Well lookie here – it’s another busy week for the eShop. A few titles have even caught us unawares, including the lavish-looking anime tie-in Doraemon Story of Seasons – a demo of which is available – and the 8-player competitive online arcade game Killer Queen Black.
Reviews of Killer Queen Black are now live. It’s yet to gain a score lower than 8/10, with many critics claiming it’s one of the best online games of 2019. “The game is easy to pick up, yet challenging to master, as the ways in which the different aspects of the game mesh together means that the player can never be complacent in their methods. Killer Queen Black is an incredible multiplayer title and it has more than earned its shot at the big time,†said Screen Rant before dishing out a lofty 4.5/5.
Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair‘s reviews went a full week ahead of launch, which is always a good sign. The 2.5D buddy platformer – a spiritual successor to the Donkey Kong Country series – has also gained glowing reviews, including a handful of 9/10s. “Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair is a fantastic sophomore effort that pays tribute to Rare’s past and establishes Playtonic as one of the UK’s most exciting studios,†was Nintendo Life’s verdict.
There’s also a belated conversion of the Call of Cthulhu to consider. Scores are mixed so far, varying from God is a Geek’s 5/10 to Nintendo World Report’s 8/10. “While familiarity with the source material is not required, it probably helps, but I can safely recommend this game to any fan of the cosmic horror genre. There are some rough edges, sure, but it’s well worth the journey overall, especially around this time of year,†reported the former outlet.
Burger Time is back in a new co-op reimagining this week, too. Nintendo Life found BurgerTime Party to be a moreish package that’s perhaps a tad overcooked: “When it gets on with the bun-lobbing antics of classic BurgerTime, this is a great reminder of an arcade gem. But too many co-op cooks spoil the broth, and the recipe is overstuffed with extras that detract from the core flavour. That said, any game that lets you leave a trail of murdered pickles as you fight up the online leaderboard can’t be all bad.â€
Mobile conversion Asphalt 9: Legends arrives as a free download, meanwhile. Don’t be quick to write this one off – both Nintendo Life and Cubed3 awarded the racer 7/10. We’ve come a long way since Asphalt 3D on 3DS.
You may also want to make time for Trine 4, which launches alongside the Ultimate Collection. This co-op adventure puts the series back on track after the panned previous instalment. IGN felt it was deserving of an 8.5, claiming that “Trine 4 is beautiful and perhaps a bit too straightforward for solo players, but it shines brilliantly in co-op.â€
2D pixel-art shooter Valfaris is one of the lesser-known titles arriving on Switch. Continuing the theme, reviews are glowing, mostly being a mixture of 8s and 9. It garnered 9.0 from VideoChums, who said “Valfaris is a straight-up indie masterpiece. If you’re a fan of 2D action games then you’d be a goof not to play it.â€
The full list of new releases can be found below, including the top-down shooter Stellatum – which we reviewed on Tuesday – pixel-art brawler River City Melee Mach!!, and the colourful pinball platformer Family Tree.
New Switch eShop releases
Trine: Ultimate Collection – £39.99
Join Amadeus the Wizard, Pontius the Knight, and Zoya the Thief on a journey across a forsaken and ruined kingdom. Bound to a mysterious artifact called Trine, the three unlikely heroes use their unique skills to battle the undead, navigate treacherous environments, and solve challenging physics-based puzzles across a collection of perilous quests in this best-selling adventure series. Through the first three titles, the protagonists come to discover, understand, and seek to control the powers bestowed upon them by Trine.
Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince – £29.99
The Trine series returns to the magic of 2.5D with Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince! The three heroes of the best-selling adventure series are back, sent on a quest to retrieve the troubled young Prince Selius. Amadeus the Wizard, Pontius the Knight, and Zoya the Thief are joined together once again on a thrilling quest through fantastical fairytale landscapes teeming with danger.
Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair – £24.99
They must run, jump and roll their way through a series of challenging 2D levels, face a puzzling Overworld and rally the Royal Bee-tallion to take down Capital B and his Impossible Lair!
Killer Queen Black – £16.19
Killer Queen Black, a new take on the arcade eSport Killer Queen, has been rebuilt from the ground up and optimised for console. The gameplay is immediately recognisable and familiar, yet it introduces exciting new twists and online play for the home audience. Killer Queen Black is the follow up to Killer Queen that fans have been begging for.
Bibi & Tina at the horse farm – £26.99
Ride Amadeus, Sabrina and eight other horses as Bibi or Tina. Explore the expansive grounds around Martinshof and Falkenstein Castle on horseback. Whether you’re walking, trotting, galloping or jumping, show what you’ve got in varied horse races of different lengths and difficulties! Wild adventures await you!
Secret Files Sam Peters – £6.29
Help Sam Peters, the audacious protagonist of this suspenseful tie-in to the award-winning Secret Files adventure series, to solve all kinds of challenging quests and elaborate riddles as the title’s fascinating plot leads you right into the Ghanaian jungle. Visit exotic locations, investigate fascinating sceneries, meet interesting characters and collect helpful information. Find out what has been lying on the ground of Lake Bosumtwi for more than a million years.
Monochrome Order – £13.49
The world must forever make choices. The Arbiters’ mission is to use the ancient magic known as “Judgment†to follow their own justice and guide the world to a better place. A newly-appointed Arbiter, is assigned to a desolate country where he will have to make various Judgments. However, not everyone will agree with his idea of justice.
BDSM: Big Drunk Satanic Massacre – £26.99
Big Drunk Satanic Massacre is basically a shooter with strong RPG elements Рnot that rocket propelled gun, though. The game itself takes place in Hell where the main hero, Lou, is to find milk and rescue the hottest Mistress from the clutches of a fat clown. The game consists of four levels / chapters representing different areas of Hell, such as the hellish Big Wac fast food caf̩, Skeleton Slums and the Red Light District. The idea behind those levels is to kill specific bosses. Each boss represents a unique multistage fight and it is pretty challenging.
Silk – £8.99
Explore three million square miles of uncharted terrain from Roman Damascus to Three Kingdoms China in an exploration RPG that transports you onto the Ancient Silk Road of 200AD as an intrepid traveller or a ruthless conqueror.
Doraemon Story of Seasons – £44.99
Take control of Nobita, an average boy with a heart of gold, to help bring a destroyed farm back to life! Create bonds with the other townsfolk to witness heartfelt interactions while you explore and foster the land with Doraemon, Sue, Big G, and Sneech!
Super Box Land Demake – £4.99
Push boxes across a variety of different puzzling levels by yourself or with a friend in coop mode! Control two different characters at once even in single player!
The Alliance Alive HD Remastered – £49.99
Experience the world of The Alliance Alive HD Remastered in a new light! New visuals, an updated interface, and more await you in this epic tale of trials and triumphs.
Midnight Evil – £8.99
Midnight Evil is a story-driven first-person horror game where you play William Crinkle, a child who is being attacked by goblin-like creatures known as Urklings – beasts with a taste for the flesh of children. Spotting the monsters in time will banish them for a while, but they can only be defeated by reading the text within the book that binds them.
Little Briar Rose – £5.99
An ancient legend, a cursed castle surrounded by brambles, a forest inhabited by funny enchanted creatures and a sweet princess sleeping in it. And, obviously, a fearless prince!
This is what Little Briar Rose is made out of. In this particular stained glass-styled graphic adventure the player will help a whole dynasty of princes complete their quest. Be careful though, many will try, but only one shall prevail!
Contraptions – £7.99
How many steps does it take to change a light bulb? If your answer is 10 or more, then you are ready for “”Contraptions”” – a game where the goal is to fix whacky contraptions that perform simple tasks in indirect and convoluted ways, Rube Goldberg style.
River City Melee Mach!! – £10.39
The Renegade/River City (Nekketsu Kouha Kunio-kun) series has had its share of success in the late ’80s, and now, the “Fight it out!” part of its numerous spin-off sports series is back and powered-up!
Duped – £4.49
Duped explores themes of loneliness, isolation and identity, through a 2D action/puzzle platformer. Control a square on its journey to escape the cave it has found itself in. Create clones, control them, flip switches, build bodies out of your friends, get kicked around like a ragdoll. All of this awaits you, in Duped.
Pocket Stables – £11.69
Build training facilities like dirt courses and pools amidst the beautiful natural surroundings of your ranch. Increase your ranch’s fame and entice visitors to spend some dough at your ranch’s amenities, like ice cream stands and gift shops.
A Knight’s Quest – £19.99
Solve mind-bending puzzles, fight challenging enemies, defeat huge bosses and platform your way through a fantastic open world in this lavish take on classic action adventure games.
MISTOVER – £24.99
A ‘MIST-ical’ RPG with expeditions for finding the key to survival. Choose your next step wisely and keep in mind that your every move will change the future. Create your own ‘Corps’ and explore through various regions in the Pillar of Despair: forests, lakes, mountains, cities, cathedrals, castles, and much more.
Spirit Hunter: NG – £44.99
Face the nightmares you thought were merely urban legends. Use your wits and trusty flashlight to search for clues to your sister’s disappearance. Team up with shady characters to uncover a dark mystery, making deadly decisions just to survive. The choices you make determine your fate and affect the lives of everyone around you.
Queen’s Quest 4: Sacred Truce – £13.49
After many years of peace between the Five Kingdoms, dark clouds are gathering over the realm of humans and elves. After an attempt to assassinate the Elf King, life’s delicate balance, which was only maintained through the magic of the Sacred Truce, has come to end. Friends and neighbors are beginning to turn against each other. Suddenly the tiny village of Saddletown becomes the centre of attention for the entire kingdom – according to the elves it’s where the would-be assassin is hiding. It seems that the people of the town must answer for his crimes.
Old School RPG Bundle – £26.99
Enjoy hours and hours of adventures in these turn-based, retro style, pixel-art RPG full of danger, intrigue, and semi-appropriate cultural references! All games include all of their ever-released expansions with many new characters, enemies, quests and locations!
Mable & The Wood – £13.49
The strange cult that resurrected you speak of an ancient prophecy that says you will hunt down the great beasts, take their shape, and use their powers to save this dying world. But what if they’re wrong? The prophecy is old, and words lose their meaning with time…
Family Tree – £6.99
Family Tree is a pinball platform game where you’ll be aiming your shots and bouncing on baddies to traverse many hand-crafted levels.
Twist in the air and traverse devilishly designed obstacles to rescue your children, discover secrets and rack up score before you reach the goal.
Eliza – £11.69
After abandoning her high-powered tech career and a mysterious three-year absence, Evelyn Ishino-Aubrey resurfaces working as a proxy for a virtual counseling app called Eliza. Her job consists solely of reading a script provided to her in real-time by an AI, leaving her no autonomy over what she says. Is Eliza a technological marvel that brings therapy to those who otherwise couldn’t access it? Or is it an ineffective replacement and another vector for technology companies to gain control over our lives and humanity?
Valfaris – £22.49
After mysteriously vanishing from galactic charts, the fortress of Valfaris has suddenly reappeared in the orbit of a dying sun. Once a self-contained paradise, the grandiose citadel now plays host to an ever-growing darkness.
Therion, a fearless and proud son of Valfaris, returns to his home to uncover the truth of its doomed fate and to challenge the arcane evil at its very heart.
STELLATUM – £13.49
You are playing for an extraterrestrial race that has just become ready to conquer outer space. Whole story begins with the fact that you are going to destroy a comet that threatens your planet. An unforeseen event happened that dragged you into the midst of the battles. But everything may not be what it seems.
Asphalt 9: Legends – £0.00
Asphalt 9: Legends features an extensive roster of real hypercars from renowned manufacturers such as Ferrari, Porsche, Lamborghini and W Motors. Pick your dream ride and race across spectacular locations around the world. Leave your friends in the dust and become a legend in your own group or break your limits to achieve worldwide glory.
Battlestar Galactica Deadlock – £26.99
Take control of the Colonial Fleet from the bridge of the mobile shipyard, Daidalos, and free the Twelve Colonies from the Cylon threat. Build your fleets, protect the Quorum alliance and prepare to dig deeper into the conspiracies of this heroic conflict.
A Winter’s Daydream – £5.39
A boy returns to his countryside home after spending half a year in the city, only to discover the unimaginable…his elderly grandmother has transformed into a young girl! Hijinks ensue.
Call of Cthulhu – £35.99
Call of Cthulhu, the official videogame inspired by Chaosium’s classic pen and paper RPG, brings you deep into a world of creeping madness and shrouded Old Gods within Lovecraft’s iconic universe.
Eternal Card Game – £0.00
Six-guns and sorcery collide in Eternal, the strategy card game of unlimited choices and unbelievable fun! Eternal offers the best of both worlds:
Rich, deep strategic gameplay and counterplay with fast-spells and tactical combat!
Next-gen touch screen-friendly digital design with quick, smooth and intuitive gameplay!
Every card and every game mode in Eternal can be played for free, without ever paying a dime.
The only limits are your imagination – Eternal has no restrictions on which cards can be played together in your deck!
Aldred – Knight of Honor – £1.79
To progress in the game you need to be careful, each monster must be faced in a different way, switching weapons and spells can help you a lot. The amount of obstacles increases at each level, so it is imperative that you get some potions and upgrades on the merchant.
BurgerTime Party! – £17.99
Welcome to Peter Pepper’s grill, where the party never ends! Make massive burgers while avoiding edible enemies across over 100 stages stuffed with platforming puzzles and arcade action.
Worse Than Death – £8.99
Run for your life, hide in the shadows, and use your wits to avoid shadowy creatures and uncover the terrible truths of your wretched home town. Solve devious puzzles to reveal the emotionally-charged story of Holly and her friends that will have you hooked until the very end!
Reventure – £7.99
Choose your path, every decision leads to a new ending.
Will you find the real one? Is there such a thing?
Only one way to know…
Minefield – £0.89
Minefield is a pretty simple game.
Open all the boxes without detonating bombs to finish the game. If you believe there is a bomb in the box, put a flag there.
New Switch demos
- Doraemon Story of Seasons
- Hyperforma
- Puzzle Box Maker
- Resident Evil 5
- Resident Evil 6
New on 3DS eShop
Quarters, Please! – £4.59
“Quarters, Please!” is a bustling arcade playground. Relax and watch the neighborhood kids enjoy playing, or kick them off and play the games yourself. Can you rise to the challenge and beat their high scores?
Next week: Overwatch Legendary Edition, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Complete Edition, Edna & Harvey: Harvey’s New Eyes, The Eyes of Ara, Zombieland: Double Tap- Road Trip, Baldur’s Gate and Baldur’s Gate II: Enhanced Editions, Planescape: Torment and Icewind Dale: Enhanced Editions, Billy Bomber, Little Town Hero, ZikSquare, Gleaner Heights, Domiverse, Summer Sweetheart, Rabi-Ribi, SEGA AGES Columns II: A Voyage Through Time, Battle Planet – Judgement Day, Sublevel Zero Redux, Felix The Reaper, SEGA AGES Ichidant-R, Ice Age Scrat’s Nutty Adventure, Megaquarium, Raging Loop, StarBlox Inc, Safari Pinball, and Pig Eat Ball.