Hey mild readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Spherical-Up for December twelfth, 2023. In at the moment’s article, we get issues began with a pair of opinions from our pal Mikhail, who’s having a look at Snakebird Full and Style Dreamer. I’ve received one evaluate myself, for the tactical RPG Arcadian Atlas. After that, we’ve received the record of recent releases together with Hammerwatch II and extra. Then we transfer into the lists of the most recent gross sales and expiring reductions, as we all the time do. Let’s get to the video games!
Opinions & Mini-Views
Snakebird Full ($14.99)
Over right here at TouchArcade, we’ve been followers of Snakebird ever because it hit iOS in 2016. You’ll be able to learn our evaluate of Snakebird on iOS right here. Since that launch, Noumenon Video games launched Snakebird Primer in 2019, a extra accessible follow-up that constructed on the unique with many extra ranges. Quick ahead to now, Snakebird Full has arrived on Nintendo Swap bringing each Snakebird and Snakebird Primer collectively in a seamless bundle for Nintendo’s hybrid system.
I’ve been chipping away at it since getting evaluate code, and it has truthfully made it arduous to play my different evaluate video games. Once I get sucked into a great puzzle recreation, I spend an excessive amount of time fascinated with ranges and the sport once I’m not taking part in. In reality, I spent 2 hours on it this morning once I needed to complete writing about 4 different video games then. Snakebird Full is so good, I wish to preserve taking part in extra of it as an alternative of writing about it. Put that on the field.
Should you’ve by no means heard of Snakebird earlier than, your goal is transferring such as you would within the traditional recreation, Snake, whereas amassing fruit to develop in dimension, but in addition attempting to achieve a particular goal or location within the beautifully designed ranges. The development in Snakebird Full is non-linear. You slowly begin unlocking extra of the map, opening up a number of puzzle choices for once you inevitably get caught and have to strive one thing else or want a break. As you progress additional, new mechanics and extra birds be part of the motion.
Past beautifully designed ranges and intuitive ranges, I really like the eye to element within the little issues. The animations are pretty, and the birds’ expressions as you attain the purpose or are close to a fruit are issues most wouldn’t even take note of. That is all complemented by a soothing soundtrack and charming sound results.
Should you do get caught, there’s an fascinating trace system, however I’d actually suggest doing what I do once I get caught in a puzzle recreation like this: go and do one other puzzle or take a break. The answer will come to you. Give it time.
On Nintendo Swap, the sport appears nice, and I used to be very glad that touchscreen help is included. I performed most of it with contact controls in moveable mode, but in addition tried it docked. The controller help is well-implemented.
Snakebird was superb on iOS, however Snakebird Full feels excellent on Nintendo Swap. Should you benefit from the likes of Baba is You and even A Monster’s Expedition, Snakebird Full is important. They nailed the contact controls and it appears so good on the OLED display screen. Should you nonetheless aren’t offered on it, strive the demo. Snakebird Full is the true deal. -Mikhail Madnani
SwitchArcade Rating: 5/5
Style Dreamer ($49.99)
Style Dreamer‘s announcement left me conflicted. I used to be tremendous glad to see syn Sophia again, however it didn’t seem to be a brand new Model Savvy recreation. Since that reveal, Xseed Video games has been slowly revealing extra of what you really do in Style Dreamer, and it lastly hit me that this can be a creativity centered costume up recreation with some on-line parts reasonably than a real comply with as much as Model Savvy, and that isn’t a nasty factor, however the recreation’s present state leaves loads to be desired even after its first main replace.
Style Dreamer has you taking part in as a Muse in a world stuffed with Muses. Your goal is to develop your affect with followers, your personal model, your personal showroom, and extra. There’s plenty of customization potential right here, however I loved interacting with random Muses to decorate them up by means of what the sport calls Lookits. You too can work together with a Muse to soak up the brand new garments and equipment.
Talking of garments and equipment, the extra you progress into incomes extra followers and doing Lookits, the extra in-game gadgets you get. These can be utilized to make use of the gacha machine or bingo tickets to unlock extra gadgets and mainly the extra you give Style Dreamer, the extra you get out of it, however there isn’t actually a narrative as I hoped when it was initially introduced. The most effective analogy I’ve is Style Dreamer is the Comfortable House Designer to Animal Crossing‘s Model Savvy.
The net mode is sort of good as nicely, however you possibly can play Style Dreamer offline utterly. Day one, I had complaints with the sorting and plenty of facets of the particular costume up half since you couldn’t even zoom in save units correctly. These have been fastened, however the greatest non-performance associated concern I’ve is the dearth of with the ability to use any equipment and garments on any physique sort. I don’t get why a recreation about dressing up limits this. As of this writing, I haven’t been capable of take a look at the time-limited occasion because it was taken down quickly after the replace hit.
Visually, Style Dreamer can look wonderful, particularly once you’re doing poses to indicate off your Muse and take pictures. The remainder of it appears a bit primary however good and colourful. This isn’t a problem by itself, however the efficiency just isn’t good. Scrolling by means of gadgets and even strolling throughout the world ends in stuttering or freezing. I examined this on 2 Swap consoles to make sure. I hope this may be improved over patches, however proper now some parts remind me of Pokemon and never in a great way.
After its first replace, Style Dreamer nonetheless wants work. Whereas the efficiency is my greatest drawback with it, some design selections have to be addressed like letting any physique sort put on any garments or equipment. I’m going to revisit it by means of every replace, however proper now this feels extra like what we received in Animal Crossing: Comfortable House Designer reasonably than a real Animal Crossing expertise for example. There’s loads I like, however this wanted extra time. –Mikhail Madnani
SwitchArcade Rating: 3.5/5
Arcadian Atlas ($19.99)
You understand, generally I feel Last Fantasy Techniques doesn’t get its full due by way of its significance in gaming historical past. It’s actually well-loved and significantly revered, in fact. But when we take into account that one angle of a recreation’s place in historical past is how influential it’s, Last Fantasy Techniques is beginning to seem like it’s on some type of quick record. You don’t see many video games within the turn-based tactical RPG style in recent times that aren’t paying a debt to it in some kind or one other, and plenty of of them are outright doing their greatest to succeed it. Sadly, like with its Sq. Enix stablemate Chrono Set off, most of those love letters fall a bit flat in some kind or one other. Imitation stands out as the sincerest type of flattery, however flattery will solely get you to this point.
Arcadian Atlas actually has Last Fantasy Techniques on its thoughts, and in some ways in which performs out rather well. The sprites are incredible, and certainly is perhaps much more expressive and enjoyable to have a look at than these of the sport it pays homage to. The soundtrack is sort of good, even when it doesn’t fairly reside as much as one of many most interesting efforts of Hitoshi Sakimoto. The story has loads of intrigue and is sort of well-written. The battles are smaller in scale than these in Last Fantasy Techniques, however nonetheless large enough to be fascinating. There’s a satisfying variety of character courses to mess around with and a good variety of abilities to utilize. Certainly, I feel it does its job nicely sufficient that followers of the style might be sufficiently entertained for his or her cash.
However there are issues right here, too. Options and parts that Last Fantasy Techniques had that will be welcome right here however are nowhere to be discovered. The maps have plenty of particulars on them that make them look pure, however generally that stuff blocks your view. Sadly, you possibly can’t change the point of view on this recreation so that you simply type of must cope with it. Similar if any elevated elements of the terrain are in the best way. There are particular complexities to the fight you’d anticipate finding that aren’t in right here both, and it’s all very unbalanced and never within the great way. I additionally really feel prefer it’s far too content material to be an homage, probably not doing something to achieve past what the style was doing twenty-five years in the past. It jogs my memory plenty of the Mercenaries Saga video games, for higher or worse.
I feel in the event you love Last Fantasy Techniques, Arcadian Atlas offers you one thing to chew on. It should additionally possible irritate you in a wide range of methods. It’s each bit the sport it’s attempting to be, a passionate expression of adoration for one of many style greats. It’s only a disgrace that it’s content material to solely be that, because the sparks that do gentle up correctly right here present such promise. Maybe we’d see a few of these develop into correct flames within the subsequent recreation from this staff, however for now that is actually only one for these closely thirsting for any tactical turn-based intrigue they’ll get.
SwitchArcade Rating: 3.5/5
New Releases
Hammerwatch Anniversary Version ($19.99)
This can be a remaster of Hammerwatch, which has been obtainable on the Swap for lengthy sufficient that we now have a remaster to purchase. It makes quite a lot of enhancements on the unique model, however is that sufficient so that you can drop twenty bucks in the event you already personal that one? I’m not the man to let you know sure or no on that, however I feel in the event you actually loved Hammerwatch you’ll in all probability respect the enhancements right here to some extent. You could, nevertheless, wish to avoid wasting cash for the subsequent merchandise on our record.
Hammerwatch II ($24.99)
Hey, it’s Hammerwatch II. Go on some new adventures by yourself, or staff up with different gamers on-line in a bunch of as much as 4 gamers. Discover an open world, full quests, and construct up your hero as you push again the forces of darkness. This has been out for a minute or two on different platforms and the final consensus appears to be that in the event you appreciated the primary one, you’ll have a fairly good time right here too.
Petit Petit Petit ($12.99)
A Vampire Survivors-style recreation that takes place inside a physique and duties you with utilizing antibodies to defend in opposition to invading pathogens and ailments. It’s a intelligent premise, however opinions of the sport on different platforms have been pretty lukewarm. Proceed at your personal threat, in different phrases.
Tremendous Bear Journey ($9.99)
I feel this got here out on cellular a number of years again, the place it discovered an viewers because of the comparatively low variety of 3D platformers round. I… don’t assume it can take pleasure in such advantages right here and now, however who is aware of? Perhaps there may be some hidden attraction to it that I’m simply not choosing up on.
Twin Thoughts: Energy of Love Collector’s Version ($14.99)
Why sure, it’s one other hidden object journey recreation. The dual detectives need to resolve one more case. I’ve nothing a lot to say about any of those video games at this level, however in the event you’re searching for one in all them, right here it’s.
Wooden Man ($9.99)
That is absolute borderline Bin Bunch stuff, however it looks like it could possibly be an precise earnest effort so I’m not going to stay it in there. But. Anyway, it’s a fairly clunky motion recreation with lots of of ranges and an area co-op function if you wish to train it. There’s additionally a battle mode in there in order that they’ll technically say the sport is for as much as 4 gamers.
The Bin Bunch
SNQZ ($1.49)
Gross sales
(North American eShop, US Costs)
There are a bunch of video games hitting new low costs at the moment, and whereas I don’t know that any of them are extremely barn-burners, the costs are low sufficient that you simply would possibly wish to chunk anyway. Over within the outbox, there’s nearly nothing happening. Some days are like that. At any fee, verify each lists corresponding to they’re and see what catches your eye.
Choose New Gross sales
RiMS Racing ($4.99 from $49.99 till 12/27)
Taking pictures Star Island ($1.99 from $4.99 till 1/1)
Earthen Dragon ($4.00 from $9.90 till 1/1)
Coronary heart Chain Kitty: All Screwed Up ($1.99 from $4.99 till 1/1)
Hidden Gems: Quantity One ($3.49 from $6.99 till 1/1)
Sixtar Gate: Startrail ($19.99 from $24.99 till 1/1)
Function Now: Hospital ($1.99 from $9.99 till 1/1)
Railbound ($8.99 from $12.99 till 1/1)
Figment 1 + Figment 2 ($15.99 from $39.99 till 1/1)
Homicide Thriller Machine ($1.99 from $9.99 till 1/1)
Alfred Hitchcock Vertigo ($5.99 from $19.99 till 1/1)
Syberia ($1.99 from $12.99 till 1/1)
Metamorphosis ($1.99 from $24.99 till 1/1)
Agatha Christie Assortment ($11.99 from $29.99 till 1/1)
The Quest for Excalibur: Puy du Fou ($8.99 from $29.99 till 1/1)
Smurfs Kart ($15.99 from $39.99 till 1/1)
The Gardens Between ($2.99 from $19.99 till 1/1)
My Universe: Style Boutique ($2.49 from $24.99 till 1/1)
My Universe: Cooking Star Restaurant ($2.99 from $29.99 till 1/1)
Immortal Realms: Vampire Wars ($9.99 from $39.99 till 1/1)
Arkanoid: Everlasting Battle ($2.99 from $19.99 till 1/1)
Vampire: TM – Shadows of New York ($2.59 from $12.99 till 1/1)
Survivor Castaway Island ($20.99 from $29.99 till 1/1)
Everdream Valley ($12.49 from $24.99 till 1/1)
WRC Assortment ($9.99 from $99.99 till 1/1)
The Smurfs 2 ($27.99 from $39.99 till 1/1)
Bang-On Balls: Chronicles ($14.99 from $24.99 till 1/1)
Grand Mountain Journey: Wonderlands ($10.49 from $34.99 till 1/1)
Horse Tales: Emerald Valley Ranch ($15.99 from $39.99 till 1/1)
TT Isle of Man RotE 3 ($19.99 from $49.99 till 1/1)
Cabela’s The Hunt: CE ($4.99 from $9.99 till 1/1)
Cricket 22 ($19.99 from $49.99 till 1/1)
Gross sales Ending Tomorrow, December thirteenth
Soccer Cup 2023 ($2.99 from $9.99 till 12/13)
Glitch’s Journey ($1.99 from $12.99 till 12/13)
That’s all for at the moment, mates. We’ll be again tomorrow with extra new releases, extra opinions, extra gross sales, and maybe some information. This was one other a kind of days the place I didn’t get as a lot achieved as I’d have appreciated to, however I suppose there isn’t a lot you are able to do about that. I hope you all have a terrific Tuesday, and as all the time, thanks for studying!
