SwitchArcade Round-Up: Today’s Nintendo Direct, Full Review of ‘EGGCONSOLE Star Trader’, Plus New Releases and Sales

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 game spotlight, and our regular sales summaries. 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 primarily showcasing third-party titles and indie games, it lacked any major first-party announcements and, as expected, nothing regarding the next-gen Switch console. You can watch the full presentation above; a detailed summary of the key highlights 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, and is it playable without Japanese language knowledge? Star Trader is an intriguing, albeit not exceptional, title. Falcom blended adventure game elements with side-scrolling shooter sequences, but neither aspect shines particularly brightly. The adventure sections feature appealing artwork, and the attempt to integrate a narrative into the shooter format is unique. Players primarily interact with characters, undertake quests, and earn money to upgrade their ship – crucial for navigating the challenging shooting stages.

The shooting sections, however, suffer from the PC-8801's limitations, resulting in jerky, choppy gameplay that wouldn't be ideal even with smoother scrolling. The game's structure is unclear, but Star Trader proves more interesting than truly good. This leads to the language barrier issue. The adventure segments are text-heavy, requiring player input for optimal outcomes. Without understanding Japanese, players miss significant gameplay elements and struggle to earn enough credits for ship upgrades. While brute-forcing is possible, it significantly diminishes the experience.

Star Trader offers a glimpse into a developer's unconventional work, but its significant Japanese text barrier significantly hinders enjoyment for Western players. While some casual exploration might be possible, a strong recommendation is difficult to justify.

SwitchArcade Score: 3/5

Select New Releases

Crypt Custodian ($19.99)

This top-down action-adventure game stars Pluto, a recently deceased cat banished from the afterlife for misbehavior. Players explore, battle enemies with a broom, meet quirky characters, fight bosses, and upgrade abilities. It's a familiar formula, but executed well. Fans of the genre should definitely consider this one.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

For fans of colorful shooters with unique mechanics, check out the Dreamer series and Harpoon Shooter Nozomi. Don't miss out on 1000xRESIST – it's a must-buy! Other notable sales include Star Wars titles, Citizen Sleeper, Paradise Killer, Haiku, the Robot, and the Tomb Raider collection. Explore the lists below for more deals!

Select New Sales

(List of new sales)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, August 28th

(List of sales ending tomorrow)

That's all for today! Join us tomorrow for a Nintendo Direct recap, new game releases, sales updates, and potentially more reviews. Have a great Tuesday, and thanks for reading!