Reviews Featuring ‘Taito Milestones 2’ and More, Plus the Latest Releases and Sales – TouchArcade

Whats up mild readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Spherical-Up for September 4th, 2023. I assume it’s a vacation right this moment in america? I’m unsure. I’m working, no less than. I’ve 4 critiques so that you can take a look at, protecting Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles, Taito Milestones 2, Connoisseur Warriors, and Virgo Versus the Zodiac. There are some new releases, however don’t get too enthusiastic about them. It’s all bins right this moment. After that, we’ve got a ton of recent gross sales to take a look at. Let’s get to the video games!

Critiques & Mini-Views

Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles ($49.99)

They don’t make them like this anymore. They didn’t make them like this earlier than these video games got here out both, come to think about it. The Rhapsody collection, consisting of three mainline video games and a few puzzle recreation spin-offs, is an odd little duck that ran its whole course throughout the span of two years. Solely the primary recreation ever noticed a Western launch up till this assortment. And but the significance of the Rhapsody collection within the historical past of Nippon Ichi Software program can’t be overstated. Up till the discharge of Rhapsody, the corporate was largely identified for making forgettable mahjong, jigsaw puzzle, and enjoying card video games. Rhapsody was a giant swing for NIS, and one which paid off handsomely.

Following the third and closing recreation within the Rhapsody collection, a tactical RPG set in the identical world named La Pucelle Techniques was created. That led to one more tactical RPG, additionally advised to be set in the identical world, referred to as Disgaea. And the remaining, as they are saying, is historical past. Every little thing Nippon Ichi Software program is right this moment has grown from the seeds of the Rhapsody video games. That’s a part of why I’m so excited to see the video games not solely get a contemporary rerelease, but additionally a worldwide rerelease. Taken with the NIS Classics Vol. 3 set, Western gamers can now simply and affordably play this beautiful little trilogy.

Past the historic, the opposite purpose why I’m glad to see this launch is as a result of these are a pair of very nice RPGs. Like within the first recreation, there are many musical numbers in Rhapsody II: Ballad of the Little Princess and Rhapsody III: Reminiscences of Marl Kingdom. Not like the primary recreation, the battle programs right here don’t have that tactical RPG taste to them. It’s extra easy RPG fight, although the third recreation’s assist character system lets you deliver an absolute bonkers variety of contributors to the fights. Each of the included video games characteristic largely cheerful tales and a comparatively low stage of problem, so don’t come round on the lookout for a stiff problem. These are extra video games to sit back with.

Like the unique recreation, Rhapsody II launched on the PlayStation. It got here out in Japan in late 1999, and is about twelve years after the occasions of the primary journey. The primary character of the primary recreation, Cornet, married her love Prince Ferdinand, they usually have a daughter named Kururu. She’s received her mom’s adventurous spirit and need for a fairy story romance. Fortunately, she additionally has her mom’s potential to make use of puppet magic. On this recreation, puppets function assist moderately than direct contributors in battle. You’ll be battling utilizing human characters this time. Kururu quickly will get pulled into some larger occasions, as is the type in RPGs. This can be a very breezy recreation, and by some measure the better of the 2.

Rhapsody III was initially a PlayStation 2 recreation, releasing within the console’s first 12 months in the marketplace. Don’t anticipate it to flex that ol’ Emotion Engine a lot, although. You get some 3D backgrounds, however the characters are nonetheless 2D sprites. The construction of this recreation is a bit of completely different from the norm. You’ve received six distinct chapters right here that bounce round within the Marl Kingdom timeline, telling tales with completely different units of characters. As such, the narrative is especially about fleshing out sure characters or occasions, typically providing closure or explanations the place none existed within the earlier two video games. If you happen to performed the DS remake of Rhapsody, a few these tales will possible be acquainted to you. It’s a great bit shorter than Rhapsody II, however the problem stage is larger. The battle system has once more been adjusted right here, and puppets are again on the menu. Fulfilling on the entire, even when it feels extra like an appendix than a full sequel.

Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles is a straightforward suggestion for anybody who loved the primary recreation. If you happen to preferred it, you’ll love these two video games. I might most likely suggest newcomers play the unique Rhapsody first even when it isn’t completely essential to take pleasure in these sequels, if solely as a way to totally recognize all of the little character nods and connections. Those that are on the lookout for an RPG with tooth will wish to maintain shifting, however I feel should you’re within the temper for some pure low-friction fluff there aren’t many higher decisions within the Change’s RPG choice.

SwitchArcade Rating: 4/5

Taito Milestones 2 ($39.99)

Taito Milestones 2, like the primary set, brings collectively ten of the legendary arcade firm’s traditional titles. These are based mostly on the Arcade Archives releases, however have had some options like Caravan Mode eliminated. The presentation is as no-frills because it will get, and Hamster’s menus really feel nearly scientific of their design. You do get entry to on-line leaderboards for the primary play mode in every recreation, so that you’re not completely blanked out of the pleasurable aggressive jostling of the Arcade Archives video games. The emulation high quality is nice, and you’ll nonetheless mess with the entire choices to customise your expertise. With the bundle itself being this naked bones, all of it falls on the video games. Let’s speak about these, then.

The oldest of the included video games, Ben Bero Beh, launched in 1984. It’s a unusual recreation the place you’re tasked with combating fires as you make your manner by way of flooring of a burning constructing to rescue somebody trapped by the blaze. It’s a bit sluggish and clunky, however when you’ve got a fascination for these off-beat early arcade video games that had been fumbling at midnight looking for new genres, you would possibly get into it. I preferred it however didn’t find it irresistible.

The Legend of Kage, which hit arcades in 1985, might be one of many extra well-known titles on this set. You play as a ninja that may catch quantities of air that will make Michael Jordan blush. You’ve received an limitless provide of shuriken and your useful blade at your disposal to defeat the numerous enemy ninjas that assail you. Battle by way of the levels and rescue the princess, then do it once more. The character’s motion takes some getting used to, however when you do this can be a actually good time.

Representing 1986, Kiki Kaikai is a top-down multi-directional shooter that kicked off the collection identified to Western gamers as Pocky and Rocky. You play as a shrine maiden who has to make use of her talismans and workers to push back supernatural enemies and save the land. Certain, the sequels turned up the warmth considerably, however this primary recreation is sort of pleasurable all by itself.

One other of the extra well-known names from this assortment, The NewZealand Story (typically often known as Kiwi Kraze) got here out in 1988 in arcades however might be finest identified for its big selection of residence console and laptop ports. You play as a bit of kiwi fowl named Tiki who should make his manner by way of a wide range of multidirectional scrolling levels to, you guessed it, save his girlfriend. It’s as robust and diverse as it’s cute, and my pals, it’s very cute. It’s laborious to not have a great time right here, even when the problem stage is aggravating in locations.

It’s all a matter of tastes after all, however for my cash Darius II is the spotlight of this set. That is the three-screen model of the 1989 shoot-em-up, which was overlooked of the Darius Cozmic Assortment. Properly, right here it’s, and it’s wonderful. This is without doubt one of the three video games on this set that isn’t but accessible through the usual Arcade Archives line. Anyway, what might be stated? Fly your ship by way of trippy levels and battle area sea monsters. Take pleasure in some odd banter out of your navigator, who all the time wished a factor referred to as tuna sashimi. A terrific, atmospheric shooter.

Liquid Children, launched in 1990, is the perfect sleeper recreation within the set. It’s not a giant identify, however I can’t think about anybody not having no less than some enjoyable with it. You play as a hippo named Hipopo that may throw water bombs at enemies. It’s important to work your manner by way of a wide range of side-scrolling levels with the intention to (sure) rescue your girlfriend from an evil hearth demon. It has a number of that Bubble Bobble vitality to it, and should you haven’t performed it earlier than you might be in for a deal with.

Gun Frontier additionally got here out in 1990, and it kicked off a unfastened trilogy of video games from kind of the identical crew at Taito. This can be a vertically scrolling shooter set in a world the place all the pieces is gun. Weapons are in every single place, pick-ups are bullets, your tremendous transfer is fueled by your ammo, and the enemies take the type of varied weapons stapled to different issues. It’s gun wild. A gun bonanza. Fairly respectable recreation all-around, one that ought to please shoot-em-up followers nicely sufficient.

The next 12 months noticed the discharge of Steel Black, a side-scrolling shooter from the crew that did Gun Frontier. The primary gameplay gimmick on this one comes out of your beam assault. Choose-ups will enhance the ability of your weapon, however you’ll be able to select to discharge it everytime you like. That can deliver your weapon again right down to its default state, however it’s going to do this by letting out a beam that will increase in dimension based mostly on what number of pick-ups you’ve grabbed. You need to use this beam to push again the beams of bosses if it’s large enough. One other enjoyable recreation with an odd theme, and one which was necessary within the development of future Darius video games. Once more, shoot-em-up followers ought to be completely satisfied.

Solitary Fighter is the second of the three video games on this set you could’t discover but in Arcade Archives. It’s a combating recreation that got here out in 1991, which implies it ran instantly into the freight prepare often known as Road Fighter II. The presentation is sort of good on this recreation, however the gameplay itself is moderately poor. You may have a bit of enjoyable with one other participant, however I don’t assume I’d topic any of my pals or household to that.

That brings us to the newest and final recreation within the set, 1992’s Dinorex. This can be a one-on-one fighter from the parents who created Gun Frontier and Steel Black. The entire playable characters are dinosaurs, and they’re certainly some savage beasties. The T-Rex is purple, so you may make Barney jokes that nobody will get since Barney was one million years in the past. I wished to love this. I tried so laborious to love this. I approached it by itself phrases as an alternative of making an attempt to play it like Road Fighter II. But it surely’s simply not excellent. Nothing works the best way you need it to, and should you take the time to study it, you’re rewarded with little or no certainly. It’s bizarre as heck, and that’s the foremost factor it has going for it. Some startling revelations within the ending, to make sure. I can’t think about many individuals will spend a lot time with it although.

So the place does that depart Taito Milestones 2 as an entire? Its extra fashionable choice of titles will most likely enchantment higher than the primary quantity, and shoot-em-up followers specifically will discover rather a lot to love right here. There are a few outright clunkers within the choice, however I’ll no less than grant that they’re fascinating clunkers. Actually extra good than dangerous, and should you take pleasure in enjoying arcade classics I feel you’ll get your kicks right here. That stated, if only some video games within the checklist enchantment to you, there is likely to be some benefit in testing the person Arcade Archives releases as an alternative.

SwitchArcade Rating: 4/5

Connoisseur Warriors (QUByte Classics) ($9.99)

QUByte has been bringing us a wide range of retro video games from Piko Interactive’s intensive catalog of odds and ends for some time now, to blended outcomes. Typically emulation points deliver down the expertise. Typically the video games themselves simply aren’t all that good or fascinating. I feel Connoisseur Warriors represents one thing of a “better of each worlds” for this line. The sport in query is comparatively obscure, fairly good, and charmingly weird. The wrapper is identical plain brown bag QUByte makes use of each time, with the identical restricted set of choices. It’s maybe my inexperience with the unique recreation in query right here, however I didn’t discover any apparent emulation points. QUByte has all the time been hit and miss with Tremendous NES video games, however this one appears fantastic.

Connoisseur Warriors is a side-scrolling beat-em-up initially launched on the Tremendous Famicom again in 1995. On the time, it had no abroad launch. Piko Interactive picked up the rights to the sport and introduced it out globally a couple of years in the past with a full English localization. The primary gimmick right here is that you simply decide up substances from defeated enemies which you’ll be able to then combine up into tasty dishes between levels. The secondary gimmick is that there’s a button that makes your character flex and pose. It doesn’t do something for you, nevertheless it’s humorous. In any other case, this can be a pretty plain brawler within the mechanical sense. The bonkers theme and wild enemies assist it stand out, and I recognize that it doesn’t actually drop the ball in any critical methods.

If you happen to take pleasure in a great traditional beat-em-up and recognize it when video games don’t take themselves too severely, you would possibly wish to look into Connoisseur Warriors. I feel there’s nonetheless a number of room for enchancment right here by way of how these QUByte Classics are packaged, however should you simply wish to benefit from the recreation this greater than will get the job completed.

SwitchArcade Rating: 4/5

Virgo Versus the Zodiac ($19.99)

I actually loved the primary character on this recreation. She’s such a ache within the neck for everybody who has to place up together with her, and that’s a number of enjoyable. There’s a number of character in Virgo Versus the Zodiac, and that’s most likely its very best quality. In any other case, what you get here’s a moderately abnormal indie RPG that makes use of the full of life timing-based button-pressing fight stylings of video games like Paper Mario. I’m not an enormous fan of that form of factor at the perfect of occasions, nevertheless it’s rather a lot worse right here than ordinary due to the spotty efficiency of this Change model. It needs you to have good timing, nevertheless it’s laborious to swing that when the sport is stuttering unpredictably.

I may see myself recommending Virgo Versus the Zodiac if it weren’t for the technical points on this Change model, however they’re the worst kind as they intervene with the gameplay in a really possible way. Maybe the developer will patch it some day, however in its present type as of this writing, I can solely commend the writing and counsel gamers maybe test it out on different platforms.

SwitchArcade Rating: 3/5

New Releases

The Bin Bunch

The Thief Simulator 2023 – From Criminal to Boss ($13.99)

Truck Simulator 2023 – Driver Europe ($13.99)

Farming Tractor Simulator 2023: Drive Mix & Vehicles ($14.99)

Gross sales

(North American eShop, US Costs)

Not lengthy after I put the Friday version to mattress, an enormous sale popped on the eShop. The next is only a choice of the various video games on supply, so examine your wishlists to see if something you’ve been ready for popped up. Given the dimensions of the checklist, I don’t actually have any particular call-outs. Scan it rigorously, pals. And examine the little outbox checklist whilst you’re at it, too.

Choose New Video games on Sale

Full Quiet ($8.99 from $9.99 till 9/9)
F.I.S.T.: Solid in Shadow Tech ($14.99 from $29.99 till 9/10)
Saint Kotar ($12.99 from $34.99 till 9/11)
We Love Katamari Reroll ($19.79 from $29.99 till 9/11)
Seduction: A Monk’s Destiny ($3.19 from $7.99 till 9/11)
Hentai vs. Evil ($3.99 from $9.99 till 9/11)
Prepare Valley ($4.19 from $11.99 till 9/11)
Starlink: Battle for Atlas Deluxe ($11.99 from $79.99 till 9/11)
Alchemist Journey ($6.99 from $19.99 till 9/11)
Raiden III x Mikado Maniax ($23.99 from $29.99 till 9/11)
Skelattack ($2.99 from $19.99 till 9/11)
Gal*Gun Double Peace ($19.99 from $39.99 till 9/11)
Taiko no Tatsujin Rhythm Pageant DE ($29.69 from $54.99 till 9/11)
Tremendous Rooster Jumper ($2.99 from $4.99 till 9/11)
Scrumptious! Fairly Women Mahjong Solitaire ($2.99 from $5.99 till 9/11)

Aztech Forgotten Gods ($8.99 from $29.99 till 9/11)
Jail Tycoon: Below New Administration ($17.49 from $24.99 till 9/11)
TLoH: Trails to Azure ($29.99 from $39.99 till 9/11)
TLoH: Trails to Zero ($27.99 from $39.99 till 9/11)
Lemon Cake ($14.99 from $29.99 till 9/11)
Bunny Park ($7.99 from $19.99 till 9/11)
Strategy of Elimination ($27.99 from $39.99 till 9/11)
Shadowrun Returns ($4.99 from $19.99 till 9/11)
Shadowrun Dragonfall ($4.99 from $19.99 till 9/11)
Shadowrun Hong Kong ($4.99 from $19.99 till 9/11)
QuickSpot ($4.99 from $19.99 till 9/11)
World Championship Boxing Supervisor 2 ($10.49 from $14.99 till 9/11)
Journey Academia: Fractured Continent ($27.99 from $39.99 till 9/11)
Monark ($29.99 from $59.99 till 9/11)
The Merciless King & the Nice Hero ($14.99 from $29.99 till 9/11)

Minit Enjoyable Racer ($2.00 from $2.99 till 9/11)
Tremendous Mega Baseball 4 ($29.99 from $49.99 till 9/11)
Captain Tsubasa RoNC ($9.59 from $59.99 till 9/11)
Skycadia ($6.99 from $9.99 till 9/11)
Pirates Outlaws ($10.19 from $16.99 till 9/11)
The Pillar: Puzzle Escape ($1.99 from $9.99 till 9/11)
Yurukill: The Calumniation Video games ($19.99 from $39.99 till 9/11)
The Final Pal ($5.99 from $14.99 till 9/11)
Parkasaurus ($16.24 from $24.99 till 9/11)
Yomawari: Misplaced within the Darkish ($19.99 from $39.99 till 9/11)
Retro Machina ($6.99 from $19.99 till 9/11)
JoJo’s Weird Adv. All-Star Battle R DE ($34.99 from $49.99 till 9/11)
Breathedge ($7.49 from $24.99 till 9/11)
Sword Artwork On-line Alicization Lycoris DE ($44.99 from $89.99 till 9/11)
McPixel 3 ($3.99 from $9.99 till 9/11)
Final Command ($13.99 from $19.99 till 9/11)

MLB The Present 23 ($20.39 from $59.99 till 9/11)
MLB The Present 23 Digital Deluxe ($29.99 from $99.99 till 9/11)
Charon’s Staircase ($12.99 from $34.99 till 9/11)
Misplaced in Random ($4.49 from $29.99 till 9/11)
Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning ($19.99 from $39.99 till 9/11)
Chronos: Earlier than the Ashes ($14.99 from $29.99 till 9/11)
SpongeBob SquarePants: BfBB ($13.49 from $29.99 till 9/11)
Moero Crystal H ($19.99 from $39.99 till 9/11)
Loop Hero ($5.24 from $14.99 till 9/11)
Sea Horizon ($9.74 from $14.99 till 9/11)
Dying’s Door ($7.99 from $19.99 till 9/11)
Rogue Legacy 2 ($17.49 from $24.99 till 9/11)
Sizzling Wheels Unleashed ($7.49 from $49.99 till 9/11)
Sizzling Wheels Unleashed GotY Version ($13.49 from $89.99 till 9/11)
Vagante ($5.99 from $14.99 till 9/11)

Dragon Ball Z Kakarot ($14.99 from $59.99 till 9/11)
Inscryption ($11.99 from $19.99 till 9/11)
Grocery store Shriek ($2.99 from $19.99 till 9/11)
Zengeon ($6.59 from $19.99 till 9/11)
Get-A-Grip Chip ($5.99 from $9.99 till 9/11)
Oxide Room 104 ($7.49 from $24.99 till 9/11)
Crusing Period ($21.24 from $24.99 till 9/11)
Mr. Driller DrillLand ($4.79 from $29.99 till 9/11)
Strayed Lights ($17.49 from $24.99 till 9/11)
Peppa Pig: World Adventures ($27.99 from $39.99 till 9/11)
Sifu ($23.99 from $39.99 till 9/11)
Ys VIII Lacrimosa of DANA ($19.99 from $39.99 till 9/11)
Zero Pressure ($1.99 from $9.99 till 9/11)
Energetic Life Out of doors Problem ($9.99 from $49.99 till 9/11)
.hack//G.U. Final Recode ($14.99 from $49.99 till 9/11)

Digimon Survive ($29.99 from $59.99 till 9/11)
Seven Doorways ($3.49 from $4.99 till 9/11)
Chained Echoes ($19.99 from $24.99 till 9/11)
The Purple Strings Membership ($4.49 from $14.99 till 9/11)
Angelo & Deemon: One Hell of a Quest ($3.74 from $14.99 till 9/11)
Ten Dates ($11.19 from $15.99 till 9/11)
Amongst Us ($3.00 from $5.00 till 9/14)
Sky Mercenaries Redux ($1.99 from $15.00 till 9/18)
Octo Curse ($5.99 from $9.99 till 9/21)
Muddle 12: It’s About Time ($4.49 from $14.99 till 9/21)
Astalon: Tears of the Earth ($9.99 from $19.99 till 9/21)
Faircroft’s Antiques: Mountaineer’s Legacy ($1.99 from $9.99 till 9/21)
Discovering America: The Heartland ($2.99 from $9.99 till 9/21)
Match Ventures ($3.59 from $11.99 till 9/21)
Puzzle Holidays: Eire ($3.59 from $11.99 till 9/21)

Chronicles of Albian TMC ($3.59 from $11.99 till 9/21)
Bundle Inc ($2.49 from $4.99 till 9/21)
First Time in Paris ($1.99 from $9.99 till 9/21)
First Time in Rome ($3.59 from $11.99 till 9/21)
I Love Discovering Birds ($8.99 from $14.99 till 9/21)
I Love Discovering Extra Pups ($1.99 from $9.99 till 9/21)
Montgomery Fox & TCotMB ($4.49 from $14.99 till 9/21)
Montgomery Fox & TRoVD ($4.49 from $14.99 till 9/21)
Montgomery Fox & TCotDN ($4.49 from $14.99 till 9/21)
Onion Assault ($3.19 from $7.99 till 9/22)
Gastro Power ($5.59 from $6.99 till 9/22)
Suicide Man: The Misplaced Goals ($5.59 from $7.99 till 9/22)
TT Isle of Man RotE 3 ($29.99 from $49.99 till 9/23)
Chef Life: A Restaurant Sim ($19.99 from $39.99 till 9/23)
WRC Generations ($15.99 from $39.99 till 9/23)

Roguebook: Deluxe Version ($6.99 from $34.99 till 9/23)
V-Rally 4 ($4.99 from $49.99 till 9/23)
WRC 8 Deluxe Version ($5.99 from $59.99 till 9/23)
Road Energy Soccer ($2.99 from $29.99 till 9/23)
Prepare Life: Orient Specific Version ($15.99 from $39.99 till 9/23)
RiMS Racing: EM Deluxe Version ($11.99 from $59.99 till 9/23)
RiMS Racing: JM Deluxe Version ($11.99 from $59.99 till 9/23)

Gross sales Ending Tomorrow, Tuesday, September fifth

A Little Golf Journey ($4.00 from $19.99 till 9/5)
A Little to the Left ($10.49 from $14.99 till 9/5)
Blossom Tales II: The Minotaur Prince ($9.74 from $14.99 till 9/5)
Chants of Sennaar ($17.99 from $19.99 till 9/5)
Demon Turf ($12.49 from $24.99 till 9/5)
For The Warp ($3.59 from $17.99 till 9/5)
Lil Gator Recreation ($11.99 from $19.99 till 9/5)
Swords & Bones 2 ($1.99 from $9.99 till 9/5)
The Oregon Path ($23.99 from $29.99 till 9/5)
Wildfrost ($17.99 from $19.99 till 9/5)
Xiaomei & the Flame Dragon’s Fist ($10.49 from $14.99 till 9/5)
Yooka-Laylee ($3.99 from $39.99 till 9/5)

That’s all for right this moment, pals. We’ll be again tomorrow with extra new releases, extra gross sales, a overview or two, and perhaps some information. We will see what the day brings. I hope you all have a wonderful Monday, and as all the time, thanks for studying!