SwitchArcade Round-Up: ‘Emio: The Smiling Man’, ‘Gundam Breaker 4’, Plus Today’s Other Releases and Sales

Hello gaming enthusiasts, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for August 29th, 2024! Today's update features a substantial lineup of new game releases, forming the core of this Thursday's column. We'll also explore a noteworthy selection of new sales. While we can't expect daily Nintendo Directs, let's dive into the gaming action!

Featured New Releases

Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club ($49.99)

The Famicom Detective Club returns after a lengthy hiatus. This new installment stays true to its predecessors, both in its strengths and weaknesses. A fresh mystery awaits, presented in a style reminiscent of the recent Switch remakes. Can you crack the latest serial murder case? My review is forthcoming.

Gundam Breaker 4 ($59.99)

Mikhail's comprehensive review provides an in-depth look at Gundam Breaker 4's gameplay and Switch performance. In short, you build and battle Gunplas. While the Switch port naturally lags behind other versions in performance, it's still a satisfactory experience. Check out Mikhail's insightful review for a complete analysis.

Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn ($19.99)

Tengo Project continues its successful streak of remakes/reimaginings. Following the acclaimed Wild Guns Reloaded, The Ninja Saviors, and Pocky & Rocky Reshrined, they now tackle an 8-bit classic. This iteration deviates more significantly from its source material than previous projects. However, fans of classic-style action-platformers will find much to enjoy. My review will be available early next week.

Valfaris: Mecha Therion ($19.99)

A Valfaris sequel, but with a twist. This is a 2.5D side-scrolling shooter, a departure from its predecessor's gameplay. While the genre shift may surprise some, it offers a rewarding experience for those open to the change. My review is on its way.

Nour: Play With Your Food ($9.99)

I'll admit, I'm unsure of this game's exact premise. The visuals showcasing food are undeniably appealing, but the gameplay remains a mystery. Perhaps photography, secret-finding, or a combination thereof? Mikhail might be the best person to investigate this further.

Monster Jam Showdown ($49.99)

A game centered around Monster Jam. It features both local and online multiplayer, alongside numerous game modes. While reception on other platforms has been mixed, it might appeal to fans of monster trucks who have limited options.

WitchSpring R ($39.99)

This appears to be a remake of the original WitchSpring, a mobile title often compared to the Atelier series. At this price point, approaching that of a full-fledged Atelier game, its value proposition is debatable. However, it boasts the most polished visuals in the WitchSpring series to date.

Depths of Sanity ($19.99)

An underwater exploration game with a fantastical horror theme. You investigate the disappearance of your crew within a vast, interconnected underwater world. Combat is involved. It's well-received on other platforms and likely to resonate with Switch players who enjoy exploratory action games.

Voltaire: The Vegan Vampire ($19.99)

Voltaire, a vegan vampire, rebels against his blood-thirsty father. Gameplay involves farming and combat as you fend off your father's attempts to thwart your lifestyle choice. While I'm personally somewhat fatigued by the genre, it might appeal to those with a greater enthusiasm for farming simulators.

Marble Abduction! Patti Hattu ($11.79)

A marble roller game with seventy stages and eighty marbles to collect, featuring secret collectibles and special challenges. The core gameplay loop focuses on speed and precision.

Leo: The Firefighter Cat ($24.99)

A firefighting game geared towards a younger audience, offering twenty missions and a kid-friendly aesthetic.

Gori: Cuddly Carnage ($21.99)

A grotesque action game featuring a hoverboarding cat who dispatches enemies with gleeful violence. While the core gameplay is reportedly solid, the Switch version suffers from technical issues impacting the overall experience.

Arcade Archives Finalizer Super Transformation ($7.99)

A 1985 Konami vertical shooter featuring a transforming robot protagonist. It's a charming title with a classic feel, falling between Xevious and Tiger Heli in style.

EGGCONSOLE Xanadu Scenario II PC-8801mkIISR ($6.49)

An early video game expansion pack introducing a new underworld to explore. Gameplay mirrors the original Xanadu, but with increased difficulty. Notable for featuring the debut work of legendary composer Yuzo Koshiro.

The Backrooms: Survival ($10.99)

A blend of horror, survival, and roguelite elements, best experienced with its online multiplayer mode (up to ten players). Solo play caters to a more specific taste due to its repetitive nature.

Can of Wormholes ($19.99)

A clever puzzle game where you, a sentient tin can, must contend with worms. It features one hundred unique puzzles with consistently fresh mechanics.

Ninja I & II ($9.99)

Two NES-style microgames with a ninja theme, designed for competitive local multiplayer or against a CPU opponent.

Dice Make 10! ($3.99)

A surprisingly fun puzzle game with two modes: a Tetris-style falling block mode and a classic wood block puzzle mode. The goal is to create rows or columns where the dice faces sum to multiples of ten.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

The 30th anniversary of The King of Fighters is celebrated with a sale on the entire Arcade Archives series. Numerous Pixel Game Maker Series titles are also available at their lowest prices yet. Various other indie games are also on sale.

Select New Sales

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Sales Ending Tomorrow, August 30th

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That concludes today's update. We'll return tomorrow with the remaining new releases, sales, and news. Reviews may also be included. Due to a significant typhoon, there's a possibility tomorrow's update might be delayed. Thanks for reading!