Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for May 16th, 2024. Heh, Lagwagon. It’s a Thursday today, and that means a whole bunch of games got dumped onto the eShop. I’ll remind folks that I am no longer covering every release, but I believe I have included a summary of just about every game worth considering today. Beyond that, we’ve just got the lists of new sales and expiring discounts, but that’s plenty. Let’s get into it!
Select New Releases
Lorelei and the Laser Eyes ($24.99)
There are only three things you need to know about this one right now, friends. One, it’s a Simogo game, so you know it rules. Two, it’s a Simogo game, so you know the less you know going in, the better. Three, our pal Mikhail won the coin toss so he’s going to be reviewing this one for us. Do look forward to that. And this game.
Read Only Memories: NEURODIVER ($14.99)
This return to the setting of 2064: Read Only Memories tells a whole new story with a whole new cast. You play as an esper named ES88, and your job is to track down and capture Golden Butterfly, an entity that is hiding in (and messing up) people’s memories. With the help of your Neurodiver, you’ll collect clues and repair the damaged memories, pushing Golden Butterfly out of each subject. It looks pretty cool, and I suspect the many fans of the original game will have a nice time here, too.
8th Millennium: War Against the Pagan Gods ($29.99)
Hm, really going for it with that price, aren’t we? This is a top-down action-adventure game, and I really can’t find much info about it at all. Even its shop description is quite vague. At the very least you can look forward to some good ol’ monster-mashing in a variety of dungeons. Beyond that? I’ll leave it to some brave soul out there to take a punt on it. My budget is already overdrawn.
Monster Outbreak ($14.99)
Okay, it’s a just a tower defense game with crafting mechanics. Nothing we haven’t seen before many times, to be sure. But I like the pixel art, so I’m including it here. That’s some decent pixel art. You can play with a friend in local two-player co-op if you like. Might be even better that way. This isn’t really my genre of choice, so I’ll leave it there.
PO’ed: Definitive Edition ($19.99)
Look, I know this game came out on a variety of platforms, but this is always going to be associated with the 3DO for me. It’s a bizarre first-person shooter where you play as a cook with a jetpack, battling evil aliens that sometimes take the form of butts. Walking butts. I mean, almost all butts walk, but these are nothing but butts with legs. Nightdive Studios has put its usual solid effort in here, regardless of whether or not you think the game is worth it. We’ll have a review soon.
Erra: Exordium ($19.99)
Hey, it’s another 2D action-adventure game. We’re seeing more of these lately. I wonder if it’s just the tides. Anyway, this one leans into Sumerian-Akkadian mythology, albeit via a Dieselpunk theme. You’re a scientist who has managed to survive death itself, and now you’re fighting back against an army of uncontrollable mechanical creatures. The visuals are really cool here, and that’s always an important matter when it comes to this particular genre.
Arcadia: Colony ($14.90)
An action-adventure game with a Lost Vikings/Trine-style multiple character set-up. Airi the bunny, Enji the porcupine, and Tazpo the mole team up to save their world from an invasion by the People of the Sky. You’ll have to use each of their unique abilities to make your way through each area and solve the puzzles you’ll come across. The dining doesn’t look incredibly fancy here or anything, but it seems to have a lot of heart put into it.
UNDEMON ($20.00)
A ghost named Luna is trying to resolve the issues that are tying her to the mortal plane so that she can pass on, and she needs your help. Use her abilities, collect souls to power-up (is that okay?), and try to sniff out the key in each level to move forward. When all else fails, you can always hide. It looks interesting, but I haven’t had a chance to try it yet so I’m not really sure how well it plays.
Pool Party ($19.99)
It’s a party game! For up to four players! Local only! Everyone’s a pool ball for some reason! We find our differentiating marketing points where we can! Several game modes! Probably enjoyable if you need another party game! But do you?
Internet Generation ($14.99)
Brought to us by the same folks who released the Smashing The Battle games, this is another action game with a colorful, silly vibe to it. You’re a new member of the Metaverse, a place where corrupt moderators rule the roost and garbage information waits around every corner. And you… have to smash it! Smash it all. As you clear stages you’ll unlock new moves, and you can always pick up some items if you need an additional leg-up. This doesn’t look any deeper than the Smashing The Battle series, but hey, there’s an audience for mindless action.
Dungeon Arsenal ($6.99)
I am such a child whenever I see the word ‘arsenal’. I just want to shorten the name of this game to Dungeon Ar… you know, that’s not really relevant here, is it? This kind of reminds me of the things we used to see on mobile back in the day. Each floor of the dungeon is made up of a bunch of cards, and you flip them over to reveal weapons, items, and monsters. Nothing too wild about it, but I know it will scratch an itch for some of you so here it is.
Musashi vs Cthulhu ($4.99)
The famous warrior Musashi is in a real bind this time, folks. He’s standing in the middle of some weird place, and an endless supply of unspeakable horrors are attacking him from all angles. He has to fend them off by using his katana to attack their weak points, but how long can he hold out? That one is up to you, friends. More of a score attack affair than anything else. I’ll be reviewing this one, probably early next week.
Arcade Archives F/A ($7.99)
Okay, yes, this is another vertical shooter for the Arcade Archives line. An appropriate way to celebrate ten years of Arcade Archives, if nothing else. But go a little deeper and you’ll see this is a very special release indeed, as Namco’s F/A (Fighter & Attacker) hasn’t seen a home release before now. This is a 1992 release, and it’s perhaps best known for its wild techno soundtrack composed by Shinji Hosoe (Ridge Racer) and Takayuki Aihara (Drakengard). Gameplay-wise it’s fairly typical of Namco’s vertical shooter fare, with aerial and ground attacks available. The music certainly elevates it. If you enjoy your shooters, pick it up.
Mutant Express ($11.99)
A rather straightforward side-scrolling platformer, but I like to give first-time publishers the benefit of the doubt. Your friend Kiki is turning into a fox, and you have to speed through fifty-three levels spread across four areas in order to prevent that. You’re delivering mysterious packages, and you are being timed. Go too slow and you’ll meet a bad ending. Seems cute, and it’s an earnest effort, at the very least.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
There are a couple of important things to point out in today’s inbox. First, there’s an Arcade Archives sale going on. As ever, these games are very likely to only be on sale once. Get them now if you think you’ll ever want them. Second, Minecraft is celebrating its 15th anniversary with some sales, and when it comes to the main game that is a very rare thing indeed. There are some other goodies there and in the outbox (shooter fans, get Rolling Gunner if you don’t have it already), but I’ll let you check those lists and find what grabs you.
Select New Sales
Lonesome Village ($10.99 from $19.99 until 5/22)
Death and Taxes ($2.59 from $12.99 until 5/23)
EarthX ($12.99 from $19.99 until 5/23)
Biker Garage: Mechanic Simulator ($4.99 from $24.99 until 5/23)
Legends of Amberland: TFC ($2.99 from $19.99 until 5/23)
Wind Peaks ($4.49 from $14.99 until 5/29)
Like No Other: Legend of Twin Books ($4.49 from $14.99 until 5/29)
Parasite Pack ($3.19 from $7.99 until 5/30)
Intrepid Izzy ($5.49 from $10.99 until 5/30)
Save Room ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/30)
UltraGoodness ($2.49 from $4.99 until 5/30)
Remote Life ($9.49 from $18.99 until 5/30)
The Last Faith ($19.59 from $27.99 until 5/30)
Apple Slash ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/30)
ACA NEOGEO The Super Spy ($3.99 from $7.99 until 5/30)
ACA NEOGEO Stakes Winner ($3.99 from $7.99 until 5/30)
ACA NEOGEO World Heroes 2 ($3.99 from $7.99 until 5/30)
ACA NEOGEO Robo Army ($3.99 from $7.99 until 5/30)
ACA NEOGEO Metal Slug X ($3.99 from $7.99 until 5/30)
Arcade Archives Phelios ($5.59 from $7.99 until 5/30)
Arcade Archives Galaga ($5.59 from $7.99 until 5/30)
Arcade Archives Metal Hawk ($5.59 from $7.99 until 5/30)
Arcade Archives Pac-Land ($5.59 from $7.99 until 5/30)
Arcade Archives The Tower of Druaga ($5.59 from $7.99 until 5/30)
Cris Tales ($3.99 from $39.99 until 6/1)
Instant Sports All-Stars ($5.00 from $24.99 until 6/1)
Rustler ($2.99 from $29.99 until 6/1)
Double Dragon Gaiden: RotD ($14.99 from $24.99 until 6/1)
Crime O’Clock ($10.00 from $19.99 until 6/1)
Afterimage ($12.99 from $24.99 until 6/1)
Quadroids ($9.60 from $11.99 until 6/1)
Hammerwatch Anniversary Edition ($11.99 from $19.99 until 6/1)
Hammerwatch II ($14.99 from $24.99 until 6/1)
Gordian Quest ($5.99 from $19.99 until 6/1)
Kids Vs Parents ($7.50 from $24.99 until 6/1)
30 Sports Games in 1 ($16.20 from $26.99 until 6/1)
Arcade Game Zone ($20.00 from $24.99 until 6/1)
Kraken Odyssey ($11.39 from $16.99 until 6/1)
Paleo Pines ($17.99 from $29.99 until 6/1)
How 2 Escape ($7.40 from $14.00 until 6/1)
God of Rock ($6.99 from $29.99 until 6/1)
Saga of Sins ($6.00 from $19.99 until 6/1)
Teslagrad Power Pack Edition ($12.99 from $29.98 until 6/1)
Teslagrad Remastered ($4.99 from $9.99 until 6/1)
Teslagrad 2 ($9.99 from $19.99 until 6/1)
Andro Dunos II ($4.00 from $19.99 until 6/1)
Ganryu 2: Hakuma Kojiro ($5.00 from $19.99 until 6/1)
Lost Words: Beyond the Page ($1.99 from $14.99 until 6/1)
Untitled Goose Game ($9.99 from $19.99 until 6/4)
Minecraft ($14.99 from $29.99 until 6/5)
Minecraft Deluxe Collection ($19.99 from $39.99 until 6/5)
Minecraft Dungeons ($9.99 from $19.99 until 6/5)
Minecraft Dungeons Ultimate Edition ($19.99 from $39.99 until 6/5)
Minecraft Legends ($19.99 from $39.99 until 6/5)
Minecraft Legends Deluxe Edition ($24.99 from $49.99 until 6/5)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, May 17th
Agartha-S ($3.19 from $7.99 until 5/17)
Battle Chef Brigade Deluxe ($6.99 from $19.99 until 5/17)
Crime Opera: The Butterfly Effect ($2.99 from $9.99 until 5/17)
Dead End City ($10.49 from $14.99 until 5/17)
Death Trick: Double Blind ($12.79 from $15.99 until 5/17)
EchoBlade ($3.99 from $9.99 until 5/17)
Escape from Terror City ($3.99 from $9.99 until 5/17)
Fluffy Milo ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/17)
Full of Crap ($9.75 from $13.00 until 5/17)
Genseisuikoden Plus ($19.79 from $21.99 until 5/17)
GyroGunner ($5.76 from $7.20 until 5/17)
Hell Well ($2.99 from $4.99 until 5/17)
Illusion ($5.35 from $10.71 until 5/17)
Kashido ($9.75 from $13.00 until 5/17)
Nephenthesys ($3.89 from $5.99 until 5/17)
OSHIIRO ($3.29 from $10.99 until 5/17)
Pretty Girls Mahjong Solitaire ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/17)
Rayland 2 ($2.99 from $4.99 until 5/17)
River City Girls ($14.99 from $29.99 until 5/17)
River City Girls Zero ($8.99 from $14.99 until 5/17)
Rolling Gunner ($7.99 from $19.99 until 5/17)
Rolling Gunner Over Power ($3.99 from $9.99 until 5/17)
Star Gagnant ($22.80 from $38.00 until 5/17)
The Dead Tree of Ranchiuna ($3.49 from $9.99 until 5/17)
Vall laB II ($2.49 from $4.99 until 5/17)
Venba ($9.74 from $14.99 until 5/17)
Witch Explorer ($9.99 from $19.99 until 5/17)
Zombies, Aliens and Guns ($4.79 from $5.99 until 5/17)
That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with the remaining releases of the week, plus whatever big news items and sales roll in over the course of the next twenty-four hours or so. I ended up with a busier day than I expected today, so I’m tight for time. Happily, I got started on today’s work early. I hope you all have a fantastic Thursday, and as always, thanks for reading!