Castlevania Collection Dominates SwitchArcade's Latest Reviews

Hello fellow gamers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Roundup for September 3rd, 2024! Today's article features several game reviews, including in-depth analyses of Castlevania Dominus Collection and Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn, plus quick looks at some new Pinball FX DLC. We'll also cover the day's new releases, spotlighting the charming Bakeru, and round things off with the latest sales and expiring deals. Let's dive in!

Reviews & Mini-Views

Castlevania Dominus Collection ($24.99)

Konami's recent track record with classic game collections has been exceptional, and the Castlevania franchise has been a major beneficiary. Castlevania Dominus Collection, the third in the series on modern platforms, focuses on the Nintendo DS trilogy. M2's development expertise shines through, resulting in a collection that surpasses expectations and might just be the most essential Castlevania compilation to date.

Let's start with the core games. The Nintendo DS era of Castlevania was pivotal, presenting both highs and lows. Positively, the trilogy boasts unique identities, creating a surprisingly diverse experience. Dawn of Sorrow, a direct sequel to Aria of Sorrow, initially suffered from clumsy touchscreen controls, thankfully mitigated in this release. Portrait of Ruin cleverly integrates touchscreen elements into a bonus mode, highlighting its dual-character mechanic. Order of Ecclesia shakes things up further, offering increased difficulty and a design reminiscent of Simon's Quest. All three are excellent games.

However, this trilogy marked the end of Koji Igarashi's era of exploratory Castlevania titles. While distinct, the games also reflect a possible creative fatigue, or perhaps a search for a new formula to engage a waning audience. Interestingly, these aren't emulated but are native ports, allowing M2 to enhance the experience. The annoying touchscreen controls in Dawn of Sorrow are replaced with intuitive button presses, and a clever three-screen layout (main screen, status screen, and map) improves gameplay significantly. This makes Dawn of Sorrow a contender for my top five Castlevania games.

The collection is packed with features. Options include regional selection, button remapping, and control customization. A charming credits sequence celebrates unsung heroes, and a comprehensive gallery showcases art, manuals, and box art. A music player allows custom playlists, and in-game options provide save states, rewind, screen layout adjustments, background color choices, audio controls, and detailed compendiums for each game. My only minor gripe is the lack of more screen arrangement options. This is a superb way to experience these fantastic games, offering incredible value for the price.

But the surprises don't end there! The notoriously difficult arcade game, Haunted Castle, is included. While its inclusion in previous collections was puzzling, here it is, complete with the essential unlimited continues option. However, the true gem is Haunted Castle Revisited, a complete remake by M2. This isn't just a simple update; it's a fresh, engaging Castlevania game built from the ground up, cleverly tucked away within the collection's extras.

Castlevania Dominus Collection is a must-have for any Castlevania fan. It offers a fantastic new game alongside the superb Nintendo DS trilogy, all presented flawlessly. The inclusion of the original (and brutally challenging) Haunted Castle adds to the package. If you're not a Castlevania fan...well, we can't be friends. And if you're new to the series, this, along with the other collections, is the perfect starting point. Another stellar collaboration between Konami and M2.

SwitchArcade Score: 5/5

Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn ($19.99)

My experience with Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn has been a mixed bag. While I've enjoyed Tengo Project's previous releases (Wild Guns, The Ninja Warriors, Pocky & Rocky), this remake presented some challenges. The team's limited involvement with the original 8-bit game, coupled with my less enthusiastic view of the original, made me cautious.

However, after playing the game extensively, my opinion has evolved. Compared to their other work, Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn feels slightly less polished. Nonetheless, the improvements are significant, from the enhanced presentation to the refined weapon and item system. While lacking new characters, the existing characters are better differentiated. It's undeniably superior to the original while retaining its essence. Fans of the original will adore this.

For those who found the original merely decent, this remake won't drastically alter that perception. The simultaneous access to both the chain and sword is a welcome improvement, and the sword is more useful. The new inventory system adds depth. The presentation is superb, masking its 8-bit origins. However, some challenging difficulty spikes are present, making it harder than the original. It's the best version of Shadow of the Ninja, but it's still Shadow of the Ninja.

Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn is another solid effort from Tengo Project, representing a substantial improvement over its predecessor. Its appeal depends on your feelings towards the original. Newcomers will find an enjoyable, albeit not essential, action game.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

Pinball FX – The Princess Bride Pinball ($5.49)

A couple of quick reviews for the newly updated Pinball FX on Switch. Two new tables are available as DLC: The Princess Bride Pinball and Goat Simulator Pinball. The Princess Bride Pinball cleverly incorporates voice clips and video clips from the movie. Mechanically, it's a well-designed table that feels authentic to the source material and is enjoyable for both casual and competitive play.

Zen Studios often misses the mark with licensed tables, but The Princess Bride Pinball is a success. It's not the most innovative, but its straightforward design and faithful representation of the movie make it a worthwhile purchase for fans.

SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5

Pinball FX – Goat Simulator Pinball ($5.49)

Goat Simulator Pinball embraces its source material's absurdity. This unique table is best suited for veteran pinball players due to its quirky mechanics and challenging gameplay. While initially bewildering, it offers rewarding gameplay and humorous moments. Goat Simulator fans will need to invest time to master it, but the payoff is worth the effort.

SwitchArcade Score: 4/5

Select New Releases

Bakeru ($39.99)

As mentioned in yesterday's review, this charming 3D platformer from Good-Feel is a delightful experience. Play as Bakeru, a tanuki on a mission to save Japan. While the Switch version suffers from inconsistent framerates, the game's charm and unique gameplay make it a worthwhile experience.

Holyhunt ($4.99)

A top-down arena twin-stick shooter, described as an homage to 8-bit games. It's simple but fun, offering straightforward shoot-and-dash gameplay.

Shashingo: Learn Japanese with Photography ($20.00)

A language-learning game where you take photos and learn the Japanese names for objects. While not typically covered, it seems well-designed for those learning Japanese through visual association.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

Today's sales include OrangePixel's excellent pick-up-and-play titles, a rare discount on Alien Hominid, and a great deal on Ufouria 2. THQ and Team 17 titles are ending their sales soon, so check their publisher pages for more deals. Browse both lists carefully!

Select New Sales

(List of sales)

(List of sales)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, September 4th

(List of sales)

That's it for today! Join us tomorrow for more new releases, sales, and potentially a new review. We're in the midst of a fantastic gaming season, so hold onto your wallets and enjoy the ride! Have a great Tuesday, and thanks for reading!