Whats up mild readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Spherical-Up for December 2nd, 2022. So, at the moment turned out somewhat quieter than the standard Friday. It was so quiet, in actual fact, that I made a decision to pen a number of critiques. The Knight Witch, Railbound, and Donut Dodo get reviewed at the moment, after which we head into the brand new launch summaries for the most recent video games. We end issues up with the standard lists of recent and outgoing gross sales, although they’re somewhat smaller than one may anticipate for a Friday. I assume we’re actually on the opposite aspect of Black Friday now. Let’s get to it!
Critiques
The Knight Witch ($19.99)
I’d forgive anybody for being a bit bored with Metroidvania-style video games at this level. A style whose entries have been as soon as as laborious to come back by as musgravite has change into one of many extra flooded lately, such that you can solely spend your time with the very best of the very best and nonetheless have a pile dozens of video games deep. The Knight Witch tries to shake issues up by cross-pollinating its basic Metroidvania construction with a free-roaming bullet-hell shooter. It really works surprisingly nicely.
After you play by means of the prologue, you’re launched to the primary character of the sport, a Knight Witch in coaching named Rayne. After her house is unexpectedly attacked by golems, she units out to avoid wasting her husband and the remainder of her folks whereas probably saving the world alongside the best way. As a Knight Witch, Rayne can fly round freely, direct magical pictures in any route, and make use of particular Spell Playing cards to forged highly effective spells. You may select which Spell Playing cards you wish to equip out of your present assortment, and so they’ll come up in flip as you employ them.
Rayne’s maneuverability means you don’t have to fret an excessive amount of about platforming on this recreation, however you’ll be greater than stored busy dodging bullets, enemies, and different hazards as you make your approach by means of the sport’s world. You should use the second follow direct your pictures, however Rayne can even do a reasonably good job of auto-targeting if you happen to’re too busy to fret about that. It controls nicely, which is nice as a result of issues can get very intense in a rush. The boss battles are real bullet hell, and never in a foul approach. The story is participating, and the world is attention-grabbing to discover even when it’s a bit too linear for my liking.
The Knight Witch is a really well-made recreation that takes two very completely different genres and binds them along with a good bit of success. You actually should be into each Metroidvania-style video games and bullet-hell shooters to get into this one, however if you happen to can examine off each of these packing containers with out a lot thought, then this can be a slam-dunk pick-up. It’s not the lengthiest of video games, but it surely’s definitely fairly satisfying because of its stable gameplay and charming presentation.
SwitchArcade Rating: 4/5
Railbound ($12.99)
Regardless of taking part in 1000’s of video games in my life, it’s wonderful how simply I can get sucked into a simple puzzle recreation if all of the items are put collectively proper. And yeah, that’s what Railbound does. A easy set-up: lay the tracks down and manipulate them such that the assorted automobiles of the practice hook up with the engine in the best order whenever you hit go. The sport takes a number of ranges to stroll you thru its fundamental mechanics with a single automobile, then introduces a second automobile and begins to show up the warmth somewhat. By the tip of the sport’s 100 and fifty plus phases, you’re coping with a number of automobiles, numerous gimmicks, tight limits on observe items, and extra. Generally you have got extra observe items than you want, and that throws one other wrench into the works.
For those who like logic puzzles, you’ll in all probability have an excellent time with Railbound. It’s a really targeted recreation, but it surely has sufficient twists to maintain issues contemporary by means of its somewhat beneficiant quantity of phases. The putting comic-style artwork and the little sounds of every part clacking collectively whenever you get it proper solely add to the sport’s appreciable quantity of character. All in all, a somewhat beautiful little recreation that’s good to sit down down with and puzzle out whenever you’ve bought a spare hour or two.
SwitchArcade Rating: 4/5
Donut Dodo ($4.99)
Whereas they definitely had their time within the solar within the Eighties, single-screen motion video games fell out of vogue someplace alongside the road. The entire “larger is healthier” philosophy that we see so typically in video games, I suppose. However I believe if historical past within the passion has confirmed something, limitations can typically deliver magical outcomes. That’s why I used to be comfortable to see that sort of recreation make little comebacks right here and there by way of the indie scene and cellular gaming. On the identical time, these video games typically felt somewhat too by-product or plain. Donut Dodo is among the newest kicks at this could, and I discover it does a pleasant job of carving its personal path with appreciable confidence.
It finally ends up feeling a bit like a hyperlink between the early Donkey Kong-sized efforts and extra substantial Bubble Bobble-like affairs. Like the previous, you’ve bought a reasonably small variety of phases to cope with. Simply 5, in actual fact. However they’re all fairly distinct from one another. The manufacturing values and playability take after extra superior examples of the style, along with your important character being very nimble and responsive as he makes his approach by means of the vibrantly-colored impediment programs. There’s a little bit of depth to the scoring that appears to be impressed by Bomb Jack whereby you need to seize the flashing donuts as a way to maximize your rating, which provides a welcome further layer of problem.
Whereas the small variety of phases means there isn’t a complete ton to see right here, Donut Dodo gives up a number of completely different recreation modes every with their very own leaderboards to problem. Sadly regardless of what the eShop description appears to point, these leaderboards are local-only. Nonetheless, making an attempt to one-up your scores in every of the modes does add a little bit of longevity to the proceedings. Most significantly, it’s only a very pleasurable recreation to play. You don’t really want plenty of further trimmings if a recreation will get that a lot proper, and Donut Dodo does. That mentioned, there are some choices right here for tweaking issues like how the sport shows. It’s all fairly welcome by way of permitting to set simply how old-school an expertise you need.
Like a donut, Donut Dodo is a small, candy confection that you just’ll seemingly chew by means of in a number of bites. However the scrumptious style will having you reaching again into the field for an additional, and also you’ll seemingly come again for extra right here and there as you go about your different enterprise. Given the extremely affordable value level, this arcade game-that-wasn’t is a greater than honest pick-up for these pining for the quarter-munching days of the 80s.
SwitchArcade Rating: 4/5
New Releases
Siralim Final ($19.99)
Earlier this yr, the most recent Siralim recreation hit cellular. And right here it’s on Nintendo Swap! For those who’ve performed any of the Siralim video games earlier than, you realize what to anticipate right here. For those who haven’t, this can be a wildly deep monster assortment RPG. There are greater than 1200 creatures you possibly can gather, and there’s a fusion system considerably just like the Shin Megami Tensei video games. I’ll be doing a full evaluate of this one quickly, however so long as you don’t thoughts the model of the visuals there’s a lot to like right here for followers of monster RPGs.
Tremendous Kiwi 64 ($2.99)
Right here’s the most recent from Diplodocus Video games, a developer that I really feel is continually under-valuing its work. I concern that’s occurring once more with this cute little eight-level 3D platforming ode to the Nintendo 64 days. Use a wide range of skills to sort out the phases in any order you want, searching down secrets and techniques and simply having an excellent time making your approach across the decent-sized environments. A high quality approach to spend a couple of dollars at the moment.
Intrepid Izzy ($10.99)
An action-platformer with some beat-em-up model motion for dispatching your foes, Intrepid Izzy sees you utilizing a wide range of costumes and their distinctive skills to make your approach by means of fairly giant ranges as a way to save the world from a foul genie or one thing. It additionally has a somewhat robust soundtrack. I’ll have a evaluate of this one early subsequent week, however I’ve loved what I’ve performed nicely sufficient to this point.
Silver Nornir ($14.99)
Wow, this brings again recollections. This was the final recreation KEMCO launched on iOS earlier than I used to be employed at TouchArcade. It comes from all the best way again in 2013, and is a product of developer WorldWideSoftware. I’m wondering what occurred to them? Anyway, it’s a reasonably generic RPG however the story has a bit extra work put into it than we are inclined to see with, say, EXE-Create’s stuff. It’s set in a world that has already been destroyed twice by an awesome calamity, and also you’re making an attempt to stop it from being destroyed a 3rd time. Yow will discover it cheaper on cellular, as ordinary. It’s been an extended whereas since I performed this one, however I keep in mind it being respectable by KEMCO requirements.
Sakura Succubus 6 ($9.99)
It’s the sixth on this sequence now and also you’re in all probability greater than acquainted how the Sakura Succubus sequence of visible novels works by now. The premise this time is that you just go to a fictional European nation and the princess there falls for you. Make some selections and attempt to discover a comfortable ending. You don’t want me to inform you if that is for you or not.
Gross sales
(North American eShop, US Costs)
I believe that is the smallest checklist of Friday gross sales we’ve seen in a very long time. I suppose that’s as a result of the Cyber Offers gross sales are nonetheless kicking till Monday. Don’t overlook about these, by the best way. The subsequent time we meet right here, will probably be too late. Not a lot too attention-grabbing within the new gross sales for at the moment, and the outbox is… nicely, it’s two video games. Look over these Cyber Offers once more, I assume?
Choose New Video games on Sale
Secrets and techniques of Gentle & Shadow ($12.00 from $15.00 till 12/15)
AVICII Invector ($7.99 from $19.99 till 12/16)
SkateBIRD ($5.99 from $19.99 till 12/16)
Destruction ($1.99 from $9.99 till 12/16)
The Fox Awaits Me ($8.99 from $44.99 till 12/16)
Ahead to the Sky ($9.79 from $48.99 till 12/16)
Sea King Hunter ($1.99 from $9.99 till 12/16)
Cyber Velocity Run ($3.99 from $7.99 till 12/16)
Gunborg: Darkish Issues ($7.49 from $14.99 till 12/16)
Zumatch ($2.39 from $5.99 till 12/19)
The Home of the Useless Remake ($19.99 from $24.99 till 12/22)
Suicide Man Assortment ($2.96 from $10.99 till 12/22)
Railway Empire ($19.99 from $39.99 till 12/22)
Monkey Barrels ($7.49 from $14.99 till 12/22)
Kuukiyomi Take into account It ($2.49 from $4.99 till 12/22)
Gross sales Ending This Weekend
even when Tempest ($42.49 from $49.99 till 12/3)
Kings of Paradise ($12.49 from $24.99 till 12/3)
That’s all for at the moment and this week, pals. We’ll be again subsequent week with extra new releases, extra gross sales, extra critiques, extra information, and maybe some year-in-review sort stuff. I hope you all have an awesome weekend, and as all the time, thanks for studying!
