Hello fellow gamers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Roundup for September 3rd, 2024! Today's article features several game reviews, including in-depth analyses of Castlevania Dominus Collection and Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn, plus quick takes on some recent Pinball FX DLC. We'll also cover the day's new releases, highlighting the charming Bakeru, and round things out with the latest sales and expiring deals. Let's dive in!
Reviews & Mini-Views
Castlevania Dominus Collection ($24.99)
Konami's recent track record with classic game collections has been undeniably impressive, and the Castlevania franchise has been a major beneficiary. Castlevania Dominus Collection, the third in the series on modern platforms, focuses on the Nintendo DS trilogy. Developed by M2, this collection delivers exceptional quality, offering more than initially meets the eye—possibly making it the most essential Castlevania compilation yet.
The Nintendo DS Castlevania games represent a significant, albeit mixed, chapter in the franchise's history. Positively, the trilogy boasts unique identities, creating a surprisingly diverse experience. Dawn of Sorrow, a direct sequel to Aria of Sorrow, cleverly mitigates its original clunky touchscreen controls. Portrait of Ruin ingeniously incorporates touchscreen elements into a bonus mode, emphasizing its dual-character mechanic. Finally, Order of Ecclesia significantly raises the difficulty, offering a gameplay style reminiscent of Simon’s Quest. All three are excellent games, and highly recommended.
However, this trilogy also marked the end of Koji Igarashi's era of exploration-focused Castlevania games. While each title holds its own merit, the collection also highlights the series' potential creative fatigue at the time. Were these distinct games a result of Igarashi's creative exploration, or a desperate attempt to recapture audience interest? The answer remains elusive. Many players felt the series was stagnating, a sentiment I, despite enjoying the games, shared.
Interestingly, these aren't simple emulations but native ports, allowing M2 to enhance the experience. The frustrating touchscreen controls of Dawn of Sorrow are replaced with more intuitive button presses, and the presentation cleverly displays the main screen, status screen, and map simultaneously. This significantly improves Dawn of Sorrow, solidifying its place among my top five Castlevania titles.
The collection is packed with options and extras. Players can select game regions, customize button mapping, and choose between left stick controls for character movement or the touch cursor. A charming credits sequence highlights the unsung heroes of the series, while a comprehensive gallery showcases artwork, manuals, and box art. A dedicated music player allows custom playlist creation, a delightful feature given the series' exceptional soundtrack.
In-game options include save states, a rewind feature, customizable controls, screen layouts, background colors, and audio adjustments. A detailed compendium provides information on equipment, enemies, and items. My only minor criticism is the lack of additional screen arrangement options to enlarge the play area. Overall, this is a fantastic way to experience three exceptional games at an incredible price.
But the surprises don't end there! The notoriously difficult arcade game, Haunted Castle, is included. While its inclusion in previous collections was puzzling, its presence here is a welcome addition. The inclusion of unlimited continues is a much-needed feature for this brutally challenging title. Despite its harsh difficulty, the game boasts excellent music and a memorable opening sequence.
The final, and surprisingly substantial, extra is a complete remake of Haunted Castle: Haunted Castle Revisited. Similar to M2's Castlevania: The Adventure Rebirth, this remake takes the original game and transforms it into a genuinely enjoyable experience. This essentially means a new, excellent Castlevania game is hidden within this Nintendo DS collection!
If you're a Castlevania fan, Castlevania Dominus Collection is a must-buy. It includes a fantastic new Castlevania game, along with three excellent Nintendo DS titles presented flawlessly. The inclusion of the original Haunted Castle, while challenging, adds to the overall package. If you're not a Castlevania fan, well, we might need to rethink our friendship. And for those unfamiliar with the series, this is an excellent starting point, alongside the other collections. Konami and M2 have once again delivered a stellar product.
SwitchArcade Score: 5/5
Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn ($19.99)
My experience with Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn has been a bit of a journey. Tengo Project's previous releases have been consistently excellent, but this remake presented unique challenges. The team's involvement with the original 8-bit game was limited, and I personally found the original less compelling than their other projects. This made me initially apprehensive about the remake.
After playing a preview at Tokyo Game Show last year, my enthusiasm was rekindled. Now, after completing the game multiple times, my opinion lies somewhere in the middle. Compared to Tengo Project's other work, Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn feels less polished. However, the improvements over the original are significant, including enhanced visuals and a refined weapon/item system. While no new characters are introduced, the existing ones are better differentiated. It's undeniably superior to the original while retaining its core spirit. Fans of the original will undoubtedly love this.
For those who, like myself, found the original merely decent, the remake won't drastically alter that perception. The simultaneous access to both the chain and sword is a welcome improvement, and the sword is significantly more useful. The new inventory system adds an interesting element. The presentation is top-notch, masking its 8-bit origins. However, the game features some challenging difficulty spikes, making it tougher than the original. This may be intentional, given its relatively short length. It's the best version of Shadow of the Ninja, but it's still Shadow of the Ninja.
Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn is another solid effort from Tengo Project, representing a substantial improvement over its predecessor. Whether it's worth purchasing depends on your feelings towards the original. Those unfamiliar with the original will find an enjoyable, albeit not essential, action game.
SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5
Pinball FX – The Princess Bride Pinball ($5.49)
A quick look at two Pinball FX DLC tables, celebrating the game's significant update. The Princess Bride Pinball is a well-executed licensed table, featuring voice clips and video clips from the movie. Mechanically sound, it's a relatively straightforward yet satisfying table, a welcome change from some of Zen's previous licensed efforts that lacked key elements. A great option for both newcomers and experienced pinball players.
SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5
Pinball FX – Goat Simulator Pinball ($5.49)
Goat Simulator Pinball is a uniquely bizarre table that fully embraces its license. Expect chaotic goat-related antics and effects that add layers of complexity. While initially bewildering, it rewards persistence. More suited for experienced players, it might prove challenging for Goat Simulator fans unfamiliar with pinball. A solid DLC offering from Zen, showcasing their willingness to experiment.
SwitchArcade Score: 4/5
Select New Releases
Bakeru ($39.99)
As mentioned in yesterday's review, this 3D platformer from Good-Feel is a charming and breezy experience. Play as Bakeru, a tanuki on a quest to save Japan. Battle enemies, uncover hidden secrets, collect souvenirs, and enjoy some lighthearted humor. While the framerate is inconsistent on Switch, it remains a fun game.
Holyhunt ($4.99)
A top-down arena twin-stick shooter described as an 8-bit homage. Shoot, dash, collect new weapons, and face challenging bosses. Seems like a fun, straightforward shooter.
Shashingo: Learn Japanese with Photography ($20.00)
A language-learning game where players take photos and learn Japanese vocabulary. While not typically covered, it seems more engaging than other language-learning apps.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
Several noteworthy sales are ongoing, including OrangePixel's catalog of games. Alien Hominid is on a rare discount, along with Ufouria 2. THQ and Team 17 titles are also ending their sales soon. Check both lists for more details.
Select New Sales
(List of Sales)
(List of Sales)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, September 4th
(List of Sales)
That's all for today! Join us tomorrow for more new releases, sales, and potentially a new review. We're in the midst of a fantastic gaming season, so keep an eye on your wallets and enjoy the games! Have a great Tuesday!
