Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for September 3rd, 2024! Today, we've got several reviews lined up: in-depth thoughts on Castlevania Dominus Collection, a look at Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn, and quick takes on a pair of new Pinball FX DLC tables. After that, we'll explore the day's new releases, including the quirky Bakeru, and round things out with the latest sales and expiring discounts. Let's dive in!
Reviews & Mini-Views
Castlevania Dominus Collection ($24.99)
Konami's recent classic collections have been impressive, and the Castlevania franchise is no exception. Castlevania Dominus Collection, the third in the series on modern platforms, focuses on the Nintendo DS trilogy. Developed by M2, it delivers excellent results, but there's more to this collection than initially meets the eye—it might be the most essential Castlevania collection yet.
Let's start with the games themselves. The Nintendo DS era was pivotal for Castlevania, both positively and negatively. Positively, the trilogy offers unique identities and surprising variety. Dawn of Sorrow, a direct sequel to Aria of Sorrow, while initially hampered by clunky touchscreen controls (mitigated here), is a strong entry. Portrait of Ruin cleverly integrates its touchscreen elements into a bonus mode, focusing on an interesting dual-character mechanic. Order of Ecclesia shakes things up further, boasting higher difficulty and a design reminiscent of Simon's Quest. All three are solid, even great, games.
However, this trilogy also marked the end of Koji Igarashi's run of exploratory Castlevania games. While distinct, were these games so different due to Igarashi's creative exploration, or a desperate attempt to revitalize a waning interest? Hindsight suggests the latter, as many felt fatigued by the formula at the time. Ironically, despite enjoying them, I felt the series was falling into a rut. Sometimes, you don't appreciate what you have until it's gone.
Surprisingly, these aren't emulations but native ports. This allowed M2 to enhance the experience, replacing Dawn of Sorrow's touchscreen controls with more manageable button presses. The presentation cleverly displays the main screen, status screen, and map simultaneously. While some DS-like aspects remain, the games adapt perfectly to controller use, significantly improving Dawn of Sorrow and placing it among my top five Castlevania titles.
The collection is packed with options and extras. You can select the game region, customize button mapping, choose between left stick movement and touch cursor control (crucial for Portrait of Ruin's bonus mode), and enjoy a charming credits sequence. A gallery showcases art, manuals, and box art; a music player lets you create custom playlists. In-game options include save states, rewind, customizable control schemes, screen layouts, background colors, and adjustable audio. A comprehensive compendium details equipment, enemies, and items. My only minor gripe is the lack of screen arrangement options to maximize the play area. This is a fantastic way to experience these three games, offering incredible value.
But wait, there's more! The infamous arcade game, Haunted Castle, is included. While its inclusion in this collection is unexpected, it's here, complete with the essential unlimited continues option (this game is brutally unfair). Despite its poor gameplay, it boasts great music and a stylish opening sequence. Or… is it that bad?
The final extra (though substantial enough to be considered more than just an extra) is a complete remake of Haunted Castle: Haunted Castle Revisited. M2 has essentially created a new, improved version of the original, retaining some aspects while significantly enhancing the gameplay. This is, in effect, a brand-new Castlevania game!
If you love Castlevania, Castlevania Dominus Collection is a must-buy. A new, excellent Castlevania game is included, along with the three DS titles presented flawlessly. The original Haunted Castle is also present. If you don't like Castlevania, well, we can't be friends. And if you're unfamiliar with Castlevania, get all three collections and experience the fun. This is another stellar release from Konami and M2.
SwitchArcade Score: 5/5
Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn ($19.99)
My experience with Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn has been a rollercoaster. Tengo Project's previous releases have been excellent, but this remake presented some challenges. The team's limited involvement with the original 8-bit game, and my personal feelings about the original's quality, made me hesitant.
After playing it extensively, my opinion is nuanced. Compared to Tengo Project's other work, it's less polished. However, the improvements are numerous: excellent presentation and a refined weapon/item system. While no new characters are added, the existing ones are differentiated. It's definitively better than the original, while retaining its core spirit. Fans of the original will adore this.
If you, like me, found the original merely decent, this won't drastically change your opinion. The ability to use both chain and sword simultaneously is a significant improvement, and the sword is more useful. The new inventory system adds welcome spice. The presentation is superb, masking its 8-bit origins. However, some challenging difficulty spikes are present, making it harder than the original. 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 Tengo Project effort, representing perhaps their most substantial improvement over a source material. Whether you should buy it depends on your feelings about the original, as the core remains largely unchanged. Newcomers will find an enjoyable, but not essential, action game with a distinct 8-bit aesthetic.
SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5
Pinball FX – The Princess Bride Pinball ($5.49)
Let's quickly review the new Pinball FX DLC, celebrating the game's updated performance on Switch. Two tables were released: The Princess Bride Pinball and Goat Simulator Pinball. The Princess Bride Pinball features voice clips and video clips from the movie—a welcome addition, Zen! Mechanically, it feels like a real pinball table, easy to learn, authentic to the license, and satisfying to play.
Zen Studios doesn't always nail licensed tables, often lacking music, voice acting, and likeness. The Princess Bride Pinball is an exception, a well-executed table that fans of the movie will enjoy. While not the most innovative, its familiar design choices are fitting. A fun table for both newcomers and veterans.
SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5
Pinball FX – Goat Simulator Pinball ($5.49)
Goat Simulator Pinball perfectly captures its source material's absurdity. It's a unique table, only possible in a video game. The goat-related antics and ball effects add to the chaotic fun. It's initially bewildering, but rewarding once mastered. This is more of a table for veteran players; Goat Simulator fans new to pinball may struggle initially.
Goat Simulator Pinball is another solid Zen Studios release. Its off-the-wall nature is a welcome change of pace. It's challenging to learn but offers wacky fun. Goat Simulator fans who persevere will be rewarded, but it requires more effort than other tables.
SwitchArcade Score: 4/5
Select New Releases
Bakeru ($39.99)
As mentioned in yesterday's review, this charming 3D platformer from Good-Feel is a delightful experience. Play as Bakeru, a tanuki saving Japan from an evil overlord. Battle enemies, discover hidden trivia, collect souvenirs, and enjoy the humor. Note that the Switch version suffers from inconsistent framerate.
Holyhunt ($4.99)
A top-down arena twin-stick shooter described as an 8-bit homage. It's a simple shoot-'em-up with boss battles.
Shashingo: Learn Japanese with Photography ($20.00)
While typically we focus on games, this language-learning title seems well-made. Take photos, learn Japanese vocabulary.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
Several noteworthy games are on sale, including OrangePixel's titles. Alien Hominid has a rare discount, and Ufouria 2 is also well-priced. THQ and Team17 sales are ending soon. Check both lists for more deals.
Select New Sales
(List of sales)
(List of sales ending tomorrow)
That's all for today! Join us tomorrow for more new releases, sales, and potentially a review or two. We're in the midst of a great game season, so hold onto your wallets and enjoy the fun! Have a great Tuesday, and thanks for reading!
