New Games Hit Switch eShop: 'Smiling Man', 'Gundam Breaker', and More

Hello discerning readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for August 29th, 2024. Today's roundup features a substantial lineup of new releases, forming the core of this Thursday's column. We'll also explore a noteworthy selection of new sales. While daily Nintendo Directs would be fantastic, let's dive into the games!

Featured New Releases

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

The Famicom Detective Club returns after a multi-decade hiatus. This latest installment stays true to its predecessors, both in its strengths and weaknesses. A fresh mystery unfolds, presented in a style reminiscent of the recent Switch remakes. Can you crack the latest serial murder case? My review is forthcoming.

Gundam Breaker 4 ($59.99)

Mikhail's comprehensive review provides an in-depth look at this title's gameplay and Switch performance. In short, you'll be building and battling Gunpla. While the Switch port naturally lags behind other versions in performance, it's perfectly playable. Read Mikhail's excellent review for a complete analysis.

Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn ($19.99)

Tengo Project continues its successful streak of remakes/reimaginings. Following the acclaimed Wild Guns Reloaded, The Ninja Saviors, and Pocky & Rocky Reshrined, they now tackle an 8-bit classic. This iteration differs significantly from the original. However, fans of classic-style action-platformers will find much to appreciate. My review will be published early next week.

Valfaris: Mecha Therion ($19.99)

This Valfaris sequel offers a departure from its predecessor's gameplay. It's a 2.5D side-scrolling shooter, and a solid one at that. While the genre shift may surprise some, embracing the change reveals an enjoyable experience. A review is on its way.

Nour: Play With Your Food ($9.99)

I'll admit, I'm unsure of this game's mechanics. The food imagery is undeniably appealing, but the gameplay remains a mystery. Photography, secret-finding? Perhaps Mikhail will shed some light on this one.

Monster Jam Showdown ($49.99)

If you're a monster truck enthusiast, this game might be for you. It features local and online multiplayer, along with various modes. Reception on other platforms has been mixed, but monster truck game options are limited.

WitchSpring R ($39.99)

This appears to be a remake of the original WitchSpring, though I might be mistaken. The mobile WitchSpring series filled a niche similar to the Atelier games. At this price point, however, it approaches the cost of a true Atelier title, making the value proposition less clear. Still, it's visually the most polished WitchSpring entry to date.

Depths of Sanity ($19.99)

An underwater exploration game with a fantastical horror twist. Investigate your missing crew's fate within a vast, perilous underwater world. Combat is involved. Well-received on other platforms, it's likely to resonate with Switch players who enjoy exploratory action games.

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 currently fatigued by this genre, those with more enthusiasm for farming sims might find this appealing.

Marble Abduction! Patti Hattu ($11.79)

A marble roller game featuring seventy stages and eighty marbles to collect. Secret collectibles and special challenges await. If you enjoy high-speed marble rolling, this offers a substantial amount of content.

Leo: The Firefighter Cat ($24.99)

A kid-friendly firefighting game with twenty missions. While other firefighting games lean towards realism, this one might appeal to younger players.

Gori: Cuddly Carnage ($21.99)

A grotesque action game starring a hoverboarding cat who dispatches enemies with gleeful violence. 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. It's a charming post-Xevious, pre-Tiger Heli shooter.

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

An early video game expansion pack featuring new areas to explore. Gameplay mirrors the original Xanadu, but with increased difficulty. Noteworthy for featuring the debut composition of Yuzo Koshiro.

The Backrooms: Survival ($10.99)

A blend of horror, survival, and roguelite elements. Best experienced with up to ten online players. Solo play caters to a more specific taste.

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. Local multiplayer or CPU competition is available.

Dice Make 10! ($3.99)

A surprisingly enjoyable puzzle game with two modes: falling blocks and tile placement. The goal is to create rows or columns where dice faces sum 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. Numerous Pixel Game Maker Series titles are also at their lowest prices yet. Several other noteworthy indie titles are also on sale.

Select New Sales

(List of sales)

(List of sales)

(List of sales)

(List of sales)

(List of sales)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, August 30th

(List of sales)

(List of sales)

That concludes today's roundup. We'll return tomorrow with more new releases, sales, and news. Reviews are also a possibility. A significant typhoon is affecting the area, so there's a chance tomorrow's article might be delayed. Have a great Thursday!