Howdy mild readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Spherical-Up for April 1st, 2024. It’s Easter Monday! It’s April Fools! However right here at TouchArcade Towers, it’s simply one other day. We’ve bought a bunch of opinions for you right this moment, buddies. Our pal Mikhail takes a cautious have a look at Not Tonight 2, whereas I’ve bought my takes on Pepper Grinder, Felix the Cat, and One Final Breath for you. After that, we check out the brand new releases of the day. Not probably the most bumper of crops, I’m positive you’ll be able to guess. We end issues up with the standard lists of latest and expiring gross sales. Let’s get going!
Evaluations & Mini-Views
Not Tonight 2 ($19.99)
No Extra Robots is again with one other Swap port of one in every of its PC video games in Not Tonight 2. I assume this implies we’re one step nearer to Slayers X hitting Swap however solely time will inform. Earlier than digressing additional, Not Tonight 2 is a follow-up to the unique Not Tonight: Take Again Management Version on Swap, and is an fascinating tackle that method with three tales, mini-games, and a few Papers Please thrown into the fray. As a sequel, I like what it does, however some facets won’t hit as onerous relying on what you’re on the lookout for.
It had been some time since I performed the unique recreation, and attempting out Not Tonight 2 on PC jogged my memory of how good it was. I didn’t end the sport on PC although. I made a decision to attend for a console launch. When No Extra Robots introduced the Swap launch, I knew it could be value ready for, and it has been for probably the most half having now performed it.
When you’ve not performed Not Tonight earlier than, I like to recommend getting it first, or grabbing the bundle of each for those who’re interested by these video games. As No Extra Robots‘ first sequel launch so far as I’m conscious, Not Tonight 2 is sort of a bit extra bold, and I believe it will be a find it irresistible or hate it form of recreation for followers of the unique. I ended up extra constructive on it by the completely different tales being advised. Some is perhaps turned off by the humor inside the extra critical tales, however I all the time love that in a story.
In Not Tonight 2, you’ll discover, make decisions, undergo plenty of dialogue, and play minigames. As I stated earlier than, it has additionally been impressed by the superb Papers Please. The builders describe Not Tonight 2 as an “American document-checking street journey, fusing a time-pressure RPG with a politically charged, darkish comedy the place each resolution issues”. That’s fairly lengthy however an correct abstract of the sport. That is accompanied by an amazing visible fashion as properly.
Not Tonight 2 has a number of efficiency hiccups on Swap that aren’t large points in comparison with it working completely on Steam Deck, but it surely wins in controller help. I couldn’t get the PC model on Steam Deck to work with out the digital cursor no matter utilizing the Deck itself or an exterior controller. The Swap model performs properly throughout the board, however I would really like touchscreen help as a result of journey video games like this profit from the choice of tapping to maneuver round or deciding on issues. Mainly the best management scheme for Not Tonight 2 can be a mixture of controller and contact/digital mouse help.
For some followers of the unique, Not Tonight 2 may really feel erratic in some methods, however I loved it virtually as a lot as the unique on Swap. I like to recommend it to followers of the unique and those that get pleasure from Papers Please. It simply wants some efficiency enhancements in sure areas. -Mikhail Madnani
SwitchArcade Rating: 3.5/5
Pepper Grinder ($14.99)
I like Pepper Grinder. It is aware of what it desires to do, and it does that factor with out fussing round, then has the courtesy to finish earlier than it runs out of concepts. To honor it, I’ll attempt to make my assessment equally environment friendly. First, the issues I like. The drill-based mechanics are intelligent and lead to some fast-paced, thrilling platforming. The visuals are interesting. I loved discovering the secrets and techniques in every stage. The issue curve felt fairly good exterior of some hiccups. It’s even enjoyable to replay the levels.
Second, the issues I didn’t like. The boss battles aren’t excellent. I discovered them tedious and irritating, and I used to be by no means comfortable to see one. And whereas I appreciated that the sport didn’t drag itself out too lengthy, I really feel like the sport ended a little bit faster than I’d have ideally most popular. There was positively room to maintain going a little bit longer right here and discover some ideas extra.
Pepper Grinder is an pleasant, distinctive platformer with a zippy tempo, fascinating mechanics, and a few cool degree designs. The boss battles are a bit clunky and solely subtract from what’s in any other case a really tight expertise. It’s additionally value noting that the sport is sort of brisk in its run-time, so do take that into consideration earlier than shopping for. I personally assume it ends a little bit too quickly, however that’s not a horrible drawback for a recreation to have.
SwitchArcade Rating: 4/5
Felix the Cat ($24.99)
Definitely a curious pull, however not one I’m fully against. In some unspecified time in the future Konami purchased Hudson, including its catalogue of titles to its assortment. Konami has sufficient to cope with in its personal library, not to mention throwing a big one like Hudson’s to the combo. So anytime I see a Hudson recreation get a rerelease, I’m comfortable. That it’s a licensed one this time makes it much more welcome. More often than not video games with a license get handed over, particularly when it’s a license that doesn’t precisely put butts in seats anymore. With all that taken into consideration, I’m glad to be taking a look at Felix the Cat on my Swap.
The title doesn’t have the phrase ‘assortment’ in it, and whoever made that decision was in all probability proper. There are three video games in right here, technically talking, however once you get proper all the way down to it you’re actually simply getting one. Again in 1992, Hudson launched Felix the Cat for the NES. It was form of a tie-in to the 1989 film and a part of an tried revival for the older-than-Mickey kitty. Then, in 1993, Hudson ported the sport to the Sport Boy. We get each of these video games right here, together with the beforehand unreleased Japanese Famicom model. The Famicom model doesn’t appear to have any variations from the NES one other than having Japanese language as a substitute of English. The Sport Boy model cuts out some levels and stage items however in any other case intently resembles the NES recreation. So sure, actually only one recreation.
How is that recreation? Not too shabby, actually. It’s very a lot a Hudson platformer, all the best way all the way down to a life meter/timer that ticks down and needs to be periodically restored by choosing up meals gadgets (milk, right here). On the similar time, it’s additionally post-Tremendous Mario Bros. 3 and has clearly picked up some classes from that recreation. The controls are tighter, and the sport is significantly extra honest than earlier Hudson video games. Maybe too honest, because it’s a moderately straightforward recreation even by fashionable requirements. I suppose the necessary factor is that it’s enjoyable, and it’s. Felix’s Magic Bag of Methods is put to full use right here, and also you’ll get to utilize quite a lot of skills as the sport goes on. It by no means actually flies as excessive because it in all probability may have, but it surely’s an pleasant recreation to run by a number of instances. The Sport Boy port can also be value a spin or two.
It’s all powered by Restricted Run Video games’ Carbon Engine, and it’s very a lot in keeping with its different releases utilizing that wrapper. The emulation will get the job achieved, and you may make use of a rewind characteristic and a save state on every recreation. That’s about all you get, so don’t go on the lookout for cool extras to contextualize these video games. It’s about as fast and soiled because it will get, and I believe that brings us to the proverbial elephant within the room right here: the value. Not one thing I like to contemplate when doing opinions, as costs can and do fluctuate, however I’ll say that at this preliminary worth level, I might count on a little bit extra meat on the bone. There are as many video games right here as we may have, so maybe that extra meat may have taken the type of some historic goodies? I don’t know, however the package deal feels a bit too skinny right here total.
When you’re on the lookout for an official approach to play the NES Felix the Cat, that is actually probably the most reasonably priced approach to take action. It’s a pricy cart within the aftermarket, so having it extensively accessible once more together with its Sport Boy counterpart is welcome. The sport itself is a delightful romp, albeit not way more than that. Nonetheless, I can’t assist however want there have been some extras right here. Each recreation has a narrative behind its creation, and telling this one would have helped make the package deal extra particular. Alas, we simply get the sport and a pair variants of it in a plain brown bag. Not dangerous, but it surely may have been so significantly better.
SwitchArcade Rating: 3.5/5
One Final Breath ($17.99)
There have been instances the place I felt that One Final Breath may actually take off and attain the potential it was scratching at throughout its comparatively temporary run time. There’s a sure magnificence to the sport’s desolate environments, with nature reclaiming deserted constructions. The sound design is sort of good, too. A number of puzzles, significantly those that contain the principle character Gaia utilizing her nature powers, had been pleasant. However these had been brilliant spots in an journey that far too usually feels rote and too opaque for its personal good.
You’re left to your individual gadgets to determine how the whole lot works on this recreation, however there luckily isn’t an excessive amount of to it. You possibly can run, crouch, and have a context-sensitive “use” command. It’s as much as you to determine what you’ll be able to and may’t work together with, the right way to cope with risks you run into alongside the best way, what it is advisable do to proceed, and so forth. Loads of the time it includes slowly dragging crates round. You’ll in all probability die lots whilst you attempt to kind issues out. The graphics, whereas trying good on their very own, can typically be onerous to visually parse. I fell to my demise lots that approach. You’ll simply reappear on the final checkpoint although, so work out what you probably did improper and preserve transferring.
One Final Breath has some good qualities, however they’re counter-balanced by pacing points, uninteresting puzzle designs, and an total extra of vagueness. There may be some non-compulsory content material to assist prolong issues, but it surely finally ends up feeling like a chore to finish. A few of the sights and sounds are value experiencing, however I discovered myself tired of this recreation no less than as usually as I discovered myself entertained.
SwitchArcade Rating: 3/5
New Releases
What They Don’t Sea ($4.99)
A cute little platformer about exploring the ocean to search out algae samples for some form of new vitality challenge. Make buddies with the pleasant creatures, keep away from the unfriendly ones as a lot as potential, and regulate your air provide. One cool factor is that the developer, Staff Atlantis, consisted of a bunch of center college women. They first got here up with the sport on the Ladies Make Video games summer time camp, although this was again in 2019. They labored with some skilled builders to shine up their authentic idea, and the results of that’s what now we have right here.
The Bin Bunch
Drift Drive Xtreme: Final Automobile Simulator 2024 ($9.99)
Bungee Run ($0.99)
Labyrinthia Nightmares: The Journey of Little Fluffypuff ($11.99)
Bubble Bunny ($2.99)
A lot of Issues Collector’s Version ($9.99)
Alien Invasion ($9.99)
Gross sales
(North American eShop, US Costs)
Look, I didn’t write a assessment of Berserk Boy, however for those who like difficult 2D motion video games like Mega Man X you then’ll positively have a superb time with it. Now you can seize it at a stable low cost. The Trine video games are at their lowest costs but, and if you wish to get your Castlevania on in Useless Cells there’s a reduction for that. The outbox is moderately small, so give {that a} look whilst you go on by too.
Choose New Gross sales
Berserk Boy ($16.00 from $20.00 till 4/9)
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope ($19.79 from $59.99 till 4/11)
Trine Enchanted Version ($3.44 from $14.99 till 4/12)
Trine 2: Full Story ($3.90 from $16.99 till 4/12)
Trine 3: TAoP ($4.59 from $19.99 till 4/12)
9 Parchments ($4.59 from $19.99 till 4/12)
My Pretty Daughter ($2.99 from $14.99 till 4/15)
My Pretty Spouse ($5.99 from $14.99 till 4/15)
Pan’orama ($9.99 from $19.99 till 4/18)
Teppo & the Secret Historic Metropolis ($3.99 from $7.99 till 4/19)
Get together Mates ($1.99 from $7.99 till 4/19)
Toodee and Topdee ($4.99 from $19.99 till 4/19)
Forrader Hero ($3.99 from $4.99 till 4/19)
TT Isle of Man RotE 2 ($5.99 from $59.99 till 4/20)
Trendy Fight Blackout ($1.99 from $7.99 till 4/20)
Useless Cells ($12.49 from $24.99 till 4/21)
Useless Cells: Return to Castlevania ($7.99 from $9.99 till 4/21)
DREDGE ($17.49 from $24.99 till 4/21)
Transferring Out 2 ($14.99 from $29.99 till 4/21)
Gross sales Ending Tomorrow, April 2nd
Amongst Us ($3.25 from $5.00 till 4/2)
Clue ($3.99 from $19.99 till 4/2)
Golfinite ($1.99 from $12.99 till 4/2)
Monument ($1.99 from $7.00 till 4/2)
Proper and Down ($2.99 from $9.99 till 4/2)
SUPERHOT ($12.49 from $24.99 till 4/2)
The Cub ($8.99 from $14.99 till 4/2)
Untitled Goose Sport ($9.99 from $19.99 till 4/2)
Warhammer 40k: Dakka Squadron ($9.99 from $19.99 till 4/2)
That’s all for right this moment, buddies. We’ll be again tomorrow with extra opinions, some new releases, extra gross sales, and perhaps even some information. I had a pleasant Easter weekend, even when we are able to’t actually do a full-on celebration right here in Japan as a result of lack of supplies and elements. There was chocolate, there have been eggs, what extra do you want? I hope you all have a powerful Monday, and as all the time, thanks for studying!
