Hello discerning readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Roundup for September 2nd, 2024. While it appears to be a holiday in the United States, here in Japan, it's business as usual. That means I have some delightful treats for you, beginning with our customary week-opening review extravaganza. Three penned by yours truly, and one from our esteemed colleague, Mikhail. I'll be examining Bakeru, Star Wars: Bounty Hunter, and Mika and the Witch's Mountain. Mikhail once again delves into the depths of Peglin, a game he understands better than anyone else at TouchArcade Towers. Beyond the reviews, we have some news from Mikhail, and a comprehensive list of deals from Nintendo's Blockbuster Sale. Let's dive in!
News
Guilty Gear Strive Arrives on Nintendo Switch in January 2025
Arc System Works has delivered! Guilty Gear Strive is coming to the Nintendo Switch on January 23rd, boasting 28 characters and rollback netcode for online matches. Sadly, cross-play won't be a feature, but it should provide a satisfying offline and Switch-exclusive online experience. I personally adore the game on Steam Deck and PS5, and will certainly be giving the Switch version a spin. For more details, visit the official website.
Reviews & Mini-Views
Bakeru ($39.99)
Let's be clear: Bakeru is not Goemon/Mystical Ninja. While developed by some of the same team, superficial similarities aside, it's a distinct entity. Expecting Goemon will only shortchange both Bakeru and your enjoyment. Bakeru is its own unique experience. With that said, let's discuss the game. Bakeru hails from Good-Feel, a studio with a history of collaborating with Nintendo on titles within the Wario, Yoshi, and Kirby franchises, most recently Princess Peach: Showtime!. Their forte seems to be charming, accessible, and polished platformers. And that's precisely what Bakeru is.
Mischief unfolds across Japan, and a young adventurer named Issun finds an unlikely ally in Bakeru, a tanuki with shape-shifting abilities and a fondness for taiko drums. The journey takes you across Japan, prefecture by prefecture, filled with combat, treasure hunting, quirky interactions, and hidden secrets. With over sixty levels, the experience, while not overwhelmingly memorable in every aspect, maintains a consistently engaging charm. I found the collectibles particularly enjoyable, often reflecting the unique characteristics of each location. The game offers numerous insights into Japanese culture, some even surprising to a long-time resident like myself.
The boss battles deserve special mention. Here, comparisons to Goemon (or other Good-Feel titles) are warranted. The team clearly understands the importance of well-designed boss encounters, and they're exceptionally fun. These creative showdowns reward skillful play. Bakeru takes numerous creative risks for a straightforward 3D platformer, with varying degrees of success. However, the successful moments are truly rewarding, and the less successful ones are easily forgiven. Despite its flaws, I found myself genuinely fond of the game. Its likeability is almost infectious.
The only significant drawback is the Switch's performance. Mikhail touched upon this in his review of the Steam version. The frame rate fluctuates, occasionally reaching 60fps but often dipping significantly during intense moments. While I'm generally not overly sensitive to inconsistent frame rates, it's worth noting for those who are. Despite improvements since the Japanese release, performance issues persist.
Bakeru is a delightful 3D platformer with polished design and inventive gameplay elements. Its commitment to its unique style is almost contagious. While frame rate issues prevent it from reaching its full potential on Switch, and those expecting a Goemon clone will be disappointed, it's a highly recommended title to cap off your summer.
SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5
Star Wars: Bounty Hunter ($19.99)
The Star Wars prequel trilogy spawned a wave of merchandise, including a surprising number of video games. While the films weren't critically acclaimed, they undeniably expanded the narrative possibilities of the universe. Remember Boba Fett? The cool-armored bounty hunter unceremoniously dispatched into a Sarlacc pit? Well, meet his father! He also sports cool armor and suffers an equally undignified defeat. But what about his life before Attack of the Clones? Star Wars: Bounty Hunter fills in those gaps, whether you requested it or not.
This is Jango Fett's story—a bounty hunter so impressive he became the template for an entire clone army. The best in the galaxy! (Don't ask about his encounter with a Jedi Master.) Cool armor! But what made him suitable to be the foundation for the clone army? That's the game's central theme: Jango's audition, if you will. He's tasked by the seemingly innocent Count Dooku to hunt a Dark Jedi, with additional bounties welcome along the way.
The gameplay involves targeting specific individuals within each level, with optional targets available for added reward. A variety of weapons and gadgets, including the iconic jetpack, are at your disposal. While initially engaging, the repetitive gameplay and lack of significant variation become noticeable over time. It suffers from the typical issues of a 2002 video game, a period when certain aspects of game design were still evolving. Targeting is imprecise, cover mechanics are unreliable, and level design, while aiming for openness, often feels cramped and poorly guided. Even at its release, it was an average game at best, tied to what was then considered the worst Star Wars film.
Aspyr's porting efforts have improved the game's visuals and performance, and the updated control scheme is a welcome enhancement. However, the saving system remains unchanged, meaning lengthy stages may need to be restarted if you make significant errors. On the plus side, a Boba Fett skin is unlockable. If you're considering playing this game, this version is the definitive choice.
Star Wars: Bounty Hunter possesses a certain nostalgic charm. It embodies the distinct characteristics of the PlayStation 2/GameCube/Xbox era, despite Aspyr's improvements. Its appeal lies primarily in that nostalgic factor. If you're in the mood for a time-travel adventure to 2002 and a rough-around-the-edges action game, this is for you. Otherwise, it might be too much "Jank-o Fett" for your tastes.
SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5
Mika and the Witch's Mountain ($19.99)
Following the release of several poorly-received Nausicaa video games, Hayao Miyazaki famously prohibited further adaptations of his works. Whether this extended to all Ghibli properties is unclear. Regardless, the absence of Ghibli-based video games since then is noteworthy. While I respect Miyazaki's stance, it does mean we'll never see my dream Porco Rosso open-world flying game. Such is life. Chibig and Nukefist's Mika and the Witch's Mountain clearly draws inspiration from another Ghibli film.
You play as a novice witch embarking on your magical journey. Your instructor unceremoniously throws you off a mountain, breaking your broom. To get back, you'll need to repair or replace your broom, requiring you to take on package delivery jobs to earn money. The vibrant world and quirky characters significantly enhance the experience. The Switch struggles at times, with resolution and frame rate taking hits depending on location and in-game activity. The game would likely perform better on more powerful hardware. However, those tolerant of technical imperfections (a trait many Switch owners have likely developed) will likely find it enjoyable.
Mika and the Witch's Mountain openly embraces its inspiration, but its core gameplay mechanic can become somewhat repetitive. Performance issues on the Switch further detract from the experience. However, the fun of zipping around on your broom, delivering packages to a diverse cast of characters, is undeniable. If the concept appeals to you, you'll likely enjoy the game.
SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5
Peglin ($19.99)
Approximately a year ago, I reviewed the early access version of Peglin on iOS. It was also our Game of the Week upon its mobile release. Peglin, a pachinko roguelike, has always shown immense potential, and it has only improved through consistent updates. Last week, during Nintendo's Indie World and Partner Direct showcase, Peglin was announced and released for Switch. I initially believed it was simply a port of the existing game, but it turned out to be the 1.0 version.
Peglin reached 1.0 on Steam and mobile alongside its Switch debut, offering a more complete experience. However, it's a game that caters to a specific type of player. The objective is to aim an orb at pegs on the board to damage enemies and progress through zones, similar to Slay the Spire. The game features events, bosses, shops, numerous battles, and a challenging early game.
As you progress, you can upgrade or unlock new orbs, heal, and collect relics. Strategic aiming is crucial, utilizing critical or bomb pegs effectively. You can also refresh the board. The initial learning curve is steep, but the gameplay mechanics become intuitive, and the game's soundtrack is quite catchy.
The Switch port performs well, although aiming isn't as smooth as on other platforms. Touch controls mitigate this issue. Load times are longer compared to mobile and Steam. While not disastrous, it's worth noting if you own multiple platforms. I'd say Peglin is best on Steam Deck, with mobile and Switch closely competing for second place.
The lack of Switch achievements is compensated by Peglin's internal achievement system. This is a welcome addition, given the Switch's system-wide absence of achievements. Cross-save functionality across platforms would have been a nice addition, although understandable given the developer's size.
My only significant concerns are load times and aiming smoothness. Hopefully, future updates will address these issues. Further free updates are planned, according to Red Nexus Games.
Even in early access, Peglin was exceptional. While some balance issues remain, it's an essential Switch title if the "pachinko x roguelike" formula appeals to you. The developers have effectively utilized the Switch's hardware, providing rumble, touchscreen support, and button controls. Now, we just need a physical release. -Mikhail Madnani
SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
Wow! Numerous titles are on sale, and this list only scratches the surface. I've compiled a separate article highlighting the best deals, so keep an eye out for that. Good luck with your shopping!
Select New Sales
(Extensive list of games on sale omitted for brevity. The original text contained a very long list.)
That's all for today, folks. We'll return tomorrow with more reviews, new releases, sales, and potentially some news. The typhoon has subsided, leaving behind warm temperatures and sunshine. I hope you all have a wonderful Monday, and thank you for reading!
