Howdy light readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Spherical-Up for December 2nd, 2022. So, immediately turned out a bit quieter than the same old Friday. It was so quiet, in truth, that I made a decision to pen a number of critiques. The Knight Witch, Railbound, and Donut Dodo get reviewed immediately, after which we head into the brand new launch summaries for the newest video games. We end issues up with the same old lists of latest and outgoing gross sales, although they’re somewhat smaller than one would possibly count on for a Friday. I suppose we’re actually on the opposite aspect of Black Friday now. Let’s get to it!

Opinions

The Knight Witch ($19.99)

I’d forgive anybody for being a bit bored with Metroidvania-style video games at this level. A style whose entries have been as soon as as onerous to come back by as musgravite has grow to be one of many extra flooded in recent times, such that you possibly can solely spend your time with the perfect of the perfect and nonetheless have a pile dozens of video games deep. The Knight Witch tries to shake issues up by cross-pollinating its basic Metroidvania construction with a free-roaming bullet-hell shooter. It really works surprisingly nicely.

After you play by the prologue, you’re launched to the principle character of the sport, a Knight Witch in coaching named Rayne. After her house is unexpectedly attacked by golems, she units out to save lots of her husband and the remainder of her individuals whereas presumably saving the world alongside the way in which. As a Knight Witch, Rayne can fly round freely, direct magical photographs in any route, and make use of particular Spell Playing cards to solid highly effective spells. You may select which Spell Playing cards you wish to equip out of your present assortment, they usually’ll come up in flip as you employ them.

Rayne’s maneuverability means you don’t have to fret an excessive amount of about platforming on this recreation, however you’ll be greater than stored busy dodging bullets, enemies, and different hazards as you make your means by the sport’s world. You need to use the second follow direct your photographs, however Rayne will even do a fairly good job of auto-targeting for those who’re too busy to fret about that. It controls nicely, which is nice as a result of issues can get very intense in a rush. The boss battles are real bullet hell, and never in a nasty means. The story is partaking, and the world is fascinating to discover even when it’s a bit too linear for my liking.

The Knight Witch is a really well-made recreation that takes two very completely different genres and binds them along with a good bit of success. You actually must be into each Metroidvania-style video games and bullet-hell shooters to get into this one, however for those who can verify off each of these bins with out a lot thought, then this can be a slam-dunk pick-up. It’s not the lengthiest of video games, but it surely’s definitely fairly satisfying due to its stable gameplay and charming presentation.

SwitchArcade Rating: 4/5

Railbound ($12.99)

Regardless of taking part in hundreds of video games in my life, it’s wonderful how simply I can get sucked into a simple puzzle recreation if all of the items are put collectively proper. And yeah, that’s what Railbound does. A easy set-up: lay the tracks down and manipulate them such that the assorted automobiles of the practice connect with the engine in the precise order while you hit go. The sport takes a number of ranges to stroll you thru its primary mechanics with a single automobile, then introduces a second automobile and begins to show up the warmth a bit. By the top of the sport’s 100 and fifty plus phases, you’re coping with a number of automobiles, varied gimmicks, tight limits on monitor items, and extra. Typically you might have extra monitor items than you want, and that throws one other wrench into the works.

Should you like logic puzzles, you’ll in all probability have a great time with Railbound. It’s a really targeted recreation, but it surely has sufficient twists to maintain issues recent by its somewhat beneficiant quantity of phases. The putting comic-style artwork and the little sounds of every thing clacking collectively while you get it proper solely add to the sport’s appreciable quantity of persona. All in all, a somewhat pretty little recreation that’s good to take a seat down with and puzzle out while you’ve bought a spare hour or two.

SwitchArcade Rating: 4/5

Donut Dodo ($4.99)

Whereas they definitely had their time within the solar within the Nineteen Eighties, single-screen motion video games fell out of vogue someplace alongside the road. The entire “larger is healthier” philosophy that we see so usually in video games, I suppose. However I believe if historical past within the passion has confirmed something, limitations can usually convey magical outcomes. That’s why I used to be comfortable to see that sort of recreation make little comebacks right here and there by way of the indie scene and cellular gaming. On the identical time, these video games generally felt a bit too spinoff or plain. Donut Dodo is without doubt one of the newest kicks at this will, and I discover it does a pleasant job of carving its personal path with appreciable confidence.

It finally ends up feeling a bit like a hyperlink between the early Donkey Kong-sized efforts and extra substantial Bubble Bobble-like affairs. Like the previous, you’ve bought a reasonably small variety of phases to take care of. Simply 5, in truth. However they’re all fairly distinct from one another. The manufacturing values and playability take after extra superior examples of the style, together with your primary character being very nimble and responsive as he makes his means by the vibrantly-colored impediment programs. There’s a little bit of depth to the scoring that appears to be impressed by Bomb Jack whereby you need to seize the flashing donuts with the intention to maximize your rating, which provides a welcome additional layer of problem.

Whereas the small variety of phases means there isn’t an entire ton to see right here, Donut Dodo affords up a number of completely different recreation modes every with their very own leaderboards to problem. Sadly regardless of what the eShop description appears to point, these leaderboards are local-only. Nonetheless, attempting to one-up your scores in every of the modes does add a little bit of longevity to the proceedings. Most significantly, it’s only a very fulfilling recreation to play. You don’t actually need numerous additional trimmings if a recreation will get that a lot proper, and Donut Dodo does. That mentioned, there are some choices right here for tweaking issues like how the sport shows. It’s all fairly welcome when it comes to permitting to set simply how old-school an expertise you need.

Like a donut, Donut Dodo is a small, candy confection that you simply’ll probably chew by in a number of bites. However the scrumptious style will having you reaching again into the field for an additional, and also you’ll probably come again for extra right here and there as you go about your different enterprise. Given the extremely cheap value level, this arcade game-that-wasn’t is a greater than truthful pick-up for these pining for the quarter-munching days of the 80s.

SwitchArcade Rating: 4/5

New Releases

Siralim Final ($19.99)

Earlier this 12 months, the newest Siralim recreation hit cellular. And right here it’s on Nintendo Swap! Should you’ve performed any of the Siralim video games earlier than, you recognize what to anticipate right here. Should you haven’t, this can be a wildly deep monster assortment RPG. There are greater than 1200 creatures you’ll be able to accumulate, and there’s a fusion system considerably just like the Shin Megami Tensei video games. I’ll be doing a full evaluation of this one quickly, however so long as you don’t thoughts the type of the visuals there’s a lot to like right here for followers of monster RPGs.

Tremendous Kiwi 64 ($2.99)

Right here’s the newest from Diplodocus Video games, a developer that I really feel is consistently under-valuing its work. I concern that’s taking place once more with this cute little eight-level 3D platforming ode to the Nintendo 64 days. Use a wide range of skills to sort out the phases in any order you want, looking down secrets and techniques and simply having a great time making your means across the decent-sized environments. A nice strategy to spend a couple of bucks immediately.

Intrepid Izzy ($10.99)

An action-platformer with some beat-em-up type motion for dispatching your foes, Intrepid Izzy sees you utilizing a wide range of costumes and their distinctive skills to make your means by moderately massive ranges with the intention to save the world from a nasty genie or one thing. It additionally has a somewhat robust soundtrack. I’ll have a evaluation of this one early subsequent week, however I’ve loved what I’ve performed nicely sufficient up to now.

Silver Nornir ($14.99)

Wow, this brings again reminiscences. This was the final recreation KEMCO launched on iOS earlier than I used to be employed at TouchArcade. It comes from all the way in which again in 2013, and is a product of developer WorldWideSoftware. I ponder what occurred to them? Anyway, it’s a fairly generic RPG however the story has a bit extra work put into it than we are likely to see with, say, EXE-Create’s stuff. It’s set in a world that has already been destroyed twice by a terrific calamity, and also you’re attempting to forestall it from being destroyed a 3rd time. You’ll find it cheaper on cellular, as ordinary. It’s been a protracted whereas since I performed this one, however I bear in mind it being first rate by KEMCO requirements.

Sakura Succubus 6 ($9.99)

It’s the sixth on this collection now and also you’re in all probability greater than acquainted how the Sakura Succubus collection of visible novels works by now. The premise this time is that you simply go to a fictional European nation and the princess there falls for you. Make some decisions and attempt to discover a comfortable ending. You don’t want me to inform you if that is for you or not.

Gross sales

(North American eShop, US Costs)

I believe that is the smallest listing of Friday gross sales we’ve seen in a very long time. I suppose that’s as a result of the Cyber Offers gross sales are nonetheless kicking till Monday. Don’t neglect about these, by the way in which. The following time we meet right here, it will likely be too late. Not a lot too fascinating within the new gross sales for immediately, and the outbox is… nicely, it’s two video games. Look over these Cyber Offers once more, I suppose?

Choose New Video games on Sale

Secrets and techniques of Gentle & Shadow ($12.00 from $15.00 till 12/15)
AVICII Invector ($7.99 from $19.99 till 12/16)
SkateBIRD ($5.99 from $19.99 till 12/16)
Destruction ($1.99 from $9.99 till 12/16)
The Fox Awaits Me ($8.99 from $44.99 till 12/16)
Ahead to the Sky ($9.79 from $48.99 till 12/16)
Sea King Hunter ($1.99 from $9.99 till 12/16)
Cyber Velocity Run ($3.99 from $7.99 till 12/16)
Gunborg: Darkish Issues ($7.49 from $14.99 till 12/16)
Zumatch ($2.39 from $5.99 till 12/19)
The Home of the Lifeless Remake ($19.99 from $24.99 till 12/22)
Suicide Man Assortment ($2.96 from $10.99 till 12/22)
Railway Empire ($19.99 from $39.99 till 12/22)
Monkey Barrels ($7.49 from $14.99 till 12/22)
Kuukiyomi Contemplate It ($2.49 from $4.99 till 12/22)

Gross sales Ending This Weekend

even when Tempest ($42.49 from $49.99 till 12/3)
Kings of Paradise ($12.49 from $24.99 till 12/3)

That’s all for immediately and this week, buddies. We’ll be again subsequent week with extra new releases, extra gross sales, extra critiques, extra information, and maybe some year-in-review sort stuff. I hope you all have a terrific weekend, and as all the time, thanks for studying!