SwitchArcade Round-Up: Reviews Featuring ‘Ace Attorney Investigations Collection’, Plus New Releases and Sales

Hello again, SwitchArcade enthusiasts! Welcome to the September 4th, 2024, round-up. Summer's warmth has faded, leaving behind memories both scorching and sweet. This season's journey with you all has been truly rewarding. As autumn arrives, know that you're the best gaming companions anyone could ask for. Today's agenda: a plethora of game reviews, fresh releases, and enticing sales! Let's dive in!

Reviews & Mini-Views

Ace Attorney Investigations Collection ($39.99)

The Nintendo Switch era has gifted us second chances at classic titles. Trials of Mana, Live A Live, the original Fire Emblem, and now, the long-awaited English localization of the Ace Attorney Investigations Collection. This compilation features Miles Edgeworth's adventures following Trials & Tribulations. The sequel cleverly expands on previous storylines, enhancing the original game in retrospect. Finally experiencing it in English is a genuine treat.

The Investigations games offer a prosecutor's perspective, a refreshing change. Gameplay remains largely familiar: gather clues, interrogate witnesses, and solve cases. However, the unique presentation and Edgeworth's personality add a distinctive flavor. While the pacing can feel less structured than typical Ace Attorney titles, leading to occasional fatigue, fans of the main series will undoubtedly appreciate this spin-off. If the first game feels slow, persevere – the second is significantly better, providing context to the first.

Bonus features rival those of the Apollo Justice set. An art and music gallery, a story mode for relaxed replay, and selectable original/enhanced graphics and soundtracks are included. A helpful dialogue history feature, a welcome addition to the series, is also present.

The Ace Attorney Investigations Collection provides a compelling contrast between its two games. The official localization of the second game is exceptional, and the extra content elevates the package. With this release, every Ace Attorney game (excluding the Professor Layton crossover) is now available on the Switch. If you've already enjoyed the series, this is a must-have.

SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5

Gimmick! 2 ($24.99)

A sequel to Gimmick! is surprisingly welcome. Sunsoft's late NES title, initially released only in Scandinavia, now has a follow-up developed by Bitwave Games. While created without the original developer's involvement, it remains remarkably faithful, perhaps too much so for some. However, this dedication to the original is commendable.

Six extensive levels of challenging physics-based platforming await. The difficulty is steep, mirroring the original, but an easier mode is now available. Yumetaro's star attack returns as a versatile tool for combat and puzzle-solving. Collectibles offer customization options, rewarding players for mastering difficult sections.

The game's length depends on your skill, but expect a significant challenge regardless. Frequent deaths are inevitable, but generous checkpoints mitigate frustration. The charming visuals and music help maintain engagement, but don't underestimate Gimmick! 2's difficulty. It retains the original's demanding nature, requiring platforming expertise and strategic use of Yumetaro's star and enemies.

Gimmick! 2 is a surprisingly excellent sequel, successfully building upon the original while maintaining its own identity. Fans of the first game will be delighted, and challenging platformer enthusiasts should also consider it. However, those seeking a casual experience should be warned – it's as tough as its predecessor, despite the easier mode.

SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5

Valfaris: Mecha Therion ($19.99)

Valfaris: Mecha Therion takes a bold step, abandoning the original's action-platformer style for a shoot 'em up experience reminiscent of Lords of Thunder. Surprisingly, it largely succeeds. The main drawback is occasional performance issues on the Switch's aging hardware, a limitation of the console's current capabilities. Despite this, the intense action, soundtrack, and visuals remain engaging.

The weapon system adds depth. The primary gun, a melee weapon for energy regeneration, and a rotating third weapon create a dynamic gameplay loop. Mastering the rhythm of weapon management and evasive maneuvers is crucial and rewarding.

While different from its predecessor, Mecha Therion retains the original's atmosphere. It's a stylish heavy metal shoot 'em up that avoids common genre pitfalls. While other platforms offer better performance, the Switch version delivers a satisfying experience.

SwitchArcade Score: 4/5

Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Party Dash ($44.99)

Licensed games often cater primarily to fans. Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Party Dash delivers ample fan service, excelling in its presentation of the source material's world, characters, and writing. However, its appeal to non-fans is limited. The few mini-games, while well-presented, lack depth and replayability.

The game's main strength lies in its fan service; the story and unlockables will resonate strongly with existing fans. However, the limited gameplay options and repetitive nature will likely disappoint those unfamiliar with the Umamusume franchise.

Even for fans, Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Party Dash feels unbalanced. While the visuals, audio, and world are well-executed, the limited gameplay detracts from the overall experience. The extensive unlockables might keep dedicated fans engaged, but the game's limited appeal and shallow gameplay will likely lead to quick burnout.

SwitchArcade Score: 3/5

Sunsoft is Back! Retro Game Selection ($9.99)

Sunsoft is known in the West for titles like Blaster Master and Batman. However, this collection showcases a lesser-known side of the publisher, focusing on charming 8-bit games popular in Japan. Sunsoft is Back! Retro Game Selection offers three such games at a reasonable price.

The collection includes Firework Thrower Kantaro’s 53 Stations of the Tokaido, Ripple Island, and The Wing of Madoola. Each game includes save states, rewind functionality, display options, and an art gallery. The full English localization is a significant achievement, marking the first official English release for these titles.

The games offer varied experiences. 53 Stations is challenging due to its unwieldy weapon, but possesses a unique charm. Ripple Island is a solid adventure game, while The Wing of Madoola is ambitious but inconsistent. None are top-tier NES titles, but none are outright bad.

This collection will appeal to Sunsoft fans and those who enjoy exploring lesser-known game libraries. The careful handling of each game and the long-awaited localization make this a worthwhile purchase.

SwitchArcade Score: 4/5

Select New Releases

Cyborg Force ($9.95)

A challenging run-and-gun game in the style of Metal Slug and Contra, featuring single-player and local multiplayer options. Fans of the genre should find it enjoyable.

Billy’s Game Show ($7.99)

While thematically similar to Five Nights at Freddy's, this game focuses on exploration, hiding, and generator maintenance while evading a pursuer.

Mining Mechs ($4.99)

A straightforward mech-based mining game where players collect resources, upgrade their mechs, and progress deeper into increasingly dangerous mines.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

A relatively small selection of sales this week, but the upcoming sales ending soon offer some notable titles. Explore the lists below for potential bargains.

Select New Sales

(List of new sales)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, September 5th

(List of sales ending September 5th)

That concludes today's round-up. More reviews are forthcoming this week, along with the usual September influx of new eShop releases. Check back tomorrow for another update, or visit my blog, Post Game Content, for additional content. Have a great Wednesday, and thank you for reading!