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, Japan is business as usual – Monday! This means a bounty of gaming goodness awaits, starting with our weekly review roundup. Three penned by yours truly, and one insightful piece from our esteemed colleague Mikhail. I'll be covering Bakeru, Star Wars: Bounty Hunter, and Mika and the Witch’s Mountain, while Mikhail provides his expert analysis of Peglin. Beyond the reviews, we have some news from Mikhail, and a comprehensive list of deals from 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 making its way to the Nintendo Switch on January 23rd, boasting 28 characters and crucial rollback netcode for online play. While cross-play is unfortunately absent, offline play and battles with fellow Switch owners should prove satisfying. Having enjoyed the game extensively on Steam Deck and PS5, I'm eagerly anticipating this version. For more details, visit the official website.

Reviews & Mini-Views

Bakeru ($39.99)

Let's be clear: Bakeru is not Goemon/Mystical Ninja. However, it shares some surface-level similarities, being developed by some of the original team. But it's crucial to approach Bakeru on its own merits, not as a Goemon sequel. Bakeru is its own unique experience. Good-Feel, the developers behind Bakeru, have a strong track record with Nintendo, contributing to Wario, Yoshi, and Kirby titles, most recently Princess Peach: Showtime!. Their expertise lies in charming, accessible, and polished platformers. And that's precisely what Bakeru delivers.

The game unfolds in a Japan-based setting, where a young protagonist, Issun, encounters a tanuki named Bakeru, who possesses shape-shifting abilities and wields a taiko drum. Players explore Japan, engaging in combat, collecting currency, interacting with unexpected elements, and uncovering hidden secrets. The game features over sixty levels, offering a consistently engaging, though not always unforgettable, experience. The collectible items are particularly well-designed, often reflecting the unique characteristics of each location, offering intriguing insights into Japanese culture.

The boss battles are a highlight. Good-Feel's knack for crafting memorable boss encounters shines through, resulting in creative and rewarding showdowns. Bakeru takes creative risks within its 3D platformer framework, with varying degrees of success. The well-executed battles more than make up for any less successful attempts. Despite its flaws, Bakeru's charm is undeniable, making it a highly enjoyable experience.

The Switch version's performance is the primary drawback, mirroring issues Mikhail noted in the Steam version. The framerate fluctuates, sometimes reaching 60fps but often dipping significantly during intense moments. While I'm personally not overly sensitive to inconsistent framerates, it's worth noting for those who are. Despite post-launch improvements since the Japanese release, performance issues persist.

Bakeru is a delightful 3D platformer with polished gameplay and inventive elements. Its commitment to its unique style is infectious. While framerate issues prevent it from reaching its full potential on Switch, and those expecting a Goemon clone will be disappointed, it's 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 were divisive, they undeniably expanded the franchise's narrative possibilities. This game focuses on Jango Fett, Boba Fett's father, offering a glimpse into his life before Attack of the Clones.

The game follows Jango Fett as he undertakes various bounty hunting missions, culminating in a pivotal assignment from Count Dooku. Players utilize a range of weapons and gadgets, including the iconic jetpack, to complete missions and eliminate targets. While initially engaging, the repetitive gameplay and dated mechanics (typical of early 2000s games) become apparent over time. Issues such as imprecise targeting and poorly implemented cover systems detract from the experience.

Aspyr's updated version improves the visuals and performance, and the control scheme is significantly better. However, the frustrating save system remains unchanged, potentially requiring restarts of lengthy levels. The inclusion of a Boba Fett skin is a nice touch. This updated version is the best way to experience the game, if you choose to do so.

Star Wars: Bounty Hunter possesses a certain nostalgic appeal, reflecting the characteristics of early 2000s games. If you're seeking a nostalgic experience or a taste of a rough-around-the-edges action game, this might appeal. Otherwise, the dated mechanics might prove too cumbersome.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

Mika and the Witch’s Mountain ($19.99)

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

Players assume the role of a young witch who, after a mishap, must earn money to repair her broom by delivering packages. The vibrant world and engaging characters enhance the experience. However, the Switch version suffers from performance issues, impacting resolution and framerate. The game would likely perform better on more powerful hardware. Despite this, those willing to overlook the technical shortcomings will likely enjoy the game.

Mika and the Witch’s Mountain openly embraces its inspiration, but its core mechanic can become repetitive. Performance issues on the Switch are also a concern. However, the charming world and characters make for an enjoyable, if flawed, experience.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

Peglin ($19.99)

Peglin, a pachinko roguelike, has been previously reviewed in its early access phase. This 1.0 release on Switch, Steam, and mobile offers a more complete experience. The core gameplay involves aiming an orb at pegs to damage enemies and progress through zone maps. The game is challenging, especially early on, but highly rewarding.

Players can upgrade orbs, heal, and collect relics. Strategic peg targeting is crucial, utilizing critical or bomb pegs effectively. The game's complexity initially seems daunting, but quickly becomes intuitive. The Switch port performs well, although aiming feels less smooth than on other platforms; touchscreen controls offer a viable alternative. Load times are longer than on mobile.

The Switch version includes a built-in achievement system, a welcome addition given the platform's lack of native achievements. The absence of cross-save functionality across platforms is a minor drawback.

Despite minor issues with load times and aiming, Peglin is a fantastic Switch title, especially for fans of pachinko and roguelike games. The developers' utilization of Switch features, including rumble and touchscreen support, 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. A separate article detailing the best deals from the sale will be published soon.

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

A comprehensive list of games on sale is included in the original text and will not be repeated here due to length. Please refer to the original text for the full list.

That concludes today's update. Join us tomorrow for more reviews, new releases, sales, and news. Thanks for reading!