Hello fellow gamers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Roundup for September 3rd, 2024! Today's article brings you fresh reviews, starting with in-depth thoughts on the Castlevania Dominus Collection, a closer look at Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn, and quick takes on a couple of recently released Pinball FX DLC tables. Following that, we'll explore the day's new releases, including the unique and charming Bakeru, then dive into the latest sales and expiring deals. Let's get started!

Reviews & Mini-Views

Castlevania Dominus Collection ($24.99)

Konami's recent track record with classic game 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. Once again, M2 handles development, delivering its usual high-quality results. However, this collection offers even more than initially apparent, potentially making it the most essential Castlevania compilation to date.

Let's begin with the core games. The Nintendo DS era of Castlevania holds a significant place in franchise history, with both positive and negative aspects. On the plus side, each game boasts a unique identity, creating a surprisingly diverse trio. Dawn of Sorrow, a direct sequel to Aria of Sorrow, launched early in the DS's lifespan, incorporating some awkward touchscreen elements. Thankfully, this release mitigates those issues. Portrait of Ruin relegates touchscreen controls to a bonus mode, focusing instead on its intriguing dual-character mechanic. Order of Ecclesia significantly shakes things up, featuring a notably higher difficulty and a design reminiscent of Simon's Quest. All three are excellent titles—highly recommended.

However, this trilogy also marked the end of the exploratory Castlevania games helmed by Koji Igarashi, whose work on Symphony of the Night revitalized the franchise. The series' popularity began to wane, leading Konami to pursue a different direction with MercurySteam's Lords of Shadow. Were the distinct styles of these DS games a result of IGA's creative exploration, or a desperate attempt to recapture a dwindling audience? The answer remains elusive. Many players felt fatigued by the formula at the time, and even though I purchased and thoroughly enjoyed each game upon release, I also sensed the series falling into a repetitive pattern. Sometimes, you don't appreciate something until it's gone.

Interestingly, these games aren't emulated but are native ports. This allowed M2 to implement clever improvements, such as replacing the frustrating touchscreen controls in Dawn of Sorrow with more manageable button presses. The collection displays the main screen, status screen, and map simultaneously, offering a three-screen view. While some DS-era elements remain, the games are fully playable with a controller in docked mode. This significantly enhances Dawn of Sorrow, firmly placing it among my top five Castlevania games.

The collection is packed with options and extras. You can select the game region, customize button mappings, and choose between using the left stick for character movement or the touch cursor. The latter is crucial for a bonus mode in Portrait of Ruin. A charming credits sequence highlights unsung heroes, so don't miss it! A comprehensive gallery showcases artwork, manual scans, and box art. You can also create custom playlists from the excellent game soundtracks.

In-game options include save states, a rewind function, customizable controls, adjustable screen layouts, various background colors, and independent audio level controls. Each game includes a detailed compendium covering equipment, enemies, items, and more. My only minor complaint is the lack of additional screen layout options to maximize the play area. This is a fantastic way to experience three exceptional games, offering incredible value for the price.

But wait, there's more! The infamous arcade title, Haunted Castle, is also included. Its absence from the first collection and inclusion in the Konami arcade collection was puzzling, but now it's here. The options include the much-needed unlimited continues feature, as the game is notoriously unforgiving. Despite the great music and stylish opening sequence, the original game is brutally difficult. Or is it?

The final, surprisingly substantial extra is a complete remake of Haunted Castle. Similar to M2's Castlevania: The Adventure Rebirth for the Wii (please, a reissue!), this remake, Haunted Castle Revisited, retains elements of the original but essentially creates a new, superior game. It's a fantastic addition, effectively a new Castlevania game hidden within a Nintendo DS collection!

If you're a Castlevania fan, Castlevania Dominus Collection is a must-buy. It includes a fantastic new Castlevania game and the three classic Nintendo DS titles in optimal form. The original Haunted Castle is also included. If you dislike Castlevania, well, we can't be friends. And if you're unfamiliar with the series, acquire all three collections and prepare for an amazing experience. This is 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 rollercoaster. I've enjoyed Tengo Project's previous releases, particularly their definitive versions of Wild Guns and The Ninja Warriors. While I had some minor reservations about Pocky & Rocky, it was still a fun game. Shadow of the Ninja, however, felt different. The Tengo Project team's involvement with the original was limited, and this was an 8-bit game update rather than a 16-bit one. I also find the original game less compelling than their other titles. Therefore, I was initially hesitant about this remake.

After playing a portion of the game at last year's Tokyo Game Show, my excitement was reignited. Having now completed the game multiple times, my opinion lies somewhere in the middle. Compared to the developer's other work, Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn feels less polished. The improvements over the original are numerous, including the excellent presentation and a refined weapon and item system. While there are no new characters, the existing ones are more distinct. It's undoubtedly better than the original while retaining its core essence. If you loved the original, you'll adore this remake.

However, if you're like me and found the original merely decent, your opinion of Reborn might not differ significantly. Having both the chain and sword readily available is a major improvement, with the sword being more useful than in the original. The new inventory system adds a welcome layer of depth. The presentation is superb, masking its 8-bit origins. The game features some challenging difficulty spikes, making it more demanding than the original. This might be necessary, given its shorter length. It's the best version of Shadow of the Ninja, but it's still Shadow of the Ninja.

Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn is another solid effort from Tengo Project, arguably their most substantial remake to date. Whether it's worth purchasing depends on your feelings about the original, as the core gameplay remains largely unchanged. Newcomers will find an enjoyable but not essential action game with a distinct 8-bit aesthetic.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

Pinball FX – The Princess Bride Pinball ($5.49)

Here are some brief reviews of the latest Pinball FX DLC, celebrating the game's significant update that finally makes it properly playable on Switch. Two new tables were released: The Princess Bride Pinball and Goat Simulator Pinball. The former, based on the classic film, features voice clips and video clips, a welcome addition, Zen! The table's mechanics feel like a real-world pinball machine. It's easy to learn, true to the source material, and satisfying to play.

Zen Studios sometimes misses the mark with licensed tables, lacking music, voice acting, or accurate likenesses. The Princess Bride Pinball is a notable exception, and any fan of the film who enjoys pinball should check it out. While not the most innovative table, its familiar design choices feel appropriate. A fun experience for both newcomers and veterans.

SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5

Pinball FX – Goat Simulator Pinball ($5.49)

Goat Simulator Pinball perfectly captures the spirit of its source material. This results in a highly unusual table, uniquely suited to the video game format. The gameplay involves various goat-related antics, adding effects to your ball to trigger different table elements. It's initially confusing but becomes rewarding with persistence. This table is more challenging for veteran players. Goat Simulator fans unfamiliar with pinball might find it difficult to grasp initially.

Goat Simulator Pinball is another solid DLC offering from Zen Studios, who clearly enjoy creating unconventional tables. It's a complex table to master, but the rewards are worth the effort. Fans of Goat Simulator who persevere will be rewarded with some truly hilarious moments.

SwitchArcade Score: 4/5

Select New Releases

Bakeru ($39.99)

As mentioned in yesterday's review, I thoroughly enjoyed this charming 3D platformer from Good-Feel. Play as Bakeru, a tanuki on a quest to save Japan from an evil overlord. Battle enemies, uncover Japan trivia, collect souvenirs, and enjoy some humorous moments. The Switch version suffers from inconsistent framerates, so those sensitive to technical issues might prefer other platforms. Otherwise, it's a delightful Switch game.

Holyhunt ($4.99)

This top-down arena twin-stick shooter describes itself as an homage to 8-bit games, although I don't recall seeing many similar titles back then. Regardless, it looks entertaining. The gameplay involves shooting, dashing, acquiring new weapons, and battling bosses.

Shashingo: Learn Japanese with Photography ($20.00)

I typically avoid language-learning apps, but this one seems more thoughtfully designed. Players take photos of objects and learn their Japanese names. While I wouldn't personally pay $20, it might be a suitable learning method for some.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

Today's selection includes OrangePixel's excellent pick-up-and-play titles. Alien Hominid is enjoying a rare discount, and Ufouria 2 is also available at a good price. Sales from THQ and Team 17 are ending soon. Refer to their publisher pages for a complete list, as only a few titles are included here. Explore both lists for potential bargains.

Select New Sales

(List of sales)

(List of sales)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, September 4th

(List of sales)

That's all for today! Join us tomorrow for more new releases, sales, and potentially some news or another review. We're in the midst of a season of incredible games, so hold onto your wallets and enjoy the fun! This might be the Switch's last major holiday season, so let's make it memorable. Have a great Tuesday, and thanks for reading!