SwitchArcade Round-Up: Today’s Nintendo Direct, Full Review of ‘EGGCONSOLE Star Trader’, Plus New Releases and Sales

Hello fellow gamers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for August 27th, 2024! Today's update begins with some exciting news, followed by a review and a look at new releases. 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 industry insiders, Nintendo surprised us with a last-minute Nintendo Direct! The 40-minute presentation featured a Partner Showcase and an Indie World Showcase. While no first-party titles or Switch successor news were revealed, the showcase offered plenty to discuss. You can watch the full presentation above; a detailed summary of the key announcements will be available tomorrow.

Reviews & Mini-Views

EGGCONSOLE Star Trader PC-8801mkIIsr ($6.49)

This untranslated EGGCONSOLE release presents a familiar dilemma: is the game enjoyable despite the language barrier? Star Trader is an interesting, albeit not outstanding, title. Falcom blends adventure game elements with side-scrolling shooter stages, but neither aspect shines particularly brightly. The adventure sections feature appealing artwork, and the shooter's narrative approach is unique. Players interact with characters, accept quests, and earn money to upgrade their ship – crucial for navigating the action sequences.

The shooter segments, however, suffer from the PC-8801's limitations, resulting in choppy scrolling. The game's structure is unclear, with neither game mode fully supporting the other. Ultimately, Star Trader is more intriguing than genuinely good. The significant Japanese text makes the adventure segments nearly inaccessible to Western audiences, hindering gameplay and enjoyment. While some progress is possible through trial and error, a full appreciation is impossible without understanding Japanese. It's a fascinating historical artifact, but its enjoyment is severely hampered by the language barrier.

SwitchArcade Score: 3/5

Select New Releases

Crypt Custodian ($19.99)

This top-down action-adventure game follows Pluto, a recently deceased cat, banished from the afterlife and tasked with eternal cleaning duties. Players explore, battle enemies with a broom, meet eccentric characters, and upgrade abilities. While a familiar formula, Crypt Custodian executes it well and is recommended for fans of the genre.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

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

Select New Sales

Sales Ending Tomorrow, August 28th

That's all for today! Join us tomorrow for a recap of the Nintendo Direct, along with new game releases, sales, and more reviews. Have a great Tuesday!