Hey light readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Spherical-Up for September 4th, 2023. I suppose it’s a vacation as we speak in america? I’m unsure. I’m working, at the very least. I’ve 4 evaluations so that you can take a look at, overlaying Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles, Taito Milestones 2, Connoisseur Warriors, and Virgo Versus the Zodiac. There are some new releases, however don’t get too enthusiastic about them. It’s all bins as we speak. After that, now we have a ton of latest gross sales to take a look at. Let’s get to the video games!
Evaluations & Mini-Views
Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles ($49.99)
They don’t make them like this anymore. They didn’t make them like this earlier than these video games got here out both, come to think about it. The Rhapsody collection, consisting of three mainline video games and a few puzzle recreation spin-offs, is an odd little duck that ran its total course throughout the span of two years. Solely the primary recreation ever noticed a Western launch up till this assortment. And but the significance of the Rhapsody collection within the historical past of Nippon Ichi Software program can’t be overstated. Up till the discharge of Rhapsody, the corporate was largely identified for making forgettable mahjong, jigsaw puzzle, and enjoying card video games. Rhapsody was a giant swing for NIS, and one which paid off handsomely.
Following the third and remaining recreation within the Rhapsody collection, a tactical RPG set in the identical world named La Pucelle Techniques was created. That led to yet one more tactical RPG, additionally advised to be set in the identical world, referred to as Disgaea. And the remainder, as they are saying, is historical past. All the things Nippon Ichi Software program is as we speak has grown from the seeds of the Rhapsody video games. That’s a part of why I’m so excited to see the video games not solely get a contemporary rerelease, but additionally a worldwide rerelease. Taken with the NIS Classics Vol. 3 set, Western gamers can now simply and affordably play this beautiful little trilogy.
Past the historic, the opposite motive why I’m glad to see this launch is as a result of these are a pair of very nice RPGs. Like within the first recreation, there are many musical numbers in Rhapsody II: Ballad of the Little Princess and Rhapsody III: Recollections of Marl Kingdom. Not like the primary recreation, the battle programs right here don’t have that tactical RPG taste to them. It’s extra simple RPG fight, although the third recreation’s assist character system means that you can carry an absolute bonkers variety of contributors to the fights. Each of the included video games characteristic largely cheerful tales and a comparatively low stage of issue, so don’t come round in search of a stiff problem. These are extra video games to sit back with.
Like the unique recreation, Rhapsody II launched on the PlayStation. It got here out in Japan in late 1999, and is ready twelve years after the occasions of the primary journey. The primary character of the primary recreation, Cornet, married her love Prince Ferdinand, they usually have a daughter named Kururu. She’s acquired her mom’s adventurous spirit and want for a fairy story romance. Fortunately, she additionally has her mom’s skill to make use of puppet magic. On this recreation, puppets function assist somewhat than direct contributors in battle. You’ll be battling utilizing human characters this time. Kururu quickly will get pulled into some larger occasions, as is the fashion in RPGs. This can be a very breezy recreation, and by some measure the simpler of the 2.
Rhapsody III was initially a PlayStation 2 recreation, releasing within the console’s first yr available on the market. Don’t anticipate it to flex that ol’ Emotion Engine a lot, although. You get some 3D backgrounds, however the characters are nonetheless 2D sprites. The construction of this recreation is slightly totally different from the norm. You’ve acquired six distinct chapters right here that bounce round within the Marl Kingdom timeline, telling tales with totally different units of characters. As such, the narrative is principally about fleshing out sure characters or occasions, generally providing closure or explanations the place none existed within the earlier two video games. In case you performed the DS remake of Rhapsody, a few these tales will probably be acquainted to you. It’s a very good bit shorter than Rhapsody II, however the problem stage is larger. The battle system has once more been adjusted right here, and puppets are again on the menu. Satisfying on the entire, even when it feels extra like an appendix than a full sequel.
Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles is a simple suggestion for anybody who loved the primary recreation. In case you preferred it, you’ll love these two video games. I’d most likely advocate newcomers play the unique Rhapsody first even when it isn’t completely essential to take pleasure in these sequels, if solely so to totally respect all of the little character nods and connections. Those that are in search of an RPG with enamel will wish to preserve shifting, however I feel in the event you’re within the temper for some pure low-friction fluff there aren’t many higher decisions within the Change’s RPG choice.
SwitchArcade Rating: 4/5
Taito Milestones 2 ($39.99)
Taito Milestones 2, like the primary set, brings collectively ten of the legendary arcade firm’s basic titles. These are based mostly on the Arcade Archives releases, however have had some options like Caravan Mode eliminated. The presentation is as no-frills because it will get, and Hamster’s menus really feel virtually scientific of their design. You do get entry to on-line leaderboards for the primary play mode in every recreation, so that you’re not completely blanked out of the fulfilling aggressive jostling of the Arcade Archives video games. The emulation high quality is nice, and you may nonetheless mess with all the choices to customise your expertise. With the package deal itself being this naked bones, all of it falls on the video games. Let’s speak about these, then.
The oldest of the included video games, Ben Bero Beh, launched in 1984. It’s a unusual recreation the place you’re tasked with combating fires as you make your method by way of flooring of a burning constructing to rescue somebody trapped by the blaze. It’s a bit sluggish and clunky, however when you’ve got a fascination for these off-beat early arcade video games that had been fumbling in the dead of night looking for new genres, you may get into it. I preferred it however didn’t adore it.
The Legend of Kage, which hit arcades in 1985, might be one of many extra well-known titles on this set. You play as a ninja that may catch quantities of air that will make Michael Jordan blush. You’ve acquired an limitless provide of shuriken and your helpful blade at your disposal to defeat the numerous enemy ninjas that assail you. Battle by way of the levels and rescue the princess, then do it once more. The character’s motion takes some getting used to, however when you do it is a actually good time.
Representing 1986, Kiki Kaikai is a top-down multi-directional shooter that kicked off the collection identified to Western gamers as Pocky and Rocky. You play as a shrine maiden who has to make use of her talismans and workers to beat back supernatural enemies and save the land. Certain, the sequels turned up the warmth considerably, however this primary recreation is kind of fulfilling all by itself.
One other of the extra well-known names from this assortment, The NewZealand Story (generally referred to as Kiwi Kraze) got here out in 1988 in arcades however might be finest identified for its big range of residence console and pc ports. You play as slightly kiwi chook named Tiki who should make his method by way of quite a lot of multidirectional scrolling levels to, you guessed it, save his girlfriend. It’s as robust and diverse as it’s cute, and my pals, it’s very cute. It’s laborious to not have a very good time right here, even when the problem stage is aggravating in locations.
It’s all a matter of tastes after all, however for my cash Darius II is the spotlight of this set. That is the three-screen model of the 1989 shoot-em-up, which was unnoticed of the Darius Cozmic Assortment. Nicely, right here it’s, and it’s superb. This is among the three video games on this set that’s not but out there through the usual Arcade Archives line. Anyway, what will be mentioned? Fly your ship by way of trippy levels and battle area sea monsters. Take pleasure in some odd banter out of your navigator, who all the time wished a factor referred to as tuna sashimi. A terrific, atmospheric shooter.
Liquid Youngsters, launched in 1990, is the most effective sleeper recreation within the set. It’s not a giant identify, however I can’t think about anybody not having at the very least some enjoyable with it. You play as a hippo named Hipopo that may throw water bombs at enemies. You need to work your method by way of quite a lot of side-scrolling levels in an effort to (sure) rescue your girlfriend from an evil hearth demon. It has a variety of that Bubble Bobble vitality to it, and in the event you haven’t performed it earlier than you’re in for a deal with.
Gun Frontier additionally got here out in 1990, and it kicked off a unfastened trilogy of video games from roughly the identical group at Taito. This can be a vertically scrolling shooter set in a world the place all the things is gun. Weapons are in all places, pick-ups are bullets, your tremendous transfer is fueled by your ammo, and the enemies take the type of numerous weapons stapled to different issues. It’s gun wild. A gun bonanza. Fairly first rate recreation all-around, one that ought to please shoot-em-up followers nicely sufficient.
The next yr noticed the discharge of Metallic Black, a side-scrolling shooter from the group that did Gun Frontier. The primary gameplay gimmick on this one comes out of your beam assault. Decide-ups will enhance the ability of your weapon, however you possibly can select to discharge it everytime you like. That can carry your weapon again right down to its default state, however it should try this by letting out a beam that will increase in measurement based mostly on what number of pick-ups you’ve grabbed. You need to use this beam to push again the beams of bosses if it’s large enough. One other enjoyable recreation with an odd theme, and one which was necessary within the development of future Darius video games. Once more, shoot-em-up followers ought to be completely happy.
Solitary Fighter is the second of the three video games on this set you can’t discover but in Arcade Archives. It’s a combating recreation that got here out in 1991, which suggests it ran instantly into the freight prepare referred to as Avenue Fighter II. The presentation is kind of good on this recreation, however the gameplay itself is somewhat poor. You possibly can have slightly enjoyable with one other participant, however I don’t suppose I’d topic any of my pals or household to that.
That brings us to the most recent and final recreation within the set, 1992’s Dinorex. This can be a one-on-one fighter from the parents who created Gun Frontier and Metallic Black. All the playable characters are dinosaurs, and they’re certainly some savage beasties. The T-Rex is purple, so you can also make Barney jokes that nobody will get since Barney was 1,000,000 years in the past. I wished to love this. I tried so laborious to love this. I approached it by itself phrases as a substitute of attempting to play it like Avenue Fighter II. However it’s simply not superb. Nothing works the way in which you need it to, and in the event you take the time to study it, you’re rewarded with little or no certainly. It’s bizarre as heck, and that’s the important factor it has going for it. Some startling revelations within the ending, to make sure. I can’t think about many individuals will spend a lot time with it although.
So the place does that depart Taito Milestones 2 as an entire? Its extra trendy number of titles will most likely attraction higher than the primary quantity, and shoot-em-up followers particularly will discover so much to love right here. There are a few outright clunkers within the choice, however I’ll at the very least grant that they’re fascinating clunkers. Definitely extra good than dangerous, and in the event you take pleasure in enjoying arcade classics I feel you’ll get your kicks right here. That mentioned, if only some video games within the listing attraction to you, there is likely to be some advantage in trying out the person Arcade Archives releases as a substitute.
SwitchArcade Rating: 4/5
Connoisseur Warriors (QUByte Classics) ($9.99)
QUByte has been bringing us quite a lot of retro video games from Piko Interactive’s intensive catalog of odds and ends for some time now, to combined outcomes. Generally emulation points carry down the expertise. Generally the video games themselves simply aren’t all that good or fascinating. I feel Connoisseur Warriors represents one thing of a “better of each worlds” for this line. The sport in query is comparatively obscure, fairly good, and charmingly weird. The wrapper is identical plain brown bag QUByte makes use of each time, with the identical restricted set of choices. It’s maybe my inexperience with the unique recreation in query right here, however I didn’t discover any apparent emulation points. QUByte has all the time been hit and miss with Tremendous NES video games, however this one appears high-quality.
Connoisseur Warriors is a side-scrolling beat-em-up initially launched on the Tremendous Famicom again in 1995. On the time, it had no abroad launch. Piko Interactive picked up the rights to the sport and introduced it out globally a couple of years in the past with a full English localization. The primary gimmick right here is that you simply choose up elements from defeated enemies which you’ll be able to then combine up into tasty dishes between levels. The secondary gimmick is that there’s a button that makes your character flex and pose. It doesn’t do something for you, however it’s humorous. In any other case, it is a pretty plain brawler within the mechanical sense. The bonkers theme and wild enemies assist it stand out, and I respect that it doesn’t actually drop the ball in any critical methods.
In case you take pleasure in a very good basic beat-em-up and respect it when video games don’t take themselves too significantly, you may wish to look into Connoisseur Warriors. I feel there’s nonetheless a variety of room for enchancment right here by way of how these QUByte Classics are packaged, however in the event you simply wish to benefit from the recreation this greater than will get the job accomplished.
SwitchArcade Rating: 4/5
Virgo Versus the Zodiac ($19.99)
I actually loved the primary character on this recreation. She’s such a ache within the neck for everybody who has to place up together with her, and that’s a variety of enjoyable. There’s a variety of persona in Virgo Versus the Zodiac, and that’s most likely its highest quality. In any other case, what you get here’s a somewhat unusual indie RPG that makes use of the vigorous timing-based button-pressing fight stylings of video games like Paper Mario. I’m not an enormous fan of that sort of factor at the most effective of occasions, however it’s so much worse right here than typical due to the spotty efficiency of this Change model. It desires you to have good timing, however it’s laborious to swing that when the sport is stuttering unpredictably.
I may see myself recommending Virgo Versus the Zodiac if it weren’t for the technical points on this Change model, however they’re the worst kind as they intervene with the gameplay in a really possible way. Maybe the developer will patch it some day, however in its present type as of this writing, I can solely commend the writing and counsel gamers maybe test it out on different platforms.
SwitchArcade Rating: 3/5
New Releases
The Bin Bunch
The Thief Simulator 2023 – From Criminal to Boss ($13.99)
Truck Simulator 2023 – Driver Europe ($13.99)
Farming Tractor Simulator 2023: Drive Mix & Vans ($14.99)
Gross sales
(North American eShop, US Costs)
Not lengthy after I put the Friday version to mattress, an enormous sale popped on the eShop. The next is only a number of the numerous video games on provide, so examine your wishlists to see if something you’ve been ready for popped up. Given the dimensions of the listing, I don’t actually have any particular call-outs. Scan it rigorously, pals. And examine the little outbox listing whilst you’re at it, too.
Choose New Video games on Sale
Full Quiet ($8.99 from $9.99 till 9/9)
F.I.S.T.: Cast in Shadow Tech ($14.99 from $29.99 till 9/10)
Saint Kotar ($12.99 from $34.99 till 9/11)
We Love Katamari Reroll ($19.79 from $29.99 till 9/11)
Seduction: A Monk’s Destiny ($3.19 from $7.99 till 9/11)
Hentai vs. Evil ($3.99 from $9.99 till 9/11)
Prepare Valley ($4.19 from $11.99 till 9/11)
Starlink: Battle for Atlas Deluxe ($11.99 from $79.99 till 9/11)
Alchemist Journey ($6.99 from $19.99 till 9/11)
Raiden III x Mikado Maniax ($23.99 from $29.99 till 9/11)
Skelattack ($2.99 from $19.99 till 9/11)
Gal*Gun Double Peace ($19.99 from $39.99 till 9/11)
Taiko no Tatsujin Rhythm Pageant DE ($29.69 from $54.99 till 9/11)
Tremendous Rooster Jumper ($2.99 from $4.99 till 9/11)
Scrumptious! Fairly Ladies Mahjong Solitaire ($2.99 from $5.99 till 9/11)
Aztech Forgotten Gods ($8.99 from $29.99 till 9/11)
Jail Tycoon: Beneath New Administration ($17.49 from $24.99 till 9/11)
TLoH: Trails to Azure ($29.99 from $39.99 till 9/11)
TLoH: Trails to Zero ($27.99 from $39.99 till 9/11)
Lemon Cake ($14.99 from $29.99 till 9/11)
Bunny Park ($7.99 from $19.99 till 9/11)
Strategy of Elimination ($27.99 from $39.99 till 9/11)
Shadowrun Returns ($4.99 from $19.99 till 9/11)
Shadowrun Dragonfall ($4.99 from $19.99 till 9/11)
Shadowrun Hong Kong ($4.99 from $19.99 till 9/11)
QuickSpot ($4.99 from $19.99 till 9/11)
World Championship Boxing Supervisor 2 ($10.49 from $14.99 till 9/11)
Journey Academia: Fractured Continent ($27.99 from $39.99 till 9/11)
Monark ($29.99 from $59.99 till 9/11)
The Merciless King & the Nice Hero ($14.99 from $29.99 till 9/11)
Minit Enjoyable Racer ($2.00 from $2.99 till 9/11)
Tremendous Mega Baseball 4 ($29.99 from $49.99 till 9/11)
Captain Tsubasa RoNC ($9.59 from $59.99 till 9/11)
Skycadia ($6.99 from $9.99 till 9/11)
Pirates Outlaws ($10.19 from $16.99 till 9/11)
The Pillar: Puzzle Escape ($1.99 from $9.99 till 9/11)
Yurukill: The Calumniation Video games ($19.99 from $39.99 till 9/11)
The Final Good friend ($5.99 from $14.99 till 9/11)
Parkasaurus ($16.24 from $24.99 till 9/11)
Yomawari: Misplaced within the Darkish ($19.99 from $39.99 till 9/11)
Retro Machina ($6.99 from $19.99 till 9/11)
JoJo’s Weird Adv. All-Star Battle R DE ($34.99 from $49.99 till 9/11)
Breathedge ($7.49 from $24.99 till 9/11)
Sword Artwork On-line Alicization Lycoris DE ($44.99 from $89.99 till 9/11)
McPixel 3 ($3.99 from $9.99 till 9/11)
Final Command ($13.99 from $19.99 till 9/11)
MLB The Present 23 ($20.39 from $59.99 till 9/11)
MLB The Present 23 Digital Deluxe ($29.99 from $99.99 till 9/11)
Charon’s Staircase ($12.99 from $34.99 till 9/11)
Misplaced in Random ($4.49 from $29.99 till 9/11)
Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning ($19.99 from $39.99 till 9/11)
Chronos: Earlier than the Ashes ($14.99 from $29.99 till 9/11)
SpongeBob SquarePants: BfBB ($13.49 from $29.99 till 9/11)
Moero Crystal H ($19.99 from $39.99 till 9/11)
Loop Hero ($5.24 from $14.99 till 9/11)
Sea Horizon ($9.74 from $14.99 till 9/11)
Loss of life’s Door ($7.99 from $19.99 till 9/11)
Rogue Legacy 2 ($17.49 from $24.99 till 9/11)
Sizzling Wheels Unleashed ($7.49 from $49.99 till 9/11)
Sizzling Wheels Unleashed GotY Version ($13.49 from $89.99 till 9/11)
Vagante ($5.99 from $14.99 till 9/11)
Dragon Ball Z Kakarot ($14.99 from $59.99 till 9/11)
Inscryption ($11.99 from $19.99 till 9/11)
Grocery store Shriek ($2.99 from $19.99 till 9/11)
Zengeon ($6.59 from $19.99 till 9/11)
Get-A-Grip Chip ($5.99 from $9.99 till 9/11)
Oxide Room 104 ($7.49 from $24.99 till 9/11)
Crusing Period ($21.24 from $24.99 till 9/11)
Mr. Driller DrillLand ($4.79 from $29.99 till 9/11)
Strayed Lights ($17.49 from $24.99 till 9/11)
Peppa Pig: World Adventures ($27.99 from $39.99 till 9/11)
Sifu ($23.99 from $39.99 till 9/11)
Ys VIII Lacrimosa of DANA ($19.99 from $39.99 till 9/11)
Zero Pressure ($1.99 from $9.99 till 9/11)
Energetic Life Outside Problem ($9.99 from $49.99 till 9/11)
.hack//G.U. Final Recode ($14.99 from $49.99 till 9/11)
Digimon Survive ($29.99 from $59.99 till 9/11)
Seven Doorways ($3.49 from $4.99 till 9/11)
Chained Echoes ($19.99 from $24.99 till 9/11)
The Purple Strings Membership ($4.49 from $14.99 till 9/11)
Angelo & Deemon: One Hell of a Quest ($3.74 from $14.99 till 9/11)
Ten Dates ($11.19 from $15.99 till 9/11)
Amongst Us ($3.00 from $5.00 till 9/14)
Sky Mercenaries Redux ($1.99 from $15.00 till 9/18)
Octo Curse ($5.99 from $9.99 till 9/21)
Litter 12: It’s About Time ($4.49 from $14.99 till 9/21)
Astalon: Tears of the Earth ($9.99 from $19.99 till 9/21)
Faircroft’s Antiques: Mountaineer’s Legacy ($1.99 from $9.99 till 9/21)
Discovering America: The Heartland ($2.99 from $9.99 till 9/21)
Match Ventures ($3.59 from $11.99 till 9/21)
Puzzle Holidays: Eire ($3.59 from $11.99 till 9/21)
Chronicles of Albian TMC ($3.59 from $11.99 till 9/21)
Bundle Inc ($2.49 from $4.99 till 9/21)
First Time in Paris ($1.99 from $9.99 till 9/21)
First Time in Rome ($3.59 from $11.99 till 9/21)
I Love Discovering Birds ($8.99 from $14.99 till 9/21)
I Love Discovering Extra Pups ($1.99 from $9.99 till 9/21)
Montgomery Fox & TCotMB ($4.49 from $14.99 till 9/21)
Montgomery Fox & TRoVD ($4.49 from $14.99 till 9/21)
Montgomery Fox & TCotDN ($4.49 from $14.99 till 9/21)
Onion Assault ($3.19 from $7.99 till 9/22)
Gastro Drive ($5.59 from $6.99 till 9/22)
Suicide Man: The Misplaced Desires ($5.59 from $7.99 till 9/22)
TT Isle of Man RotE 3 ($29.99 from $49.99 till 9/23)
Chef Life: A Restaurant Sim ($19.99 from $39.99 till 9/23)
WRC Generations ($15.99 from $39.99 till 9/23)
Roguebook: Deluxe Version ($6.99 from $34.99 till 9/23)
V-Rally 4 ($4.99 from $49.99 till 9/23)
WRC 8 Deluxe Version ($5.99 from $59.99 till 9/23)
Avenue Energy Soccer ($2.99 from $29.99 till 9/23)
Prepare Life: Orient Categorical Version ($15.99 from $39.99 till 9/23)
RiMS Racing: EM Deluxe Version ($11.99 from $59.99 till 9/23)
RiMS Racing: JM Deluxe Version ($11.99 from $59.99 till 9/23)
Gross sales Ending Tomorrow, Tuesday, September fifth
A Little Golf Journey ($4.00 from $19.99 till 9/5)
A Little to the Left ($10.49 from $14.99 till 9/5)
Blossom Tales II: The Minotaur Prince ($9.74 from $14.99 till 9/5)
Chants of Sennaar ($17.99 from $19.99 till 9/5)
Demon Turf ($12.49 from $24.99 till 9/5)
For The Warp ($3.59 from $17.99 till 9/5)
Lil Gator Recreation ($11.99 from $19.99 till 9/5)
Swords & Bones 2 ($1.99 from $9.99 till 9/5)
The Oregon Path ($23.99 from $29.99 till 9/5)
Wildfrost ($17.99 from $19.99 till 9/5)
Xiaomei & the Flame Dragon’s Fist ($10.49 from $14.99 till 9/5)
Yooka-Laylee ($3.99 from $39.99 till 9/5)
That’s all for as we speak, pals. We’ll be again tomorrow with extra new releases, extra gross sales, a assessment or two, and possibly some information. We will see what the day brings. I hope you all have a wonderful Monday, and as all the time, thanks for studying!
