SwitchArcade Round-Up: Reviews Featuring ‘Castlevania Dominus Collection’, Plus Today’s Releases and Sales

Hello fellow gamers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Roundup for September 3rd, 2024! Today's post features in-depth reviews, starting with the Castlevania Dominus Collection, followed by a look at Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn, and concluding with brief assessments of two newly released Pinball FX DLC tables. We'll then explore the day's new releases, including the charming Bakeru, and wrap things up with the latest sales and expiring deals. Let's dive in!

Reviews & Mini-Views

Castlevania Dominus Collection ($24.99)

Konami's recent track record with classic game collections has been phenomenal, and the Castlevania franchise has been a particular beneficiary. Castlevania Dominus Collection, the third in the series for modern platforms, focuses on the Nintendo DS trilogy. Developed by M2, this collection boasts impressive quality, offering more than initially apparent and potentially becoming the most essential Castlevania collection to date.

The Nintendo DS era of Castlevania was pivotal, showcasing both strengths and weaknesses. Positively, the trilogy presents a surprisingly diverse set of games, each with a unique identity. Dawn of Sorrow, a direct sequel to Aria of Sorrow, initially suffered from awkward touchscreen controls, thankfully mitigated in this release. Portrait of Ruin cleverly integrates touchscreen elements into a bonus mode, utilizing a dual-character mechanic. Order of Ecclesia stands out with increased difficulty and a design reminiscent of Simon's Quest. All three are solid titles, and arguably great.

However, this trilogy marked the end of Koji Igarashi's era of exploration-focused Castlevania games, a run that began with the revitalizing Symphony of the Night. The diminishing returns led Konami to favor MercurySteam's Lords of Shadow. Were the distinct game designs a result of Igarashi's creative exploration, or a desperate attempt to recapture a waning audience? The answer remains elusive. Many felt fatigued with the formula at the time, and even despite enjoying the games, I personally felt the series was stagnating.

Interestingly, these aren't emulated but rather native ports, allowing M2 to enhance the experience. The annoying touchscreen controls in Dawn of Sorrow are replaced with button presses, and the display now includes the main screen, status screen, and map simultaneously. While some DS elements remain, the games are fully playable with a controller, significantly improving Dawn of Sorrow and placing it among my top five Castlevania titles.

The collection is packed with options and extras. Players can select game regions, remap buttons, and customize controller mappings. A charming credits sequence and a gallery featuring art, manuals, and box art are included. A music player allows for custom playlists, and a comprehensive compendium details equipment, enemies, and items. The only minor drawback is the lack of additional screen layout options for a larger play area. This is a fantastic way to experience three exceptional games at an incredible price.

But the surprises don't end there! The notoriously difficult arcade title, Haunted Castle, is also included. This addition, along with various options including unlimited continues (a necessity given the game's brutal difficulty), is a welcome inclusion. While the original game is undeniably challenging, its inclusion is justified by the presence of...

The final extra, a full remake of Haunted Castle, is astonishing. Similar to M2's Castlevania: The Adventure Rebirth, Haunted Castle Revisited retains the spirit of the original while significantly improving upon it. This is essentially a brand new, excellent Castlevania game, hidden within a Nintendo DS collection!

Castlevania Dominus Collection is a must-have for Castlevania fans. It includes a fantastic new game alongside three excellent Nintendo DS titles, presented impeccably. The original Haunted Castle is also present. If you're not a Castlevania fan, well, we can't be friends. And if you're unfamiliar with the series, grab all three collections and experience the magic. Another outstanding 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. Tengo Project's previous releases have been consistently excellent, but this remake presented some unique challenges. The team's limited involvement with the original 8-bit game, and my personal reservations about the original's quality compared to their other works, made me initially hesitant.

However, a preview at Tokyo Game Show last year renewed my enthusiasm. After playing the full game, my feelings are nuanced. Compared to Tengo Project's other titles, Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn feels less polished. Nevertheless, the improvements are significant, including enhanced visuals and a refined weapon/item system. While no new characters are added, the existing characters are better differentiated. It's undeniably superior to the original while retaining its core essence. Fans of the original will adore this.

For those who, like me, found the original merely decent, Reborn won't drastically alter that perception. Simultaneous access to both the chain and sword is a welcome improvement, as is the enhanced sword functionality. The new inventory system adds depth. The presentation is superb, masking its 8-bit origins. However, the game features some frustrating difficulty spikes, making it arguably more challenging than the original. The overall length is relatively short. It's the best version of Shadow of the Ninja, but it remains Shadow of the Ninja.

Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn is another solid effort from Tengo Project, representing a substantial improvement over its predecessor. Its appeal hinges on your feelings towards the original game, as the core gameplay remains largely unchanged. Newcomers will find an enjoyable but not essential action game, retaining a distinct 8-bit aesthetic.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

Pinball FX – The Princess Bride Pinball ($5.49)

A quick look at two Pinball FX DLC tables, celebrating the game's significant update that finally makes it playable on Switch. The Princess Bride Pinball is based on the classic film and includes voice clips and video footage. Mechanically, it feels like a real-world pinball table, easy to learn, authentic to the license, and satisfying to play.

Zen Studios often misses the mark with licensed tables, lacking music, voices, or likenesses. The Princess Bride Pinball is a notable exception, offering a well-designed and enjoyable experience for both newcomers and veterans. While not overly innovative, its familiar design choices add to its charm.

SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5

Pinball FX – Goat Simulator Pinball ($5.49)

Goat Simulator Pinball fully embraces its source material, resulting in a bizarre and unique table. The gameplay involves various goat-related antics, adding effects to the ball to trigger table elements. It's initially confusing, but perseverance is rewarded. This table is more suited to veteran players. Goat Simulator fans unfamiliar with pinball may find it challenging.

Goat Simulator Pinball is another strong DLC offering from Zen Studios, showcasing their willingness to experiment. It's difficult to master, but the rewards are worth the effort. Fans of Goat Simulator will appreciate the quirky gameplay, but mastering it will require dedication.

SwitchArcade Score: 4/5

Select New Releases

Bakeru ($39.99)

As mentioned 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, discover hidden secrets, collect souvenirs, and enjoy the humor. The Switch version suffers from inconsistent framerate, but it's still enjoyable.

Holyhunt ($4.99)

A top-down arena twin-stick shooter, described as an 8-bit homage. It's a simple shoot-'em-up with boss battles.

Shashingo: Learn Japanese with Photography ($20.00)

A language-learning game where players take photos and learn Japanese vocabulary. While not typically covered, its unique approach makes it noteworthy.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

Today's sales include OrangePixel's titles, with Alien Hominid at a rare discount, and Ufouria 2 also on sale. THQ and Team 17 titles are ending their sales. Explore both lists for further deals.

Select New Sales

(List of new sales)

(List of new sales)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, September 4th

(List of sales ending tomorrow)

That's it for today! Join us tomorrow for more new releases, sales, and potentially news and reviews. We're in the midst of a fantastic gaming season, so hold onto your wallets and enjoy the ride! Have a great Tuesday!