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

Hello, readers! Welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for August 29th, 2024. Today's roundup features a substantial lineup of new game releases, forming the core of this Thursday's column, as is customary. We'll also explore a noteworthy selection of new sales. Unfortunately, Nintendo Directs aren't a daily occurrence, so that's all the major news for today. Let's dive into the games!

New Game Releases

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

The Famicom Detective Club returns after a lengthy hiatus, offering a new case in the series. This latest installment stays true to the original games' style, both its strengths and weaknesses. A fresh mystery awaits, presented in a manner reminiscent of the recent Switch remakes. Can you crack the latest serial murder case? My review will be available shortly.

Gundam Breaker 4 ($59.99)

Mikhail's comprehensive review provides a detailed look at Gundam Breaker 4's gameplay and Switch performance. In short, you build and battle Gunplas. While the Switch port naturally lags behind other versions in performance, it's still perfectly playable. Check out Mikhail's excellent review for a full breakdown.

Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn ($19.99)

Tengo Project continues its impressive streak of remakes/re-imaginings. Following the success of Wild Guns Reloaded, The Ninja Saviors, and Pocky & Rocky Reshrined, they now tackle an 8-bit classic. Expect a more significant departure from the source material than in their previous projects. However, fans of classic-style action-platformers will likely find this appealing. My review is coming early next week.

Valfaris: Mecha Therion ($19.99)

This Valfaris sequel offers a different gameplay experience than its predecessor. It's a 2.5D side-scrolling shooter, and a pretty decent one at that. While the genre shift may surprise some, embracing the change reveals a fun and engaging game. Another review coming soon!

Nour: Play With Your Food ($9.99)

I'll admit, I'm a bit unsure about this one. The food imagery is certainly appealing, but the gameplay remains a mystery. Photography? Secret-finding? Perhaps Mikhail will shed some light on it. It seems right up his alley.

Monster Jam Showdown ($49.99)

If you're a fan of monster trucks, this game might be for you. It offers both local and online multiplayer, along with various game modes. While reception on other platforms has been mixed, it might appeal to fans of the genre who have limited options.

WitchSpring R ($39.99)

I believe this is a remake of the original WitchSpring, though I could be mistaken. It's always been a mobile alternative to the Atelier series. At this price point, though, it's closer to the cost of an actual Atelier game, making it a tougher sell. However, it appears to be the best-looking WitchSpring title yet.

Depths of Sanity ($19.99)

An underwater exploration game with a fantastical horror twist. You investigate the disappearance of your crew, exploring a vast and dangerous underwater world. Combat is involved. Well-received on other platforms, it's likely to find a dedicated following on the Switch.

Voltaire: The Vegan Vampire ($19.99)

Voltaire, a vegan vampire rebelling against his bloodthirsty father, engages in farming and combat to thwart his father's plans. While I'm personally a bit fatigued by this genre, those who enjoy farming and action games might find it interesting.

Marble Abduction! Patti Hattu ($11.79)

A marble roller game with seventy stages and eighty marbles to collect, featuring secret collectibles and special challenges. The core appeal lies in speed and precision, making it a solid entry in the genre.

Leo: The Firefighter Cat ($24.99)

A firefighting game geared towards a younger audience, offering twenty missions and a kid-friendly aesthetic.

Gori: Cuddly Carnage ($21.99)

A grotesque action game starring a hoverboarding cat. While the core gameplay is decent, the Switch version suffers from 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, retro shooter for fans of the genre.

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

An early expansion pack for Xanadu, featuring a new underworld to explore. Features music by the legendary Yuzo Koshiro.

The Backrooms: Survival ($10.99)

A blend of horror, survival, and roguelite elements, best enjoyed with up to ten online players.

Can of Wormholes ($19.99)

A clever puzzle game where you, a sentient tin can, must deal with worms. One hundred hand-crafted puzzles are included.

Ninja I & II ($9.99)

A pair of NES-style microgames featuring ninja-themed challenges. Supports local multiplayer.

Dice Make 10! ($3.99)

A fun puzzle game with two modes: falling blocks and tile placement. The goal is to create rows or columns where dice faces add up to ten or 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 games are also on sale.

Select New Sales (Images below show sales details)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, August 30th (Images below show sales details)

That's it for today! We'll be back tomorrow with more new releases, sales, and news. See you then! (Note: Due to a typhoon, tomorrow's article may be delayed.)