Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for August 1st, 2024. A new month, and one that looks fairly busy for new games considering we are in the part of the year that is usually quieter. With it being Thursday, we have lots of games to check out today. But first, our pal Mikhail has some hot news for you to read through. I’ll meet you after that to go through the new releases, and then we’ll settle in for the cozy, typical lists of expiring and new sales. Let’s get to work!

News

Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town Releasing this October

Neos Corporation just announced that Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town is finally coming to the West on Switch (and Steam) this October. In addition to the digital release, a physical edition through Limited Run Games is also planned. Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town will be priced at $39.99 on Switch and there will also be a bundle for the game with the first game. I liked the first Shin chan Switch game quite a bit so hopefully this one ends up being good. I saw it in Singapore and almost bought it thinking we might not see a localization. I’m glad I didn’t with it releasing this soon in the West. -Mikhail Madnani

Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town Releasing this October

SEGA has released Tails, Knuckles, and Amy from the Sonic series in Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble. If you’ve not gotten that, read our review here. This week’s new update is one more part of the SEGA Pass that includes 6 characters set to release with customization options, and more. What’s more notable is SEGA fixing the major performance issue with frame skipping in the game. It feels massively better now on Switch, but still needs more optimization work. -Mikhail Madnani

Select New Releases

Tomba! Special Edition ($19.99)

Call him Tombi, call him Tomba, just don’t call him late for the pig roast. The classic PlayStation platforming adventure crafted by ex-Capcom staff comes to Switch in this Special Edition from Limited Run Games. You get most of the usual Carbon Engine features like save states and filters, plus a really cool museum mode where you can check out scans of the packaging, manuals, production art, and dev documents. You can also view a couple of videos about the game, including an interview with the legendary Professor F himself. I’ll be doing a review of this one soon, but so far I’ve found a handful of minor issues that are hurting the experience somewhat. Still nice to see Tomba back, though.

Thank Goodness You’re Here! ($19.99)

I don’t think a game can get any more British than this. You play as a traveling salesman who has a big meeting with a mayor of a town in Northern England. You get there a bit early, so you decide to kill some time by checking out the town and meeting some of its residents. This game describes itself as a comedy slapformer, and from what I’ve heard so far it’s quite good. If you’re looking for a laugh or two today, this might be what you’re after.

Star Wars: Bounty Hunter ($19.99)

Another port of a Star Wars game from the Xbox/PlayStation 2/GameCube era of gaming. This game focuses on the adventures of Jango Fett as he hunts down a Dark Jedi on behalf of the Republic. You have a wide array of weapons, plus that cool jetpack. Aspyr once again handled this one, so you might want to wait and see how hot it’s coming in before picking it up. This is the way.

Hakuoki: Chronicles of Wind and Blossom ($49.99)

Two installments of the classic otome visual novel series get remastered on Switch in this compilation. Edo Blossoms and Kyoto Winds are here with some slight differences in the translations, offering plenty of chances for you to make choices and smooch your favorite samurai hunk. You get quite a good volume for the price you pay here, and if you enjoy otome visual novels and somehow haven’t played these before, this is as good a reason as any to change that.

MARS 2120 ($19.99)

QUByte seems to be swinging a lot bigger on this one than with its usual releases. This is a Metroidvania-style action-adventure set on Mars where you play as a woman named Thirteen as she investigates the source of a distress call. What she finds defies her wildest expectations. This game leans pretty heavily on its mix of melee and ranged combat, with your arsenal of moves ever-expanding as you acquire new abilities. I’ll be reviewing this one as soon as I can, so you can look forward to more details then.

Operation Tango ($19.99)

This is an interesting one. It’s a game about pulling off spy capers, where one player is the spy and the other is essentially their “guy in the chair”, relaying information to them from a distance. Just make sure you have a friend who’s willing to join you, because it truly does take two to Tango. I should stop there, because it’s a perfect mic drop line. But to add a little more, there is a Friend Pass coming after launch that will let you play with a friend who doesn’t own the game, and Cross Platform play is available right from the hop. Oh, and you have to play online. Just how the rules work.

Trinity Fusion ($19.99)

Checking off the roguelite action platformer box for this week is Trinity Fusion, which happens to have a free demo you can try out to see if it’s your thing or not. You’re traveling through the multiverse, by the looks of things. You’ll take control of your parallel selves as they go through their own version of the world, making overarching progress with each run. You know how this kind of thing goes. The only real question is if it’s a good one, and the answer is: download that demo and see what you think.

Farlands Journey ($9.99)

This looks cute as these kinds of games go. It’s a platformer where you play as a little witch who is on a quest to recover her magic academy’s stolen heart. Along the way you’ll get access to a variety of magic spells and hats that will help you solve puzzles, defeat enemies, and move forward. Don’t forget to grab any gems you see laying around, as you can use them to buy upgrades. Seems like a decent pick today for the platformer fans out there.

Landnama ($13.99)

A tense strategy game where you control a clan of Vikings as they take their first steps into Iceland. You need to explore the land, and you’d better get yourself set up before winter arrives. There’s no fighting in this one, since you’re really just about exploring around and settling on the land. Certainly a streamlined take on a concept like this, but whether that’s a good thing or a bad one is down to the individual. It reviewed decently on computers, at least.

Bare Butt Boxing ($14.99)

Look, I have no idea whatsoever if this game is any good or not, I just wanted to write the words “Bare Butt Boxing” knowing I am getting paid for this work. Up to four players via local multiplayer can engage in what I am sure is a fine athletic endeavor. Aliens fighting around Earth with their butts hanging out, what more could you want in a video game?

Chef Chen ($23.99)

A magical cooking competition held in a fantasy world where you have to procure ingredients on site, with all the dangers that may come from such methods. Up to four people can play at once via local multiplayer in this party action game. It’s really rough around the edges, but it kind of works? Might be one to try if you’re hosting regular gaming nights and need something fresh thrown into the usual mix.

Arcade Archives The Final Round ($7.99)

A 1988 boxing game from Konami? Well, this is a bit of a different pick from what we usually see in Arcade Archives, isn’t it? This isn’t too shabby by any means, and it’s not like we’re drowning in good classic boxing games in Arcade Archives. If you need a break from the shooters, platformers, beat ’em ups, and fighters, you might want to give this a go. It’s a bit of an obscurity, as Konami games go.

Tensei ($2.99)

This is a chill game about ascending towards the heavens, but it’s endless so good luck with that. But hey, at least you can become a dragon? It’s three bucks, and it’s stylish if nothing else. That might be enough for some.

Werewolf Goldfish ($5.00)

At first glance, this looks like another goldfish scooping game from the folks at SAT-BOX, and in some ways I suppose it is. But in this game, one of the players is the Werewolf Goldfish, who swims among the regular fish and needs to discretely pass through checkpoints. The other players are the scoopers, and their goal is pull up the Werewolf Goldfish. Up to four people can join in locally or over the internet, and multiplayer is indeed the way to play this one. It’s not fun at all by yourself.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

Not a lot in the inbox today, but I guess that’s how it goes some days. The outbox is similarly a bit on the quiet side. There’s really nothing in either list that I would take up arms for, but you can have a glance through yourself to see if we need to sign up for a blood feud.

Select New Sales

Moonstone Island ($15.99 from $19.99 until 8/5)
Chickenoidz Super Party ($1.99 from $9.99 until 8/11)
CyberHive ($1.99 from $9.99 until 8/11)
HunterX: code name T ($10.19 from $16.99 until 8/14)
Where is Drake? ($1.99 from $9.99 until 8/15)
Children of Morta Complete ($7.99 from $26.99 until 8/21)
50 Pinch Barrage ($4.29 from $4.99 until 8/21)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, August 2nd

A Tiny Sticker Tale ($6.99 from $9.99 until 8/2)
Another Crab’s Treasure ($23.99 from $29.99 until 8/2)
Boardwalk Arcade ($14.99 from $29.99 until 8/2)
Boo Party ($4.99 from $9.99 until 8/2)
Castaway Paradise ($1.99 from $19.99 until 8/2)
Chaos Galaxy ($9.99 from $19.99 until 8/2)
Darkest Dungeon ($7.49 from $24.99 until 8/2)
Dungeonoid 2 Awakening ($5.39 from $8.99 until 8/2)
FAR: Lone Sails ($2.09 from $14.99 until 8/2)
Growth ($3.39 from $9.99 until 8/2)
Just Shapes & Beats ($12.99 from $19.99 until 8/2)
Melty Blood: Type Lumina ($24.99 from $49.99 until 8/2)
Mugen Souls ($25.99 from $39.99 until 8/2)
Omen of Sorrow ($8.99 from $19.99 until 8/2)
Rainbow Skies ($9.99 from $19.99 until 8/2)
Slime Girl Smoothies ($7.49 from $14.99 until 8/2)
Strayed Lights ($7.79 from $12.99 until 8/2)
Tanuki Sunset ($6.79 from $16.99 until 8/2)
The Bridge Curse: Road to Salvation ($14.99 from $29.99 until 8/2)
The Forgotten Land ($1.99 from $14.99 until 8/2)

That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow to finish out the week with more new releases, plenty of sales, plus whatever news items roll in that catch our eye. The movie yesterday was quite good, even if it was also kind of bad. One of those flicks! My wife and I had a lot of fun anyway. Back to the grind, though. I hope you all have a thrilling Thursday, and as always, thanks for reading!