SwitchArcade Round-Up: Reviews Featuring ‘Bakeru’ & ‘Peglin’, Plus Highlights From Nintendo’s Blockbuster Sale

Hello, fellow gamers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for September 2nd, 2024! While it might be a holiday in the US, it's business as usual here in Japan. That means a fresh batch of reviews for you, kicking off the week in our usual style. I'll be covering Bakeru, Star Wars: Bounty Hunter, and Mika and the Witch’s Mountain, while Mikhail tackles Peglin—a game he knows better than anyone else at TouchArcade Towers. Plus, Mikhail has some news to share, and we've got a massive 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 is bringing Guilty Gear Strive to the Nintendo Switch on January 23rd! The Switch version boasts 28 characters and rollback netcode for online play. While cross-play is unfortunately absent, it's still great news for offline play and battles between Switch users. Having loved the game on Steam Deck and PS5, I'm definitely looking forward to this release. Check out the official website for more details.

Reviews & Mini-Views

Bakeru ($39.99)

Let's get one thing straight: Bakeru is not Goemon/Mystical Ninja. While developed by some of the same team, the similarities are largely superficial. Expecting Goemon will only shortchange both Bakeru and your own enjoyment. Bakeru is its own unique experience. Good-Feel, the studio behind Bakeru, has a history of creating charming, accessible, and polished platformers for Nintendo (think Wario, Yoshi, and Kirby titles). And that's exactly what Bakeru delivers.

The game unfolds in a whimsical Japan, where you play as Issun, aided by the shapeshifting tanuki, Bakeru. You'll traverse Japan, battling enemies, collecting cash, interacting with… well, let's just say there's poop involved, and uncovering secrets across over sixty levels. While not every level is unforgettable, the overall experience is engaging and lighthearted. I particularly appreciated the collectibles—they often reflect the unique aspects of each location, offering little snippets of Japanese culture, some even surprising to a long-time resident like myself.

The boss battles are a standout. Good-Feel consistently delivers excellent boss encounters, and Bakeru is no exception. They're creative, visually stunning, and rewarding to overcome. Bakeru takes creative risks for a 3D platformer, and while some experiments are more successful than others, the overall quality is high. I genuinely enjoyed the game despite its imperfections; it's incredibly endearing.

The Switch version's performance is the main drawback, an issue Mikhail also noted in his Steam review. The framerate fluctuates, sometimes reaching 60fps but often dropping significantly during intense moments. While I'm not overly sensitive to framerate inconsistencies, it's worth noting for those who are. Despite the improvements since the Japanese release, performance issues persist.

Bakeru is a delightful 3D platformer with polished gameplay and inventive ideas. Its charm is infectious. While performance issues on Switch hold it back slightly, and those expecting a Goemon clone will be disappointed, it's still a highly recommended title.

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. Star Wars: Bounty Hunter focuses on Jango Fett, Boba Fett's father. The game chronicles Jango's adventures before his appearance in Attack of the Clones, offering a glimpse into his life as a bounty hunter.

You'll tackle levels with specific targets, but optional bounties add replayability. The game features a variety of weapons and gadgets, including the iconic jetpack. While initially engaging, the gameplay becomes repetitive. It suffers from several issues common in early 2000s games: clunky targeting, ineffective cover mechanics, and poorly designed levels. Even at its release, it was merely average.

Aspyr's remaster improves the visuals and performance, and the control scheme is better. However, the frustrating save system remains unchanged. Despite its flaws, the remaster is the best way to experience this game.

Star Wars: Bounty Hunter holds a certain nostalgic charm, reflecting the style of early 2000s games. If you enjoy that retro feel and can tolerate its rough edges, it might appeal to you. Otherwise, it might be too janky.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

Mika and the Witch’s Mountain ($19.99)

Following some poorly received Nausicaa games, Hayao Miyazaki reportedly banned further Ghibli-based games. Mika and the Witch’s Mountain, however, draws clear inspiration from Ghibli's aesthetic and storytelling.

You play as a rookie witch whose broom breaks, forcing you to take on package delivery jobs to earn money for repairs. The vibrant world and characters are engaging, but the Switch struggles with performance at times, impacting resolution and framerate. The core gameplay loop, while initially fun, can become repetitive.

If you enjoy the premise, you'll likely find enjoyment in Mika and the Witch’s Mountain despite its technical limitations. A more powerful system might offer a smoother experience.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

Peglin ($19.99)

Peglin, a pachinko-inspired roguelike, has finally reached version 1.0 across all platforms. It's a challenging game with a unique blend of aiming and strategic decision-making. The Switch port performs well, although aiming feels slightly less smooth than on other platforms. Touch controls are a viable alternative. Load times are longer than on mobile and Steam.

The game includes a built-in achievement system to compensate for the Switch's lack of native achievements. Cross-save functionality between platforms would be a welcome addition.

Despite minor issues with load times and aiming, Peglin is a fantastic addition to the Switch library, especially for fans of pachinko and roguelikes. The developers' use of Switch features (rumble, touch controls, button controls) enhances the experience.

SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5 -Mikhail Madnani

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

Nintendo's Blockbuster Sale offers a massive selection of discounted titles. I've highlighted some of the best deals below, but a more comprehensive list is available in a separate article.

(A selection of games on sale – images omitted for brevity, as requested. The original image links are retained in the original text.)

That's all for today! Join us tomorrow for more reviews, new releases, sales, and news. Have a great Monday!