Hi there mild readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Spherical-Up for September 4th, 2023. I assume it’s a vacation at the moment in the US? I’m undecided. I’m working, not less than. I’ve 4 opinions so that you can try, overlaying Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles, Taito Milestones 2, Gourmand Warriors, and Virgo Versus the Zodiac. There are some new releases, however don’t get too enthusiastic about them. It’s all bins at the moment. After that, we’ve got a ton of latest gross sales to take a look at. Let’s get to the video games!
Critiques & Mini-Views
Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles ($49.99)
They don’t make them like this anymore. They didn’t make them like this earlier than these video games got here out both, come to think about it. The Rhapsody sequence, consisting of three mainline video games and a few puzzle sport spin-offs, is an odd little duck that ran its complete course inside the span of two years. Solely the primary sport ever noticed a Western launch up till this assortment. And but the significance of the Rhapsody sequence within the historical past of Nippon Ichi Software program can’t be overstated. Up till the discharge of Rhapsody, the corporate was largely identified for making forgettable mahjong, jigsaw puzzle, and enjoying card video games. Rhapsody was an enormous swing for NIS, and one which paid off handsomely.
Following the third and ultimate sport within the Rhapsody sequence, a tactical RPG set in the identical world named La Pucelle Techniques was created. That led to yet one more tactical RPG, additionally prompt to be set in the identical world, referred to as Disgaea. And the remainder, as they are saying, is historical past. All the pieces Nippon Ichi Software program is at the moment has grown from the seeds of the Rhapsody video games. That’s a part of why I’m so excited to see the video games not solely get a contemporary rerelease, but in addition a world rerelease. Taken with the NIS Classics Vol. 3 set, Western gamers can now simply and affordably play this beautiful little trilogy.
Past the historic, the opposite purpose why I’m glad to see this launch is as a result of these are a pair of very nice RPGs. Like within the first sport, there are many musical numbers in Rhapsody II: Ballad of the Little Princess and Rhapsody III: Recollections of Marl Kingdom. Not like the primary sport, the battle methods right here don’t have that tactical RPG taste to them. It’s extra easy RPG fight, although the third sport’s help character system permits you to deliver an absolute bonkers variety of individuals to the fights. Each of the included video games function largely cheerful tales and a comparatively low stage of issue, so don’t come round on the lookout for a stiff problem. These are extra video games to sit back with.
Like the unique sport, Rhapsody II launched on the PlayStation. It got here out in Japan in late 1999, and is about twelve years after the occasions of the primary journey. The primary character of the primary sport, Cornet, married her love Prince Ferdinand, they usually have a daughter named Kururu. She’s acquired her mom’s adventurous spirit and need for a fairy story romance. Fortunately, she additionally has her mom’s potential to make use of puppet magic. On this sport, puppets function help relatively than direct individuals in battle. You’ll be battling utilizing human characters this time. Kururu quickly will get pulled into some larger occasions, as is the model in RPGs. This can be a very breezy sport, and by some measure the better of the 2.
Rhapsody III was initially a PlayStation 2 sport, releasing within the console’s first 12 months in the marketplace. Don’t count on it to flex that ol’ Emotion Engine a lot, although. You get some 3D backgrounds, however the characters are nonetheless 2D sprites. The construction of this sport is somewhat completely different from the norm. You’ve acquired six distinct chapters right here that bounce round within the Marl Kingdom timeline, telling tales with completely different units of characters. As such, the narrative is principally about fleshing out sure characters or occasions, generally providing closure or explanations the place none existed within the earlier two video games. For those who performed the DS remake of Rhapsody, a few these tales will probably be acquainted to you. It’s bit shorter than Rhapsody II, however the problem stage is larger. The battle system has once more been adjusted right here, and puppets are again on the menu. Pleasing on the entire, even when it feels extra like an appendix than a full sequel.
Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles is a straightforward suggestion for anybody who loved the primary sport. For those who appreciated it, you’ll love these two video games. I might most likely advocate newcomers play the unique Rhapsody first even when it isn’t completely essential to get pleasure from these sequels, if solely so as to absolutely recognize all of the little character nods and connections. Those that are on the lookout for an RPG with tooth will wish to hold shifting, however I believe if you happen to’re within the temper for some pure low-friction fluff there aren’t many higher selections within the Change’s RPG choice.
SwitchArcade Rating: 4/5
Taito Milestones 2 ($39.99)
Taito Milestones 2, like the primary set, brings collectively ten of the legendary arcade firm’s traditional titles. These are primarily based on the Arcade Archives releases, however have had some options like Caravan Mode eliminated. The presentation is as no-frills because it will get, and Hamster’s menus really feel virtually scientific of their design. You do get entry to on-line leaderboards for the primary play mode in every sport, so that you’re not completely blanked out of the gratifying aggressive jostling of the Arcade Archives video games. The emulation high quality is nice, and you may nonetheless mess with all the choices to customise your expertise. With the bundle itself being this naked bones, all of it falls on the video games. Let’s discuss these, then.
The oldest of the included video games, Ben Bero Beh, launched in 1984. It’s a unusual sport the place you’re tasked with combating fires as you make your approach by flooring of a burning constructing to rescue somebody trapped by the blaze. It’s a bit sluggish and clunky, however when you have a fascination for these off-beat early arcade video games that have been fumbling at midnight looking for new genres, you may get into it. I appreciated it however didn’t like it.
The Legend of Kage, which hit arcades in 1985, might be one of many extra well-known titles on this set. You play as a ninja that may catch quantities of air that may make Michael Jordan blush. You’ve acquired an countless provide of shuriken and your helpful blade at your disposal to defeat the numerous enemy ninjas that assail you. Battle by the levels and rescue the princess, then do it another time. The character’s motion takes some getting used to, however when you do this can be a actually good time.
Representing 1986, Kiki Kaikai is a top-down multi-directional shooter that kicked off the sequence identified to Western gamers as Pocky and Rocky. You play as a shrine maiden who has to make use of her talismans and workers to chase away supernatural enemies and save the land. Positive, the sequels turned up the warmth considerably, however this primary sport is kind of gratifying all by itself.
One other of the extra well-known names from this assortment, The NewZealand Story (generally generally known as Kiwi Kraze) got here out in 1988 in arcades however might be finest identified for its big selection of residence console and laptop ports. You play as somewhat kiwi hen named Tiki who should make his approach by quite a lot of multidirectional scrolling levels to, you guessed it, save his girlfriend. It’s as powerful and different as it’s cute, and my associates, it’s very cute. It’s onerous to not have time right here, even when the problem stage is aggravating in locations.
It’s all a matter of tastes in fact, however for my cash Darius II is the spotlight of this set. That is the three-screen model of the 1989 shoot-em-up, which was not noted of the Darius Cozmic Assortment. Properly, right here it’s, and it’s superb. This is likely one of the three video games on this set that isn’t but obtainable by way of the usual Arcade Archives line. Anyway, what could be mentioned? Fly your ship by trippy levels and battle house sea monsters. Get pleasure from some odd banter out of your navigator, who all the time needed a factor referred to as tuna sashimi. A terrific, atmospheric shooter.
Liquid Children, launched in 1990, is one of the best sleeper sport within the set. It’s not an enormous title, however I can’t think about anybody not having not less than some enjoyable with it. You play as a hippo named Hipopo that may throw water bombs at enemies. You must work your approach by quite a lot of side-scrolling levels as a way to (sure) rescue your girlfriend from an evil fireplace demon. It has plenty of that Bubble Bobble vitality to it, and if you happen to haven’t performed it earlier than you might be in for a deal with.
Gun Frontier additionally got here out in 1990, and it kicked off a unfastened trilogy of video games from kind of the identical staff at Taito. This can be a vertically scrolling shooter set in a world the place all the things is gun. Weapons are in all places, pick-ups are bullets, your tremendous transfer is fueled by your ammo, and the enemies take the type of numerous weapons stapled to different issues. It’s gun wild. A gun bonanza. Fairly respectable sport all-around, one that ought to please shoot-em-up followers effectively sufficient.
The next 12 months noticed the discharge of Metallic Black, a side-scrolling shooter from the staff that did Gun Frontier. The primary gameplay gimmick on this one comes out of your beam assault. Decide-ups will enhance the ability of your weapon, however you possibly can select to discharge it everytime you like. That can deliver your weapon again right down to its default state, however it’s going to do this by letting out a beam that will increase in dimension primarily based on what number of pick-ups you’ve grabbed. You should use this beam to push again the beams of bosses if it’s sufficiently big. One other enjoyable sport with an odd theme, and one which was vital within the development of future Darius video games. Once more, shoot-em-up followers needs to be glad.
Solitary Fighter is the second of the three video games on this set that you would be able to’t discover but in Arcade Archives. It’s a combating sport that got here out in 1991, which suggests it ran straight into the freight prepare generally known as Road Fighter II. The presentation is kind of good on this sport, however the gameplay itself is relatively poor. You may have somewhat enjoyable with one other participant, however I don’t assume I’d topic any of my associates or household to that.
That brings us to the most recent and final sport within the set, 1992’s Dinorex. This can be a one-on-one fighter from the parents who created Gun Frontier and Metallic Black. All the playable characters are dinosaurs, and they’re certainly some savage beasties. The T-Rex is purple, so you can also make Barney jokes that nobody will get since Barney was 1,000,000 years in the past. I needed to love this. I tried so onerous to love this. I approached it by itself phrases as a substitute of making an attempt to play it like Road Fighter II. But it surely’s simply not excellent. Nothing works the best way you need it to, and if you happen to take the time to be taught it, you’re rewarded with little or no certainly. It’s bizarre as heck, and that’s the primary factor it has going for it. Some startling revelations within the ending, to make sure. I can’t think about many individuals will spend a lot time with it although.
So the place does that depart Taito Milestones 2 as an entire? Its extra trendy choice of titles will most likely attraction higher than the primary quantity, and shoot-em-up followers particularly will discover rather a lot to love right here. There are a few outright clunkers within the choice, however I’ll not less than grant that they’re fascinating clunkers. Definitely extra good than unhealthy, and if you happen to get pleasure from enjoying arcade classics I believe you’ll get your kicks right here. That mentioned, if only some video games within the record attraction to you, there is perhaps some benefit in trying out the person Arcade Archives releases as a substitute.
SwitchArcade Rating: 4/5
Gourmand Warriors (QUByte Classics) ($9.99)
QUByte has been bringing us quite a lot of retro video games from Piko Interactive’s intensive catalog of odds and ends for some time now, to combined outcomes. Generally emulation points deliver down the expertise. Generally the video games themselves simply aren’t all that good or fascinating. I believe Gourmand Warriors represents one thing of a “better of each worlds” for this line. The sport in query is comparatively obscure, fairly good, and charmingly weird. The wrapper is identical plain brown bag QUByte makes use of each time, with the identical restricted set of choices. It’s maybe my inexperience with the unique sport in query right here, however I didn’t discover any apparent emulation points. QUByte has all the time been hit and miss with Tremendous NES video games, however this one appears effective.
Gourmand Warriors is a side-scrolling beat-em-up initially launched on the Tremendous Famicom again in 1995. On the time, it had no abroad launch. Piko Interactive picked up the rights to the sport and introduced it out globally just a few years in the past with a full English localization. The primary gimmick right here is that you simply decide up components from defeated enemies which you’ll then combine up into tasty dishes between levels. The secondary gimmick is that there’s a button that makes your character flex and pose. It doesn’t do something for you, but it surely’s humorous. In any other case, this can be a pretty plain brawler within the mechanical sense. The bonkers theme and wild enemies assist it stand out, and I recognize that it doesn’t actually drop the ball in any critical methods.
For those who get pleasure from traditional beat-em-up and recognize it when video games don’t take themselves too severely, you may wish to look into Gourmand Warriors. I believe there’s nonetheless plenty of room for enchancment right here by way of how these QUByte Classics are packaged, however if you happen to simply wish to benefit from the sport this greater than will get the job finished.
SwitchArcade Rating: 4/5
Virgo Versus the Zodiac ($19.99)
I actually loved the primary character on this sport. She’s such a ache within the neck for everybody who has to place up along with her, and that’s plenty of enjoyable. There’s plenty of persona in Virgo Versus the Zodiac, and that’s most likely its highest quality. In any other case, what you get here’s a relatively atypical indie RPG that makes use of the energetic timing-based button-pressing fight stylings of video games like Paper Mario. I’m not an enormous fan of that type of factor at one of the best of occasions, but it surely’s rather a lot worse right here than regular due to the spotty efficiency of this Change model. It needs you to have good timing, but it surely’s onerous to swing that when the sport is stuttering unpredictably.
I might see myself recommending Virgo Versus the Zodiac if it weren’t for the technical points on this Change model, however they’re the worst type as they intervene with the gameplay in a really possible way. Maybe the developer will patch it some day, however in its present type as of this writing, I can solely commend the writing and counsel gamers maybe test it out on different platforms.
SwitchArcade Rating: 3/5
New Releases
The Bin Bunch
The Thief Simulator 2023 – From Criminal to Boss ($13.99)
Truck Simulator 2023 – Driver Europe ($13.99)
Farming Tractor Simulator 2023: Drive Mix & Vans ($14.99)
Gross sales
(North American eShop, US Costs)
Not lengthy after I put the Friday version to mattress, an enormous sale popped on the eShop. The next is only a choice of the numerous video games on supply, so verify your wishlists to see if something you’ve been ready for popped up. Given the dimensions of the record, I don’t actually have any particular call-outs. Scan it rigorously, associates. And verify the little outbox record when you’re at it, too.
Choose New Video games on Sale
Full Quiet ($8.99 from $9.99 till 9/9)
F.I.S.T.: Cast in Shadow Tech ($14.99 from $29.99 till 9/10)
Saint Kotar ($12.99 from $34.99 till 9/11)
We Love Katamari Reroll ($19.79 from $29.99 till 9/11)
Seduction: A Monk’s Destiny ($3.19 from $7.99 till 9/11)
Hentai vs. Evil ($3.99 from $9.99 till 9/11)
Practice Valley ($4.19 from $11.99 till 9/11)
Starlink: Battle for Atlas Deluxe ($11.99 from $79.99 till 9/11)
Alchemist Journey ($6.99 from $19.99 till 9/11)
Raiden III x Mikado Maniax ($23.99 from $29.99 till 9/11)
Skelattack ($2.99 from $19.99 till 9/11)
Gal*Gun Double Peace ($19.99 from $39.99 till 9/11)
Taiko no Tatsujin Rhythm Competition DE ($29.69 from $54.99 till 9/11)
Tremendous Rooster Jumper ($2.99 from $4.99 till 9/11)
Scrumptious! Fairly Ladies Mahjong Solitaire ($2.99 from $5.99 till 9/11)
Aztech Forgotten Gods ($8.99 from $29.99 till 9/11)
Jail Tycoon: Underneath New Administration ($17.49 from $24.99 till 9/11)
TLoH: Trails to Azure ($29.99 from $39.99 till 9/11)
TLoH: Trails to Zero ($27.99 from $39.99 till 9/11)
Lemon Cake ($14.99 from $29.99 till 9/11)
Bunny Park ($7.99 from $19.99 till 9/11)
Strategy of Elimination ($27.99 from $39.99 till 9/11)
Shadowrun Returns ($4.99 from $19.99 till 9/11)
Shadowrun Dragonfall ($4.99 from $19.99 till 9/11)
Shadowrun Hong Kong ($4.99 from $19.99 till 9/11)
QuickSpot ($4.99 from $19.99 till 9/11)
World Championship Boxing Supervisor 2 ($10.49 from $14.99 till 9/11)
Journey Academia: Fractured Continent ($27.99 from $39.99 till 9/11)
Monark ($29.99 from $59.99 till 9/11)
The Merciless King & the Nice Hero ($14.99 from $29.99 till 9/11)
Minit Enjoyable Racer ($2.00 from $2.99 till 9/11)
Tremendous Mega Baseball 4 ($29.99 from $49.99 till 9/11)
Captain Tsubasa RoNC ($9.59 from $59.99 till 9/11)
Skycadia ($6.99 from $9.99 till 9/11)
Pirates Outlaws ($10.19 from $16.99 till 9/11)
The Pillar: Puzzle Escape ($1.99 from $9.99 till 9/11)
Yurukill: The Calumniation Video games ($19.99 from $39.99 till 9/11)
The Final Buddy ($5.99 from $14.99 till 9/11)
Parkasaurus ($16.24 from $24.99 till 9/11)
Yomawari: Misplaced within the Darkish ($19.99 from $39.99 till 9/11)
Retro Machina ($6.99 from $19.99 till 9/11)
JoJo’s Weird Adv. All-Star Battle R DE ($34.99 from $49.99 till 9/11)
Breathedge ($7.49 from $24.99 till 9/11)
Sword Artwork On-line Alicization Lycoris DE ($44.99 from $89.99 till 9/11)
McPixel 3 ($3.99 from $9.99 till 9/11)
Final Command ($13.99 from $19.99 till 9/11)
MLB The Present 23 ($20.39 from $59.99 till 9/11)
MLB The Present 23 Digital Deluxe ($29.99 from $99.99 till 9/11)
Charon’s Staircase ($12.99 from $34.99 till 9/11)
Misplaced in Random ($4.49 from $29.99 till 9/11)
Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning ($19.99 from $39.99 till 9/11)
Chronos: Earlier than the Ashes ($14.99 from $29.99 till 9/11)
SpongeBob SquarePants: BfBB ($13.49 from $29.99 till 9/11)
Moero Crystal H ($19.99 from $39.99 till 9/11)
Loop Hero ($5.24 from $14.99 till 9/11)
Sea Horizon ($9.74 from $14.99 till 9/11)
Dying’s Door ($7.99 from $19.99 till 9/11)
Rogue Legacy 2 ($17.49 from $24.99 till 9/11)
Scorching Wheels Unleashed ($7.49 from $49.99 till 9/11)
Scorching Wheels Unleashed GotY Version ($13.49 from $89.99 till 9/11)
Vagante ($5.99 from $14.99 till 9/11)
Dragon Ball Z Kakarot ($14.99 from $59.99 till 9/11)
Inscryption ($11.99 from $19.99 till 9/11)
Grocery store Shriek ($2.99 from $19.99 till 9/11)
Zengeon ($6.59 from $19.99 till 9/11)
Get-A-Grip Chip ($5.99 from $9.99 till 9/11)
Oxide Room 104 ($7.49 from $24.99 till 9/11)
Crusing Period ($21.24 from $24.99 till 9/11)
Mr. Driller DrillLand ($4.79 from $29.99 till 9/11)
Strayed Lights ($17.49 from $24.99 till 9/11)
Peppa Pig: World Adventures ($27.99 from $39.99 till 9/11)
Sifu ($23.99 from $39.99 till 9/11)
Ys VIII Lacrimosa of DANA ($19.99 from $39.99 till 9/11)
Zero Pressure ($1.99 from $9.99 till 9/11)
Lively Life Outside Problem ($9.99 from $49.99 till 9/11)
.hack//G.U. Final Recode ($14.99 from $49.99 till 9/11)
Digimon Survive ($29.99 from $59.99 till 9/11)
Seven Doorways ($3.49 from $4.99 till 9/11)
Chained Echoes ($19.99 from $24.99 till 9/11)
The Crimson Strings Membership ($4.49 from $14.99 till 9/11)
Angelo & Deemon: One Hell of a Quest ($3.74 from $14.99 till 9/11)
Ten Dates ($11.19 from $15.99 till 9/11)
Amongst Us ($3.00 from $5.00 till 9/14)
Sky Mercenaries Redux ($1.99 from $15.00 till 9/18)
Octo Curse ($5.99 from $9.99 till 9/21)
Muddle 12: It’s About Time ($4.49 from $14.99 till 9/21)
Astalon: Tears of the Earth ($9.99 from $19.99 till 9/21)
Faircroft’s Antiques: Mountaineer’s Legacy ($1.99 from $9.99 till 9/21)
Discovering America: The Heartland ($2.99 from $9.99 till 9/21)
Match Ventures ($3.59 from $11.99 till 9/21)
Puzzle Holidays: Eire ($3.59 from $11.99 till 9/21)
Chronicles of Albian TMC ($3.59 from $11.99 till 9/21)
Bundle Inc ($2.49 from $4.99 till 9/21)
First Time in Paris ($1.99 from $9.99 till 9/21)
First Time in Rome ($3.59 from $11.99 till 9/21)
I Love Discovering Birds ($8.99 from $14.99 till 9/21)
I Love Discovering Extra Pups ($1.99 from $9.99 till 9/21)
Montgomery Fox & TCotMB ($4.49 from $14.99 till 9/21)
Montgomery Fox & TRoVD ($4.49 from $14.99 till 9/21)
Montgomery Fox & TCotDN ($4.49 from $14.99 till 9/21)
Onion Assault ($3.19 from $7.99 till 9/22)
Gastro Power ($5.59 from $6.99 till 9/22)
Suicide Man: The Misplaced Desires ($5.59 from $7.99 till 9/22)
TT Isle of Man RotE 3 ($29.99 from $49.99 till 9/23)
Chef Life: A Restaurant Sim ($19.99 from $39.99 till 9/23)
WRC Generations ($15.99 from $39.99 till 9/23)
Roguebook: Deluxe Version ($6.99 from $34.99 till 9/23)
V-Rally 4 ($4.99 from $49.99 till 9/23)
WRC 8 Deluxe Version ($5.99 from $59.99 till 9/23)
Road Energy Soccer ($2.99 from $29.99 till 9/23)
Practice Life: Orient Categorical Version ($15.99 from $39.99 till 9/23)
RiMS Racing: EM Deluxe Version ($11.99 from $59.99 till 9/23)
RiMS Racing: JM Deluxe Version ($11.99 from $59.99 till 9/23)
Gross sales Ending Tomorrow, Tuesday, September fifth
A Little Golf Journey ($4.00 from $19.99 till 9/5)
A Little to the Left ($10.49 from $14.99 till 9/5)
Blossom Tales II: The Minotaur Prince ($9.74 from $14.99 till 9/5)
Chants of Sennaar ($17.99 from $19.99 till 9/5)
Demon Turf ($12.49 from $24.99 till 9/5)
For The Warp ($3.59 from $17.99 till 9/5)
Lil Gator Recreation ($11.99 from $19.99 till 9/5)
Swords & Bones 2 ($1.99 from $9.99 till 9/5)
The Oregon Path ($23.99 from $29.99 till 9/5)
Wildfrost ($17.99 from $19.99 till 9/5)
Xiaomei & the Flame Dragon’s Fist ($10.49 from $14.99 till 9/5)
Yooka-Laylee ($3.99 from $39.99 till 9/5)
That’s all for at the moment, associates. We’ll be again tomorrow with extra new releases, extra gross sales, a evaluate or two, and perhaps some information. We will see what the day brings. I hope you all have a wonderful Monday, and as all the time, thanks for studying!