Switch Weekly - Latest issue

Issue #301

· September 25, 2022

#301 Your Nintendo Update — Switch Pro rumours, the Mario trailer looms, and a look inside the Nintendo hotel

Hi, here's issue #301 of Switch Weekly — your update on Nintendo and what games are on the immediate horizon.

First I just want to say a quick thanks to everyone for the kind words following last week's 300th issue. As I shared on Twitter, it means a lot to have you reading my updates every Sunday. Here's to the next 300. 😊 Oh, and congrats to both Maik and Dan — the winners of last week's competition. Thanks to all of you who entered — I've got more planned.

Next week is an absolutely mammoth one on the eShop, with nearly 50 games hitting the store! I don't remember the last time we saw so many titles hit the Switch in a single week! Anyway, the full list is below — it took a while to go through them all this week.

If you enjoy these weekly updates you can support it via Patreon, or just grab me a coffee to keep things fueled! Catch you next time.

Cheers,
Chris ✌️

🎮 Currently Playing: Tinykin, Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, Halo: Infinite (again, on Xbox of course)

REVIEW Return to Monkey Island — "a phenomenal point-and-click adventure, bubbling with passion and fun".

Roland Ingram // Nintendo Life

REVIEW Does Shovel Knight Dig stand on its own in the franchise? — "this entry in the Shovel Knight universe is a near-perfect translation of Treasure Trove's original vision to the roguelite genre, and a brilliant addition to the many great indie games on the Switch". Patrick Klepek writing for Vice also digs it, noting that this platformer tunred roguelike "makes a strong case for its huge and successful pivot".

Nadine Dornieden // iMore

Inside Marufukuro — This is a beautiful account of staying at the former Nintendo HQ, now hotel Marufukuro, and how the place pays homage to Nintendo's history in an exceptional, tasteful way. I can't wait to make my booking.

Martin Lindell // Superjump

Nintendo is releasing the first Mario movie trailer next month

Jay Peters // The Verge

Nintendo Switch 2 rumored to use Nvidia Technology — That old 4K Switch Pro rumour is back this time via an 'Nvidia employee' sharing supposed details of a new system on a chip (SoC).

Sean Murray // The Gamer

REVIEW The DioField Chronicle — "surprised me with just how much depth its combat system offered".

Zhiqing Wan // Twinfinite

▶ REVIEW Beacon Pines: A story about change

Seth Sturgill // All N (YouTube)

REVIEW Spiderheck

Ted Hazell // Pure Nintendo

REVIEW Wayward Strand is a new classic of video game storytelling

Steven Nguyen Scaife // Uppercut

The Making Of: Star Fox Adventures, the game that was once Dinosaur Planet

Damien McFerren // Time Extension

Why gamers (and that's all of us) are swapping guns for house plants

Kylie Northover // The Sydney Morning Herald

How 'Splatoon' carved a welcoming niche in the brutal shooter game genre

Josh Broadwell // NPR

Tunic's manual was physically made for in-game authenticity — This one is out on Switch next week.

Victoria Kennedy // Eurogamer

Splatlands Travel Guide — Remember that extensive Animal Crossing companion app for iOS? Well, the same developer is back with a Splatoon-themed take. The app (iOS only) lets your browse Splatoon 3 gear, weapons, and collectibles, and you can even set up neat widgets for your homescreen to see which maps are live/upcoming.

Jeffrey Kuiken // App Store

Is the timing right on Logitech's plucky foray into handheld gaming? — Ok, this isn't Switch related, but I had thoughts on the new handheld Logitech announced earlier this week. I kinda feel it's gonna be DoA at that price point.

Chris Brandrick // Overkill

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🎮 Upcoming Releases

All releases are digital, Europe & U.S. unless otherwise stated.
Release data sourced in collaboration with Switch Scores.

⭐️ = Ones to Watch · 📦 = Physical release · 🎮 = Demo available

Mon

Kids: Zoo Puzzle — Jigsaw puzzles.
⭐️ The Spirit and the Mouse — 3D narrative-focused adventure set in a French village. You play as a mouse.

Tue

📦 Alfred Hitchcock: Vertigo — Thriller adventure game with original story based on the classic movie. M for mature. Physical release.
⭐️📦 Hokko Life — Life sim that will appeal to Animal Crossing fans. Physical release.
📦 Life in Willowdale: Farm Adventures — 3D farming adventure.
⭐️ Moonscars — Explore a nonlinear 2D "realm marred by desperation and despair". A souls-like Metroidvania. Worth watching the trailer to see how slick the animation is.
Penko Park — Explore and take pics in this abandoned (and spooky) wildlife park.
Q.U.B.E. 10th Anniversary — The first-person puzzler rebuilt with new content too.
⭐️ Tunic — This well-received isometric action game comes over to the Switch — looks cute, but packs quite the challenge.

Wed

Frogice — Basic 2D platformer featuring a chubby frog.
⭐️📦 Let's Build a Zoo — A rather epic zoo management sim in which you can create your own hybrid animals. Physical release. (Sep 29 in U.S.)
Tip Top: Don't Fall! — An arcade climbing game with procedurally generate routes to ascend.
Treasures of the Roman Empire — Play puzzles and arcade games to collect Roman treasures.

Thu

Burger Patrol — Arcade drop piece puzzler, with 'stack the ingredients' gameplay.
C.A.R.L. — A robotic 2D retro-style platformer adventure with RPG/story elements.
Caffeine: Victoria's Legacy — A "choice-rich" fantasy adventure visual novel set in a steam punk Victorian setting. (Sep 30 in U.S.)
Casual Challenge Players' Club — Top-down billiards/pool, with anime characters. Has two player local play.
Crossroads Inn: A Fantasy Tavern Sim — Looks to be a fairly detailed sim about running a medieval tavern. M for mature.
⭐️ Dorfromantik — A lovely looking, chill, city building puzzle game.
Escape Goat — Get the goat to the door in this 2D puzzle-platformer. Rocks an 8-bit look captain. Review here.
Fashion Friends — Stylist arcade minigames.
⭐️ Funtasia — Worth looking at for the art style alone. Side-scrolling, 2D racing.
Host 714 — 2D stealth game. M for mature. Drug references.
Isekai Bride Hunting: Fia Edition — A bishojo visual novel. M for mature. (EU release date)
📦 Martian Panic — Arcade first-person action game, and this one even has an extra 'blaster' accessory controller you can grab.
Moon Dancer — A vertically scrolling shmup featuring "exhilarating lock-on lasers".
⭐️ Picross S8 — Jupiter returns with another collection of gold-standard nonogram puzzles.
Poly Link - RPG Anime Girls — Puzzle collection. (EU release date)
⭐️ Railgrade — Resource management train sim.
Shirone: the Dragon Girl — 3D adventure game set in a haunted castle with puzzles to solve.
Touhou Shoujo Tale of Beautiful Memories — An isometric action RPG.
Voodoo Detective — A 'Monkey Island inspired' point-and-click adventure.

Fri

9 Clues 2: The Ward — Hidden object puzzler set in an asylum.
📦 Airoheart — Did you like the original Link to the Past? This has a similar look. Physical release.
Bunny Park — Sim game in which you design a nice park to attract rabbits.
📦 FIFA 23 Legacy Edition — Don't bother.
Lemon Cake — A 3D 'run your own bakery' sim.
One Hell of a Ride — An 'explosive' arcade racing game.
📦 PAW Patrol: Grand Prix — Cop dog goes racing. Four players locally.
Shotgun Farmers — First-person shooter with online play. "Reloading isn’t an option, so grab one of the deadly crops planted by the bullets of you and your enemies."
📦 Sword Art Online: Alicization Lycoris — RPG based on the anime. The physical release is Japan/Asia only for now.
📦 The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero — This 2010 RPG makes its way to Switch. There's also a Deluxe physical release too.

Sat

Dinogotchi — A tamagotchi pet with tiny arms.
Hazelnut Hex — Pastel arcade shooter featuring a witch trying to save breakfast.
Mission 1985 — Retro arcade run 'n gun military shooter, with two player.

⚡️ Quick Links

A reminder that Bayonetta (the first one) is getting a physical release next week.
Do you login to your Nintendo Account via Twitter or Facebook? Well, that's set to change next month. Consider this your PSA.
Here's some quick hands-on impressions of the Nier Automata Switch port.
Here's a review of Chris Scullion's new N64 book. I've got my copy — it's super.
The new Splatoon focused Switch Player mag is out. Has a crossword from me.
Looks like Detective Pikachu 2 might be nearly ready.
SIFU is getting Switch physical release, complete with figurine.
All Picross S games are getting patched with touchscreen/multiplayer support.
Splatoon 3 is rather popular in China... despite not having launched there.
Chuy shares some hot Splatoon tips in this week's Nintendo Noise podcast. There plenty of good guides over on Twinfinite too.
That Mario + Rabbids sequel? Well, the Rabbids can talk now.
I mentioned it last week, but Square Enix really do have a lot lined up for Switch.
On this day in Nintendo history: Mario Kart Tour was released in 2019.
Dig out Super Mario Maker 2 - Metroid Mike 64 has crafted what looks to be an epic 40-levels of classic Mario platforming fun. Years in the making this.
That neat compact HORI Split Pad now comes in a Pikachu/Mimikyu version.
Cult of the Lamb has been updated on Switch. Patch notes here.
These tiny Switch game cases are adorable, but I know I'd just lose them... 😅
Andy Robertson of the Family Gaming Database has just ran 100k — raising funds for Everyone Can, a charity which helps disabled folks game. Andy helps me put together the deals section (below) and is an all round good egg, so go show his efforts some support if you can.

💸 eShop Bargains

Here's a quick list of some current offers on the Nintendo eShop that caught our eye. Price tracking is provided via Family Gaming Database.

Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl — 80% discount.
Unravel Two — 75% discount.
Rayman Legends — 75% discount.
Donut County — 70% discount.
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game — 67% discount.
Spiritfarer — 67% discount. Demo available.

Looking for more? Family Gaming Database has a full list of the Switch games that are on sale right now.