Nintendo's Ambitious Announcements Unveiled: Exclusive Details Emerge from Today's Direct

Hello fellow gamers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for August 27th, 2024! Today's update starts with some exciting news, followed by a review and a look at a new release. We'll wrap things up with our usual sales reports. Let's dive in!

News

Nintendo Direct/Indie World Showcase Recap

As predicted by some insiders, Nintendo surprised us with a last-minute Nintendo Direct! The 40-minute presentation covered partner showcases and indie titles. While no first-party announcements were made, nor any news about the next-gen Switch, the show is likely over by the time you read this. Watch the video above, and check back tomorrow for a full summary of the key highlights.

Reviews & Mini-Views

EGGCONSOLE Star Trader PC-8801mkIIsr ($6.49)

These untranslated EGGCONSOLE games always present a challenge. Is the game itself enjoyable? And, more importantly, is it playable without knowing Japanese? Star Trader is an interesting, albeit not exceptional, title. Falcom blends Japanese adventure gameplay with side-scrolling shooter elements, but neither aspect truly shines. The adventure sections feature attractive artwork, and the unique blend of genres is intriguing. The gameplay loop involves interacting with characters, completing quests to earn money, and upgrading your ship for the shooter segments.

The shooting sections, however, suffer from the PC-8801's limitations, resulting in choppy visuals. Even if the scrolling were smoother, the gameplay might not be exceptional. The relationship between the adventure and shooter elements is unclear, making Star Trader more curious than truly great. This leads to the second question: the text-heavy adventure parts require understanding Japanese for optimal gameplay. Without it, you'll miss half the game and struggle in the shooter sections due to insufficient credits. While brute-forcing might be possible, it won't be a pleasant experience.

Star Trader offers a glimpse into gaming history, showcasing Falcom experimenting outside their usual style. However, the significant amount of Japanese text severely limits its appeal to Western audiences. While some might find it engaging, a strong recommendation is difficult to give.

SwitchArcade Score: 3/5

Select New Releases

Crypt Custodian ($19.99)

This top-down action-adventure game stars Pluto, a recently deceased cat banished from the afterlife for misbehaving. Explore, fight with a broom, meet quirky characters, battle bosses, and upgrade your abilities. It's a familiar formula, but executed well. Fans of the genre should definitely check it out.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

For fans of colorful shooters with unique mechanics, consider the Dreamer series and Harpoon Shooter Nozomi. Don't miss out on 1000xRESIST—it's a must-buy! Other notable sales include Star Wars titles, Citizen Sleeper, Paradise Killer, Haiku, the Robot, and the Tomb Raider remastered collection. Check the lists below!

Select New Sales

(List of new sales)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, August 28th

(List of sales ending tomorrow)

That's all for today! Join us tomorrow for a Nintendo Direct recap, new game announcements, sales updates, and more reviews. Have a great Tuesday, and thanks for reading!