Good day light readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Spherical-Up for December 2nd, 2022. So, in the present day turned out somewhat quieter than the standard Friday. It was so quiet, in reality, that I made a decision to pen a number of opinions. The Knight Witch, Railbound, and Donut Dodo get reviewed in the present day, 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 latest and outgoing gross sales, although they’re quite smaller than one would possibly count on for a Friday. I suppose we’re actually on the opposite facet of Black Friday now. Let’s get to it!
Evaluations
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 arduous to return by as musgravite has grow to be one of many extra flooded in recent times, such that you could possibly solely spend your time with the most effective of the most effective and nonetheless have a pile dozens of video games deep. The Knight Witch tries to shake issues up by cross-pollinating its elementary Metroidvania construction with a free-roaming bullet-hell shooter. It really works surprisingly properly.
After you play by way of the prologue, you’re launched to the principle character of the sport, a Knight Witch in coaching named Rayne. After her house is unexpectedly attacked by golems, she units out to save lots of her husband and the remainder of her individuals whereas probably saving the world alongside the best way. As a Knight Witch, Rayne can fly round freely, direct magical photographs in any course, and make use of particular Spell Playing cards to solid highly effective spells. You possibly can 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 sport, however you’ll be greater than stored busy dodging bullets, enemies, and different hazards as you make your manner by way of the sport’s world. You should utilize the second follow direct your photographs, however Rayne may even do a fairly good job of auto-targeting if you happen to’re too busy to fret about that. It controls properly, 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 manner. The story is partaking, and the world is fascinating to discover even when it’s a bit too linear for my liking.
The Knight Witch is a really well-made sport that takes two very totally different genres and binds them along with a good bit of success. You actually must be into each Metroidvania-style video games and bullet-hell shooters to get into this one, however if you happen to can test off each of these containers with out a lot thought, then it is a slam-dunk pick-up. It’s not the lengthiest of video games, however it’s actually 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 an easy puzzle sport 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 varied vehicles of the practice connect with the engine in the correct order whenever you hit go. The sport takes a number of ranges to stroll you thru its primary 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 levels, you’re coping with a number of vehicles, varied gimmicks, tight limits on monitor items, and extra. Generally you’ve got extra monitor items than you want, and that throws one other wrench into the works.
In case you like logic puzzles, you’ll most likely have a superb time with Railbound. It’s a really centered sport, however it has sufficient twists to maintain issues recent by way of its quite beneficiant quantity of levels. The placing comic-style artwork and the little sounds of every thing clacking collectively whenever you get it proper solely add to the sport’s appreciable quantity of character. All in all, a quite pretty little sport that’s good to take a seat down with and puzzle out whenever you’ve bought a spare hour or two.
SwitchArcade Rating: 4/5
Donut Dodo ($4.99)
Whereas they actually 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 best” philosophy that we see so usually in video games, I suppose. However I feel if historical past within the pastime has confirmed something, limitations can usually deliver magical outcomes. That’s why I used to be joyful to see that sort of sport make little comebacks right here and there by way of the indie scene and cellular gaming. On the identical time, these video games generally felt somewhat too by-product or plain. Donut Dodo is likely one of the newest kicks at this will, 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 levels to take care of. Simply 5, in reality. 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 essential character being very nimble and responsive as he makes his manner by way 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 it’s a must to seize the flashing donuts as a way to maximize your rating, which provides a welcome additional layer of problem.
Whereas the small variety of levels means there isn’t an entire ton to see right here, Donut Dodo affords up a number of totally different sport 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, attempting 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 satisfying sport to play. You don’t really want numerous additional trimmings if a sport will get that a lot proper, and Donut Dodo does. That stated, there are some choices right here for tweaking issues like how the sport shows. It’s all fairly welcome when it comes to 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 possible chew by way 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 possible 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 sport hit cellular. And right here it’s on Nintendo Change! In case you’ve performed any of the Siralim video games earlier than, what to anticipate right here. In case you haven’t, it is a wildly deep monster assortment RPG. There are greater than 1200 creatures you possibly can accumulate, and there’s a fusion system considerably just like the Shin Megami Tensei video games. I’ll be doing a full assessment of this one quickly, however so long as you don’t thoughts the fashion 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 talents to deal with the levels in any order you want, looking down secrets and techniques and simply having a superb time making your manner across the decent-sized environments. A effective option to spend a couple of dollars in the present day.
Intrepid Izzy ($10.99)
An action-platformer with some beat-em-up fashion motion for dispatching your foes, Intrepid Izzy sees you utilizing a wide range of costumes and their distinctive talents to make your manner by way of moderately massive ranges as a way to save the world from a foul genie or one thing. It additionally has a quite sturdy soundtrack. I’ll have a assessment of this one early subsequent week, however I’ve loved what I’ve performed properly sufficient up to now.
Silver Nornir ($14.99)
Wow, this brings again reminiscences. This was the final sport 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 fairly 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 important calamity, and also you’re attempting to stop it from being destroyed a 3rd time. You will discover it cheaper on cellular, as ordinary. It’s been a protracted whereas since I performed this one, however I bear 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 most likely 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 decisions and attempt to discover a joyful ending. You don’t want me to inform you if that is for you or not.
Gross sales
(North American eShop, US Costs)
I feel that is the smallest record 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 neglect about these, by the best way. The subsequent time we meet right here, will probably be too late. Not a lot too fascinating within the new gross sales for in the present day, and the outbox is… properly, it’s two video games. Look over these Cyber Offers once more, I suppose?
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 Lifeless 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 in the present day and this week, buddies. We’ll be again subsequent week with extra new releases, extra gross sales, extra opinions, extra information, and maybe some year-in-review sort stuff. I hope you all have an important weekend, and as at all times, thanks for studying!