SwitchArcade Round-Up: ‘Emio: The Smiling Man’, ‘Gundam Breaker 4’, Plus Today’s Other Releases and Sales

Hello, gaming enthusiasts, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for August 29th, 2024! Today's update features a substantial lineup of new releases, forming the core of this Thursday's column. We'll also explore a noteworthy selection of new sales. Let's dive into the games!

Featured New Releases

Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club ($49.99)

The Famicom Detective Club franchise returns after a lengthy hiatus. This latest installment stays true to its predecessors, both in its strengths and weaknesses. A fresh mystery unfolds, presented in a style reminiscent of the recent Switch remakes. Can you crack the case of the latest serial killings? My review is forthcoming.

Gundam Breaker 4 ($59.99)

Mikhail's comprehensive review provides an in-depth analysis of gameplay and Switch performance. In short, you'll be building and battling Gunpla. While the Switch port understandably lags behind other versions in performance, it's perfectly playable. Check out Mikhail's insightful review for a complete picture.

Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn ($19.99)

Tengo Project continues its impressive streak of remakes and re-imaginings. Following the success of Wild Guns Reloaded, The Ninja Saviors, and Pocky & Rocky Reshrined, they now tackle an 8-bit classic. Expect a more significant departure from the source material compared to their previous titles. Nevertheless, fans of classic-style action-platformers will find much to appreciate. My review will be available early next week.

Valfaris: Mecha Therion ($19.99)

This Valfaris sequel offers a gameplay shift. Instead of the original's style, it's a 2.5D side-scrolling shooter. While the genre change might surprise some, it delivers a satisfying experience. A review is on its way.

Nour: Play With Your Food ($9.99)

I'll admit, I'm not entirely sure what this game entails. The food visuals are stunning, but the gameplay remains a mystery. Perhaps photography, secret-finding, or a combination thereof? Mikhail might shed some light on this one.

Monster Jam Showdown ($49.99)

If you're a fan of monster trucks, this game might be for you. It offers local and online multiplayer, along with various game modes. Reception on other platforms has been mixed, but it might appeal to fans of the genre.

WitchSpring R ($39.99)

This appears to be a remake of the original WitchSpring, a mobile title often compared to the Atelier series. While previously budget-friendly, its current price point approaches that of a full-fledged Atelier game. Still, it looks to be the most polished WitchSpring entry yet.

Depths of Sanity ($19.99)

An underwater exploration game with a fantastical horror twist. You'll investigate the disappearance of your crew within a vast, perilous underwater world. Combat is involved. It's well-received on other platforms and should find a dedicated following on Switch.

Voltaire: The Vegan Vampire ($19.99)

Voltaire, a vegan vampire, rebels against his bloodthirsty father. Gameplay involves farming and combat as you fend off your father's attacks. While I'm personally a bit fatigued by this genre, it might appeal to those with more energy for farming simulations.

Marble Abduction! Patti Hattu ($11.79)

A marble roller game featuring seventy stages and eighty marbles to collect. Secret collectibles and special challenges add to the replayability. If you enjoy fast-paced marble rolling, this is a solid choice.

Leo: The Firefighter Cat ($24.99)

A kid-friendly firefighting game with twenty missions. It offers a more lighthearted take on the firefighting theme compared to more realistic titles.

Gori: Cuddly Carnage ($21.99)

A grotesque action game starring a hoverboarding cat. While the core gameplay is decent, the Switch version suffers from notable technical issues affecting the overall experience.

Arcade Archives Finalizer Super Transformation ($7.99)

A 1985 Konami vertical shooter featuring a transforming robot protagonist. It's a charming, classic-style shooter.

EGGCONSOLE Xanadu Scenario II PC-8801mkIISR ($6.49)

An early expansion pack for Xanadu, featuring a new underworld to explore. Notable for the debut of composer Yuzo Koshiro.

The Backrooms: Survival ($10.99)

A blend of horror, survival, and roguelite elements. Supports up to ten online players.

Can of Wormholes ($19.99)

A clever puzzle game where you play as a sentient tin can dealing with worms. One hundred unique puzzles are included.

Ninja I & II ($9.99)

Two NES-style microgames featuring ninja-themed challenges. Supports local multiplayer.

Dice Make 10! ($3.99)

A surprisingly fun puzzle game with two modes: falling blocks and tile placement. The goal is to create rows or columns where dice faces add up to ten or multiples of ten.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

The 30th anniversary of The King of Fighters is celebrated with a sale on all Arcade Archives titles in the series. Many Pixel Game Maker Series games are also at their lowest prices yet. Several noteworthy indie titles are also on sale.

Select New Sales

Sales Ending Tomorrow, August 30th

That's all for today! We'll return tomorrow with more new releases, sales, and news. See you then!