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

Hello discerning readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up 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, starting with a trio of reviews from yours truly, and a fourth penned by our esteemed colleague, Mikhail. My reviews cover Bakeru, Star Wars: Bounty Hunter, and Mika and the Witch’s Mountain. Mikhail provides his expert insights on Peglin, a game he understands better than anyone else at TouchArcade Towers. Beyond the reviews, Mikhail shares some news, and we'll delve into the extensive deals offered in Nintendo's Blockbuster Sale. Let's dive in!

News

Guilty Gear Strive Arrives on Nintendo Switch in January 2025

Arc System Works has delivered! Guilty Gear Strive is coming to the Nintendo Switch on January 23rd, boasting 28 characters and rollback netcode for online play. Sadly, crossplay is absent, but offline play and battles with fellow Switch owners should be a treat. Having enjoyed the game extensively on Steam Deck and PS5, I'm eager to experience the Switch 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. Expecting a Goemon clone is a disservice to both Bakeru and yourself. Bakeru is its own unique entity. With that said, let's explore this charming title from Good-Feel, a studio known for its polished platformers in the Wario, Yoshi, and Kirby universes.

Mischief unfolds in Japan as Issun encounters Bakeru, a tanuki with shape-shifting abilities and a penchant for taiko drums. Together, they embark on a 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, lighthearted experience. The collectibles are particularly noteworthy, often reflecting the unique characteristics of each location, providing insightful glimpses into Japanese culture.

The boss battles are a highlight, reminiscent of Good-Feel's knack for creative and rewarding encounters. Bakeru takes creative risks, with some elements succeeding more than others, a common occurrence in such endeavors. The successes are genuinely appreciated, and the minor shortcomings are easily forgiven. Despite its flaws, Bakeru is intensely likable.

Performance on the Switch is the main drawback, mirroring Mikhail's observations on the Steam version. The framerate fluctuates, reaching 60fps at times but often dipping significantly during intense action. While personally unfazed by inconsistent framerates, I acknowledge this might be a concern for more sensitive players. Despite improvements since its Japanese release, performance issues persist.

Bakeru is a delightful 3D platformer with polished design and inventive gameplay elements. Its commitment to its unique style is infectious. While framerate inconsistencies and the lack of Goemon similarities may disappoint some, Bakeru is 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 weren't critically acclaimed, they undeniably expanded the Star Wars narrative. This game features Jango Fett, Boba Fett's father, before his ill-fated encounter with Mace Windu.

Star Wars: Bounty Hunter chronicles Jango Fett's journey as he hunts a Dark Jedi for Count Dooku, accumulating additional bounties along the way. The gameplay involves targeting and eliminating enemies, utilizing a variety of weapons and the iconic jetpack. While initially engaging, the repetitive gameplay and technical limitations of its 2002 release date become apparent. Targeting is imprecise, cover mechanics are flawed, and level design feels cramped.

Aspyr's remaster improves visuals and performance, and the control scheme is enhanced. However, the archaic save system remains, potentially requiring restarts of lengthy levels. The inclusion of a Boba Fett skin is a welcome addition. This version is the definitive way to play this game, if you choose to do so.

Star Wars: Bounty Hunter possesses a nostalgic charm, reflecting the idiosyncrasies of early 2000s gaming. It's recommended for those seeking a retro gaming experience. Otherwise, its technical flaws might prove too significant.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

Mika and the Witch’s Mountain ($19.99)

Following negative reception of Nausicaa-based games, Hayao Miyazaki's influence is evident in the absence of subsequent Ghibli-related games. Mika and the Witch’s Mountain draws clear inspiration from Ghibli's aesthetic.

Players assume the role of a novice witch whose flying broom is damaged, requiring her to deliver packages to earn money for repairs. The vibrant world and charming characters enhance the gameplay experience. However, performance issues on the Switch, including resolution and framerate drops, are noticeable. The game would likely benefit from more powerful hardware.

Mika and the Witch’s Mountain embraces its inspiration while its core mechanic can feel repetitive. Performance issues further detract from the experience. Those who appreciate the concept will likely find enjoyment despite these drawbacks.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

Peglin ($19.99)

Having previously reviewed Peglin's early access version, I'm revisiting this pachinko roguelike now in its 1.0 release on Switch. The game involves aiming an orb at pegs to damage enemies and progress through zone maps. Early stages present a significant challenge.

Upgrades, healing, and relic collection enhance gameplay. Strategic peg targeting is crucial, utilizing critical and bomb pegs effectively. The game's complexity is initially daunting, but the mechanics become intuitive, and the soundtrack is memorable.

The Switch port performs well, though aiming feels less smooth than on other platforms. Touch controls mitigate this issue. Load times are longer than on mobile and Steam. The addition of in-game achievements compensates for the Switch's lack of system-wide achievements. Cross-save functionality across platforms is absent.

Despite some balance issues and minor performance concerns, Peglin is a must-have for fans of pachinko roguelikes. The developers' utilization of Switch features, including rumble, touchscreen support, and button controls, enhances the experience.

SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5 -Mikhail Madnani

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

The following is a selection of games on sale, representing a fraction of the available deals. A separate article will highlight the best picks from this sale.

(Images of sale banners are omitted as they are not textual content and cannot be recreated in this format.)

A comprehensive list of games on sale is provided, categorized by sale end date. This list includes titles such as Sonic Mania, Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, Persona 5 Royal, Outer Wilds, and many more.

That concludes today's round-up. Join us tomorrow for more reviews, new releases, sales, and news. Until then, happy gaming!