"Castlevania Dominus Collection Reviewed: Today's Releases and Sales Highlighted"

Hello, dear readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for September 3rd, 2024. Today's article brings you more in-depth reviews, including my thoughts on Castlevania Dominus Collection, a detailed look at Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn, and quick reviews of the latest Pinball FX DLC tables. We'll also dive into today's new releases, spotlighting the quirky and delightful Bakeru, and then explore the latest sales and expiring discounts. Let's jump right in!

Reviews & Mini-Views

Castlevania Dominus Collection ($24.99)

Konami has truly excelled with its classic collections in recent years, and Castlevania has been no exception. The Castlevania Dominus Collection, the third installment on modern platforms, focuses on the beloved Nintendo DS trilogy. Developed by the renowned M2, this collection not only brings back these classics but enhances them in ways that make it a must-have for fans.

The DS era marked a significant chapter in Castlevania's history, with each game offering a unique identity. Dawn of Sorrow, a sequel to Aria of Sorrow, introduced early DS touchscreen gimmicks that have been thoughtfully mitigated in this release. Portrait of Ruin shifts the touchscreen features to a bonus mode, instead highlighting a compelling dual-character system. Order of Ecclesia ups the ante with higher difficulty and a design reminiscent of Simon’s Quest, making it a standout.

These games, the last of Koji Igarashi’s exploratory era, showcase a variety of gameplay styles, possibly in an attempt to keep the series fresh. While the series faced diminishing returns, this collection breathes new life into these titles by offering native ports rather than emulations. This allows for improvements like replacing touchscreen controls with button inputs and displaying three screens simultaneously, enhancing the overall experience.

The collection is packed with extras, including a choice of regional versions, customizable controls, and an adorable credits sequence. There's also a gallery of art and music, a rewind feature, and a detailed compendium for each game. The inclusion of the arcade game Haunted Castle, along with its complete remake, Haunted Castle Revisited, adds incredible value. This new Castlevania game is a testament to M2's dedication to quality.

For Castlevania enthusiasts, Castlevania Dominus Collection is a no-brainer. The inclusion of a new, high-quality Castlevania game, alongside the beautifully presented DS trilogy and the classic Haunted Castle, makes this collection an essential purchase.

SwitchArcade Score: 5/5

Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn ($19.99)

My experience with Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn has been a mixed bag. Tengo Project has delivered exceptional remakes with Wild Guns and The Ninja Warriors, but Shadow of the Ninja presents a different challenge. As an 8-bit game, it lacks the depth of its 16-bit counterparts, and my initial skepticism was tempered after a promising demo at Tokyo Game Show.

Playing through the game, I found it to be a solid improvement over the original, with enhanced presentation and a refined weapon and item system. However, it doesn't reach the heights of Tengo Project's other remakes. The core gameplay remains faithful to the original, which may not appeal to those who found the NES version only moderately engaging.

For fans of the original, Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn offers a polished experience with modern touches. Newcomers might enjoy it as a solid action game, but it may not stand out as essential in their library.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

Pinball FX – The Princess Bride Pinball ($5.49)

With the recent massive update to Pinball FX making it fully playable on Switch, two new tables were released: The Princess Bride Pinball and Goat Simulator Pinball. The Princess Bride Pinball captures the essence of the cult classic movie with real voice clips and video footage, enhancing the authenticity of the table. The mechanics are straightforward yet satisfying, making it enjoyable for both newcomers and seasoned players.

SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5

Pinball FX – Goat Simulator Pinball ($5.49)

Goat Simulator Pinball brings the quirky humor of its namesake into the pinball world. The table is filled with silly goat-related antics and effects, making for a unique and entertaining experience. It may be challenging for beginners, but those willing to invest time will uncover its wacky charm.

SwitchArcade Score: 4/5

Select New Releases

Bakeru ($39.99)

If you caught my review yesterday, you know I thoroughly enjoyed Bakeru, a charming 3D platformer from Good-Feel. Playing as a tanuki named Bakeru, you'll embark on a mission to save Japan from an evil overlord. The game offers a mix of battling enemies, collecting souvenirs, and uncovering Japan trivia in a fun, breezy package. While the Switch version has some framerate issues, it remains a delightful experience.

Holyhunt ($4.99)

Holyhunt is a top-down twin-stick shooter that aims to pay homage to 8-bit games. While it may not fully capture that era's essence, it provides a solid, fast-paced experience with a variety of weapons and boss encounters.

Shashingo: Learn Japanese with Photography ($20.00)

While not a traditional game, Shashingo offers an interactive way to learn Japanese through photography. Though I wouldn't personally invest in it, it might appeal to those looking for an engaging language-learning tool.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

Today's sales feature some fantastic deals, including discounts on OrangePixel's engaging titles and rare price drops on Alien Hominid and Ufouria 2. Meanwhile, discounts on THQ and Team 17 titles are winding down, so be sure to check their publisher pages for more options.

Select New Sales

Space Grunts ($8.39 from $13.99 until 9/7)
Meganoid ($5.39 from $8.99 until 9/7)
Stardash ($5.99 from $9.99 until 9/7)
Gunslugs ($4.79 from $7.99 until 9/7)
Gunslugs 2 ($4.79 from $7.99 until 9/7)
Heroes of Loot ($4.79 from $7.99 until 9/7)
Heroes of Loot 2 ($5.99 from $9.99 until 9/7)
Warhammer 40k Dakka Squadron ($1.99 from $19.99 until 9/9)
Castle Crashers Remastered ($7.49 from $14.99 until 9/10)
Alien Hominid HD ($9.59 from $11.99 until 9/10)
Alien Hominid Invasion ($15.99 from $19.99 until 9/10)
Conscript ($17.59 from $21.99 until 9/15)
Overdelivery ($1.99 from $7.99 until 9/15)
Hero-U: Rogue to Redemption ($2.99 from $19.99 until 9/16)
Agent Intercept ($7.99 from $19.99 until 9/16)

Secret Files Tunguska ($2.09 from $14.99 until 9/16)
Secret Files Puritas Cordis ($2.09 from $14.99 until 9/16)
Secret Files Sam Peters ($2.02 from $6.99 until 9/16)
Lost Horizon ($2.09 from $14.99 until 9/16)
Lost Horizon 2 ($2.09 from $14.99 until 9/16)
Zombo Buster Advance ($1.99 from $3.99 until 9/16)
Skautfold Usurper ($7.49 from $14.99 until 9/17)
Nuclear Blaze ($4.99 from $9.99 until 9/17)
Helvetii ($5.09 from $16.99 until 9/17)
Heidelberg 1693 ($4.49 from $14.99 until 9/17)
Sophstar ($6.49 from $12.99 until 9/17)
Harmony’s Odyssey ($2.99 from $14.99 until 9/17)
Ufouria 2: The Saga ($17.49 from $24.99 until 9/17)
Promenade ($12.49 from $24.99 until 9/17)
Shinorubi ($9.99 from $19.99 until 9/17)
Last Night of Winter ($6.99 from $9.99 until 9/17)
Kamaeru: A Frog Refuge ($15.99 from $19.99 until 9/18)
Nobody Saves The World ($9.99 from $24.99 until 9/23)
Summer in Mara ($7.99 from $19.99 until 9/23)
Guacamelee 2 ($4.99 from $19.99 until 9/23)
Railbound ($2.59 from $12.99 until 9/23)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, September 4th

Capes ($29.99 from $39.99 until 9/4)
Fates of Ort ($4.49 from $14.99 until 9/4)
Floogen ($1.99 from $3.99 until 9/4)
Fluffy Horde ($1.99 from $9.99 until 9/4)
Gum+ ($1.99 from $7.99 until 9/4)
Hopping Girl Kohane EX ($16.74 from $24.99 until 9/4)
Kingdom Come Deliverance ($29.99 from $49.99 until 9/4)
Kona II: Brume ($11.99 from $29.99 until 9/4)
Metro 2033 Redux ($3.99 from $19.99 until 9/4)
Metro Last Light Redux ($3.99 from $19.99 until 9/4)
Outward Definitive ($23.99 from $39.99 until 9/4)
Overcooked Special Edition ($3.99 from $19.99 until 9/4)
Rolling Car ($1.99 from $7.99 until 9/4)
Stunt Paradise ($5.19 from $7.99 until 9/4)
Tiny Pixels Vol 1 Ninpo Blast ($3.99 from $4.99 until 9/4)
Worms WMD ($5.99 from $29.99 until 9/4)
Yoku’s Island Express ($3.99 from $19.99 until 9/4)

That's all for today, friends. We'll be back tomorrow with more new releases, sales, and possibly some news. Maybe even a review? No promises. With the season of TOO MANY GOOD GAMES upon us, keep your wallets ready and enjoy the ride. It's likely the Switch's final holiday season, so let's make it memorable. Wishing you all a terrific Tuesday, and as always, thanks for reading!