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 roundup features a robust selection of new game releases, forming the core of this Thursday's update. We'll also explore a significant list of new sales. Unfortunately, Nintendo Directs aren't a daily occurrence, but let's dive into the games!

New Game Releases

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

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

Gundam Breaker 4 ($59.99)

Mikhail's comprehensive review provides an in-depth look at Gundam Breaker 4's gameplay and Switch performance. In short, you build and battle Gunplas. While the Switch port understandably lags behind other versions in performance, it's still a playable and enjoyable experience. Check out Mikhail's excellent review for all the details!

Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn ($19.99)

Tengo Project continues its successful run 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. This reimagining differs more significantly from its source material than their previous projects. However, fans of classic-style action-platformers should find plenty to appreciate. My review will be published early next week.

Valfaris: Mecha Therion ($19.99)

This sequel to Valfaris offers a departure from its predecessor's gameplay. Instead of the original's style, it's a 2.5D side-scrolling shooter. While the genre shift might surprise some, it's a solid entry in the genre. A review is forthcoming.

Nour: Play With Your Food ($9.99)

I'll admit, I'm not entirely sure what to make of this game. The food imagery is undeniably appealing, but the gameplay remains a mystery. Perhaps it involves photography, secret-finding, or a combination of both? Mikhail might be the best person to investigate 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, a mobile game often compared to the Atelier series. While it served its purpose well at a lower price point, its current price tag brings it closer to actual Atelier titles, raising some questions about its value proposition. However, it's visually the most impressive WitchSpring game yet.

Depths of Sanity ($19.99)

An underwater exploration game with a fantastical horror twist. You investigate the disappearance of your crew in a dangerous interconnected underwater world, engaging in combat along the way. Well-received on other platforms, it's likely to appeal to fans of exploratory action games.

Voltaire: The Vegan Vampire ($19.99)

A farming and action game where a vegan vampire son rebels against his bloodthirsty father. While I'm currently somewhat fatigued by this genre, those with more enthusiasm might find it enjoyable.

Marble Abduction! Patti Hattu ($11.79)

A marble roller game featuring seventy stages and eighty marbles to collect, including secret collectibles and special challenges. If you enjoy fast-paced marble rolling, this one's for you.

Leo: The Firefighter Cat ($24.99)

A firefighting game aimed at a younger audience, featuring twenty missions. While not overly realistic, it might appeal to children interested in firefighting.

Gori: Cuddly Carnage ($21.99)

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

Arcade Archives Finalizer Super Transformation ($7.99)

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

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

An early example of a video game expansion pack, featuring new areas to explore and the debut of legendary composer Yuzo Koshiro.

The Backrooms: Survival ($10.99)

A horror/survival/roguelite game best experienced with online multiplayer (up to ten players).

Can of Wormholes ($19.99)

A clever puzzle game where you, a sentient tin can, must deal with worms. One hundred handcrafted puzzles offer a consistently fresh experience.

Ninja I & II ($9.99)

Two NES-style microgames featuring ninja-themed challenges, ideal for local multiplayer.

Dice Make 10! ($3.99)

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

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

The 30th anniversary of The King of Fighters 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 noteworthy indie titles are also on sale.

Select New Sales

Images of sale games are omitted for brevity. The sales information is retained.

Kamitsubaki City Ensemble ($3.59 from $3.99 until 9/3) Floogen ($1.99 from $3.99 until 9/4) Rolling Car ($1.99 from $7.99 until 9/4) Fluffy Horde ($1.99 from $9.99 until 9/4) Gum+ ($1.99 from $7.99 until 9/4) Stunt Paradise ($5.19 from $7.99 until 9/4) My Time at Portia ($4.49 from $29.99 until 9/6) SpongeBob Krusty Cook-Off ($4.94 from $14.99 until 9/9) PPA Pickleball Tour 2025 ($29.99 from $49.99 until 9/11) Talisman: Digital Edition ($2.99 from $5.99 until 9/12) Mystic Vale ($4.99 from $9.99 until 9/12) Baron of Blood ($4.95 from $9.90 until 9/12) Fighting Fantasy Legends ($4.99 from $9.99 until 9/12) Deathtrap Dungeon ($4.99 from $9.99 until 9/12) White Eternal ($3.24 from $6.49 until 9/12)

All ACA NEOGEO The King of Fighters titles ($3.99 from $7.99 until 9/12) Kittey 64 ($2.49 from $4.99 until 9/12) Last Bloody Snack ($1.99 from $9.99 until 9/12) PGMS Cat and Tower ($2.49 from $4.99 until 9/12) PGMS Cat and Castle ($3.74 from $4.99 until 9/12) PGMS Pentacore ($6.59 from $9.99 until 9/12) PGMS BombMachine Gunzohg ($3.95 from $5.99 until 9/12) PGMS Pearl Vs Grey ($3.99 from $7.99 until 9/12) PGMS Hunter of Devil ($3.74 from $4.99 until 9/12) PGMS Lunlun Superherobabys DX ($3.74 from $4.99 until 9/12) PGMS Storm Swordsman ($5.27 from $7.99 until 9/12) PGMS Project Nosferatu ($8.99 from $14.99 until 9/12) PGMS Ninja Runner ($2.50 from $5.00 until 9/12) PGMS Ninja Sneaking R ($3.59 from $5.99 until 9/12) PGMS Ninja Sneaking VS ($3.60 from $6.00 until 9/12) PGMS Angel’s Gear ($7.49 from $9.99 until 9/12) PGMS Angel’s Blood ($5.99 from $9.99 until 9/12) PGMS Ninja Otedama R ($3.59 from $5.99 until 9/12) PGMS Tentacled Terrors ($8.99 from $11.99 until 9/12) PGMS Loplight ($3.29 from $4.99 until 9/12) PGMS ClaM KNight ($2.99 from $5.99 until 9/12) PGMS Jetman ($5.99 from $9.99 until 9/12) PGMS Lab ($4.19 from $6.99 until 9/12) PGMS Steel Sword Story S ($5.99 from $9.99 until 9/12) PGMS Arcanion: Tale of Magi ($6.59 from $10.99 until 9/12) PGMS Shiba Mekuri ($2.74 from $5.49 until 9/12) PGMS Buraigun Galaxy Storm ($8.99 from $11.99 until 9/12) PGMS Block Slime Cave ($3.50 from $7.00 until 9/12) PGMS Game Battle Tycoon ($7.49 from $14.99 until 9/12) PGMS MessiahEnd Refrain ($2.99 from $4.99 until 9/12) PGMS Oma2ri Adventure ($2.47 from $4.95 until 9/12) PGMS Dandan Z ($5.99 from $9.99 until 9/12) PGMS Cham The Cat Adventure ($5.49 from $10.99 until 9/12) PGMS Verzeus ($7.91 from $11.99 until 9/12) PGMS Oumuamua ($4.99 from $9.99 until 9/12) PGMS Jewelinx ($3.99 from $7.99 until 9/12) Sushi Battle Rambunctiously ($13.99 from $19.99 until 9/13) My Incubi Harem ($2.99 from $4.99 until 9/13) Hot Blood ($7.49 from $9.99 until 9/13) Jenny LeClue Detectivu ($2.99 from $24.99 until 9/18) Asterix & Obelix Slap Them All ($12.49 from $24.99 until 9/18) The Sisters 2 Road to Fame ($14.99 from $29.99 until 9/18) Noob: The Factionless ($19.99 from $39.99 until 9/18) New Joe & Mac: Caveman Ninja ($11.99 from $29.99 until 9/18) Garfield Lasagna Party ($15.99 from $39.99 until 9/18) Muv-Luv Remastered ($26.99 from $29.99 until 9/19) Muv-Luv Alternative Remastered ($35.99 from $39.99 until 9/19)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, August 30th

Images of sale games are omitted for brevity. The sales information is retained.

#BLUD ($19.99 from $24.99 until 8/30) 8th Millennium: WAtPG ($7.49 from $29.99 until 8/30) Alpha Particle ($3.39 from $9.99 until 8/30) Batman: The Enemy Within ($7.49 from $14.99 until 8/30) Batman: The Telltale Series ($7.49 from $14.99 until 8/30) Empire of Angels IV ($6.79 from $19.99 until 8/30) Enter Digiton: Heart of Corruption ($2.39 from $7.99 until 8/30) Forager ($6.99 from $19.99 until 8/30) Hell Well ($2.49 from $4.99 until 8/30) Midnight Fight Express ($11.99 from $19.99 until 8/30) Mineko’s Night Market ($13.99 from $19.99 until 8/30) Moonscars ($13.99 from $19.99 until 8/30) OBAKEIDORO ($9.99 from $19.99 until 8/30) Puddle Knights ($2.99 from $9.99 until 8/30) Roxy Raccoon’s Pinball Panic ($6.99 from $9.99 until 8/30) Slay the Spire ($8.49 from $24.99 until 8/30) Space Mercenary Defense Force ($3.49 from $4.99 until 8/30) Super Woden GP ($5.99 from $11.99 until 8/30) Supraland ($9.99 from $19.99 until 8/30) Surmount ($9.89 from $14.99 until 8/30) The Last Dragon Slayer ($3.74 from $14.99 until 8/30) The Last Worker ($3.99 from $19.99 until 8/30) Thunder Ray ($7.49 from $14.99 until 8/30) Unpacking ($9.99 from $19.99 until 8/30) Void Bastards ($8.99 from $29.99 until 8/30)

That’s it for today! We’ll return tomorrow with more new releases, sales, and news. Reviews are also a possibility. However, due to a significant typhoon, there’s a chance I may be unable to reach my office for tomorrow's update. We'll address that if necessary. Have a great Thursday, and thanks for reading!