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 game reviews for you – three from me, and one from our expert Mikhail. I'll be covering Bakeru, Star Wars: Bounty Hunter, and Mika and the Witch’s Mountain, while Mikhail shares his insights on Peglin. We also have some exciting news from Mikhail, and a huge 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 the fighting game sensation, Guilty Gear Strive, to the Nintendo Switch on January 23rd! Expect 28 playable characters and rollback netcode for smooth online matches. While cross-play isn't included, it's still great news for offline play and battles with other Switch users. Having loved it on Steam Deck and PS5, I'm definitely looking forward to this version. Check the official website for more details.

Reviews & Mini-Views

Bakeru ($39.99)

Let's be clear: Bakeru isn't a Goemon/Mystical Ninja sequel. While developed by some of the same team, the similarities are mostly superficial. Expecting a Goemon game will only lead to disappointment. Bakeru stands on its own. Coming from Good-Feel (creators of Princess Peach: Showtime! and various Wario, Yoshi, and Kirby titles), it's a charming, accessible, and polished 3D platformer.

The game follows Issun and his tanuki companion, Bakeru, as they journey through Japan, battling enemies, collecting cash, and uncovering secrets. With over sixty levels, it offers a consistently engaging experience, despite some levels not being particularly memorable. I especially enjoyed the collectibles, often reflecting interesting details about Japanese locations.

The boss battles are a highlight! Good-Feel's knack for creative and rewarding boss fights shines through here. The game takes some creative risks, with varying degrees of success, but the well-executed battles more than make up for any misses. I found myself genuinely enjoying Bakeru despite its flaws, thanks to its infectious charm.

The Switch version does suffer from inconsistent framerates, occasionally dipping below a smooth experience. While I personally wasn't bothered, those sensitive to framerate issues should be aware.

Bakeru is a delightful 3D platformer with a polished design and inventive gameplay elements. While framerate issues on Switch prevent a perfect score, its charm and engaging gameplay make it highly recommended.

SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5

Star Wars: Bounty Hunter ($19.99)

A product of the prequel trilogy era, Star Wars: Bounty Hunter tells the story of Jango Fett, Boba Fett's father. This action game casts you as Jango, completing contracts and taking on optional bounties. While initially engaging, the gameplay becomes repetitive, and the game shows its age with clunky targeting and level design issues.

Aspyr's updated version improves visuals and performance, and the controls are better than the original. However, the unforgiving save system remains.

Star Wars: Bounty Hunter has a nostalgic charm for fans of early 2000s action games. While rough around the edges, the Aspyr port is the best way to experience this piece of Star Wars history. If you're not a fan of dated gameplay, however, you might want to pass.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

Mika and the Witch’s Mountain ($19.99)

Clearly inspired by Studio Ghibli, Mika and the Witch’s Mountain puts you in the role of a young witch delivering packages on her broom. The charming world and characters are a highlight, but the Switch version struggles with performance issues, impacting resolution and framerate.

If you enjoy the core gameplay loop and can forgive some technical shortcomings, Mika and the Witch’s Mountain offers a pleasant, albeit somewhat repetitive, experience.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

Peglin ($19.99)

Peglin, a pachinko-inspired roguelike, has finally reached version 1.0! Mikhail provides his expert opinion on the Switch port, praising its overall quality while noting some minor performance issues compared to other platforms. He highlights the game's addictive gameplay loop and unique mechanics.

The Switch version offers various control options, including touchscreen support. While cross-save functionality is absent, the game includes built-in achievement tracking.

Mikhail considers Peglin a must-have for fans of the genre, despite some minor drawbacks.

SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5 -Mikhail Madnani

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

Nintendo's Blockbuster Sale has a massive selection of games on sale. I've highlighted some of the best deals below, but be sure to check out a separate article for a more comprehensive list.

(Images of sale banners and game covers as in the original text)

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