Nintendo Direct Recap and Star Trader Review Highlight SwitchArcade

Hello gaming enthusiasts, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for August 27th, 2024! Today's update begins with some exciting news, followed by a game review and a look at a new release. 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 primarily showcasing third-party titles and indie games, the Direct lacked any major first-party announcements. You can watch the full presentation above; a detailed summary of the key highlights 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 blends adventure and side-scrolling shooter elements, but neither aspect truly shines. The adventure sections feature appealing artwork, offering a unique narrative approach for a shoot 'em up. Players engage in conversations, accept quests, and earn money to upgrade their ship—crucial for navigating the challenging shooting stages.

However, the shooting segments suffer from the PC-8801's limited scrolling capabilities, resulting in a jerky, less-than-ideal experience. The game's structure is unclear, leaving the player unsure which element is meant to be the primary focus. Ultimately, Star Trader is more intriguing than genuinely enjoyable.

The significant amount of Japanese text presents a major hurdle for Western players. Without understanding the narrative, players miss out on a crucial aspect of the game and struggle to earn enough credits to progress. While some brute-forcing is possible, the overall experience is significantly hampered.

Star Trader offers a glimpse into gaming history, showcasing a developer venturing outside their usual style. However, the extensive Japanese text severely limits its appeal to a Western audience. While exploration is possible, a strong recommendation is difficult to justify.

SwitchArcade Score: 3/5

Select New Releases

Crypt Custodian ($19.99)

This top-down action-adventure game stars Pluto, a recently deceased cat, who finds himself banished from the afterlife and tasked with eternal cleaning duties. Players explore, battle enemies using a broom, encounter quirky characters, and fight bosses to expand their abilities. While familiar in its gameplay, Crypt Custodian delivers a solid and enjoyable experience for fans of the genre.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

For fans of colorful shoot 'em ups with unique mechanics, the Dreamer series and Harpoon Shooter Nozomi are highly recommended. Also worth considering are 1000xRESIST, various Star Wars titles, Citizen Sleeper, Paradise Killer, Haiku, the Robot, and the Tomb Raider remasters. Check out the lists below for more details!

Select New Sales

Sales Ending Tomorrow, August 28th

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