SwitchArcade Roundup: ‘Nintendo Labo – Toy-Con 3: Variety Kit’, ‘Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum ‘n’ Fun’, and Nintendo of Europe’s Summer Sale

Welcome to the SwitchArcade Roundup for July 27th, 2018. This is your destination for all Switch news, new releases, and sales neatly and nicely rounded up for your reading (and occasionally watching) pleasure. There might not be a lot of news today in the Roundup, but what’s here is pretty hefty! There are two new game announcements, a welcomed updated to a colorful platformer starring a character with an insatiable appetite, and even some sales for our European friends! Before we get into all that awesomeness, let’s dive right into Friday’s Game of the Day!

Game of the Day

Infinite Minigolf ($14.99)

It’s summer–the perfect time to go out and play some miniature golf with your friends and/or family. But screw that! It’s way too hot outside! So, instead, why not stay in and play some virtual minigolf with Zen Studios’ Infinite Minigolf. The “Infinite" in Infinite Minigolf originates from the ability to create, share, and download your own/other folks’ custom holes online, theoretically an infinite number. Huh, that’s similar to a level sharing feature in yesterday’s Game of the Day. (I swear I did not plan that.)

Creating minigolf holes is as simple as selecting from a multitude of pieces ranging from walls and floors to objects and obstacles. You can also place power-ups like a rocket that when you press a button to activate it, propels your golf ball with a big boost, as well as a magnet that can hone in on the hole. These can be perfect for miracle hole-in-ones. At the time of release, Infinite Minigolf housed a plentiful amount of custom holes to play on, and ever since release, new themed course packs have been included, adding more customization pieces to the hole creator.

Putting is pretty pleasant, having you pull the analog stick back once you’ve lined up your shot. The more you pull back, the harder your shot will be. Then, you let go and hope your aim (and shot) are true. It can be a bit troublesome initially to determine just how much you need to pull back the analog stick to set the power of your shot. Plus, it can become a true nuisance in performing it correctly thanks to the short analog stick range of the Switch’s Joy-Cons (your finger slipping and messing up your shot may happen occasionally). That said, after some practice it becomes second nature.

Full of pre-made courses by the developers for the Tournament modes (where you can learn the basics of clever minigolf course creation), a host slew of unlockable gear and clothing for your customizable avatar, and the aforementioned hole creator, and Infinite Minigolf successively sinks its proverbial putt for a well earned birdie… and well earned purchase from you.

News

Nintendo Labo – Toy-Con 3: Vehicle Kit drives onto the Switch this September, leading off with an announcement trailer

Nintendo Labo is a cool invention and experiment by Nintendo that has nice creative applications. The first two Toy-Con products might not have been exactly for me, but that’s okay, because not everything Nintendo makes has to be made specifically for me and my age group. You listening out there, particular group of vocal gamers? You know who you are!

Seriously though, the latest in Nintendo Labo, the Toy-Con 3 kit actually looks like something I’d enjoy! Driving a car, and then pulling out the cardboard key and turning it into an airplane (and then a friggin’ submarine!) had me giggling like I was the market Nintendo was aiming for with this kit, a happy-go-lucky child and not the bitter adult I am today. The variety of mini-games and activities on display in the latter part of the announcement trailer is just exciting to see with all of the applications of the game, the Joy-Cons, and the Toy-Cons put into use as well. For kids and kids at heart (I fall into the second category), Nintendo Labo – Toy-Con 3: Vehicle Kit puts the key in the ignition, takes off for flight, and/or dives the sunken depths (hey, it’s a flexible game) on September 14th.

Taiko no Tatsujin officially drums up an announcement for the West

It wasn’t too long ago (Monday, to be exact) that I shared hints that the latest in the Taiko Drum Master series (as it’s known over in this hemisphere) might get localized for the West–even a datamined logo from the Japanese version popped up. Now, Bandai Namco has announced the official localization for the game (as well as a separate PlayStation 4 entry, but this column isn’t called the PlayStationArcade Roundup). Switch owners have the opportunity to drum up some fun when Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum ‘n’ Fun (surprisingly dropping the Taiko Drum Master name and keeping the Japanese name) plays a drum solo on the Switch on November 2nd.

Kirby Star Allies’ Wave 2 update is now live

Adding to the successfully splendid Kirby Star Allies, Nintendo and developer HAL Laboratory show no signs of stopping the free DLC update goodness of the latest in the Kirby series. Three Dream Friends, returning from three separate Kirby adventures (Dark Meta Knight from Kirby & The Amazing Mirror, Daroach from Kirby Squeak Squad, and Adeleine & Ribbon from Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards), offer brand-new abilities and satisfying ways to play. As a lover of all things pink puffball, Kirby Star Allies continues to bring seasonal gifts my and many other fans’ way. You can download the latest version update of Kirby Star Allies now.

European Switch eShop “Summer Sale" features discounts of up to 60% off

Finally, while the SwitchArcade Roundup typically only covers North American eShop sales as TouchArcade is generally based in the United States, I still figured I would be remiss if I didn’t mention this big sale going on for our pals across the pond in Europe. Nintendo of Europe and its partners are holding a massive “Summer Sale" on the Switch eShop, featuring many games exclusively on sale in that region. (There are also deals on Nintendo 3DS games, but I have to keep in mind what the name of this daily column is called. No, it’s still not the PlayStationArcade Roundup.)

The deals end on August 9th, and Nintendo of Europe promises another batch of discounted games coming up on August 23rd. To buy games now or to wait… That IS the question. …Aw, hell, just buy as much as you can while the games are on sale! For a full listing of the Switch games on sale, check out the “Sales" section of the SwitchArcade Roundup.

New Releases

Go Vacation ($49.99)

Originally released for the Wii, Bandai Namco’s mini-game and activity-filled, island-trotting adventure Go Vacation is now on the Switch, published by Nintendo this time around–at least in the Americas. Go Vacation is set on wonderful Kawawii Island, spread across four unique resorts. Each resort has its own modes of transportation, mini-games, and areas to explore for hidden nooks and crannies. Added in this Switch port are remastered visuals, new fishing spots, an animal photography mode, and more traditional analog controls in addition to the original’s motion controls. Go Vacation on the Wii was a little bit too ambitious of a game for the little-console-that-could’s hardware, but this Switch version appears to improve on the original in every way.

Hello Neighbor ($39.99)

Something tells me that the neighbor in tinyBuild’s Hello Neighbor isn’t your Mister Rogers-type. Instead, he’s quite maniacal–the neighbor in Hello Neighbor, that is. Listed as a stealth horror game, you use stealth and sneakiness to enter your neighbor’s house to determine what kinds of questionable, terrifying, bone-chilling things he’s doing in his basement. (Keep your minds out of the gutter, people.) While the premise is interesting, looking at footage of the Switch version shows an incredibly rough looking game with poor performance. Unfortunately, that seems to be a theme here with the tinyBuild’s games on Switch, despite its best intentions on providing Nintendo players with intriguing games.

Element ($11.99)

Do you like your strategy games of the real-time variety? Do you like your strategy games with a space theme? Do you like your strategy games with the ability to pick up and play as you please, without donating countless hours into a single mission? Do you–actually, that’s all the questions I have to help you determine whether Flightless’ Element is the right game for you. If those questions aren’t enough, then just wait for my full review on the game, which will be published in due time!

Final Light, The Prison ($6.99)

Two common terms keep on popping up in these SwitchArcade Roundups when it comes to new releases. Those two are “Metroidvania" and “roguelike". EnjoyUp Games’ Final Light, The Prison combines the two with some gritty graphics and plenty of macabre action. The developers plan more chapters to be added to the game in the future. The mystery here isn’t so much the conspiracy. No, no–the biggest mystery here is why there is a comma in the title instead of a colon! The mystery shall elude us for eternity.

Sales

 

New Games on Sale

 

• NBA 2K18 ($19.79 from $59.99 until August 9)
• NBA 2K18 Legend Edition ($32.99 from $99.99 until August 9)
• NBA 2K18 Legend Edition Gold ($49.49 from $149.99 until August 9)
• Darts Up ($2.69 from $2.99 until August 13)

From the Nintendo of Europe “Summer Sale" (all sales expire on August 9th)

 

• ATOMIK: RunGunJumpGun (€4.79 from €7.99)
• Binaries (€4.79 from €11.99)
• Brawlout (€11.99 from €19.99)
• Butcher (€5.99 from €9.99)
• Cat Quest (€7.79 from €12.99)
• Caveman Warriors (€7.79 from €12.99)
• ChromaGun (€9.99 from €19.99)
• Clustertruck (€8.99 from €14.99)
• Dandara (€8.99 from €14.99)
• Detention (€6.29 from €10.49)
• Draw a Stickman: Epic 2 (€3.49 from €6.99)
• Earth Atlantis (€7.49 from €14.99)
• Elliot Quest (€5.99 from €9.99)
• forma.8 (€4.99 from €9.99)
• Framed Collection (€5.99 from €9.99)
• Furi (€11.99 from €19.99)
• GoNNER (€5.99 from €9.99)
• Graceful Explosion Machine (€7.79 from €12.99)
• Hammerwatch (€5.99 from €9.99)
• Hexologic (€1.67 from €2.99)
• Infernium (€13.79 from €22.99)
• Inversus Deluxe (€5.99 from €11.99)
• Jotun: Valhalla Edition (€8.99 from €14.99)
• Just Dance 2017 (€29.99 from €59.99)
• Just Dance 2018 (€35.99 from €59.99)
• Kid Tripp (€1.99 from €3.99)
• Kingdom: New Lands (€7.49 from €14.99)
• Kona (€9.99 from €19.99)
• LEGO City Undercover (€29.99 from €59.99)
• LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 (€35.99 from €59.99)
• Lichtspeer: Double Speer Edition (€5.99 from €9.99)
• Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime (€8.99 from €14.99)
• NBA 2K18 (€34.99 from €69.99)
• NBA 2K18 Legend Edition (€49.99 from €99.99)
• NBA 2K18 Legend Edition Gold (€74.99 from €149.99)
• NBA Playgrounds – Enhanced Edition (€9.99 from €19.99)
• Neonwall (€5.99 from €9.99)
• Nine Parchments (€7.99 from €19.99)
• Old Man’s Journey (€5.99 from €9.99)
• Outlast: Bundle of Terror (€14.99 from €24.99)
• Party Golf (€8.99 from €14.99)
• Pirate Pop Plus (€2.52 from €4.20)
• Putty Pals (€5.09 from €8.50)
• Puyo Puyo Tetris (€19.99 from €39.99)
• Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition (€23.99 from €39.99)
• Resident Evil Revelations (€11.99 from €24.99)
• Resident Evil Revelations 2 (€14.99 from €24.99)
• RIVE: Ultimate Edition (€8.24 from €14.99)
• Shadow Bug (€4.04 from €8.99)
• Shift Quantum (€11.99 from €19.99)
• Shu (€5.09 from €8.49)
• Snake Pass (€9.99 from €19.99)
• South Park: The Fractured But Whole (€35.99 from €59.99)
• South Park: The Fractured But Whole – Gold Edition (€47.99 from €79.99)
• South Park: The Fractured But Whole – Season Pass (€17.99 from €29.99)
• Stikbold! A Dodgeball Adventure (€8.99 from €14.99)
• Super Meat Boy (€7.79 from €12.99)
• Swim Out (€3.59 from €5.99)
• Tales of the Tiny Planet (€7.49 from €14.99)
• The Adventure Pals (€7.19 from €11.99)
• The Escapists 2 (€11.99 from €19.99)
• The Final Station (€8.99 from €14.99)
• The Jackbox Party Pack (€10.49 from €20.99)
• Toki Tori (€2.74 from €4.99)
• Toki Tori 2+ (€8.24 from €14.99)
• Transcripted (€4.74 from €7.99)
• TurtlePop: Journey to Freedom (€8.99 from €19.99)
• Uno (€5.99 from €9.99)
• Urban Trial Playground (€11.99 from €19.99)
• Use Your Words (€6.54 from €13.09)
• Uurnog Uurnlimited (€7.49 from €14.99)
• Volgarr the Viking (€4.99 from €9.99)
• Warp Shift (€5.99 from €9.99)
• Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap (€11.99 from €19.99)
• Worms W.M.D (€17.99 from €29.99)

Sales Ending on Saturday, July 29th

Grand Prix Rock ‘N Racing ($5.99 from $7.99 until July 29)
Regalia: Of Men and Monarchs – Royal Edition ($21.25 from $24.99 until July 29)

That concludes this week of games, news, sales, and overall fun here at the SwitchArcade Roundup. I’ll catch you all right here on Monday. For our European readers, which new games on sale are you planning to pick up? For everyone else (including our European friends), what are you planning on playing this weekend? I have a shiny copy of Mega Man X Legacy Collection 1 + 2 to play, in addition to some Element, and maybe even Go Vacation, if I pick that up this weekend!  Until next week, keep your Joy-Cons charged and your Switches entertained with great games!