ($7.99)
Taitoâs 1990 beat âem up featuring puppet ninjas is the latest Arcade Archives release. Up to four players can join in on the fun via local multiplayer, and thatâs probably the best way to enjoy this one. Even going alone, the wacky tone makes this an enjoyable game to play through. The mechanics arenât as tight as in the better titles in this genre from Capcom or Konami, but thereâs some charm in the janky nature of it all.
Tales from Toyotoki: Arrival of the Witch ($29.99)
Hereâs a visual novel with some simulation elements. Maybe it isnât right to call it a visual novel because of those elements? Forgive me if my choice of words isnât on point. Your character ends up homeless on a mysterious island, and soon runs into a witch that is having some problems of her own. They decide to work together, and theyâre eventually joined by several others. Can this rag-tag group survive Toyotoki Island and grow along the way? Play to find out! I should write box copy, I swear.
EGGCONSOLE Star Trader PC-8801mkIISR ($6.49)
When you think of Nihon Falcom, you definitely think of⌠shoot âem ups? Okay, maybe not. But this one did happen back in the day, and as you might expect itâs not an orthodox take by any means. There are adventure game scenes mashed in with the shooting action here, and your skill at handling trading will determine your available funds for upgrades. Naturally, this is all in Japanese. EGGCONSOLE and all that. If I think itâs even remotely playable for someone who canât understand the language, Iâll do a review soon.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
Another sale for 1000xRESIST. Buy 1000xRESIST. Maybe Freedom Planet 2 and Haiku, the Robot too, depending on your tastes. The latest sales from id Software and Inti-Creates are finishing up today, so fill your boots while you can. Check those lists!
Select New Sales
1000xRESIST ($15.99 from $19.99 until 8/28)
Times & Galaxy ($17.99 from $19.99 until 8/28)
Super Mutant Alien Assault ($1.99 from $9.99 until 8/28)
The Pale Beyond ($9.99 from $19.99 until 8/28)
Suzerain ($4.49 from $17.99 until 8/28)
Paradise Killer ($5.99 from $19.99 until 8/28)
Genesis Noir ($4.49 from $14.99 until 8/28)
Citizen Sleeper ($9.99 from $19.99 until 8/28)
Haiku, The Robot ($9.99 from $19.99 until 8/28)
Ebenezer & the Invisible World ($13.99 from $19.99 until 8/29)
Freedom Planet 2 ($18.74 from $24.99 until 9/5)
Deadcraft ($5.99 from $19.99 until 9/5)
Silent Hope ($13.99 from $39.99 until 9/5)
Untitled Goose Game ($9.99 from $19.99 until 9/5)
Corpse Party ($9.99 from $19.99 until 9/5)
Akibaâs Trip: Undead & Undressed ($14.99 from $29.99 until 9/5)
Wing of Darkness ($5.99 from $29.99 until 9/5)
SCHiM ($17.49 from $24.99 until 9/5)
Marchen Forest ($6.99 from $34.99 until 9/5)
Violet Wisteria ($7.49 from $14.99 until 9/6)
Oops, I Said Yes?! ($20.99 from $29.99 until 9/9)
even if TEMPEST Dawning Connections ($34.99 from $49.99 until 9/9)
Pirate Bloopers ($1.99 from $9.99 until 9/11)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, August 23rd
Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 ($14.99 from $29.99 until 8/23)
Berserk Boy ($14.00 from $20.00 until 8/23)
Blaster Master Zero 3 ($7.49 from $14.99 until 8/23)
Bloodstained Curse of the Moon 2 ($5.99 from $14.99 until 8/23)
CounterAttack: Uprising ($4.49 from $14.99 until 8/23)
Dead End City ($9.89 from $14.99 until 8/23)
DOOM ($7.99 from $39.99 until 8/23)
DOOM 3 ($3.99 from $9.99 until 8/23)
DOOM 64 ($1.99 from $4.99 until 8/23)
DOOM Eternal ($9.99 from $39.99 until 8/23)
Dragon Marked for Death ($7.49 from $14.99 until 8/23)
Fireside ($11.99 from $14.99 until 8/23)
For The Warp ($1.99 from $17.99 until 8/23)
Froggie ($2.99 from $4.99 until 8/23)
Gal Guardians: Demon Purge ($13.74 from $24.99 until 8/23)
Gunvolt Records: Cychronicle ($10.49 from $14.99 until 8/23)
Little Kitty, Big City ($19.99 from $24.99 until 8/23)
Luminous Avenger iX 2 ($12.49 from $24.99 until 8/23)
PuzzMiX ($2.99 from $3.99 until 8/23)
QUAKE ($3.99 from $9.99 until 8/23)
Quake II ($3.99 from $9.99 until 8/23)
Sally Face ($8.99 from $14.99 until 8/23)
TES V: Skyrim ($29.99 from $59.99 until 8/23)
TES V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition ($34.99 from $69.99 until 8/23)
Umbraclaw ($17.49 from $24.99 until 8/23)
Wolfenstein II: TNC ($5.99 from $39.99 until 8/23)
Yohane the Parhelion: Blaze in the Deepblue ($20.39 from $29.99 until 8/23)
Thatâs all for today, friends. Weâll be back tomorrow with the remaining releases for the week, plus whatever sales and major news items roll in during the course of the day. Weâve been getting so many thunderstorms lately around here. Hot and sunny during the day, stormy in the evening. Very odd, and not conducive to the laundry schedule. Oh well. I hope you all have a thrilling Thursday, and as always, thanks for reading!