Nintendo Direct Highlights & EGGCONSOLE Star Trader Review

Hello fellow gamers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Roundup for August 27th, 2024! Today's update starts 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. Intriguingly, tonight's Nintendo Direct is a complete unknown, so maybe Tuesday will hold some surprises? Let's dive in!

News

Nintendo Direct/Indie World Showcase Recap

As predicted by some sources, Nintendo sprung a last-minute Nintendo Direct on us! The 40-minute presentation covered both Partner and Indie World Showcases. No first-party reveals were expected, and definitely nothing about the next Switch console. By the time you read this, the Direct should be history. Watch the embedded video above, and I'll provide a detailed summary tomorrow.

Reviews & Mini-Views

EGGCONSOLE Star Trader PC-8801mkIIsr ($6.49)

These untranslated EGGCONSOLE releases always boil down to two key questions: Is the game itself enjoyable? And, can it be played without understanding Japanese? Star Trader is interesting, but not outstanding. Falcom blended an adventure game with side-scrolling shooter elements, but neither aspect shines. The adventure portion features decent art, and the shooter is unique in its attempt to integrate storytelling. Players converse with characters, undertake quests, and earn money to upgrade their ship. This is crucial for tackling the shooting stages.

The shooting sections, however, suffer from the PC-8801's limited scrolling capabilities. The result is a jerky, choppy experience that wouldn't be great even with smoother animation. It's unclear which gameplay style is intended to be the focus, but ultimately, Star Trader is more intriguing than genuinely good. This leads us to the second question. The adventure sections are text-heavy, demanding player comprehension for optimal progress. Without Japanese proficiency, players miss half the game and struggle in the other half due to insufficient credits. While brute-forcing is possible, it's not ideal.

Star Trader offers a glimpse into gaming history, showcasing a developer venturing beyond their usual style. However, the extensive Japanese text significantly hinders enjoyment for Western players. Experimentation might yield some fun, but a strong recommendation is difficult to give.

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 a mishap and sentenced to eternal cleaning. Players explore, battle with brooms, meet quirky characters, fight bosses, and upgrade abilities. A familiar formula, but executed well. Fans of the genre should definitely check it out.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

If you enjoy vibrant shooters with unique mechanics, consider the Dreamer series and Harpoon Shooter Nozomi. All three are enjoyable. On the other hand, 1000xRESIST is a must-buy. Also worth considering: Star Wars titles, Citizen Sleeper, Paradise Killer, Haiku, the Robot, and perhaps some Tomb Raider titles. See the 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 return tomorrow with a Nintendo Direct recap, new releases, sales, and possibly more reviews. Have a great Tuesday, and thanks for reading!