Hello, dear readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade roundup for August 19, 2024. It’s the start of a brand new week, and as usual on Mondays, we bring you some reviews so that you can enjoy. I have already got my thoughts and… only a moment, I want to drink some water first… . This is followed by a fast have a look at the new edition, followed by an inventory of recent and expiring sales for the day. Let’s get to today’s business!

Reviews and mini-views

SteamWorld Heist II ($29.99)

I believe I’m in a weird situation with this series. I initially missed the DSi game, and after I got here back to it, I discovered it too intense to enjoy. I loved it and the original was right up my alley. in some ways it was a giant improvement over the first game, but in some way I liked it less. interesting, nevertheless it didn’t quite make sense to me. And it was an honest game, but the Switch just couldn’t run it the way it needed to. I believe that each one these games are of fine quality and their designs are refined and made with great care. But I admit that I actually have lost my luster to some extent.

This is the second time the creators return to the concept in the series. I took a comparatively easy game and built something much greater, but already quite large, out of it. So as a substitute of reinventing the wheel, Thunderful has made a brand new adventure here with barely refined mechanics and just a few recent twists. The biggest recent thing is ocean exploration, and that is tremendous. A pleasant break from turn-based combat, if nothing else. You also get a really detailed workflow that could be very satisfying to tinker with. That being said, that is certainly not a revolution. I do not see much room for anyone to be thrilled with the transition from the first game to the second, as we saw with Dig. On the other hand, which means those that enjoyed the first game can safely delve into this one.

One of the biggest differences on this game is its theme, which has you sailing on the high seas fighting Dieselbots as a substitute of flying a rocket into space. Part of the fun of this series is seeing the setting develop into more and more elaborate with each installment, and you may definitely find a few of that here. The humor and writing are nearly as good as ever, which adds loads of charm to those robots, whether or not they’re a part of your team or an enemy you blow up and never see again. Hats? Yes, you’ll be able to still shoot down hats and collect them. The side-view turn-based tactical RPG stays engaging, with the desire to search out the perfect shot driving each turn.

it isn’t as revolutionary as the first part and kind of sticks to what worked before. It will be a bit tricky at times and you’ll at all times have to observe out for tricks as some battles like them. The quest system is a treat for individuals who wish to search for broken mixtures, and exploring the world breaks up the motion while helping to raised establish the setting. If you liked the gameplay and are ready for more of that gameplay and a bit more of that enjoyable story, you may get what you are in search of on this game.

SwitchArcade Score: 4/5

This Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Isekai Chronicles ($49.99)

I’m really undecided what to make of this. I’m somewhat conversant in , at the least in manga form. I gave up after some time since it was getting a bit boring, but I stayed long enough to get to know the premise and most of the predominant solid. So familiar, but possibly not a fan. I do not like it, remember. I suppose the only thing I can say undoubtedly about this game is that it doesn’t play as well on the Switch as I would love. There’s some frame rate craziness happening at times, and considering how relatively easy this game is, it really should not be happening.

All right, let me introduce you to what you’ve gotten here. This game tells the story of the series from the very starting as much as the battle with Falmuth, although the initial part is sped up. Several recent game-specific stories have been added, and thankfully they arrive from the original writer’s hand. The gameplay is split into three styles. There are scenes in the form of a visible novel, sometimes with a touch of animation. Then side-scrolling motion. Here you get some basic combos and dodge/counter mechanics. Nothing fancy, nevertheless it’s fun enough. Finally a quite simple city creator. After all, we’d like to construct the Jura Tempest Federation. It mainly gives you an excuse to search for materials.

And this grinding is the key. The gameplay mechanics are a bit too thin to accommodate things here, and the battles quickly develop into repetitive. Nevertheless, you should have to have interaction in a lot of them. There are subtasks to finish that may add some spice, but very early on you get caught in a loop that never changes much. History is your fuel, but when you know this property, you already know most of it. You never really feel such as you’re playing these stories, as a consequence of the limited gameplay. If you are not a fan of the series, that is one technique to catch yourself in some unspecified time in the future. I believe that is the worst technique to digest this story for a novice, mind you. Well, this can be a common problem with any such thing. I believe overall the fans might be completely satisfied. Maybe that is enough.

it’s probably best enjoyed by those that love the property, but even they are going to find it a somewhat humble meal. The two recent stories are interesting and it’s fun to see these characters in motion and constructing the Federation for some time. Unfortunately, the gameplay itself never really progresses because it should, so when you’re not up for a ton of repetition, you could get bored quickly.

SwitchArcade Score: 3/5

Select What’s New

Rack and Slay ($5.99)

Roguelite dungeon crawler? Boring! Wait a minute… wait a minute! Is this hero… a billiard ball?! Well, that is a very different color horse! So yes, this can be a game where you throw your ball hero at enemies with a ball to knock them into shells. There are tons of things to search out and a surprising variety of modes to enjoy. An interesting concept that works quite well in practice.

Turnover

This outbox could be very small. Even now I actually prefer it, even though it have to be admitted that the indie 3D platformer isn’t as recent because it once was. As far as recent sales go, nothing on the list really appeals to me. Not that there aren’t good games on the market. it’s shooter, really fun and has its own charm. But all of them are sometimes discounted, so it’s hard to get excited. Check the lists, do what you’ve gotten to.

Select New Sale

($4.49 from $14.99 through 8/23)
($2.09 from $6.99 through 8/29)
($3.29 from $10.99 through 8/29)
($3.49 from $6.99 through August 29)
($9.49 from $18.99 through August 29)
($5.59 from $7.99 through 8/29)
($4.19 from $5.99 through 8/29)
($4.49 from $14.99 through August 29)
($23.99 from $29.99 to 31.8)
($1.99 from $4.99 through September 3)
($2.75 from $14.99 through September 3)
($1.99 from $11.99 through September 3)
($4.49 from $17.99 through September 6)
($9.99 from $24.99 through 9/7)
($2.79 from $27.99 through September 7)
($23.44 from $34.99 through September 8)
($24.49 from $34.99 through September 8)
($9.99 from $49.99 through September 8)

Sale ends tomorrow, August 20

($7.49 from $29.99 through 8/20)
($3.99 from $7.99 through 8/20)

That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with more recent games, more sales, possibly some reviews, and possibly even some news. I actually have to go to the doctor again and prepare for a family event in the evening, but we’ll figure something out together. Have a beautiful Monday everyone and, as at all times, thanks for reading!