by Jason Parker (Ragachak)
Surely you didn’t think I was done talking about Dead Cells! Well, now that we have an official release date, I thought I might mention it one more time. August 7th, it comes to a bunch of other platforms, but most relevant to this piece, the Switch! It’s easily one of my top games this year, and I cannot wait to see what changes come with the full release. I’ve been playing it for months now and have yet to get tired of it. So get excited, an intense, pixel-styled Metroidvania+Roguelite is coming, and it’s going to be a smash hit. Another title that’s coming (though a bit farther off) that I’m very excited for is MY HERO ONE’S JUSTICE, the My Hero Academia brawler/fighter. It looks to be done in that Naruto style of fighter, the arena fighter, and I think it’s going to be intense. That’s another you to definitely keep an eye on. We recently saw teasers for Gran Torino and Muscular, but I think I want to play as Stain the most.
The other serious news is that Warframe is coming to the Switch! I’ve been saying forever it seems, that the Switch needs more free-to-play online options, with Paladins and Fortnite being first-to-market. However, Warframe doesn’t fit either of those game-type molds, so it will still stand out in a massive way on the Switch. Warframe is up there with my favorite f2p games, and the aesthetic for the various frames is absolutely top-notch. Sharp, fast-paced gameplay, unique look, and a second open-world area is also on the way, so this is the best time to get familiar with it. We don’t have a date yet, but as soon as we do, you will too! With those out of the way, let’s get into the new releases!
The Lion’s Song (July 10th): The Lion’s Song is on my list of “Things I need time to sit down and play”. It’s a point & click set of stories set in 20th century Austria, and I have a feeling it’s going to be a heartwrenching experience. That’s one of the reasons I want to play it though! How you handle the stories and what you do affects the ending, offering several very different ones to experience, which will result in a lot of replay value. It’s a pretty unique game all around, and everything you need to enjoy the game is right on that download. It was an area filled with strife and turmoil, and it needs to be experienced. (9.99)
Shining Resonance Refrain (July 10th): I’ve been playing this for a bit on my Playstation 4, and though I did not play the original Shining Resonance, I heard nothing but good things, and I was not disappointed. It has very smooth real-time combat and is a remaster of the original “Shining Resonance” game. This is the first time it has been released outside of Japan, and the “Resonance Mode” also has a brand new experience, where you play as Imperial Princess Excella and Dragonslayer Jinas as party members, creating a brand-new experience, even if you were already familiar with Shining Resonance (but I recommend playing the regular game first). You have fun events with your party members, get to know them, maybe a little romance, then back to the intense action! It’s a very enjoyable JRPG. (49.99)
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (July 13th): Ready for another amazing Wii-U port? Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is here for the Switch and 3DS! It’s an action-platformer starring the one and only, Captain Toad! The style of gameplay was introduced in Super Mario 3D World, and players control Captain Toad and his companion Toadette, navigating obstacles to get the Gold Star at the end of each stage. It’s incredibly intuitive and challenging, unique among action-platformers, and also now has new levels themed around Super Mario Odyssey, and two-player co-op multiplayer in the Switch version, which will make it even more desirable. The best part of it to me, is that he cannot jump, because his backpack is too heavy. I love it. (39.99)
Octopath Traveler (July 13th): Every. Single. Person that I’ve talked to about the Switch over the past month has mentioned Octopath Traveler at least once. I cannot possibly express how excited I am to finally play it. I’ve avoided the demo so I can be surprised. But with an aesthetic/color palette that reminds me of Final Fantasy VI and characters/combat that reminds me of the “Ogre” franchise, I cannot wait to play Octopath Traveler. It feels like a mix of FFVI/Tactics Ogre, and it could be the RPG of the year. That’s with Dragon Quest XI on the table for me. (59.99)
