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 game review and a look at new releases. 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 covered partner showcases and indie titles. While first-party announcements were absent, and there was no news on the next-generation Switch console, the show delivered some noteworthy reveals. You can watch the full presentation above; a detailed summary of the key announcements will be available tomorrow.

Reviews & Mini-Views

EGGCONSOLE Star Trader PC-8801mkIIsr ($6.49)

This untranslated EGGCONSOLE release presents a familiar dilemma: is the game enjoyable despite the language barrier? Star Trader blends adventure and side-scrolling shooter elements, but neither aspect truly shines. The adventure segments feature appealing artwork and a unique narrative approach for a shoot 'em up, involving quests and character interactions to earn money for ship upgrades. These upgrades are crucial for navigating the more challenging shooting stages.

However, the shooting sections suffer from the PC-8801's limitations, resulting in jerky scrolling. The game's design is unclear, with neither gameplay element fully supporting the other. Ultimately, Star Trader is more intriguing than genuinely good. The significant amount of Japanese text heavily impacts the experience, making it difficult for Western players to fully comprehend the narrative and succeed in the quest system. While some aspects might be playable through trial and error, a full appreciation is impossible without Japanese language skills. It's a fascinating historical artifact but ultimately difficult to wholeheartedly recommend.

Star Trader offers a glimpse into a developer's experimentation outside their usual genre. However, the extensive Japanese text significantly hinders enjoyment for non-Japanese speakers. While some casual exploration might be possible, the overall experience is compromised.

SwitchArcade Score: 3/5

Select New Releases

Crypt Custodian ($19.99)

This top-down action-adventure game stars Pluto, a recently deceased cat, who, after a mishap, is tasked with eternal cleaning duties in the afterlife. Players explore, battle enemies with a broom, meet eccentric characters, fight bosses, and upgrade abilities. This familiar genre formula is executed well, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

Fans of colorful shoot 'em ups should check out the Dreamer series and Harpoon Shooter Nozomi. For a standout title in the sales, grab 1000xRESIST before it's gone. Other noteworthy sales include Star Wars games, Citizen Sleeper, Paradise Killer, Haiku, the Robot, and the Tomb Raider trilogy. Check the lists for more details!

Select New Sales

Sales Ending Tomorrow, August 28th

That's all for today! Join us tomorrow for a full recap of the Nintendo Direct, along with new game releases, sales updates, and more reviews. Have a great Tuesday!