New Nintendo Direct, 'EGGCONSOLE Star Trader' Review & More

Hello fellow gamers, 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 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 industry insiders, Nintendo surprised us with a last-minute Nintendo Direct! The 40-minute presentation featured a Partner Showcase and an Indie World Showcase. While primarily focusing on third-party titles and indie games, it lacked any major first-party announcements or news about the next-generation Switch console. You can watch the full presentation above, and we'll provide a detailed summary of the key highlights 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 knowing Japanese? Star Trader is an intriguing, albeit not exceptional, game. Falcom blends a Japanese-style adventure game with side-scrolling shooter elements, but neither aspect fully shines. The adventure sections feature appealing artwork, and the attempt to integrate a narrative into the shooter is unique. Players primarily interact with characters, accept quests, and earn money to upgrade their ship. This is crucial for progressing through the shooting stages.

The shooter segments, however, suffer from the PC-8801's limitations, resulting in choppy scrolling. Even if the scrolling were smoother, the gameplay might not be outstanding. The game's structure is unclear, but Star Trader offers more intrigue than genuine quality. This leads to the crucial question of language accessibility. The adventure sections are text-heavy, requiring player input for optimal outcomes. Without understanding Japanese, players miss half the game and struggle in the other half due to insufficient credits. While brute-forcing might work better than with some other EGGCONSOLE titles, it's not an ideal experience.

Star Trader offers a glimpse into gaming history, showcasing a developer venturing beyond their usual style. However, the significant amount of Japanese text significantly hinders enjoyment for Western players. While some might find it engaging, a strong recommendation is difficult to give.

SwitchArcade Score: 3/5

Select New Releases

Crypt Custodian ($19.99)

This top-down action-adventure game stars Pluto, a recently deceased cat banished from the afterlife for misbehaving. Players explore, battle enemies using a broom, meet quirky characters, fight bosses, and upgrade abilities. It's a familiar formula, but executed well. Fans of the genre should definitely check it out.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

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

Select New Sales

(List of new sales)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, August 28th

(List of sales ending tomorrow)

That's all for today! We'll be back tomorrow with a detailed Nintendo Direct recap, new game releases, sales updates, and more reviews. Have a great Tuesday, and thanks for reading!