Castlevania Collection and More Hit SwitchArcade

Hello fellow gamers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Roundup for September 3rd, 2024! Today's article brings you fresh reviews, including in-depth analyses of Castlevania Dominus Collection and Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn, plus quick takes on some recent Pinball FX DLC. Following that, we'll explore the day's new releases, featuring the charming Bakeru, and then dive into the latest sales and expiring deals. Let's jump in!

Reviews & Mini-Views

Castlevania Dominus Collection ($24.99)

Konami's recent track record with classic collections has been undeniably impressive, and the Castlevania franchise has been a major beneficiary. Castlevania Dominus Collection, the third such collection on modern platforms, focuses on the Nintendo DS trilogy. Developed by M2, the collection delivers the usual high-quality presentation, but it offers much more than initially apparent, potentially making it the most comprehensive Castlevania collection to date.

First, let's examine the core content: the Nintendo DS Castlevania games. This era holds a significant, albeit somewhat mixed, place in the franchise's history. Positively, the trilogy boasts unique identities, resulting in a surprisingly diverse set of experiences. Dawn of Sorrow, a direct sequel to Aria of Sorrow, suffers from early DS touchscreen limitations, thankfully mitigated in this release. Portrait of Ruin relegates touchscreen elements to a bonus mode, focusing instead on its interesting dual-character mechanic. Order of Ecclesia significantly deviates, presenting a higher difficulty and a design reminiscent of Simon's Quest. All three are excellent games, highly recommended.

However, this trilogy also marked the end of Koji Igarashi's run of exploratory Castlevania titles. While these games offered unique gameplay, some felt the series was becoming repetitive. Were these distinct games a testament to Igarashi's creative exploration, or a desperate attempt to revitalize interest? The answer remains elusive. Many players felt fatigued by the formula at the time, and even this reviewer, despite enthusiastically purchasing each game on release, admits a sense of weariness.

Interestingly, these games aren't emulated but are native ports. This allowed M2 to implement improvements, such as replacing Dawn of Sorrow's cumbersome touchscreen controls with more manageable button inputs. The presentation includes the main screen, status screen, and map simultaneously, enhancing the overall experience. While some DS elements remain, the games adapt seamlessly to controllers, significantly improving Dawn of Sorrow and solidifying its place among the top Castlevania titles.

The collection is packed with options and extras. Players can select game regions, customize button mapping, and choose between left stick movement and touch cursor control. A charming credits sequence highlights unsung heroes. A gallery showcases art, manuals, and box art. A music player allows custom playlists. In-game options include save states, rewind, control remapping, customizable screen layouts, background colors, and audio adjustments. A comprehensive compendium provides information on equipment, enemies, and items. The only minor drawback is the lack of additional screen layout options to maximize gameplay area. This collection provides an outstanding way to enjoy these fantastic games, offering incredible value for the price.

And there's more! The infamous arcade game, Haunted Castle, is included. While its omission from the first collection was puzzling, its inclusion here is a welcome surprise. Options include the essential unlimited continues, given the game's notoriously unfair difficulty. Despite its brutal challenge, the game boasts excellent music and a stylish opening sequence.

But the real surprise is Haunted Castle Revisited, a complete remake of Haunted Castle. M2 has essentially created a superior game, retaining the spirit of the original while significantly improving the gameplay. This is essentially a brand-new Castlevania game, a fantastic addition tucked within the collection's extras.

Castlevania Dominus Collection is a must-have for Castlevania fans. It includes a fantastic new game and presents the three DS titles flawlessly. The original Haunted Castle is also included. If you don't like Castlevania, well, we can't be friends! And if you're unfamiliar with the series, grab all three collections and prepare for a great time. Another stellar collaboration between Konami and M2.

SwitchArcade Score: 5/5

Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn ($19.99)

My experience with Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn has been a mixed bag. While I've enjoyed Tengo Project's previous releases, particularly their versions of Wild Guns and The Ninja Warriors, Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn felt different. The team's limited involvement with the original, an 8-bit game, and my less enthusiastic view of the original game made me apprehensive.

However, after a preview at Tokyo Game Show and subsequent playthroughs, my opinion has evolved. Compared to Tengo Project's other remakes, Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn is less polished. Nonetheless, improvements are significant, including enhanced presentation and a refined weapon/item system. While new characters are absent, existing characters are more distinct. It's undoubtedly superior to the original, retaining its core essence. Fans of the original will adore this remake.

However, if you, like me, found the original merely decent, this remake won't dramatically alter your perception. Simultaneous access to both the chain and sword is a welcome improvement, with the sword enhanced. The new inventory system adds depth. The presentation is excellent, masking its 8-bit origins. The game features challenging difficulty spikes and is generally harder than the original. Its brevity might necessitate this increased difficulty. It's the best Shadow of the Ninja experience available, but it remains Shadow of the Ninja.

Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn is another solid effort from Tengo Project, representing one of their most substantial improvements over the original. Its appeal hinges on your appreciation of the original game, as the core gameplay remains largely unchanged. Newcomers will find an enjoyable, albeit not essential, action game with a distinct 8-bit aesthetic.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

Pinball FX – The Princess Bride Pinball ($5.49)

Two quick Pinball FX DLC reviews, celebrating the game's substantial update, which finally delivers a smooth Switch experience. Two new tables were released: The Princess Bride Pinball and Goat Simulator Pinball. The Princess Bride Pinball uses actual voice clips and video clips from the film, setting a high standard for licensed tables. The mechanics feel authentic, relatively easy to learn, and satisfying to play.

Zen Studios doesn't always succeed with licensed tables, often lacking music, voices, and likenesses. The Princess Bride Pinball excels in these areas, appealing to fans of the film and pinball enthusiasts alike. While not the most innovative table, its design choices are fitting, providing enjoyable gameplay for both newcomers and veterans.

SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5

Pinball FX – Goat Simulator Pinball ($5.49)

Goat Simulator Pinball perfectly captures the essence of its license, resulting in a bizarre and unique table. The goat-related antics add quirky effects, making for a bewildering but ultimately rewarding experience. This table is more challenging and caters to veteran players. Goat Simulator fans without pinball experience might struggle initially.

Goat Simulator Pinball is another solid DLC offering from Zen Studios, showcasing their ability to create unconventional and entertaining tables. The learning curve is steeper, but the wacky gameplay rewards persistence. Fans of Goat Simulator who persevere will be rewarded with truly absurd moments.

SwitchArcade Score: 4/5

Select New Releases

Bakeru ($39.99)

As detailed in yesterday's review, this charming 3D platformer from Good-Feel is a delightful experience. Play as Bakeru, a tanuki on a mission to save Japan. Battle enemies, uncover Japan trivia, collect souvenirs, and enjoy the humor. The Switch version suffers from inconsistent framerate, but if you can overlook that, it's a worthwhile addition to your Switch library.

Holyhunt ($4.99)

A top-down arena twin-stick shooter, described as an 8-bit homage. The gameplay loop involves shooting, dashing, acquiring new weapons, and defeating bosses.

Shashingo: Learn Japanese with Photography ($20.00)

While not typically covered, this language-learning game stands out. Take pictures, learn Japanese names for objects. The value proposition might be questionable, but it offers a unique learning method.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

Today's sales include OrangePixel's selection of excellent titles. Alien Hominid is on rare sale, along with Ufouria 2. THQ and Team17 titles are ending their sales. Explore both lists for potential purchases.

Select New Sales

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Sales Ending Tomorrow, September 4th

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That's it for today! Join us tomorrow for more new releases, sales, news, and possibly another review. We're in the midst of a fantastic game release season, so hold onto your wallets and enjoy the fun! Thanks for reading!