SwitchArcade Round-Up: Reviews Featuring ‘Fitness Boxing feat. Hatsune Miku’, Plus New Releases, Sales, and Good-Byes

Hello, dear readers, and welcome to the final SwitchArcade Round-Up for September 6th, 2024. This marks the end of an era, as it will be my last regular SwitchArcade Round-Up for TouchArcade. While I'll have one more special edition next week with some embargoed reviews, today's article concludes our journey together. We've shared many years of gaming insights, and though I won't see the Switch through to its end with these articles, I'm grateful for the time we've had. Let's make this last ride a memorable one with a packed lineup, including reviews from Mikhail and Shaun, new release summaries, and the usual sales updates. Let's dive in!

Reviews & Mini-Views

Fitness Boxing feat. HATSUNE MIKU ($49.99)

Imagineer's Fitness Boxing series has been a hit, and their collaboration with Fitness Boxing Fist of the North Star was both hilarious and effective. So, when Fitness Boxing feat. HATSUNE MIKU was announced, I was intrigued. Over the past few weeks, I've been testing it alongside Ring Fit Adventure, and I must say, it's impressive in many ways.

For newcomers, the Fitness Boxing series combines boxing and rhythm game mechanics to help you get fit through daily exercises and engaging mini-games. Fitness Boxing feat. HATSUNE MIKU brings the beloved vocaloid into the mix, offering a dedicated mode for her songs alongside the standard tracks. Note that this game is exclusively playable with Joy-Con controllers.

The game offers various difficulty levels, a free training mode, warm-ups, and comprehensive tracking features, including reminders and system-wide alarms. You can also unlock cosmetics using points earned from playing. While I haven't explored the DLC yet, the base game outshines Fist of the North Star in many aspects, except for one minor issue: the main instructor's voice feels a bit off and oddly directed.

Overall, Fitness Boxing feat. HATSUNE MIKU is a solid fitness game that successfully integrates Miku into the Fitness Boxing world, appealing to her fans. It's best used as a complement to other exercise routines like Ring Fit Adventure. -Mikhail Madnani

SwitchArcade Score: 4/5

Magical Delicacy ($24.99)

Magical Delicacy from sKaule and Whitethorn Games caught my eye after a friend mentioned its Xbox Game Pass announcement. Having played it on both Xbox and Switch, I feel it needs a bit more time to mature. As a fan of Metroidvania-style platformers and cooking games, I was excited, but Magical Delicacy doesn't quite blend these genres as seamlessly as I'd hoped.

You play as Flora, a young witch in a story that's both mysterious and heartwarming. Your goal is to cook and craft for various characters, and the exploration aspect is surprisingly well-executed, though backtracking can be frustrating. The crafting and inventory management have some issues, exacerbated by a UI that takes time to get used to.

The game's pixel art visuals and music are stunning, and it offers numerous settings, including UI scale and text options, which are particularly useful in handheld mode. While Magical Delicacy feels a bit undercooked in some areas, it's still a good game on Switch, and future updates could make it essential. -Mikhail Madnani

SwitchArcade Score: 4/5

Aero The Acro-Bat 2 ($5.99)

The 16-bit era saw a surge of mascot platformers following Sonic the Hedgehog's success. Aero The Acro-Bat was one of the few to get a sequel, driven by a mix of decent reception and determination. Despite Aero The Acro-Bat 2 not spawning further sequels, it's not due to poor quality. It's a polished follow-up to the original, though it loses some of its unique charm in the process.

Surprisingly, this release isn't in Ratalaika's usual emulation wrapper but features a more tailored presentation. It includes box and manual scans, achievements, a sprite sheet gallery, a jukebox, and various cheats. My only critique is the absence of the SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive version, which would have been a nice addition.

Fans of the original Aero The Acro-Bat will enjoy this sequel, and even those who found the first game's quirks off-putting might appreciate the improvements. Ratalaika's enhanced emulation wrapper is commendable, and I hope to see similar updates for the first game. A solid release for Aero enthusiasts and 16-bit platformer fans alike.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

Metro Quester | Osaka ($19.99)

I thoroughly enjoyed the original Metro Quester, a challenging yet rewarding dungeon-crawling turn-based RPG. So, I was thrilled to see Metro Quester | Osaka released. While it feels more like an expansion than a sequel, it's a welcome addition for fans of the series.

Set as a prequel in Osaka, this game introduces a new dungeon and character types, along with new weapons, skills, and enemies. The wetter environment requires using a canoe for exploration, adding a fresh twist to the gameplay. If you're new to the series, I recommend starting here, as it builds on the original's mechanics.

Metro Quester | Osaka retains the core elements of turn-based combat and top-down exploration, demanding careful planning and patience. Those who loved the original will find plenty to enjoy here, and new players will appreciate the expanded world and gameplay enhancements.

SwitchArcade Score: 4/5

Select New Releases

NBA 2K25 ($59.99)

NBA 2K25 is here, bringing improved gameplay, a new feature called Neighborhood, and updates to MyTEAM. While I'm not an expert on the series, I can tell you it requires a hefty 53.3 GB of space on your memory card. If you're a fan, this is likely a must-have.

Shogun Showdown ($14.99)

If you're looking for another game in the vein of Darkest Dungeon, Shogun Showdown offers a Japanese-inspired setting with some unique twists. It's a solid choice for fans of the genre.

Aero The Acro-Bat 2 ($5.99)

As mentioned in the review above, Aero The Acro-Bat 2 is a polished sequel to the original, featuring an enhanced emulation wrapper and the Super NES version of the game. It's a great pick for Aero fans, though the absence of the Genesis/Mega Drive version is a minor disappointment.

Sunsoft is Back! Retro Game Selection ($9.99)

Sunsoft's return brings a trio of previously non-localized Famicom games. This collection includes a side-scrolling action platformer, an adventure game, and an action-RPG. If you enjoy unique retro titles, this is a worthwhile purchase.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

Today's sales include some fantastic deals, such as the Cosmic Fantasy Collection at 40% off, making it a great buy for retro RPG enthusiasts. Tinykin, a delightful platformer, is also at its lowest price yet. Be sure to check out the full list for more bargains.

Select New Sales

Zombie Army Trilogy ($8.74 from $34.99 until 9/12)
Zombie Army 4: Dead War ($14.99 from $49.99 until 9/12)
Wild Seas ($2.49 from $4.99 until 9/12)
Chants of Sennaar ($14.99 from $19.99 until 9/13)
The House of Da Vinci 3 ($4.99 from $9.99 until 9/13)
Warhammer 40k: Boltgun ($15.39 from $21.99 until 9/13)
Toziuha Night: Dracula’s Revenge ($1.99 from $4.99 until 9/16)
Monkey Barrels ($7.49 from $14.99 until 9/19)
Banchou Tactics ($15.99 from $19.99 until 9/19)
Transiruby ($10.49 from $14.99 until 9/19)
Picontier ($19.99 from $24.99 until 9/19)
Kamiko ($1.99 from $4.99 until 9/19)
Fairune Collection ($3.99 from $9.99 until 9/19)
Alchemic Dungeons DX ($3.19 from $7.99 until 9/19)
Ninja Smasher! ($6.39 from $7.99 until 9/19)
Ninja Striker! ($1.99 from $3.99 until 9/19)

Great Ambition of the Slimes ($9.59 from $11.99 until 9/19)
Shinobi Non Grata ($11.99 from $14.99 until 9/19)
Let’s Build a Zoo ($7.99 from $19.99 until 9/20)
Owlboy ($8.74 from $24.99 until 9/20)
Hakuoki: Wind & Blossom ($44.99 from $49.99 until 9/20)
Omen of Sorrow ($7.99 from $19.99 until 9/20)
Dungeonoid 2 Awakening ($4.49 from $8.99 until 9/20)
The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt CE ($23.99 from $59.99 until 9/22)
Knights of Grayfang ($10.49 from $14.99 until 9/26)
Gale of Windoria ($7.49 from $14.99 until 9/26)
Justice Chronicles ($7.49 from $14.99 until 9/26)
Armed Emeth ($7.49 from $14.99 until 9/26)
Jinshin ($10.49 from $14.99 until 9/26)
Alphadia Genesis ($7.49 from $14.99 until 9/26)
Grace of Letoile ($10.49 from $14.99 until 9/26)

Tinykin ($6.24 from $24.99 until 9/26)
Despot’s Game ($4.99 from $19.99 until 9/26)
Cosmic Fantasy Collection ($29.99 from $49.99 until 9/26)
Cosmic Fantasy ($15.90 from $26.50 until 9/26)
Cosmic Fantasy 2 ($15.90 from $26.50 until 9/26)
Spirittea ($15.99 from $19.99 until 9/26)
Punch Club 2: Fast Forward ($9.99 from $19.99 until 9/26)
Railway Empire 2 ($37.49 from $49.99 until 9/26)
Lil’ Guardsman ($11.99 from $19.99 until 9/26)
Potion Craft Alchemist Simulator ($11.99 from $19.99 until 9/26)
Euphoria ($1.99 from $14.99 until 9/26)
Of The Red, the Light, & Ayakashi ($25.06 from $50.13 until 9/26)
Modern Combat Blackout ($1.99 from $7.99 until 9/26)
The Friends of Ringo Ishikawa ($8.99 from $14.99 until 9/26)
Arrest of a Stone Buddha ($8.99 from $14.99 until 9/26)
Fading Afternoon ($16.99 from $19.99 until 9/26)
Astor: Blade of the Monolith ($14.99 from $24.99 until 9/26)
Tamarak Trail ($8.99 from $14.99 until 9/26)
Rigid Force Redux ($3.99 from $19.99 until 9/26)
Yaga ($6.24 from $24.99 until 9/26)
Rabi-Ribi ($13.99 from $19.99 until 9/26)

Sales Ending This Weekend

Dead in Vinland: True Viking ($2.79 from $27.99 until 9/7)
Gunslugs ($4.79 from $7.99 until 9/7)
Gunslugs 2 ($4.79 from $7.99 until 9/7)
Heroes of Loot ($4.79 from $7.99 until 9/7)
Heroes of Loot 2 ($5.99 from $9.99 until 9/7)
Meganoid ($5.39 from $8.99 until 9/7)
NOISZ re:||COLLECTION G ($19.99 from $24.99 until 9/7)
Phoenotopia: Awakening ($6.99 from $19.99 until 9/7)
Space Grunts ($8.39 from $13.99 until 9/7)
Stardash ($5.99 from $9.99 until 9/7)
Superhot ($9.99 from $24.99 until 9/7)
Dormitory Love ($24.49 from $34.99 until 9/8)
Dying Light: Definitive Edition ($9.99 from $49.99 until 9/8)
Fur Squadron ($2.79 from $6.99 until 9/8)
Tchia: Oleti Edition ($23.44 from $34.99 until 9/8)

And that's it, folks. This marks the end of the SwitchArcade Round-Up and my time at TouchArcade after eleven and a half years. I'll continue writing at my blog, Post Game Content, and on Patreon, but this chapter of my career is closing. Twenty-six years in this industry has been a remarkable journey, and I'm ready for new challenges.

Thank you, TouchArcade readers, for being part of this incredible journey. Your support and engagement have meant the world to me. I wish you all the best and hope to see you at my new ventures. Until then, keep gaming, and as always – thanks for reading.