SwitchArcade Round-Up: Today’s Nintendo Direct, Full Review of ‘EGGCONSOLE Star Trader’, Plus New Releases and Sales

Hello again, gaming enthusiasts! Welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for August 27th, 2024. Today's update starts with some exciting news, followed by a 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, Nintendo surprised us with a last-minute Nintendo Direct! The 40-minute presentation, covering both partner titles and indie games, is now available for viewing above. Expect a detailed summary of the key announcements tomorrow.

Reviews & Mini-Views

EGGCONSOLE Star Trader PC-8801mkIIsr ($6.49)

This untranslated EGGCONSOLE release poses the usual questions: Is the game good? Is it playable without Japanese knowledge? Star Trader, a blend of adventure and side-scrolling shooter, is intriguing but not outstanding. The adventure elements feature nice artwork, while the shooter attempts a unique narrative approach. The gameplay involves interacting with characters, completing quests to earn money for ship upgrades, essential for progressing through the shooting stages.

The shooting sections, however, suffer from the PC-8801's limitations, resulting in jerky scrolling. The game's structure is unclear, but its curious nature outweighs its flaws. The text-heavy adventure segments are a significant barrier for non-Japanese speakers, hindering both enjoyment and progress. While brute-forcing might work to some extent, it's not an ideal experience.

Star Trader offers a glimpse into a developer's unconventional work, but the significant amount of Japanese text significantly limits its appeal to Western audiences. It's a historical curiosity, but difficult to wholeheartedly recommend.

SwitchArcade Score: 3/5

Select New Releases

Crypt Custodian ($19.99)

This top-down action-adventure game follows Pluto, a deceased cat, on an eternal cleaning duty. Explore, battle with a broom, meet eccentric characters, fight bosses, and upgrade abilities. A familiar formula, but executed well – a solid choice for fans of the genre.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

Check out the Dreamer series and Harpoon Shooter Nozomi for colorful shooters. For those seeking something different, 1000xRESIST is highly recommended. Other titles worth considering include Star Wars games, Citizen Sleeper, Paradise Killer, Haiku, the Robot, and perhaps some Tomb Raider titles. See the lists below!

Select New Sales

(Sales list omitted for brevity, but maintains original formatting)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, August 28th

(Sales list omitted for brevity, but maintains original formatting)

That's all for today! Join us tomorrow for a Direct recap, new game coverage, sales updates, and more reviews. Have a great Tuesday!