Fitness Boxing Plus Miku Gets Review, New Games Hit Switch

Farewell, dear readers, and welcome to the final regular SwitchArcade Round-Up for TouchArcade. This marks the end of a multi-year journey, and while I'd hoped to continue covering the Switch's lifespan, circumstances have led me elsewhere. Next week, I'll share one last special edition with a few embargoed reviews, but this is it for the regular column.

Reviews & Mini-Views

Fitness Boxing feat. HATSUNE MIKU ($49.99)

Following Imagineer's successful Fitness Boxing series, including the surprisingly enjoyable Fitness Boxing Fist of the North Star, their collaboration with Hatsune Miku felt like a natural progression. Having played it alongside Ring Fit Adventure, I'm impressed.

This entry retains the core Fitness Boxing gameplay: boxing and rhythm-based exercises, mini-games, and daily workout options. Miku's inclusion adds a dedicated mode featuring her music alongside the standard tracks. Note: this is a Joy-Con-only title, incompatible with Pro Controllers or third-party accessories.

Standard features like difficulty settings, free training, warm-ups, workout tracking, reminders, and a system-wide alarm (even in sleep mode) are present. Unlockable cosmetics provide further incentive. While I can't comment on DLC yet, the base game surpasses Fist of the North Star, except for one minor issue.

The audio is excellent, but the main instructor's voice feels oddly out of sync with the rest of the game, prompting me to lower its volume.

Fitness Boxing feat. HATSUNE MIKU successfully integrates Miku into the series, appealing to her fanbase. It's a solid fitness game, best used as a supplement to Ring Fit Adventure or another workout routine rather than as a standalone fitness solution. -Mikhail Madnani

SwitchArcade Score: 4/5

Magical Delicacy ($24.99)

Magical Delicacy from sKaule and Whitethorn Games blends Metroidvania exploration with cooking and crafting. While I appreciate the elements individually, their integration feels somewhat uneven, resulting in a game with both strengths and weaknesses.

As Flora, a young witch, you cook and craft for various characters. The exploration is surprisingly well-executed, despite some frustrating backtracking. However, ingredient management and inventory systems are less polished, exacerbated by a UI that requires adjustment.

The game boasts beautiful pixel art, charming music, and customizable settings (including UI scaling and text options), particularly beneficial for handheld play. Early access or post-launch updates could significantly improve the overall experience.

The Switch version runs smoothly, aside from occasional frame pacing issues. The haptic feedback is well-implemented. Having played it on Xbox Series X, I prefer the portability of the Switch version.

Magical Delicacy is a promising blend of genres, but feels slightly underdeveloped due to inventory and backtracking issues. Despite its current flaws, it's enjoyable on Switch and has potential for future improvement through updates. -Mikhail Madnani

SwitchArcade Score: 4/5

Aero The Acro-Bat 2 ($5.99)

A sequel to the 16-bit era platformer, Aero The Acro-Bat 2, surprisingly surpasses expectations. While it didn't achieve the success of its predecessor, it's a solid platforming experience.

This release features an improved presentation compared to Ratalaika's typical emulation wrappers. It includes enhanced features like box and manual scans, achievements, sprite sheet galleries, a jukebox, and cheats. The only drawback is the omission of the SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive version.

Fans of the original will appreciate this refined sequel, and even those who found the first game lacking may find this more enjoyable. Ratalaika's improved emulation wrapper is commendable, and I hope to see a similar update for the first game. A worthwhile release for fans of 16-bit platformers.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

Metro Quester | Osaka ($19.99)

Following the success of the original Metro Quester, this prequel expands on the formula. It functions more as an expansion than a full sequel, introducing a new Osaka setting, dungeon, character types, weapons, skills, and enemies. Canoe travel adds a new element to exploration.

The core mechanics remain largely unchanged: turn-based combat, top-down exploration, and strategic progression. Careful planning is essential for survival.

Metro Quester | Osaka provides ample content for fans of the original and serves as an excellent entry point for newcomers. Its expansion-like nature is a positive, building upon the original's strengths while adding intriguing new elements.

SwitchArcade Score: 4/5

Select New Releases

NBA 2K25 ($59.99)

The latest iteration boasts gameplay improvements, a new "Neighborhood" feature, and MyTEAM enhancements. Requires 53.3 GB of storage space.

Shogun Showdown ($14.99)

A Darkest Dungeon-style RPG with a Japanese setting.

Aero The Acro-Bat 2 ($5.99)

(See review above)

Sunsoft is Back! Retro Game Selection ($9.99)

A collection of three previously unlocalized Famicom titles.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

Noteworthy sales include Cosmic Fantasy Collection (40% off) and Tinykin (at its lowest price). See the full lists below for details.

Select New Sales (Images omitted for brevity)

(List of sales - reformatted for better readability)

Sales Ending This Weekend (Images omitted for brevity)

This concludes my contributions to SwitchArcade. After eleven and a half years at TouchArcade, and twenty-six years in the industry, I'm moving on to new challenges. I'll continue writing at my blog, Post Game Content, and on Patreon. Thank you to all the readers for your support over the years. I cherish each and every one of you.