Reviews Featuring ‘SaGa Emerald Beyond’, Plus the Latest Releases and Sales – TouchArcade

Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for May 22nd, 2024. In today’s article, we make our way through another somewhat slow Wednesday. I have a short review for you of the Switch port of SaGa Emerald Beyond, and there are a few new releases worth checking out as well. After that, it’s the usual lists of new and outgoing sales to consider. Tomorrow will be a lot busier on the whole as usual, so do look forward to that. Let’s get to the good stuff!

Reviews & Mini-Views

SaGa Emerald Beyond ($49.99)

I wrote a lengthy review of the mobile version of SaGa Emerald Beyond, and I’m just going to send you there if you want the full details. Pretty much everything I said there applies to this Switch version, so all I really want to do here is talk about the Switch port in particular. The resolution is a little lower than other versions, the framerate performance is obviously struggling at times, and the loading times are quite a bit longer than any other port. It’s a bit baffling to me because while SaGa Emerald Beyond looks decent enough, it’s not exactly the most dazzling, envelope-pushing game around in the visual sense. I imagine most Switch owners are used to this kind of thing by now, and it’s hardly unplayable. But if you do have another option, you might want to consider it.

It’s the most obvious thing in the world to say about a SaGa game at this point, but SaGa Emerald Beyond isn’t going to be for everyone. Setting aside my personal feelings, I can say that it’s probably opaque to a fault, and it’s trying to stretch itself a bit too thin for how much time it wants you to put in. It’s a fantastic little RPG puzzle box in the mechanical sense, and players who come to RPGs for strategic battles will get their fill here. I think even outside of that, there are a lot of neat non-obvious aspects to this game that are waiting to be found by the observant player. This Switch version is suffering somewhat from the limitations of the hardware, with lengthier loading times and a disappointingly inconsistent framerate, but if this is the only place you can play it’s tolerable enough.

SwitchArcade Score: 4/5

Select New Releases

C.A.R.D.S. RPG: The Misty Battlefield ($39.99)

Here’s Acquire with a new game that blends deckbuilding roguelite battles with a familiar turn-based tactical RPG to intriguing results. Indeed, the publisher is so confident with it that it has put up a free demo you can try out. Basically, you get the strategic positioning of units seen in tactical RPGs and the careful planning of card-based battlers all in one game. I recommend giving the demo a go if you’re interested in the concept.

50 Pinch Barrage!! ($4.99)

Run and jump your way through, I’m assuming, at least fifty different tight situations in this platformer. There’s an online leaderboard included so that you can compare your clear time with other players around the world, so every second you shave off is a valuable one. This game released on the Nintendo 3DS eShop back in the day, and this version has gotten a few tweaks and improvements to make for a better experience overall.

Doug’s Nightmare ($5.99)

Just your average, ordinary top-down twin-stick shooter about an average, ordinary, coffee-addicted banana. With graphics that have that nice hand-drawn look, a bunch of nasty enemies and cool weapons to kill them with, and some fun skins to make use of, Doug’s Nightmare is a decent little budget pick-up for those who enjoy the genre.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

If you like old games, you’re in luck today. Old Pac-Mans, old Namco arcade games, old Namco NES games, old Wonder Boy games, a remake of an old Atelier game with a deluxe upgrade that includes the old Atelier game, and so on. There are some good indies in there as well, so have a good look through. You’ll also want to have a good look through the outbox, because that’s a hefty list as well.

Select New Sales

Pac-Man Museum+ ($9.99 from $19.99 until 5/28)
Pac-Man World Re-PAC ($9.89 from $29.99 until 5/28)
Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 Plus ($4.99 from $19.99 until 5/28)
Namco Museum ($4.79 from $29.99 until 5/28)
Namco Museum Archives Vol 1 ($4.99 from $19.99 until 5/28)
Namco Museum Archives Vol 2 ($4.99 form $19.99 until 5/28)
Devastator ($2.09 from $6.99 until 6/4)
Lost Wing ($1.99 from $7.99 until 6/4)
Back to Bed ($1.99 from $4.99 until 6/4)
The Bug Butcher ($1.99 from $7.99 until 6/4)
Inferno 2 ($1.99 from $4.99 until 6/4)
Lumini ($1.99 from $9.99 until 6/4)
Rainswept ($1.99 from $9.99 until 6/4)
Luckslinger ($1.99 from $9.99 until 6/4)
Castle of Pixel Skulls ($1.99 from $4.99 until 6/4)
Jack ‘n’ Hat ($1.99 from $7.99 until 6/4)

Wonder Boy Asha in Monster World ($9.99 from $19.99 until 6/4)
Wonder Boy Collection ($14.99 from $29.99 until 6/4)
Wonder Boy Anniversary Collection ($24.99 from $49.99 until 6/4)
Nelke & the Legendary Alchemists ($19.79 from $59.99 until 6/6)
Atelier Marie Remake ($29.99 from $49.99 until 6/6)
Atelier Marie Remake Deluxe Edition ($41.99 from $69.99 until 6/6)
Atelier Marie Remake Deluxe Upgrade DLC ($13.19 from $21.99 until 6/6)
Astro Duel Deluxe ($1.99 from $9.99 until 6/10)
Astro Duel II ($15.99 from $19.99 until 6/10)
Dig Dog ($1.99 from $3.99 until 6/10)
Blue Fire ($4.99 from $19.99 until 6/11)
REZ PLZ ($2.99 from $14.99 until 6/11)
V-Rally 4 Ultimate Edition ($6.99 from $69.99 until 6/11)
Another Sight ($3.99 from $39.99 until 6/11)
Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion ($3.74 from $14.99 until 6/11)

RiMS Racing ($9.99 from $49.99 until 6/11)
Adventures of Chris ($2.99 from $14.99 until 6/11)
Bite the Bullet ($2.99 from $14.99 until 6/11)
Monster Truck Championship RH Edition ($4.99 from $49.99 until 6/11)
Nira ($1.99 from $9.99 until 6/11)
WRC Collection (8, 9, & 10) ($9.99 from $99.99 until 6/11)
Zorro: The Chronicles ($3.49 from $34.99 until 6/11)
Rogue Lords ($2.49 from $24.99 until 6/11)
Lila’s Sky Ark ($2.99 from $14.99 until 6/11)
Thymesia Cloud Version ($11.99 from $29.99 until 6/12)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, May 23rd

A Tiny Sticker Tale ($6.79 from $9.99 until 5/23)
Acceptance ($2.99 from $5.99 until 5/23)
Amazing Princess Sarah ($2.72 from $8.00 until 5/23)
Aquadine ($9.99 from $19.99 until 5/23)
Arietta of Spirits ($5.99 from $19.99 until 5/23)
Ashina: The Red Witch ($4.99 from $9.99 until 5/23)
Avenging Spirit ($2.99 from $5.99 until 5/23)
Beholgar ($3.99 from $9.99 until 5/23)
Biker Garage: Mechanic Simulator ($4.99 from $24.99 until 5/23)
Black Skylands ($9.99 from $19.99 until 5/23)
BlackJack Waifu Tour ($2.02 from $4.50 until 5/23)
Bone Marrow ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/23)
Borderlands 3: Ultimate Edition ($29.99 from $59.99 until 5/23)
Capcom Arcade Stadium, Assorted ($0.99 from $1.99 until 5/23)
Caveman Ransom ($2.99 from $4.99 until 5/23)

Death and Taxes ($2.59 from $12.99 until 5/23)
Death Becomes You ($3.99 from $7.99 until 5/23)
Dissolved: Chapter One ($2.99 from $9.99 until 5/23)
Dogurai ($2.49 from $4.99 until 5/23)
Dr. Fetus’ Mean Meat Machine ($2.99 from $9.99 until 5/23)
Dr. Frank’s Build a Boyfriend ($2.99 from $4.99 until 5/23)
EarthX ($12.99 from $19.99 until 5/23)
Embraced by Autumn ($9.49 from $18.99 until 5/23)
FoxyLand Collection ($7.99 from $9.99 until 5/23)
Gleylancer ($3.49 from $6.99 until 5/23)
Gunborg: Dark Matters ($4.49 from $14.99 until 5/23)
Gynoug ($3.49 from $6.99 until 5/23)
Happy’s Humble Burger Farm ($4.99 from $19.99 until 5/23)
Hell Pie ($8.49 from $24.99 until 5/23)

Hello Engineer ($7.49 from $14.99 until 5/23)
Hello Neighbor ($9.99 from $39.99 until 5/23)
Hopping Girl Kohane EX ($17.49 from $24.99 until 5/23)
Jim Power: The Lost Dimension ($4.99 from $9.99 until 5/23)
Kumamon Run ($2.50 from $5.00 until 5/23)
Legends of Amberland: TFC ($2.99 from $19.99 until 5/23)
Lil’ Guardsman ($15.99 from $19.99 until 5/23)
Missile Dancer 2 ($11.99 from $14.99 until 5/23)
Mokoko X ($3.99 from $11.49 until 5/23)
Monster Boy & the Cursed Kingdom ($9.99 from $39.99 until 5/23)
Moto Roader MC ($3.49 from $6.99 until 5/23)
New Star GP ($17.99 from $29.99 until 5/23)
New Star Manager ($11.99 from $19.99 until 5/23)
Odd Hue Out! ($2.99 from $3.99 until 5/23)
OmegaBot ($3.89 from $12.99 until 5/23)

Party Hard 2 ($4.99 from $19.99 until 5/23)
Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator ($15.99 from $19.99 until 5/23)
Prisonela DX ($2.99 from $4.99 until 5/23)
Pumpkin Jack ($7.49 from $29.99 until 5/23)
Ravensword: Shadowlands ($2.79 from $6.99 until 5/23)
Red Dead Redemption ($34.99 from $49.99 until 5/23)
Rhythm Sprout ($7.49 from $14.99 until 5/23)
Rigid Force Redux ($2.99 from $19.99 until 5/23)
Runbow ($2.99 from $14.99 until 5/23)
Sephonie ($9.99 from $19.99 until 5/23)
Skautfold: Shrouded in Sanity ($2.99 from $9.99 until 5/23)
Spectrolite ($5.59 from $13.99 until 5/23)
Speed or Death ($3.19 from $7.99 until 5/23)
Star Ocean The Second Story R ($39.99 from $49.99 until 5/23)
Sturmfront: The Mutant War ($2.99 from $9.99 until 5/23)

Super Trunko Go ($3.99 from $9.99 until 5/23)
Takorita Meets Fries ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/23)
Tamarak Trail ($11.99 from $14.99 until 5/23)
The Adventures of Panzer Collection ($4.49 from $8.99 until 5/23)
The Coma: Recut ($1.99 from $14.99 until 5/23)
The Humans ($3.99 from $7.99 until 5/23)
The Immortal ($3.99 from $7.99 until 5/23)
The Samurai Collection ($4.99 from $9.99 until 5/23)
Tinykin ($12.49 from $24.99 until 5/23)
Ufouria 2: The Saga ($19.99 from $24.99 until 5/23)
Volley Pals ($2.49 from $6.49 until 5/23)
Western Slot Machine ($2.02 from $4.50 until 5/23)
Working Hard Collection ($2.49 from $4.99 until 5/23)
Yaga: Roots of Evil ($2.49 from $9.99 until 5/23)
A Void Hope ($12.79 from $15.99 until 5/24)

That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with the big list of new releases that always comes with a Thursday. That includes the remake of Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door, the remake of Wizardry, and many more games that are not remakes. We’ll summarize the ones worth summarizing, then throw in any sales and major news items for good measure. I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday, and as always, thanks for reading!