Hello discerning readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Roundup for September 3rd, 2024. Today's article features several game reviews: in-depth analyses of Castlevania Dominus Collection and Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn, plus concise critiques of two recent Pinball FX DLC tables. Following the reviews, we'll explore the day's new releases, including the unique and captivating Bakeru, and conclude with a look at 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 particularly benefited. Castlevania Dominus Collection, the third in the series on modern platforms, focuses on the Nintendo DS trilogy. Developed by M2, this collection delivers exceptional quality and surpasses expectations, potentially becoming the most essential Castlevania compilation yet.
The Nintendo DS era of Castlevania holds a unique place in franchise history. All three games possess distinct identities, creating a surprisingly diverse set. Dawn of Sorrow, a direct sequel to Aria of Sorrow, initially suffered from cumbersome touchscreen controls, thankfully mitigated in this release. Portrait of Ruin relegates touchscreen elements to a bonus mode, instead employing a dual-character mechanic. Order of Ecclesia significantly diverges, offering increased difficulty and a design reminiscent of Simon's Quest. All are excellent, arguably even great, games.
This collection marks the culmination of Koji Igarashi's exploratory Castlevania titles, a run that began with the revitalizing Symphony of the Night. While these games are enjoyable, their distinctness raises questions about Igarashi's creative exploration versus a response to waning audience interest. Many felt fatigued by the formula at the time, a sentiment I shared despite enthusiastically purchasing and playing each installment.
Surprisingly, these aren't emulated but are native ports. This allowed M2 to enhance Dawn of Sorrow by replacing frustrating touchscreen interactions with button controls, and to cleverly display the main screen, status screen, and map simultaneously. While retaining some DS-like aspects, the games are fully playable with a controller, significantly improving Dawn of Sorrow and solidifying its place among my top five Castlevania titles.
The collection boasts a wealth of options and extras. Players can select game regions, customize button mappings, and choose between left stick control for character movement or the touch cursor. A charming credits sequence highlights unsung series contributors. A comprehensive gallery features artwork, manual scans, and box art. A music player allows custom playlist creation.
In-game options include save states, rewind functionality, customizable control schemes, screen layout adjustments, background color choices, and audio level control. A detailed compendium provides information on equipment, enemies, items, and other details. My only minor criticism is the limited screen arrangement options. This is a fantastic way to experience three exceptional games, offering incredible value for the price.
The inclusion of the notoriously difficult arcade game, Haunted Castle, is a welcome surprise. While its inclusion in previous collections was absent, it's now present with various options, including the essential unlimited continues feature. Despite its brutal difficulty, the game boasts excellent music and a stylish opening sequence.
The collection's most significant extra is a complete remake of Haunted Castle. Similar to M2's Castlevania: The Adventure Rebirth, Haunted Castle Revisited retains elements of the original while creating a vastly improved experience. This is essentially a new, high-quality Castlevania game, unexpectedly nestled within a Nintendo DS compilation.
Castlevania Dominus Collection is a must-have for Castlevania fans. It includes a fantastic new game and presents the three Nintendo DS titles in optimal form. The original Haunted Castle is also included. If you dislike Castlevania, we're not friends. If you're unfamiliar with Castlevania, acquire all three collections and prepare for an unforgettable experience. Konami and M2 have delivered another stellar achievement.
SwitchArcade Score: 5/5
Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn ($19.99)
My experience with Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn has been a mixed bag. I've enjoyed Tengo Project's previous releases, considering their versions of Wild Guns and The Ninja Warriors definitive. While Pocky & Rocky had minor flaws, it was also enjoyable. Shadow of the Ninja, however, presented a different challenge. The team's limited involvement with the original 8-bit game, and my personal assessment of the original as less compelling than their other titles, made me hesitant.
My initial impressions at last year's Tokyo Game Show were positive, reigniting my enthusiasm. After multiple playthroughs, my opinion remains balanced. Compared to the developer's other works, Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn feels less polished. However, improvements are evident in the presentation and refined weapon/item systems. While lacking new characters, existing characters are better differentiated. It's undeniably superior to the original while retaining its essence. Fans of the original will adore this.
For those who, like myself, found the original merely decent, this remake won't drastically alter that perception. Simultaneous access to the chain and sword is a significant improvement, with the sword proving more useful. The new inventory system adds welcome depth. The presentation is excellent, masking its 8-bit origins. However, the game features challenging difficulty spikes, exceeding the original's difficulty. Its brevity might necessitate this increased challenge. It's the best Shadow of the Ninja experience, but it remains Shadow of the Ninja.
Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn is another solid Tengo Project effort, representing their most substantial improvement over a predecessor. Its appeal hinges on one's opinion of the original, as the core gameplay remains similar. Newcomers will find it enjoyable but not essential, adhering to a classic 8-bit design philosophy.
SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5
Pinball FX – The Princess Bride Pinball ($5.49)
These brief Pinball FX DLC reviews celebrate the game's significant update, finally making it properly playable on Switch. Two new 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 inclusion. Mechanically, it feels like a realistic physical pinball table. Easy to learn, authentic to the license, and satisfying to play.
Zen Studios hasn't always succeeded with licensed tables, often lacking music, voices, and likenesses. The Princess Bride Pinball is an exception, appealing to fans of the movie and pinball enthusiasts. While not the most innovative, its familiar design choices add to its charm. A fun experience 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 bizarre table, uniquely suited to the video game format. Players encounter silly goat-related events, adding effects to the ball and triggering various table elements. Initially confusing, persistence is rewarded. This table is more challenging, better suited for veteran players. Goat Simulator fans without pinball experience may struggle.
Goat Simulator Pinball is another strong DLC offering from Zen Studios. Its unconventional design is a refreshing change. It's difficult to master, but the rewards are worth the effort. Fans of Goat Simulator who persevere will be entertained, but it requires more dedication than other tables.
SwitchArcade Score: 4/5
Select New Releases
Bakeru ($39.99)
As detailed in yesterday's review, this charming 3D platformer from Good-Feel is highly enjoyable. Play as Bakeru, a tanuki on a mission to save Japan from an evil overlord. Battle enemies, discover hidden trivia, collect souvenirs, and enjoy the humor. The Switch version suffers from inconsistent framerate, potentially deterring tech-savvy players. Otherwise, it's a delightful Switch title.
Holyhunt ($4.99)
This top-down arena twin-stick shooter is described as an 8-bit homage, though its style isn't reminiscent of games from that era. It's a simple shoot-'em-up with boss battles.
Shashingo: Learn Japanese with Photography ($20.00)
While typically avoiding language-learning apps, this one seems more thoughtfully designed. Players photograph objects and learn their Japanese names. Its $20 price point might be prohibitive for some.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
Today's sales include OrangePixel's selection of excellent pick-up-and-play titles. Alien Hominid is exceptionally discounted, along with Ufouria 2. THQ and Team 17 titles are ending their sales. Explore both lists for further details.
Select New Sales
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Sales Ending Tomorrow, September 4th
(List of sales)
That concludes today's roundup. Join us tomorrow for more new releases, sales, news, and potentially another review. We're in the midst of a season overflowing with excellent games, so protect your wallets and enjoy the fun. It's likely the Switch's final holiday season, so let's make it memorable. Have a fantastic Tuesday, and thank you for reading!
