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

Hello fellow gamers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for August 29th, 2024! Today's update brings 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!

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

The Famicom Detective Club returns after a long hiatus with a new case. This entry stays true to its predecessors, both in its strengths and weaknesses. A fresh mystery awaits, presented in a style reminiscent of the recent Switch remakes. Can you crack the latest serial murder case? My review is coming soon.

Gundam Breaker 4 ($59.99)

Mikhail's in-depth review provides a comprehensive look at Gundam Breaker 4. In short: build and battle Gunpla! While the Switch version naturally lags behind other platforms in performance, it's still a solid experience. Check out Mikhail's review for the full scoop.

Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn ($19.99)

Tengo Project continues its impressive streak of remakes. Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn adapts an 8-bit classic, resulting in a more significant departure from the source material than their previous 16-bit remakes. However, fans of classic-style action-platformers should find much to enjoy. My review will be available early next week.

Valfaris: Mecha Therion ($19.99)

A Valfaris sequel, but with a twist! This is a 2.5D side-scrolling shoot 'em up, a departure from its predecessor's gameplay. While the genre shift might surprise some, it offers a fun experience. My review is on the way.

Nour: Play With Your Food ($9.99)

I'll admit, I'm not entirely sure what to make of this one. The food visuals are stunning, but the gameplay remains a bit of a mystery. Photography? Secret-finding? Perhaps Mikhail will 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 features both local and online multiplayer, along with various game modes. Reception on other platforms has been mixed, but monster truck enthusiasts have limited options.

WitchSpring R ($39.99)

This appears to be a remake of the original WitchSpring. While it previously filled a niche as a mobile alternative to Atelier games, its current price point brings it closer to the cost of a full Atelier title. Still, it looks to be the best-looking WitchSpring yet.

Depths of Sanity ($19.99)

An underwater exploration game with a fantastical horror twist. Investigate the disappearance of your crew in a vast, dangerous underwater world. Combat is involved. It's well-received on other platforms and should appeal to Switch players who enjoy exploration and action.

Voltaire: The Vegan Vampire ($19.99)

A vegan vampire rebels against his neck-biting father. Gameplay involves farming and action as you fend off your father's attempts to thwart your lifestyle choice.

Marble Abduction! Patti Hattu ($11.79)

A marble roller game with 70 stages and 80 marbles to collect. Features secret collectibles and challenges.

Leo: The Firefighter Cat ($24.99)

A firefighting game aimed at a younger audience. Features 20 missions.

Gori: Cuddly Carnage ($21.99)

A hoverboarding cat slices and dices enemies. While the core gameplay is decent, the Switch version suffers from technical issues.

Arcade Archives Finalizer Super Transformation ($7.99)

A 1985 Konami vertical shooter where you control a transforming robot.

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

An early expansion pack featuring the debut of legendary composer Yuzo Koshiro.

The Backrooms: Survival ($10.99)

A horror/survival/roguelite game best experienced with online multiplayer.

Can of Wormholes ($19.99)

A clever puzzle game where you're a sentient tin can dealing with worms.

Ninja I & II ($9.99)

Two NES-style microgame collections with a ninja theme.

Dice Make 10! ($3.99)

A fun dice-based puzzle game with two modes.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

The King of Fighters 30th anniversary is celebrated with a sale on the entire Arcade Archives series. Many Pixel Game Maker Series titles are also at their lowest prices yet. Several other indie titles are also on sale. See below for highlights.

Select New Sales