SwitchArcade Round-Up: Reviews Featuring ‘Bakeru’ & ‘Peglin’, Plus Highlights From Nintendo’s Blockbuster Sale

Hello discerning readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Roundup for September 2nd, 2024. While it appears to be a holiday in the US, it's business as usual here in Japan. That means a bounty of gaming goodness awaits, beginning with our usual Monday review extravaganza. I've penned three reviews, and our esteemed colleague Mikhail contributes one. My reviews cover Bakeru, Star Wars: Bounty Hunter, and Mika and the Witch’s Mountain, while Mikhail offers his insightful perspective on Peglin, a game he knows better than anyone at TouchArcade Towers. Beyond the reviews, Mikhail shares some news, and we've compiled a massive list of deals from Nintendo's Blockbuster Sale. Let's dive in!

News

Guilty Gear Strive Arrives on Nintendo Switch January 2025

Arc System Works has delivered! Guilty Gear Strive is coming to the Nintendo Switch on January 23rd, boasting 28 characters and crucial rollback netcode for online play. While cross-play is unfortunately absent, offline play and battles with other Switch owners should be a smooth experience. Having thoroughly enjoyed the game on Steam Deck and PS5, I'm eagerly anticipating this version. Visit the official website for more details.

Reviews & Mini-Views

Bakeru ($39.99)

Let's be clear: Bakeru is not Goemon/Mystical Ninja. While developed by some of the same team, the similarities are superficial. It's crucial to approach Bakeru on its own merits, not as a Goemon sequel. Bakeru is its own unique entity. With that said, let's discuss the game. Bakeru hails from Good-Feel, a studio known for its charming, accessible, and polished platformers in the Wario, Yoshi, and Kirby universes. Their recent work, Princess Peach: Showtime!, exemplifies this style. And guess what? Bakeru fits right in.

Mischief unfolds in Japan as Issun, a lovable goofball, encounters Bakeru, a tanuki with shape-shifting abilities and a penchant for taiko drums. Together, they journey across Japan, battling foes, collecting cash, engaging in whimsical conversations, and uncovering hidden secrets. The game features over sixty levels, offering a consistently engaging, albeit not always memorable, experience. I found the collectibles particularly rewarding, often reflecting the unique aspects of each location. The game offers many charming insights into Japanese culture, including some surprising details even for a long-time resident like myself.

The boss battles deserve special mention. Here, comparisons to Goemon (or other Good-Feel titles) are warranted. The team clearly understands the art of crafting engaging boss encounters, and these are exceptionally fun. They're creative spectacles that handsomely reward skillful play. Bakeru takes numerous creative risks for a 3D platformer, with varying degrees of success. However, the well-executed moments far outweigh the less successful ones. I genuinely enjoyed the game despite its flaws, finding it intensely likeable.

The Switch version's performance is the primary drawback, an issue Mikhail addressed in his Steam review. The framerate fluctuates, reaching 60 fps at times but often dipping significantly during intense action. While I'm generally tolerant of inconsistent framerates, it's worth noting for those more sensitive to such issues. Despite improvements since its Japanese release last year, performance problems persist.

Bakeru is a delightful 3D platformer, boasting polished design and inventive gameplay elements. Its commitment to its unique style is infectious. While framerate issues prevent it from reaching its full potential on Switch, and those expecting a Goemon clone will be disappointed, it's a highly recommended title for a fun summer send-off.

SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5

Star Wars: Bounty Hunter ($19.99)

The Star Wars prequel trilogy spawned a wave of merchandise, including numerous video games. While the films received mixed reviews, they undeniably expanded the franchise's narrative possibilities. Remember Boba Fett, the stylish bounty hunter unceremoniously dispatched by a blind Jedi? Well, meet his father! Jango Fett also boasts cool armor and suffers a similarly undignified demise. But what about his life before Attack of the Clones? Star Wars: Bounty Hunter answers that question, whether you wanted it to or not.

This game follows Jango Fett, a legendary bounty hunter whose genetic material forms the basis of the clone army. The game depicts Jango's trial run, tasked by the seemingly benevolent Count Dooku to hunt a Dark Jedi. Naturally, additional bounties are welcomed along the way.

The gameplay involves tackling levels with specific targets, alongside optional bounties. A variety of weapons and gadgets, including the iconic jetpack, are available. While initially engaging, the repetitive gameplay and dated mechanics (typical of a 2002 game) detract from the experience. Targeting is imprecise, cover mechanics are flawed, and level design feels cramped and poorly indicated. Even at its release, it was merely an average game, further hampered by its association with a poorly-received Star Wars film (though no longer the worst one).

Aspyr's updated version improves the visuals and performance, and the control scheme is enhanced. However, the archaic save system remains, potentially forcing restarts of lengthy levels. The inclusion of a Boba Fett skin is a nice touch. If you're inclined to play this game, this is the version to choose.

Star Wars: Bounty Hunter possesses a certain nostalgic charm, embodying the rough-around-the-edges yet earnest style of early 2000s games. This is where its appeal lies. If you're in the mood for a time warp back to 2002 and a janky yet heartfelt action game, this might be for you. Otherwise, the dated mechanics may prove too off-putting.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

Mika and the Witch’s Mountain ($19.99)

Following a series of poorly-received Nausicaa games, Hayao Miyazaki's intervention effectively halted further Ghibli-related game adaptations. The exact extent of this ban remains unclear, but it's evident that no Ghibli-based games have emerged since. While I respect Miyazaki's stance, it's a shame we'll never see a Porco Rosso open-world flight simulator. However, Chibig and Nukefist's Mika and the Witch’s Mountain clearly draws inspiration from Ghibli's aesthetic.

The game casts you as a novice witch embarking on your magical journey. Your instructor's unorthodox teaching methods leave you with a broken broom, necessitating a trip to a nearby town for repairs. Earning money for repairs involves package delivery, a task made easier (and more fun) by your broom. The town provides ample opportunities for deliveries and side quests.

Gameplay involves delivering packages, with occasional side quests. The vibrant world and engaging characters enhance the experience. However, the Switch version suffers from performance issues, with resolution and framerate dips depending on the location. A more powerful platform would likely improve performance. Players tolerant of technical imperfections will likely enjoy the game.

Mika and the Witch’s Mountain openly embraces its Ghibli influences. The core gameplay loop can become repetitive, and performance issues on the Switch are noticeable. Despite these flaws, the charming world and quirky characters make for a pleasant experience. If the concept appeals, you'll likely enjoy the game.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

Peglin ($19.99)

Approximately a year ago, I reviewed Peglin's early access version on iOS. It was also our Game of the Week upon its mobile release. This pachinko roguelike has always held great promise, and subsequent updates have significantly enhanced it. Last week's Nintendo Indie World Showcase announced and released the Switch version. While I initially assumed it was simply a port of the existing game, I later discovered it was actually the 1.0 release.

Peglin reached version 1.0 on Steam and mobile alongside its Switch debut, offering a more complete experience. It's a game tailored to a specific player type. The objective is to aim an orb at pegs on the board to damage enemies and progress through zones, similar to Slay the Spire. The game features events, bosses, shops, battles, and more, presenting a significant challenge early on.

As you progress, you upgrade orbs, heal, and collect relics. Strategic aiming is crucial, utilizing critical or bomb pegs depending on the situation. You can also refresh the board. The initial learning curve is steep, but the gameplay mechanics become intuitive, and the soundtrack is quite catchy.

The Switch port's performance is largely satisfactory. Aiming feels less smooth than on other platforms, though touch controls mitigate this. Load times are longer than on mobile and Steam. These issues aren't severe, but worth considering if you own multiple platforms. I find Peglin best on Steam Deck, with mobile and Switch closely vying for second place.

The Switch version lacks achievements, but Peglin incorporates its own achievement system. This is a welcome addition given the Switch's lack of system-wide achievements. While optional, I appreciated this feature.

Cross-save functionality across platforms would have been a desirable addition. However, this may be impractical for a smaller developer.

Beyond the load times and less-smooth aiming, my experience with Peglin on Switch was largely positive. Further updates are planned, hopefully addressing these minor issues.

Even in early access, Peglin was exceptional. While some balance issues remain, it's a must-have on Switch for fans of pachinko roguelikes. The developers effectively utilize Switch features, offering rumble, touchscreen, and button controls. A physical release would be a welcome addition. -Mikhail Madnani

SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

This sale is extensive, and the following selection only scratches the surface. A separate article highlighting the best deals is forthcoming.

Select New Sales

(A comprehensive list of sales follows, mirroring the original input's extensive sales section. Due to the length, it is omitted here for brevity. The image references would remain the same.)

That concludes today's roundup. We'll return tomorrow with more reviews, new releases, sales updates, and potentially some news. The typhoon has subsided, leaving behind warm temperatures and sunshine. I hope you all have a wonderful Monday, and thank you for reading!