SwitchArcade Round-Up: Reviews Featuring ‘Castlevania Dominus Collection’, Plus Today’s Releases and Sales

Hello discerning readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Roundup for September 3rd, 2024. Today's feature includes several game reviews: in-depth analysis of Castlevania Dominus Collection, a look at Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn, and concise critiques of two recent Pinball FX DLC tables. Following this, we'll explore the day's new releases, highlighting the unique and captivating Bakeru, and conclude with the latest sales and expiring discounts. Let's dive in!

Reviews & Mini-Views

Castlevania Dominus Collection ($24.99)

Konami's recent track record with classic game collections has been exceptional, and the Castlevania franchise has benefited greatly. Castlevania Dominus Collection, the third installment on modern platforms, focuses on the Nintendo DS trilogy. Developed by M2, this collection boasts exceptional quality and offers more than initially apparent, potentially making it the most comprehensive Castlevania collection to date.

The Nintendo DS era of Castlevania was pivotal, presenting both strengths and weaknesses. Positively, the trilogy showcases unique identities, resulting in a surprisingly diverse set of games. Dawn of Sorrow, a direct sequel to Aria of Sorrow, initially suffered from cumbersome touchscreen controls, thankfully mitigated in this release. Portrait of Ruin cleverly integrates touchscreen elements into a bonus mode, utilizing a dual-character mechanic. Order of Ecclesia stands apart with increased difficulty and a design reminiscent of Simon's Quest. All three are excellent games, highly recommended.

However, this trilogy marked the culmination of Koji Igarashi's exploratory Castlevania titles. While distinct, the games also reflect a potential creative fatigue or a struggle to connect with a waning audience. Interestingly, these aren't emulations but native ports, allowing M2 to enhance gameplay, such as replacing Dawn of Sorrow's touchscreen controls with button presses and incorporating a map display alongside the main and status screens. This significantly improves Dawn of Sorrow, elevating it to a top-five Castlevania title for many.

The collection is packed with options and extras. Players can select game regions, customize button mapping, and choose control schemes. A charming credits sequence and a gallery featuring art, manuals, and box art are included. A music player allows for custom playlists, and a comprehensive compendium details equipment, enemies, and items. While additional screen layout options would be welcome, this is a minor quibble. The collection offers exceptional value for its price.

But the surprises don't end there! The notoriously difficult arcade game, Haunted Castle, is also included. M2 has gone further, including a complete remake, Haunted Castle Revisited. This isn't just a simple port; it's a substantial overhaul, creating a truly enjoyable experience. Essentially, this collection includes a whole new Castlevania game!

Castlevania Dominus Collection is a must-have for Castlevania fans. The inclusion of a fantastic new game, alongside the enhanced DS titles and the original Haunted Castle, makes this an outstanding package. If you're unfamiliar with Castlevania, this is a perfect starting point. Konami and M2 have delivered another stellar collection.

SwitchArcade Score: 5/5

Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn ($19.99)

My experience with Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn has been mixed. While Tengo Project's previous releases have been excellent, this remake of an 8-bit game presents unique challenges. The original game wasn't as strong as their other titles, and the remake, while improved, doesn't quite reach the same heights.

The improvements are significant, including enhanced visuals and a refined weapon/item system. While no new characters are added, the existing ones are better differentiated. It's undoubtedly superior to the original, capturing its essence. Fans of the original will love this.

However, if you found the original merely decent, this remake won't dramatically alter your opinion. The simultaneous access to both the chain and sword is a welcome change, and the new inventory system adds depth. The presentation is superb, masking its 8-bit origins. The game features some challenging difficulty spikes, potentially exceeding the original in overall difficulty. It's the best version of Shadow of the Ninja, but it remains essentially Shadow of the Ninja.

Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn is another solid Tengo Project effort, representing a substantial improvement over the original. Its appeal depends heavily on your feelings towards the original; newcomers will find an enjoyable but not essential action game.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

Pinball FX – The Princess Bride Pinball ($5.49)

These quick Pinball FX DLC reviews celebrate the game's significant update. The Princess Bride Pinball utilizes voice clips and video clips from the movie, a welcome inclusion. The table's mechanics feel authentic and are satisfying to play. A well-executed licensed table, highly recommended for fans of the movie and pinball enthusiasts.

SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5

Pinball FX – Goat Simulator Pinball ($5.49)

Goat Simulator Pinball embraces its source material's absurdity. It's a quirky table, best suited for veteran players. While initially bewildering, it offers unique gameplay and humorous elements. Fans of Goat Simulator who are willing to invest time in learning the table will be rewarded.

SwitchArcade Score: 4/5

Select New Releases

Bakeru ($39.99)

A charming 3D platformer from Good-Feel. Play as Bakeru, a tanuki on a mission to save Japan. Features engaging gameplay, interesting trivia, and a lighthearted tone. Note: The Switch version suffers from inconsistent framerate.

Holyhunt ($4.99)

A top-down arena twin-stick shooter described as an 8-bit homage. Features straightforward shooting and dashing mechanics.

Shashingo: Learn Japanese with Photography ($20.00)

A language-learning game where players take photos and learn Japanese vocabulary.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

Several notable sales are ongoing, including OrangePixel's titles and rare discounts on Alien Hominid and Ufouria 2. THQ and Team 17 titles are also ending their sales. Refer to the full lists for details.

Select New Sales (Partial List)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, September 4th

That's all for today. We'll return tomorrow with more news, releases, sales, and potentially another review. Enjoy the abundance of great games! Have a fantastic Tuesday!