SwitchArcade Round-Up: Reviews Featuring ‘Bakeru’ & ‘Peglin’, Plus Highlights From Nintendo’s Blockbuster Sale

Hello fellow gamers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for September 2nd, 2024! While it might be a holiday in the US, it's business as usual here in Japan, meaning a fresh batch of game reviews for you. Three from yours truly, and one from the insightful Mikhail. I'll be covering Bakeru, Star Wars: Bounty Hunter, and Mika and the Witch’s Mountain, while Mikhail shares his expert opinion on Peglin. Plus, we've got news from Mikhail and a huge list of deals from Nintendo's Blockbuster Sale. Let's dive in!

News

Guilty Gear Strive Arrives on Nintendo Switch in January 2025!

Arc System Works is bringing the fighting action of Guilty Gear Strive to the Nintendo Switch on January 23rd! The Switch version boasts 28 characters and crucially, rollback netcode for smoother online play. While cross-platform play is unfortunately absent, it's still fantastic news for offline and Switch-to-Switch battles. Having enjoyed it on Steam Deck and PS5, I'm eager to give the Switch version a try. Learn more on the official website.

Reviews & Mini-Views

Bakeru ($39.99)

Let's get one thing straight: Bakeru is not Goemon/Mystical Ninja. While developed by some of the same team, the similarities are largely superficial. It's crucial to approach Bakeru on its own merits, not as a Goemon clone. Bakeru is its own unique creation. From Good-Feel, the studio behind Princess Peach: Showtime! and various Wario, Yoshi, and Kirby titles, Bakeru is a charming, accessible, and polished 3D platformer.

The game follows Issun and Bakeru as they traverse Japan, battling enemies, collecting cash, and uncovering secrets across over sixty levels. While not every level is unforgettable, the overall experience remains engaging. The collectibles are particularly noteworthy, often reflecting the unique aspects of each Japanese location, offering fun facts even for long-time residents.

The boss battles are a highlight! Good-Feel clearly understands the art of a well-designed boss fight, creating inventive and rewarding encounters. Bakeru takes creative risks, and while some experiments are more successful than others, the overall quality is high. The game's charm and likeability shine through its flaws.

The only significant drawback is the Switch's performance. The framerate fluctuates, sometimes reaching 60fps but frequently dipping lower during intense moments. While personally, I'm not overly sensitive to framerate inconsistencies, those more sensitive should be aware of this issue, despite improvements since the Japanese release.

Bakeru is a delightful 3D platformer with a polished design and innovative gameplay elements. Its charm is infectious. While performance issues on the Switch hold it back slightly, and expectations of a Goemon clone will be disappointed, it’s a highly recommended title.

SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5

Star Wars: Bounty Hunter ($19.99)

The prequel trilogy era brought forth a surge of Star Wars games. Star Wars: Bounty Hunter, focusing on Jango Fett, is a product of that time. It tells Jango's story before his appearance in Attack of the Clones, detailing his quest to hunt a Dark Jedi for Count Dooku. While initially engaging, the gameplay becomes repetitive, hampered by the technical limitations of a 2002 game. Targeting is imprecise, cover mechanics are flawed, and level design feels cramped.

Aspyr's port has improved the visuals and performance, offering a better experience than the original. However, the frustrating save system remains unchanged. Despite its age, the game holds a certain nostalgic charm, particularly for those who appreciate the rough-around-the-edges feel of early 2000s games.

If you're looking for a trip back to 2002 and don't mind some significant jank, Star Wars: Bounty Hunter might appeal to you. Otherwise, it might prove too dated for modern tastes. The Boba Fett skin is a nice bonus, though.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

Mika and the Witch’s Mountain ($19.99)

Mika and the Witch’s Mountain draws clear inspiration from Studio Ghibli films. Players take on the role of a rookie witch tasked with delivering packages to earn money to repair her broken broom. The vibrant world and engaging characters are highlights, but the Switch version suffers from performance issues, impacting resolution and framerate. It's a fun game with a charming concept, but technical limitations may detract from the experience for some.

If you appreciate the core gameplay loop and can overlook the technical shortcomings, Mika and the Witch’s Mountain offers a pleasant, albeit occasionally frustrating, experience. It might play better on more powerful hardware.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

Peglin ($19.99)

Peglin, a pachinko-style roguelike, has reached version 1.0 across all platforms. Mikhail provides his expert perspective: The core gameplay involves aiming an orb at pegs to damage enemies and progress through zones. The game is challenging but rewarding, featuring upgrades, relics, and strategic board manipulation.

The Switch port performs well, although aiming feels slightly less smooth than on other platforms. Touch controls are a viable alternative. Load times are longer than on mobile and Steam. Despite these minor issues, the game makes excellent use of the Switch's features, including rumble and touchscreen support.

The lack of cross-save is a missed opportunity, but the inclusion of in-game achievements is appreciated. Overall, Peglin is a fantastic game on Switch, particularly for fans of pachinko and roguelike mechanics.

SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5 -Mikhail Madnani

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

A massive number of games are on sale! I've compiled a separate article highlighting the best deals, so keep an eye out for that.

(Images of sale banners are included here, as in the original text)

That's it for today! Join us tomorrow for more reviews, new releases, sales, and news. Have a great Monday!