Nintendo Direct Recap, Indie Star 'EGGCONSOLE Star Trader' Reviewed

Hello fellow gamers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for August 27th, 2024! Today's update begins with some exciting news, followed by a review, a new release highlight, and the usual sales updates. Let's dive in!

News

Nintendo Direct/Indie World Showcase Recap

As predicted by some industry insiders, Nintendo surprised us with a last-minute Nintendo Direct! The 40-minute presentation featured a Partner Showcase and an Indie World Showcase. While primarily showcasing third-party titles and indie games, it lacked any major first-party announcements and, unsurprisingly, held no news about the next-generation Switch console. Check out the video above for the full presentation, and I'll provide a detailed summary of the key announcements tomorrow.

Reviews & Mini-Views

EGGCONSOLE Star Trader PC-8801mkIIsr ($6.49)

The usual questions arise with untranslated EGGCONSOLE releases: Is the game enjoyable, and is it playable without knowing Japanese? Star Trader is intriguing but not outstanding. Falcom blends adventure game elements with side-scrolling shooter stages, but neither aspect shines particularly. The adventure sections feature appealing artwork, offering a unique take on storytelling within a shoot 'em up. Players interact with characters, undertake quests, and earn money to upgrade their ship, crucial for the action sequences.

The shooter segments, however, suffer from the PC-8801's limitations, resulting in jerky scrolling. Even if the scrolling were smoother, the gameplay might not be exceptional. The game's structure is unclear, with neither part fully supporting the other. Ultimately, Star Trader is more curious than genuinely good. This leads to the second question: The adventure sections are text-heavy, requiring player input for optimal outcomes. Without understanding Japanese, players miss half the game and struggle in the other half due to insufficient credits for ship upgrades. While brute-forcing is possible, it significantly detracts from the experience.

Star Trader provides a glimpse into gaming history, showcasing a developer venturing beyond their usual style. However, the extensive Japanese text severely limits its appeal to Western audiences. While some enjoyment might be gleaned from experimentation, a strong recommendation is difficult to justify.

SwitchArcade Score: 3/5

Select New Releases

Crypt Custodian ($19.99)

This top-down action-adventure game follows Pluto, a recently deceased cat banished from the afterlife palace for failing to meet the Afterlife Guardian's standards. Pluto's eternal punishment? Cleaning! Explore, battle enemies with a broom, encounter quirky characters, defeat bosses, and upgrade abilities. It's a familiar formula, but executed well. Fans of the genre should definitely give it a try.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

For fans of colorful shoot 'em ups with unique mechanics, I recommend checking out the Dreamer series and Harpoon Shooter Nozomi. On the other hand, I highly suggest picking up 1000xRESIST while it's on sale. Other noteworthy sales include various Star Wars titles, Citizen Sleeper, Paradise Killer, Haiku, the Robot, and the Tomb Raider remastered collection. Browse the lists below!

Select New Sales

(List of new sales)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, August 28th

(List of expiring sales)

That’s it for today! We'll be back tomorrow with a more detailed look at the Nintendo Direct announcements, along with new game releases, sales, and potentially more reviews. Have a great Tuesday, and thanks for reading!