Mario Day News, Reviews Featuring ‘Unicorn Overlord’, Plus New Releases and Sales – TouchArcade Leave a comment

Howdy light readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Spherical-Up for March eleventh, 2024. We’ve obtained a big-pants version for you right now. We begin off with a abstract of the Mario Day information that Nintendo posted yesterday, then head right into a beefy critiques part. Our pal Mikhail has his intensive ideas on the newest Vanillaware and Atlus joint, Unicorn Overlord. After that, I’ve my ideas on Ufouria: The Saga 2, A Void Hope, and Tamarak Path. Then it’s new launch time, and it’s… not fairly right now, I’ll say. The Bin Bunch to Not Bin Bunch ratio is wild. After getting by that, there are the standard lists of latest and outgoing gross sales. Phew! Let’s get into it!

Information

All That Mario Day Information For You

Yesterday was March tenth, which is Mario Day. You possibly can’t struggle the advertising, folks. However we often get some Mario info on that day, so I suppose it’s positive. This yr was no totally different. The sequel to The Tremendous Mario Bros. Film was introduced for a 2026 launch, for starters. Paper Mario: The Thousand Yr Door and Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD obtained their launch dates, Might twenty third and June twenty seventh respectively. Bit sooner than I anticipated for the previous, however that’s alright by me. Lastly, some Nintendo Swap On-line retro recreation drops have been introduced for March twelfth. Dr. Mario, Mario Golf, and Mario Tennis shall be becoming a member of the Recreation Boy app, and two of these three are real all-timers. The third one is the Recreation Boy model of Dr. Mario. Properly, I’m certain somebody is nostalgic for it.

Opinions & Mini-Views

Unicorn Overlord ($59.99)

Again in 2013 once I obtained a PS Vita, I had no concept who or what Vanillaware was. I ended up shopping for Dragon’s Crown alongside Persona 4 Golden, and people have been principally the primary Atlus video games I performed when you consider it. Each of them blew me away for various causes again then, and I’ve since made certain to play each single recreation by each builders. I revisited Dragon’s Crown by its very good PS4 Professional model, and in addition adored Odin Sphere‘s remaster on Vita and PS4. None of these got here near how good 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim was which I’ve performed and acquired a number of instances.

So when Vanillaware revealed Unicorn Overlord, I needed to keep away from every part about it till I obtained the sport. That’s a bit onerous to do while you write about recreation information, however I did my finest till the demo dropped. Proper from the get go, it felt particular. I began enthusiastic about the way it may be a as soon as in a technology recreation, however thought that was me getting too far forward of myself after simply an hour.

Once I lastly obtained overview code for it on Swap and PS5, I spent just a few days obsessive about it, however then realized I wouldn’t be capable to have a overview prepared for launch day at that tempo. I wasn’t going to hurry by a Vanillaware recreation to hit a deadline and right here we’re. I understand I’ve spent a number of time on this overview not speaking about Unicorn Overlord itself, however Vanillaware video games are principally as soon as in a technology releases, and I wish to savor them.

Unicorn Overlord is a method RPG that has components of video games like Ogre Battle and Ultimate Fantasy XII with Vanillaware’s signature aesthetic and Basiscape’s sensible music. Whereas 13 Sentinels was extra of a narrative-focused expertise, Unicorn Overlord places its techniques on the forefront, however there’s nonetheless a number of character interactions, improvement, and story beats that have you ever dying to seek out out what occurs subsequent. The construction and intertwined mechanics which can be at play in nearly each aspect of Unicorn Overlord make it really particular.

You play as Alain, a prince, who has been taken away from his mom by a reliable holy knight after the dominion has been attacked. After a little bit of a tutorial battle, you find yourself getting management of Alain years later, who’s now the chief of the brand new Liberation Military. Because the chief, Alain goals to take down Valmore, however the path you are taking will differ. Whereas the primary story could be linear, Unicorn Overlord provides you a number of freedom with the way you method conditions, which characters you possibly can recruit, and what battles you tackle to get stronger.

Whereas Unicorn Overlord has a plethora of techniques and mechanics throughout the board, what shocked me probably the most is the quantity of characters. I can’t even think about how a lot cash went into the sport’s dub with what number of characters are included. I typically questioned how this recreation even exists in its present state. It’s bursting on the seams with what I take pleasure in in technique video games.

The core gameplay in Unicorn Overlord has you exploring an overworld, taking up foes roaming, profitable battles in particular levels, liberating areas, taking up the numerous elective quests accessible, changing into stronger as a military, and extra. Earlier than moving into how the battles and fight work right here, the overworld has a ton of factors of curiosity. These vary from collect factors that replenish after a while, wandering enemies, NPCs with quests, forts the place you possibly can increase your arsenal and rent mercenaries on your military, purchase gear, ship gadgets to cities to revive them to their fullest, rapport conversations to boost your rapport degree, and way more.

The precise fight between models in Unicorn Overlord is automated, however you might have a ton of management over how issues play out. After enjoying the opening portion of Unicorn Overlord, you possibly can choose the sport’s problem with 4 choices in whole, however the default felt good as somebody who enjoys video games within the style. You spend valor factors to summon models which have a set of characters inside. You possibly can customise your unit by character placement with tons of courses accessible within the recreation because the story progresses. When you summon a personality you subject a command and principally benefit from the sport’s real-time motion and pause system to strategize. Sure class models are higher towards particular ones and so forth. You quickly additionally unlock this recreation’s equal to Ultimate Fantasy XII‘s gambit system letting you prioritize what expertise are used below which conditions for a selected unit. That is the place you get the flexibility to utterly break issues open in Unicorn Overlord and it’s very good.

Unicorn Overlord is a surprisingly forgiving recreation with the way it allows you to reload saves or what occurs while you fall in battle. This mixed with the issue choices makes Unicorn Overlord a really accessible entry level regardless of the wealth of gameplay techniques and mechanics. There are particular issues I want have been extra accessible to finish newcomers, however those that spend time with Unicorn Overlord will discover loads to like all through.

Visually, I used to be truly not offered on each side of Unicorn Overlord after its preliminary reveal. I really like Vanillaware’s model and the aesthetic in its video games, however Unicorn Overlord felt a bit totally different in its reveal. Fortunately a couple of minutes with the demo confirmed that this nonetheless was very a lot a Vanillaware recreation. The meals, the attractive UI, character designs, and animations are all good. All of that is accompanied by a clean body charge even in handheld mode the place I spent most of my time on Swap.

I discussed the dub and Basiscape’s music above already, however I nonetheless can’t recover from how good each facets are for Unicorn Overlord. You possibly can pattern them each within the demo, however the groups went all out for the audio design within the recreation. I’m glad Basiscape already launched the soundtrack on streaming companies as of launch day. I left the sport working within the menu just a few instances simply to listen to the music whereas working. Even the early battle music is unimaginable.

I had entry to Unicorn Overlord on each Nintendo Swap and PS5 for this Swap overview. The most important distinction barring decision between each variations is a few post-processing lacking on Nintendo Swap. It isn’t a dealbreaker, however I’ll say the PS5 model is the one to get if you wish to play in your TV or monitor. On the subject of handheld although, I like the Swap model of Unicorn Overlord. It’s fluid and lovely on the OLED. The load instances aren’t horrible both. I’d suggest trying out the free demo to see how you discover the visuals on the platforms you might have entry to purchasing Unicorn Overlord. I ended up spending probably the most time with the Swap model because of how wonderful the sport feels on a transportable.

Unicorn Overlord has just a few minor annoyances although. When deciding on models, if just a few are shut to one another, it’s a bit tough to pick the one you need. Barring that, just a few of the menus might’ve been higher at onboarding. Whereas Unicorn Overlord does a incredible job with its tutorials, the sheer quantity of mechanics and techniques may be overwhelming to these unfamiliar with technique RPGs. By way of what I’d prefer to see in patches for Unicorn Overlord, an choice to disable display screen shake can be nice. Barring that, I don’t have any complaints with it. Vanillaware have delivered but once more right here, and Unicorn Overlord has top-of-the-line dubs in a few years.

As I dug deeper into my Unicorn Overlord playthroughs throughout Swap and PS5, it hit me that Vanillaware is just like the Australian band King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard who maintain exploring totally different genres with every new album and sustaining the standard. It may be too quickly to say if Unicorn Overlord is my favourite technique RPG, however I can confidently say that it and Balatro are the very best Nintendo Swap video games of 2024 thus far. -Mikhail Madnani

SwitchArcade Rating: 5/5

Ufouria: The Saga 2 ($24.99)

Whereas the sequence is basically unknown within the West, Hebereke was one among Sunsoft’s extra prolific manufacturers throughout its heyday. The primary recreation within the sequence, Hebereke, was localized for Europe and Australia again within the day below the title Ufouria: The Saga. It didn’t get a launch in North America till it hit the Wii Digital Console in 2010, however by now it’s largely thought-about to be a shiny spot within the NES’s line-up. An exquisite little exploratory platformer with the standard slick Sunsoft presentation and attraction to burn. Positive, it got here out fairly late within the system’s life, however that was by no means a assure of high quality. Ufouria was an ideal demonstration of how a lot Sunsoft had grown as a developer over the course of the 8-bit period.

Clearly recognizing it had one thing good on its palms, Sunsoft rapidly adopted it up with a sequel on the Tremendous NES in 1993. Hebereke’s Popoon is a puzzle recreation that’s greater than a bit of impressed by Puyo Puyo. Properly, hey. Everybody does one or two spin-offs. A handful of months later in 1994, one other follow-up was launched. Sugoi Hebereke is… a celebration area fighter? Hm. Okay, a bit later within the yr, there was Hebereke no Oishii Puzzle wa Irimasen Ka, a… port of an arcade social gathering recreation with the characters jammed in. On the finish of 1994, yet one more Hebereke recreation, Hashire Hebereke. It’s an isometric racing recreation. Okay, perhaps 1995’s Hebereke’s Popoitto. No, one other falling block puzzler. Later in 1995, O-Chan’s Oekaki Logic… is a Picross-style puzzle recreation, and one which obtained an nearly quick sequel the next yr with comparable gameplay. And one other one just a few years later. After which Sunsoft type of drifted out of constructing video games for a few many years.

That signifies that regardless of Ufouria: The Saga 2 being the tenth recreation within the sequence, that is the primary time the gameplay of the unique has been adopted up on. It’s been thirty-two years! Higher late than by no means, I suppose. Maybe understandably, this sequel doesn’t attempt to make too many dramatic adjustments from the unique recreation. Hebe, a cute little penguin-like creature, heads out to seek out his buddies in a giant non-linear world. Every pal he finds will open up new areas within the map with their skills. Sure, you possibly can name this a Metroidvania when you actually really feel the necessity to take action. And it’s certainly Hebe right here somewhat than Bop Louie; regardless of carrying ahead the Ufouria title Sunsoft has opted to stay with the unique Japanese designs and names of the characters. May need been a enjoyable unlockable, however I’ve all the time most popular the originals anyway.

Naturally, Hebe and his world have gotten a severe facelift. All the pieces is completed up in a method just like the latest Yoshi video games, with a home made look. It suits the characters and the world very well. In gameplay phrases, there are just a few adjustments right here. First is that you just’ll be gathering a foreign money of kinds that you just’ll want to make use of in a machine to purchase gadgets and unlock new skills. The second large change is that the areas are procedurally generated and can change while you re-enter them. Apparently, it feels just like the problem scales in response to which characters and talents you’ve unlocked. Whereas some may fear this might flip the sport right into a roguelite, it actually doesn’t come off that manner. That is truly a somewhat breezy affair, and I feel you probably have a lot expertise within the platforming style in any respect you’ll most likely sail by the sport in about 5 or so hours.

For some gamers this relative brevity and low problem may be a turn-off, and I can actually perceive that. In my case, I had such a great time going by Ufouria: The Saga 2 that I didn’t thoughts any of that. I’ll nearly actually play by it once more sooner or later. The sport genuinely does a great job of following up on the unique, and given the circumstances I feel that’s truly fairly wonderful. You probably have glad recollections of Ufouria or are simply seeking to get into the sequence recent, I feel you’ll have a pleasant time with this one.

SwitchArcade Rating: 4/5

A Void Hope ($15.99)

A Void Hope feels prefer it’s on the cusp of one thing larger. The pixel artwork and soundtrack are each glorious. The sport is dripping with ambiance. The premise is intriguing sufficient, with a mysterious illness making folks overlook increasingly more till they lastly develop into senseless creatures. A spouse units out to seek out what she must make a treatment. Her husband, bothered with the illness, units out to seek out her. You’ll play as each characters on this stage-based puzzle platformer. Whereas it’s as talked about stage-based, you’ll do various exploration in every place. There are secrets and techniques to seek out, and also you’ll have to do some backtracking with new gadgets to open up routes in levels you’ve already cleared.

So far as the gameplay goes, I feel A Void Hope works properly sufficient. The puzzles are gratifying sufficient to resolve, and the controls are stable. The assorted enemies you’ll come throughout aren’t as scary or threatening as they most likely ought to be, and there are some platforming bits that have been so annoying I couldn’t consider it was the identical developer because the Alwa video games, however for probably the most half the sport is clean sufficient to undergo. The ambiance helps loads, because it actually does suck you into its world. The story doesn’t fairly dwell as much as the early promise, preferring to be a bit of extra obscure than I feel can be preferrred.

I actually didn’t have a foul time going by A Void Hope. It has a number of issues going for it, from the slick presentation to the sturdy ambiance to the first rate puzzles. On the identical time, the toothless problem, sometimes-clumsy platforming set-ups, and less-than-satisfying story development and backbone handle to carry again the sport from being as nice because it could possibly be. I feel it’s price enjoying when you just like the look of it, however I can’t see many individuals revisiting it after the preliminary 4 or 5 hour playthrough.

SwitchArcade Rating: 3.5/5

Tamarak Path ($14.99)

It’s essential to know one’s self as a lot as attainable, and one factor I’ve come to find out about myself is that I’m a sucker for cube. Once I was younger, I used to gather cube. I appreciated rolling them greater than I appreciated enjoying a lot of the video games they have been connected to. And that appears to have carried over to video video games. Put some good, sensible cube in a recreation that I can roll, and I’ll be happier than I’d be with out them. Thus, for me, Tamarak Path‘s large gimmick works. That is primarily a type of turn-based roguelite deckbuilding RPGs which have loved a good bit of recognition on Swap. Besides right here, the playing cards have been swapped for cube.

The cube you roll have six sides, and also you’ll be capable to stick no matter skills you need on these sides from those you’ve unlocked. This may make it appear extra random in some methods than the standard recreation of this type, however it isn’t too onerous to govern the cube rolls to an extent when you’ve a thoughts to doing so. You’re going to be doing a number of dice-rolling, as a result of as video games of this type go it is vitally combat-heavy. The path is stuffed with monsters to struggle, and it’s a lengthy street certainly. Satisfying sufficient for a playthrough or two, although in reality I discovered there simply wasn’t sufficient room to differ my methods to make these subsequent runs attention-grabbing.

Tamarak Path has a stable presentation, and the mechanics are sturdy sufficient to carry your curiosity for just a few hours. The UI is a bit of fussy, however the larger subject right here is that the combat-heavy nature of the sport and the best way the battles play out imply you’ll most likely fall again on just a few dependable ways. Some video games on this style could be replayed practically endlessly, however Tamarak Path petered out after just a few runs for me. I feel when you’re actually keen on the deckbuilding roguelite style, you’ll have sufficient enjoyable with what this recreation affords regardless of there being many higher decisions for this form of affair.

SwitchArcade Rating: 3.5/5

New Releases

Loss of life of a Want ($19.99)

Okay, I do know what you’re pondering, and I’m going to set it straight instantly: you don’t need to have watched Loss of life of a Salesman to know this recreation. Apparently they’re not even set in the identical universe. That is a type of hack-and-slash action-RPG affairs that’s good to get within the zone with while you’re within the temper for such actions. The story explores non secular themes, and the fight locations an emphasis on model and talent. As you play, corruption will begin to overtake you. As within the holy scriptures, the one option to thrust back such evil is by shelling out some smoking combos. Throw in a really distinctive artwork model and you’ve got a recreation that actually stands out from the pack.

The Bin Bunch

Finger Soccer League ($5.90)

English Tracing E-book ($3.99)

Unhealthy Cat Sam Simulator ($9.99)

Assist Police: Pull the Pins ($3.99)

Block Magic Puzzle ($3.99)

Sniper Rescue ($0.99)

Cat Survivors ($4.99)

Gunsmith Workshop Simulator ($11.99)

Warring Universe ($3.99)

Paint Rings ($3.99)

The Crystals of Atlantis ($14.99)

Freeway Getaway: ZigZag Blocky Automotive ($3.99)

Gross sales

(North American eShop, US Costs)

A small checklist to get us began off for the week, however a pleasant likelihood to seize the Ori video games or a few of Terarin’s shoot-em-ups if you have to fill out your assortment a bit. In all probability a extra urgent scenario over within the outbox, the place the newest sale from Marvelous/XSEED is coming to an finish. Numerous nice video games in there, and the writer doesn’t do gross sales so typically which you can simply ignore them out of hand. Have a look by each lists and see what jumps out at you.

Choose New Gross sales

Skater XL ($33.99 from $39.99 till 3/15)
Professor Lupo & his Horrible Pets ($2.99 from $14.99 till 3/15)
Professor Lupo: Ocean ($1.99 from $4.99 till 3/15)
Nihilumbra ($1.99 from $4.99 till 3/15)
Ori & the Will of the Wisps ($9.89 from $29.99 till 3/15)
Ori & the Blind Forest DE ($6.59 from $19.99 till 3/16)
CounterAttack: Rebellion ($5.99 from $14.99 till 3/18)
Charua Soccer Professional Version ($5.99 from $11.99 till 3/18)
Tremendous Benbo Quest Turbo Deluxe ($2.50 from $10.00 till 3/22)
GigaBash ($19.99 from $24.99 till 3/24)
Titanium Hound ($9.75 from $15.00 till 3/28)
Xatrom Command ($4.79 from $5.99 till 3/29)
Inflexible Drive Redux ($4.99 from $19.99 till 3/29)
Pumpkin Jack ($7.49 from $29.99 till 3/29)
What The Duck ($1.99 from $19.99 till 3/29)

Progress ($6.69 from $9.99 till 3/29)
Three Minutes to Eight ($7.49 from $14.99 till 3/29)
Let’s Construct a Zoo ($8.99 from $19.99 till 3/29)
Let’s Construct a Zoo: Final Bundle ($16.99 from $33.99 till 3/29)
Instruments Up Final Version ($4.99 from $34.99 till 3/29)
Missile Dancer ($6.99 from $9.99 till 3/30)
Gemini Arms ($6.64 from $9.59 till 3/30)
Raging Blasters ($10.29 from $14.70 till 3/30)
Cat Survivors ($1.99 from $4.99 till 3/30)
Blasphemous 2 ($17.99 from $29.99 till 3/31)
Dredge Deluxe Version ($20.24 from $26.99 till 3/31)

Gross sales Ending Tomorrow, March twelfth

Akiba’s Journey: Hellbound & Debriefed ($7.99 from $19.99 till 3/12)
Akiba’s Journey: Undead & Undressed ($14.99 from $29.99 till 3/12)
Corpse Occasion ($9.99 from $19.99 till 3/12)
Corpse Occasion Blood Drive ($7.99 from $19.99 till 3/12)
Deadcraft ($6.99 from $19.99 till 3/12)
Deadcraft Deluxe ($8.99 from $29.99 till 3/12)
Freedom Planet ($4.49 from $14.99 till 3/12)
Gal Steel ($4.99 from $19.99 till 3/12)
Growbot ($12.99 from $19.99 till 3/12)
Lamplight Metropolis ($9.74 from $14.99 till 3/12)
Loop8: Summer season of Gods ($11.99 from $39.99 till 3/12)
Melon Journey Bittersweet Recollections ($4.49 from $14.99 till 3/12)
Steel Tales Overkill ($7.49 from $14.99 till 3/12)
No Extra Heroes ($9.99 from $19.99 till 3/12)
No Extra Heroes 2: Determined Wrestle ($9.99 from $19.99 till 3/12)

Capsule Child ($2.00 from $10.00 till 3/12)
Pinball FX Charlie Brown Xmas DLC ($4.94 from $5.49 till 3/12)
Pinball FX Star Trek Pinball DLC ($13.49 from $14.99 till 3/12)
Pirate Bloopers ($4.99 from $9.99 till 3/12)
Rune Manufacturing unit 3 Particular ($19.99 from $39.99 till 3/12)
Rune Manufacturing unit 3 Particular Deluxe ($24.99 from $49.99 till 3/12)
Rune Manufacturing unit 4 Particular ($14.99 from $29.99 till 3/12)
Rune Manufacturing unit 5 Deluxe ($24.99 from $49.99 till 3/12)
Sakuna: Of Rice & Destroy ($14.99 from $29.99 till 3/12)
Shadowverse: Champion’s Battle LE ($14.99 from $29.99 till 3/12)
Silent Hope ($19.99 from $39.99 till 3/12)
Sir Lovelot ($2.49 from $9.99 till 3/12)
Sonority ($12.99 from $19.99 till 3/12)
Sqroma ($1.99 from $8.99 till 3/12)

Story of Seasons: A Great Life ($19.99 from $39.99 till 3/12)
Story of Seasons: Mineral City ($15.99 from $39.99 till 3/12)
Story of Seasons: Olive City ($19.99 from $39.99 till 3/12)
The Final Employee ($9.99 from $19.99 till 3/12)
Tin Hearts ($15.99 from $19.99 till 3/12)
Tiny Troopers International Ops ($9.99 from $19.99 till 3/12)
Touhou: New World ($14.99 from $24.99 till 3/12)
Trinity Set off ($19.99 from $39.99 till 3/12)
Trinity Set off Deluxe ($22.49 from $49.99 till 3/12)
Unexpected Incidents ($12.99 from $19.99 till 3/12)
Witchtastic ($13.49 from $17.99 till 3/12)

That’s all for right now, buddies. We’ll be again tomorrow with extra new releases, extra gross sales, extra critiques, and maybe some information. I had a sudden urge to play by some traditional Mega Man video games over the weekend, and that’s simply what I did. I don’t know the way a lot nostalgia drives it, however I certain do have a great time with the NES installments. I hope you all have a fabulous Monday, and as all the time, thanks for studying!