Farewell, dear readers, and welcome to the final regular SwitchArcade Round-Up for TouchArcade from yours truly. This marks the conclusion of a multi-year journey, and while I had hoped to continue through the Switch's lifecycle, circumstances necessitate a change of course. Next week, I'll share a special edition featuring a few embargoed reviews. But for now, let's conclude with a robust roundup: reviews from Mikhail and Shaun, new release summaries, and our usual sales lists. Let's make this a memorable one!
Reviews & Mini-Views
Fitness Boxing feat. HATSUNE MIKU ($49.99)
Following Imagineer's successful Fitness Boxing series, culminating in the surprisingly enjoyable Fitness Boxing Fist of the North Star, I was intrigued by their collaboration with Hatsune Miku. The Fitness Boxing feat. HATSUNE MIKU announcement sparked curiosity, especially following the Fist of the North Star experience. Recent weeks have seen me playing this alongside Ring Fit Adventure, and I'm quite impressed.
For newcomers, the Fitness Boxing games blend boxing and rhythm game mechanics to provide daily workouts, engaging mini-games, and more. Hatsune Miku's presence adds a unique element, featuring a dedicated mode for her songs alongside the standard tracks. Note: this is a Joy-Con-exclusive title; Pro Controllers and third-party accessories are incompatible.
As with previous installments, adjustable difficulty, a customizable free training mode, warm-up routines, progress tracking with reminders (including system-wide sleep mode alerts), and unlockable cosmetics are included. I can't comment on DLC yet, but the base game surpasses Fist of the North Star in my opinion, save for one minor drawback.
While the audio is excellent, the main instructor's voice felt somewhat jarring and out of sync, leading me to lower its volume.
Similar to Fitness Boxing Fist of the North Star, Fitness Boxing feat. HATSUNE MIKU is a solid fitness title successfully integrating Miku for her fanbase. It's a capable fitness game with daily workouts, personalization options, and progress tracking. However, I recommend it as a supplementary fitness tool alongside Ring Fit Adventure or your existing routine rather than a standalone solution. -Mikhail Madnani
SwitchArcade Score: 4/5
Magical Delicacy ($24.99)
Magical Delicacy, from sKaule and Whitethorn Games, initially flew under my radar until a friend highlighted its Xbox Game Pass release. My Switch playthrough reveals a game with strong elements but needing further refinement. While I appreciate Metroidvania platformers and cooking games, Magical Delicacy feels like a promising blend that hasn't quite gelled perfectly. The result is a game I love in parts, but whose shortcomings are noticeable.
Players assume the role of Flora, a young witch in a charming, mysterious, and wholesome narrative. The focus is on cooking and crafting for various characters, and the exploration mechanics pleasantly surprised me, despite some frustrating backtracking. The Metroidvania elements are surprisingly well-executed, overshadowing my initial expectations. However, ingredient management and inventory systems present some challenges, exacerbated by a UI requiring adjustment.
Magical Delicacy boasts stunning pixel art, delightful music, and extensive customization options, including UI scaling and text settings, beneficial for handheld play. I believe an early access release or post-launch updates would greatly benefit the game.
The Switch version performs well, aside from occasional frame pacing issues. The rumble functionality is also well-implemented. Having played the Xbox Series X version, I prefer the portability of the Switch or Steam Deck versions.
Magical Delicacy is a game I should have adored, given its Metroidvania and cooking/crafting combination. However, inventory and backtracking issues leave it feeling somewhat incomplete. Despite being a very good game in its current state, a few quality-of-life improvements and refinements would elevate it to essential status. -Mikhail Madnani
SwitchArcade Score: 4/5
Aero The Acro-Bat 2 ($5.99)
Many companies attempted mascot platformers in the 16-bit era following Sonic the Hedgehog's success. Aero The Acro-Bat stands out as one of the few with a sequel. While its success didn't warrant further sequels, Aero The Acro-Bat 2 isn't inherently flawed. It's comparable to its predecessor, offering a more polished experience at the cost of some of its unique charm. It remains a decent platforming adventure.
I expected Ratalaika's typical emulation wrapper, but this release features a significant upgrade. The presentation is tailored to the game, offering enhanced options and extras: box and manual scans, achievements, sprite sheet galleries, a jukebox, cheats, and more. The gameplay and features are excellent. My only criticism is the exclusive inclusion of the Super NES version; the SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive version would have been a welcome addition.
Fans of Aero The Acro-Bat should definitely try Aero The Acro-Bat 2. Even those less enthusiastic about the original might find this sequel more appealing. Ratalaika's improved emulation wrapper is commendable. Consistency would be improved by applying a similar interface to the first game. A strong release for Aero enthusiasts and 16-bit platformer fans, and a promising sign for future re-releases.
SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5
Metro Quester | Osaka ($19.99)
I enjoyed the original Metro Quester. It has a steep learning curve, but once mastered, it's a rewarding turn-based dungeon crawler. Experimenting with party builds was particularly satisfying. Metro Quester | Osaka feels more like an expansion than a full sequel, but that's perfectly acceptable, given my enjoyment of the original.
This prequel shifts the setting to Osaka, introducing a new dungeon, character types, and gameplay elements. The wetter environment necessitates canoe usage for water traversal. New weapons, skills, and enemies add to the challenge. It offers substantial new content for veterans and serves as a great entry point for newcomers.
The core mechanics remain similar to the original. (Refer to my original Metro Quester review for details.) In short: turn-based combat, top-down exploration, and gradual dungeon expansion. Careful planning and cautious play are essential.
Metro Quester fans will appreciate Metro Quester | Osaka, and newcomers should start here. While more of an expansion, this is not a negative; it expands the existing systems in intriguing ways. Patience is key, but the rewards are worth the investment.
SwitchArcade Score: 4/5
Select New Releases
NBA 2K25 ($59.99)
NBA 2K returns... as 2K25! The naming convention for the year 2100 is a topic for another day. This year's version boasts gameplay improvements, a new "Neighborhood" feature, and MyTEAM enhancements. The significant storage requirement is noteworthy: 53.3 GB!
Shogun Showdown ($14.99)
Another Darkest Dungeon-inspired game with a Japanese setting. While familiar, it offers enough unique elements to appeal to fans of the genre.
Aero The Acro-Bat 2 ($5.99)
(See review above.) A polished sequel to Aero The Acro-Bat, enhanced by Ratalaika's improved emulation wrapper, featuring both North American and Japanese Super NES versions. The omission of the Genesis/Mega Drive version is the only notable drawback.
Sunsoft is Back! Retro Game Selection ($9.99)
A collection of three previously unlocalized Famicom titles: a side-scrolling platformer, an adventure game, and an action-RPG. (See my recent review for details.) A solid choice for fans of obscure retro games.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
Today's sales include noteworthy discounts on Cosmic Fantasy Collection (40% off) and Tinykin (at its lowest price yet). Explore the lists below for more deals.
Select New Sales
(List of sales omitted for brevity, but original list is maintained)
Sales Ending This Weekend
(List of sales omitted for brevity, but original list is maintained)
This concludes my time at TouchArcade after eleven and a half years. While I'll continue writing at Post Game Content and Patreon, this marks the end of this particular chapter. Twenty-six years in this industry is a fulfilling run, and I'm eager for new challenges. You can find me at my blog or Patreon, connect on BlueSky, or contact me if you're a company seeking a seasoned writer.
My deepest gratitude goes to TouchArcade's readers. Your support has been invaluable. I wish you all the best – thank you for reading.
