Definitive SwitchArcade News: Direct Details, 'Star Trader' Review

Hello fellow gamers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for August 27th, 2024! Today's update starts with some exciting news, followed by a review, a new release highlight, and our usual sales rundown. 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 first-party titles were absent, and there was no mention of the next-generation Switch console, the show delivered plenty of announcements. 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)

These untranslated EGGCONSOLE releases always present the same challenge: Is the game enjoyable, and is it playable without knowing Japanese? Star Trader is an intriguing title, blending Japanese-style adventure gameplay with side-scrolling shooter elements. Neither aspect is particularly groundbreaking. The adventure segments feature appealing artwork, and the attempt to integrate a narrative into the shoot 'em up format is unique. The gameplay loop involves interacting with characters, completing quests to earn money, and upgrading your spaceship. This is crucial, as the shooter sections require a well-equipped ship.

The shooter sections, however, suffer from the limitations of the PC-8801's hardware, resulting in jerky scrolling. Even with smoother movement, the gameplay might not be exceptional. The relationship between the adventure and shooter parts is unclear, but Star Trader proves more interesting than genuinely good. This leads to the second question: The adventure portions are text-heavy, requiring player understanding for optimal progress. Without Japanese comprehension, players miss half the game and struggle in the other half due to insufficient credits. While brute-forcing is possible, it's not an ideal experience.

Star Trader offers a glimpse into gaming history, showcasing a developer experimenting outside their usual style. However, the significant amount of Japanese text severely hinders accessibility for Western players. While some enjoyment might be gleaned from experimentation, a strong recommendation is difficult.

SwitchArcade Score: 3/5

Select New Releases

Crypt Custodian ($19.99)

This top-down action-adventure game follows Pluto, a recently deceased cat, who is banished from the afterlife and tasked with eternal cleaning. Explore, battle enemies with your broom, meet eccentric characters, defeat bosses, and upgrade your 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 recommended. Don't miss out on 1000xRESIST; it's a must-buy! Other titles worth considering include Star Wars games, Citizen Sleeper, Paradise Killer, Haiku, the Robot, and perhaps some Tomb Raider titles. Check out the lists below!

Select New Sales

Sales Ending Tomorrow, August 28th

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