SwitchArcade Round-Up: ‘Hitman: Blood Money’, ‘Apollo Justice’, Plus Today’s Other New Releases, News, and Sales

Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for January 25th, 2024. It’s Thursday today, and as promised yesterday, it’s a big fellow. A couple of dozen new games hit the eShop today, and there are some very good ones, some very bad ones, and a lot sitting in that awkward in-between zone. Our pal Mikhail has a bit of news for us before we head into those new release summaries, and we cap things off with the lists of new and expiring sales for the day. Let’s get to the games!

News

Under Night In-Birth II Sys:Celes Season One DLC Characters and Roadmap Revealed

Under Night In-Birth II Sys:Celes launches today (and Shaun covers that below) and Arc System Works America and developer French Bread have announced the first season of DLC to coincide with the game’s launch on Switch, PC, and PlayStation. Under Night In-Birth II Sys:Celes is a new game in the series, and it is going to get DLC from now until at least August 2025 going by the roadmap above. This Season One pack will add Uzuki, Ogre, and Izumi to the game. Stay tuned for our full review of the game, but so far it is really great as expected from the team.

New Releases

Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy ($49.99)

We’ve previewed it, we’ve reviewed it, and now you can buy it. Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy includes the fourth, fifth, and sixth mainline entries in the Ace Attorney series, following the story of new attorney Apollo Justice as he navigates tricky legal waters and intense fan reactions over the course of a very bumpy trio of titles. These are great versions of the included games, and you even get all of the content previously sold separately as DLC. Throw in some interesting extras and options, and it’s a real winner for fans of this series.

Hitman: Blood Money – Reprisal ($29.99)

At last, Hitman is available on Switch! What’s that? Oh right, the streaming one. Um. At last, Hitman is available on Switch in a form that doesn’t rely on having a solid internet connection at all times! And it’s Blood Money, which is one of the best games in the franchise. This port comes to us by way of Feral Interactive, so you can count on it having made a good transition to the platform. I’ll have a full review for this early next week, but if you like the game and want it on your Switch, you probably don’t need to wait for that.

Arcade Archives Rainbow Islands ($7.99)

This game probably doesn’t need any major introductions, particularly for our European readers. The first game to carry the “Bubble Bobble 2" moniker (but not the last), this is another fun arcade action game about beating baddies and collecting fruits. Well, you’re actually just trying to get to the top of each stage. But feel free to kill things along the way. Hamster went all-out on this one, adding in a lot of neat options and even throwing in the Extra version at no additional cost. The music has sadly been altered, as the original music infringes on Somewhere Over the Rainbow, but the replacement stuff isn’t terrible. Anyway, it’s a cool game and I would recommend it to anyone who likes this genre.

Hidden Through Time 2: Myths & Magic ($12.99)

Are you ready for a second helping of Hidden Through Time? Find the objects in charming scenes, this time with a gimmick that changes the season or time of day. Some objects can only be found in certain conditions, adding an extra layer of complexity to the proceedings. Besides the all-new story content, you also get an improved version of Architect Mode, giving you greater flexibility in creating your own maps. If you enjoyed the first game, this is an easy recommendation.

Under Night In-Birth II Sys:Celes ($49.99)

Here’s the long-awaited full-on follow-up to the cult favorite fighting game. That’s right, it’s not another revision. A proper sequel. You get a roster of twenty four characters including three new fighters, rollback netcode online multiplayer, and a continuation of the story. We don’t get a whole ton of one-on-one fighters on the Switch and the first game was really good, so fans of the genre will probably want to give this a look.

Jett Rider ($12.49)

Oh, this looks pretty cool. It’s an action-adventure where your character uses a jetpack to get around. You’re actually playing as a junk collector of sorts, but when you arrive on the planet Gravos to do your job, you realize something has gone awry. Keep your trigger finger ready and your thruster finger steady, because you’re going to need a lot of precise moves to survive this one. Make money by collecting space debris and recycling it, upgrade your gear, and collect special Golden Idols that you can trade for some really useful stuff. There’s just something about games with jetpacks that grabs my attention. I’ll have to try this out.

Chip’s Challenge ($2.99)

So here is, I think, a first for the Nintendo Switch eShop. This is an Atari Lynx game. Sure, we’ve seen some in Atari 50, but this is the first stand-alone Lynx release on the platform as far as I know. And what a good pick, too. One of my favorite games on Atari’s handheld, Chip’s Challenge sees you tackling one hundred and forty stages of puzzle action. Collect colored keys, grab limited power-ups to help you traverse treacherous terrain, find all the chips, and make your way to the exit. From simple rules comes some truly devilish puzzles, and it’s really easy to find yourself going back for one more stage.

EGGCONSOLE Yokai Tantei PC-8801 ($6.49)

This is normally where I would try to fill you in on the latest obscure Japanese computer game being resurrected via the EGGCONSOLE line, but I’m not very familiar with Yokai Tantei Chima Chima. Clearly, it’s some kind of maze action game, which was a genre on the wane in 1984 but not totally out of fashion. Well, I’ve committed to reviewing all of these games on my own dime, so I’ll have more details for you once I’ve given it a thorough playthrough.

Starward Rogue ($14.99)

A roguelite twin-stick shooter that happily refers to itself as an Isaac-like, which is a term you don’t see very often in game descriptions. Pilot one of nine mechs and explore more than five hundred different rooms, battling over a hundred enemy types and a bunch of bosses. There are hundreds of items to pick up and use, and you can level up and buy upgrades at shops. It’s a good one, provided you don’t have a dislike of this sort of affair. You’ll definitely get your money’s worth out of it if you like what it’s laying down.

Silver Falls -Guardians and Metal Exterminators S ($20.99)

This is a remaster of a Nintendo 3DS game, and it consists of some simple but enjoyable faux LCD games and a mission-based action-RPG mode. It’s absolutely drenched in 1980s nostalgia, which is a novel concept that I’m surprised no one has thought of before. A decent game if not much more than that, and the developer’s passion and pluck certainly makes you want to throw some money their way now and then. Whether or not this is the game that will make you want to do that, I can’t say. Silver Falls is a weird series like that.

Anomaly Agent ($14.99)

A stylish action platformer game that is extremely well-liked over on Steam, and while I’ve only played a little of it, it’s easy to see why. Really nice presentation, an amusing story, and the gameplay mechanics are solid. It leans heavily into the humor side of things, which of course is going to be subjective, but it’s hard to not vibe with its madcap energy. I’ll give it more time and perhaps give you more thoughts on it later.

Evil Nun: The Broken Mask ($19.99)

Another one of those stealth horror games that I’m not very good with. This one features an evil nun who wields a might hammer that she probably isn’t going to use to build a sturdy bookshelf. Reviews for the game on other platforms seem to lean on the positive end, and since I am a base coward that is really as far as I can take you here.

UFO: Henfield ($8.99)

A strange point-and-click style adventure game about a guy exploring a mansion after receiving a mysterious letter. Apparently there’s a missing professor, and plenty of dry comedy. The game consists of forty different locations, and you’ll have to travel across multiple time periods. Another game that leans into the humor quite a bit, so your mileage may vary. I think it’s pretty funny, though. More than a little rough around the edges, but that’s how this kind of thing goes sometimes.

Onion Force ($4.99)

Oh hey, Thalamus. That means this is probably pretty good. It’s an action-adventure/tower defense mash-up with thirty levels set across six different locations. You’ve got three different heroes to choose from, and there are eight different kinds of towers to build. Oh, and you can collect onions and trade them for useful stuff. I guess that’s why they’re the Onion Force. I thought it was because they tied onions to their belts or something like that. Can you save the last king before it’s too late?

Devil Inside Us: Roots of Evil ($14.99)

Okay, so this is another horror game. It’s a story-focused affair, and you play as a 74 year old priest. You have the proportionate strength, speed, and agility of a 74 year old man, so… you know, be careful. You do have some magic priest powers, and a handy crucifix for curses that won’t come out with water alone. As I mentioned above, I don’t really do horror that often. As such, I can’t really tell you much about this one. I think the choice of protagonist is interesting, at least.

KOBOLOK ($3.99)

Look, you’re not going to believe this, but here’s another horror game. This one has an interesting visual style to it, if nothing else. It also steeps its story in Eastern European folklore, and that’s a good way to go with this sort of thing. The description promises that you will be spooked and intrigued. I’d rather be hugged and given cake, so I’ll be taking a pass on this one as well. Luckily, it’s affordable enough that you don’t have much to lose by taking a punt on it.

Oops, I Said Yes?! ($29.99)

Oops! You went and did that thing! Went on a drunken bender and ended up married to some dude from work! A little mistake. So now you’re stuck in a marriage of convenience, and in a surprising turn of events it seems like you’re both starting to like each other? Wow. Anyway, that’s the premise of this visual novel. If that sounds like a story you want to play through, here you go.

Arcade Tycoon ($19.99)

This is a cute simulation game about building up and running your own arcade. There’s a campaign that will show you the ropes by taking you through twelve levels, and a sandbox mode where you can simply play as you like. There are more than four hundred different objects you can place in your arcade, plus some fun themed zones you can use to set the mood. You’ll also have to manage your staff, so don’t slack on the training. It’s a good example of the genre, but I have to mention that this is another PC-to-Switch port with extremely tiny text in places. A bit of a bummer, but if that kind of thing doesn’t bother you too much then by all means, enjoy.

Selling Souls ($2.99)

A short narrative adventure game about a person who takes a job at a local internet cafe and gets a lot more than he bargained for. Explore the cafe, search for items, make dialogue choices, and see how it all plays out. Probably scary. Heading back under my covers until the next game.

Tibetan Quest: Beyond The World’s End ($14.99)

Another hidden object adventure for those who can’t get enough of such things. This is an Artifex Mundi joint, so you can probably expect that extra bit of quality that this publisher tends to bring to its efforts in this genre. The story is the usual set-up about a missing family member leading you to some mysterious location where there is more going on than meets the eye. Do with it what you will.

Cherry Tower ($2.49)

Sometimes you want a cheap, generic 2D platformer that doesn’t make you think too much. Cherry Tower is a cheap, generic 2D platformer that doesn’t make you think too much. The choice is yours.

Post-Apocalyptic Old Man ($4.80)

This is definitely a bad game, but it’s too funny to just send over to the bins. In a grim future world, everything is being overrun by weird old guys. One young woman steps up to take care of the problem… with hot lead. Shoot the weird old guys and try to survive in this post-apocalyptic nail-biter.

The Bin Bunch

PuzzlePet: Feed Your Cat ($4.99)

Pirate Bloopers ($9.99)

Sunset Racer ($7.99)

Sweets Drop ($2.49)

Boaty Tanks 2 ($9.99)

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

Some Thunderful sales leading the charge today, with many of the SteamWorld games on sale alongside other fun titles like Firegal and LEGO Bricktales. Neither list is very big today, so give a good look to both and see what catches your eye.

Select New Sales

Astronomical Club For Queers ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/31)
Memorrha ($2.99 from $19.99 until 1/31)
Mechanic 8230 Escape From Ilgrot ($1.99 from $14.99 until 1/31)
Fury Unleashed ($2.99 from $19.99 until 2/14)
LEGO Bricktales ($14.99 from $29.99 until 2/14)
SteamWorld Dig ($3.99 from $9.99 until 2/14)
SteamWorld Dig 2 ($7.99 from $19.99 until 2/14)
SteamWorld Heist ($5.99 from $19.99 until 2/14)
Say No! More ($2.99 from $14.99 until 2/14)
Flipping Death ($3.99 from $19.99 until 2/14)
Source of Madness ($7.99 from $19.99 until 2/14)
Firegal: Hack ‘n Splash Rescue ($3.59 from $17.99 until 2/14)
Giga Wrecker Alt ($3.74 from $24.99 until 2/14)
Anthill ($2.49 from $9.99 until 2/14)
Cursed to Golf ($9.99 from $19.99 until 2/14)
Lonely Mountains Downhill ($7.99 from $19.99 until 2/14)
Crowns & Pawns: Kingdom of Deceit ($13.99 from $19.99 until 2/14)
Swordship ($9.99 from $19.99 until 2/14)
Paper Cut Mansion ($7.99 from $19.99 until 2/14)
Curious Expedition ($3.74 from $14.99 until 2/14)
Curious Expedition 2 ($7.99 from $19.99 until 2/14)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, January 26th

All of Us Are Dead ($15.99 from $19.99 until 1/26)
Bombing Busters ($3.49 from $6.99 until 1/26)
Chasing Light ($9.49 from $18.99 until 1/26)
Dead Station ($2.49 from $4.99 until 1/26)
Devoured by Darkness ($2.99 from $5.99 until 1/26)
Earth Marines ($2.49 from $4.99 until 1/26)
Farm Knight Adventures ($7.64 from $8.99 until 1/26)
Feeble Light ($3.24 from $4.99 until 1/26)
Radioactive Dwarfs: Evil From the Sewers ($2.49 from $4.99 until 1/26)
Revertia ($2.24 from $4.99 until 1/26)
Rush Rally 3 ($5.99 from $14.99 until 1/26)
Space Roguelike Adventure ($2.49 from $4.99 until 1/26)
The Red Exile: Survival Horror ($2.99 from $4.99 until 1/26)
Train Traffic Manager ($1.99 from $14.99 until 1/26)
Viviette ($4.99 from $9.99 until 1/26)
Zombo Buster Rising ($2.49 from $4.99 until 1/26)

That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with the remaining releases of the week, plus whatever news and sales roll in over the course of the day. Today was a long one, so I’m heading home late today. Cold dinner tastes like failure, chums. But I did my best. I hope you all have a superb Thursday, and as always, thanks for reading!