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

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 review and a look at a fresh 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 industry insiders, Nintendo surprised us with a last-minute Nintendo Direct! The 40-minute presentation, featuring both Partner and Indie World showcases, is now available for viewing 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 Japanese language skills? Star Trader, a blend of Japanese adventure game and side-scrolling shooter, is intriguing but not outstanding. The adventure elements feature appealing artwork, while the shooter aspect offers a unique narrative approach. Players interact with characters, undertake quests, and earn money to upgrade their ship, crucial for progressing through the shooting stages.

However, the PC-8801's limitations result in jerky scrolling in the shooter sections, hindering the overall experience. The game's structure is unclear, with neither element fully supporting the other. While Star Trader holds some interest, its execution falls short. The significant amount of Japanese text in the adventure segments poses a major hurdle for Western players, making it difficult to fully appreciate the game. While some progress is possible through trial and error, a complete playthrough is challenging without Japanese comprehension. It's a fascinating historical artifact, but its enjoyment is significantly hampered by the language barrier.

SwitchArcade Score: 3/5

Select New Releases

Crypt Custodian ($19.99)

This top-down action-adventure game follows Pluto, a recently deceased cat, on a journey through the afterlife. Sentenced to eternal cleaning duties, Pluto must explore, battle enemies with his broom, and overcome challenges. If you enjoy this genre, it's definitely worth considering.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

Fans of colorful shooters should check out the Dreamer series and Harpoon Shooter Nozomi. Don't miss out on the sale for 1000xRESIST! Other notable titles on sale include various Star Wars games, Citizen Sleeper, Paradise Killer, Haiku, the Robot, and the Tomb Raider collection.

Select New Sales

(List of new sales)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, August 28th

(List of sales ending tomorrow)

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!