SwitchArcade Round-Up: Reviews Featuring ‘Bakeru’ & ‘Peglin’, Plus Highlights From Nintendo’s Blockbuster Sale

Hello, fellow gamers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for September 2nd, 2024! While it might be a holiday in the US, it's business as usual here in Japan, which means a fresh batch of reviews for you. Three from me, and one from our esteemed colleague Mikhail. I'll be covering Bakeru, Star Wars: Bounty Hunter, and Mika and the Witch's Mountain, while Mikhail tackles Peglin – a game he knows better than anyone else at TouchArcade HQ. Plus, we've got news from Mikhail and a massive rundown of deals from Nintendo's Blockbuster Sale. Let's dive in!

News

Guilty Gear Strive Arrives on Nintendo Switch – January 2025

Arc System Works is bringing the fighting game Guilty Gear Strive to the Nintendo Switch on January 23rd! This version will include 28 characters and boasts rollback netcode for online play. While cross-play is unfortunately absent, it's still excellent news for offline play and battles between Switch owners. Having loved the game on Steam Deck and PS5, I'm definitely eager to give this a spin. Find more details on the official website.

Reviews & Mini-Views

Bakeru ($39.99)

Let's be clear: Bakeru is not Goemon/Mystical Ninja. While developed by some of the same minds behind that classic series, the similarities are largely superficial. Expecting Goemon will only shortchange both you and Bakeru. Bakeru is its own unique entity. With that said, let's explore this charming title from Good-Feel, a studio known for its polished platformers in the Wario, Yoshi, and Kirby universes. Bakeru is a delightful addition to their portfolio.

The game unfolds in a whimsical Japan, where you play as Issun, a young adventurer aided by the shape-shifting tanuki, Bakeru. Using his form-changing abilities and a taiko drum, you'll traverse Japan, battling foes, collecting cash, interacting with... well, let's just say there's poop involved, and uncovering secrets. Over sixty levels await, and while not all are unforgettable, the experience is consistently engaging. I especially enjoyed the collectibles; they often reflect the local area, offering little nuggets of Japanese culture, some even surprising to a long-time resident like myself.

The boss battles are a highlight! Good-Feel consistently delivers excellent boss encounters, and Bakeru is no exception. These creative showdowns are rewarding and well-designed. The game takes several creative risks for a 3D platformer, with varying degrees of success. However, the triumphs far outweigh the missteps, and the overall charm of the game is undeniable. I genuinely fell in love with Bakeru despite its flaws. It's intensely likeable.

The Switch version's performance is the main drawback, an issue Mikhail also touched upon in his Steam review. The framerate fluctuates, sometimes reaching 60fps but often dropping considerably during intense moments. While I'm generally tolerant of inconsistent framerates, it's worth noting for those more sensitive to such issues. Despite improvements since the Japanese release, performance problems persist.

Bakeru is a highly endearing 3D platformer with polished design and inventive gameplay. Its commitment to its unique style is infectious. While framerate issues prevent it from reaching its full potential on Switch, and those expecting a Goemon clone will be disappointed, it's a highly recommended title to cap off your summer.

SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5

Star Wars: Bounty Hunter ($19.99)

The prequel trilogy era brought a surge of Star Wars merchandise, including numerous video games. While the films themselves were divisive, they undeniably expanded the Star Wars universe. Remember Boba Fett, the cool-armored bounty hunter unceremoniously tossed into a pit? Well, meet his father, Jango Fett! Also cool armor, also an undignified demise. But what about his life before Attack of the Clones? Star Wars: Bounty Hunter answers that question, whether you wanted it to or not.

This game follows Jango Fett's journey as he hunts down a Dark Jedi for the seemingly innocent Count Dooku. Along the way, he takes on additional bounties. You'll utilize a variety of weapons and gadgets, including the iconic jetpack. While initially engaging, the repetitive gameplay and dated mechanics (a common issue for early 2000s games) become apparent. Targeting is clunky, cover mechanics are flawed, and level design feels cramped. Even in its time, this was a middling game at best.

Aspyr's remaster improves the visuals and performance, and the control scheme is better than the original. However, the archaic save system remains, meaning lengthy stages might need to be restarted. The inclusion of a Boba Fett skin is a nice touch. If you're going to play this, this is the version to play.

Star Wars: Bounty Hunter possesses a certain nostalgic charm, a quintessential example of early 2000s game design. If you crave a trip back to 2002 to experience a rough-around-the-edges action game, this might be for you. Otherwise, it might be too much "Jank-o Fett."

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

Mika and the Witch's Mountain ($19.99)

Following the disastrous Nausicaa video game adaptations, Hayao Miyazaki famously put a stop to further Ghibli game adaptations. This leaves many of us without our dream Porco Rosso flying game. But Chibig and Nukefist's Mika and the Witch's Mountain clearly draws inspiration from Ghibli's style and spirit.

You play as a novice witch whose teacher sends her plummeting off a mountain, breaking her broom. To get back to her teacher, you'll need to repair your broom, which requires earning money by delivering packages around town. This simple premise works well, enhanced by the vibrant world and memorable characters. However, the Switch struggles with performance, with resolution and framerate taking hits depending on the location. It likely runs better on more powerful hardware. If you're forgiving of technical imperfections, you'll likely enjoy this game.

Mika and the Witch's Mountain openly embraces its inspiration, but its repetitive core mechanic can become tiring. Performance issues also detract from the experience. However, the charm of flying around on your broom, delivering packages to quirky characters, is undeniable. If the concept appeals to you, you'll likely enjoy the game.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

Peglin ($19.99)

I previously reviewed Peglin's early access version on iOS. Now, it's finally reached version 1.0 across platforms, including the Switch. Peglin, a pachinko roguelike, has always shown promise, and the updates have significantly improved it. This is a game for a specific type of player. You aim an orb at pegs on a board to damage enemies and progress through zones, similar to Slay the Spire. There are events, bosses, shops, and challenging battles.

As you progress, you upgrade orbs, heal, and collect relics. Strategic aiming is crucial, using critical and bomb pegs effectively. You can also refresh the board. While initially complex, the gameplay becomes intuitive.

The Switch port performs well, though aiming isn't as smooth as on other platforms. Touch controls mitigate this. Load times are longer than on mobile and Steam. These aren't major issues, but worth noting. I'd say Peglin is best on Steam Deck, with mobile and Switch vying for second place.

The Switch version lacks achievements, but Peglin includes its own achievement system. Cross-save functionality across platforms is absent, which is understandable for a smaller developer.

My main issues are load times and less-than-ideal aiming. Hopefully, future updates will address these. More free updates are planned.

Even in early access, Peglin was fantastic. While some balance issues remain, it's a must-have on Switch if the "pachinko x roguelike" combination appeals to you. The developers have fully utilized the Switch's features, including rumble, touchscreen, and button controls. Now, we just need a physical release! -Mikhail Madnani

SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

Wow, a massive sale! This is just a selection; a more detailed article highlighting the best deals is coming soon.

Select New Sales (Images omitted for brevity, but maintain original image structure)

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Sales Ending Tomorrow, September 3rd (Images omitted for brevity, but maintain original image structure)

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That's all for today! Join us tomorrow for more reviews, new releases, sales, and potentially some news. Have a fantastic Monday!