Latest Nintendo Direct Highlights, 'EGGCONSOLE Star Trader' Review, and Gaming Updates

Hello gaming enthusiasts, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for August 27th, 2024! Today's update begins with some exciting news, followed by a game review and a look at a fresh release. We'll wrap things up with the 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 covered both Partner and Indie World Showcases. While first-party titles and news about the next-generation Switch were absent, the showcase still offered plenty to discuss. You can watch the full presentation above; a detailed summary of the key announcements will be provided tomorrow.

Reviews & Mini-Views

EGGCONSOLE Star Trader PC-8801mkIIsr ($6.49)

This untranslated EGGCONSOLE release presents a familiar dilemma: is the game enjoyable, and is it playable without understanding Japanese? Star Trader is an intriguing, albeit not exceptional, title. Falcom blended an adventure game with side-scrolling shooter elements, but neither aspect shines particularly brightly. The adventure sections boast appealing artwork, and the shooter's attempt at narrative integration is noteworthy. Gameplay involves interacting with characters, undertaking quests to earn money for ship upgrades, crucial for progressing through the shooting stages.

The shooting segments, however, suffer from the PC-8801's limitations, resulting in jerky scrolling. Even with smooth scrolling, the gameplay might not be outstanding. The game's core mechanics are unclear, but Star Trader proves more interesting than truly good. The significant amount of Japanese text in the adventure sections severely hinders enjoyment for Western players, making it difficult to recommend wholeheartedly. While some progress is possible through trial and error, the experience is significantly diminished.

Star Trader offers a glimpse into a developer's experimental work outside their usual style. However, the significant language barrier significantly reduces its appeal. It might offer some limited entertainment value, but a strong recommendation is difficult.

SwitchArcade Score: 3/5

Select New Releases

Crypt Custodian ($19.99)

This top-down action-adventure game features Pluto, a recently deceased cat banished from the afterlife for misbehaving. Pluto must clean eternally, exploring, battling enemies with a broom, meeting quirky characters, and facing bosses. The gameplay is familiar, but surprisingly well-executed. Fans of the genre should definitely give it a try.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

For fans of colorful shooters with unique mechanics, consider the Dreamer series and Harpoon Shooter Nozomi. Don't miss out on 1000xRESIST – it's a must-buy! Other notable titles on sale include Star Wars games, Citizen Sleeper, Paradise Killer, Haiku, the Robot, and Tomb Raider titles. Check out the full lists below!

Select New Sales

(List of new sales)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, August 28th

(List of expiring sales)

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!