Nintendo Direct Highlights | Star Trader Review | Game Releases and Sales

Hello fellow gamers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Roundup 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 updates. 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 focused on third-party titles and indie games, it lacked any major first-party announcements and, unsurprisingly, contained no information regarding the Switch's successor. 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 unlocalized EGGCONSOLE release presents a familiar dilemma: is the game enjoyable despite the language barrier? Star Trader blends adventure game elements with side-scrolling shooter stages, but neither aspect truly shines. The adventure sections boast appealing artwork, offering a unique perspective on storytelling within a shooter. Players interact with characters, undertake quests, and earn money to upgrade their ship, a necessity for progressing through the shooting segments.

The shooting sections, however, suffer from the PC-8801's limitations, resulting in choppy scrolling. The gameplay is less than stellar, even if the technical issues were resolved. The game's structure is unclear, leaving the player unsure which element is meant to support the other. Ultimately, Star Trader is more intriguing in concept than it is in execution.

The significant amount of Japanese text presents a major hurdle for Western players. Without understanding the text, players miss out on crucial information, hindering progress and enjoyment. While some aspects can be overcome through trial and error, a fully satisfying experience is unlikely. Star Trader offers a glimpse into gaming history, but its lack of translation significantly diminishes its appeal.

SwitchArcade Score: 3/5

Select New Releases

Crypt Custodian ($19.99)

This top-down action-adventure follows Pluto, a recently deceased cat banished from the afterlife for a mishap. Players explore, battle enemies with a broom, encounter quirky characters, and face challenging bosses. It's a familiar formula, but executed well. Fans of the genre should definitely consider this title.

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 out on the sale for 1000xRESIST—it's a must-buy! Other noteworthy sales include various Star Wars titles, Citizen Sleeper, Paradise Killer, Haiku, the Robot, and the Tomb Raider remastered 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 deeper dive into the Nintendo Direct announcements, along with new game releases, sales, and more reviews. Have a great Tuesday, and thanks for reading!