SwitchArcade Round-Up: Reviews Featuring ‘Death end re;Quest 2’ and More, Plus the Latest Releases and Sales

Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for February 14th, 2022. Happy Valentine’s Day! In Japan, that means I sit back and collect my chocolate. Next month I get to pay it back threefold, however. I’ve got four brief reviews for you to enjoy today, covering various bits and bobs from the last couple of weeks. There are a few new releases to look at, including the absolutely outstanding Infernax. We finish things up in the normal manner, with some fresh new sales and a list of discounts set to expire soon. Let’s get things started!

Reviews & Mini-Views Death end re;Quest 2 ($49.99)

Friends, I’m generally not that picky when it comes to technical performance. I’m not bothered by a lot of it, even though I do notice it. Ultimately, I can adjust to a lot. So when I start waving a red flag about a game’s technical problems, you know it’s pretty bad. Death end re;Quest 2 has a cool premise, a thoroughly enjoyable story, and even some cool gameplay mechanics. Battles feel like you’re playing Monster Strike, bouncing around enemies in a ring and trying to slam them into things for extra damage.

But my goodness, this game runs like an absolute dog on the Switch. It’s a visual novel/JRPG hybrid, and the first chunk of the game is in the VN style. The minute you head into the first JRPG area, it’s extremely jarring. It has a muddy resolution that makes things hard to see and a framerate that wavers from dreadful to merely poor. It’s hard to understand why, given you’re mostly running down hallway-like areas without much in the way of complex graphical flourishes.

The sad thing is that I kind of dig Death end re;Quest 2. I really got into the story, and while the battle mechanics got repetitive after a while, it never got so bad that I’d push someone away from playing it. Unfortunately, the JRPG portion of the game has such horrible performance problems that I have a lot of trouble recommending this version to anyone who has literally any other option. Even if all you have is a Switch, you’ll want to proceed with extreme caution. The biggest nightmare in this game doesn’t come from any gore or monsters, but rather from just how badly it runs on Switch.

SwitchArcade Score: 3/5

Breakout: Recharged ($9.99)

Atari’s Recharged line is settling into a groove by this point, with Breakout: Recharged offering largely what you would expect as a result. New to this release are some optional modes that give you more than one life, something I’d like to see added to the previously-released Recharged games. Otherwise, we’ve got new vector-style visuals, a cool new soundtrack, some added power-ups, local multiplayer, and some tricky challenges to complete. There are also online leaderboards, a feature that is great to see in games like these.

While the quality of Breakout: Recharged is generally good and the new additions help spice things up, this one didn’t quite click for me the way the last couple of Recharged games did. Power-ups aren’t a huge game changer here thanks to the existence of Arkanoid, and Breakout is just never going to play as well as it needs to without a paddle or spinner controller of some sort. Fans of the original or the Recharged line as a whole won’t be disappointed, but those looking for a good brick breaker can probably find better options on the Switch.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

Action Arcade Wrestling ($14.99)

If you have happy memories of playing wrestling games on your Nintendo 64 with your friends, you’ll probably get a kick out of Action Arcade Wrestling. Just make sure you still have friends to play with, because there really isn’t much here to chew on for the solo player. The presentation is colorful and attractive, the gameplay feels familiar and rides the line between accessible and deep quite nicely, and the wealth of user-created content you can access is impressive. Unfortunately, those who want to do some creating themselves will have to do so on their PCs. There’s also no support for online multiplayer.

As long as you’re able to gather your buddies onto the couch for some gaming fun now and then, you’ll have a good time with Action Arcade Wrestling.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

Broken Blades ($3.99)

I cannot stress enough: if you are making an action game, please make sure the combat feels good. You spend a lot of your time in Broken Blades meandering about and fighting enemies, but your stubby weapon range, laggy controls, and the questionable collision detection make it really unpleasant to play. There are some decent ideas in here if you can tolerate its fundamentals being so sloppy, like being able to add bits to your sword to improve it. But none of those ideas matter all that much when it just isn’t enjoyable to play.

SwitchArcade Score: 2.5/5

New Releases Infernax ($19.99)

SwitchArcade Highlight!

A little bit of Simon’s Quest, a little bit of Adventure of Link, and a whole lot of blood and guts are packed into Infernax. Don’t worry, it’s not as clunky or opaque as either of those classics. This game blends the old and new to create a very compelling action-adventure. Travel the countryside to rid the realm of the evil that plagues it, solving whatever problems you come across along the way. You’ll have to make choices about what to do in certain situations, and your decisions will have consequences down the line. There’s also a really neat secret you might be able to find that pays homage to another retro classic. A very cool game that just feels good to play, and one that I will have a full review for soon.

Monster Prom 2: Monster Camp XXL ($17.99)

SwitchArcade Highlight!

I wasn’t the hugest fan of Monster Prom, but you know who was? A lot of people. A lot of you, probably. And so you get a sequel, this time with a summer camp setting and plenty of new characters to romance. Don’t worry, there are some familiar faces too. It’s the same dating simulation gameplay you remember, but with a few new twists and a slightly different flavor. With this being the XXL version, you get all of the non-Kickstarter outfit packs included. Yes, it’s still multiplayer, and yes, that is still a very unique feature in this kind of game. If you enjoyed the first, this seems like an easy decision.

Smash Star ($1.29)

This game has some serious five-dollar Switch platformer energy, but somehow it’s just over a dollar? Well, that’s a pleasant outcome. Kitty warrior GK teams up with a star to save his missing friends. The action involves a lot of picking up and throwing of objects and enemies, and you can use new abilities by carrying certain things. Each stage has some secrets to sniff out, too. While the game isn’t very long, it makes the most of what it has. If you’ve only got pocket change to spend, it might be worth a gamble.

Cookie Bakery ($14.99)

Game Nacional doesn’t usually price games this high, so I wonder what Cookie Bakery has to offer to justify the fifteen bucks? Wait… that’s just Cookie Clicker! Well, if you ever wanted to pay fifteen bucks to have Cookie Clicker on your Switch, here you go.

Boomerang King ($0.99)

Is this a template flip? I’m not sure, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it is. On the other hand, it also looks rough enough that it might be a legit original. Anyway, you whip your boomerang at the fruits to try to knock them down. Be careful you don’t hit a bomb or a boomerang-eating plant. There are a few different backdrop themes and a number of stages to play. Well, it’s a buck.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

As we often see on Mondays, there’s a big list mostly filled with the usual suspects today. The big exceptions are EA’s line-up of games and the stylish action game The Legend of Tianding. Comb through that list to see if anything catches your eye, of course. And be sure to do the same for the outbox, which is also on the bigger side. The latest WB Games and Bandai Namco sales are wrapping up, along with some nifty indie stuff like Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion.

Select New Games on Sale

Later Alligator ($13.49 from $17.99 until 2/16)
Where the Bees Make Honey ($2.49 from $9.99 until 2/17)
StarCrossed ($2.99 from $9.99 until 2/17)
Aground ($9.89 from $14.99 until 2/17)
We should talk. ($4.19 from $6.99 until 2/17)
Bombfest ($3.24 from $12.99 until 2/17)
Newt One ($4.99 from $9.99 until 2/17)
Beasts of Maravilla Island ($6.99 from $9.99 until 2/17)
Teacup ($7.99 from $9.99 until 2/17)
Evan’s Remains ($4.89 from $6.99 until 2/17)
Blipz ($8.49 from $9.99 until 2/17)
Jin Conception ($9.90 from $15.00 until 2/18)
AAA Clock ($1.99 from $9.99 until 2/18)
Battleship ($9.99 from $19.99 until 2/18)
Clue: Classic Mystery Game ($14.99 from $29.99 until 2/18)
Car Driving Simulator ($6.99 from $13.99 until 2/18)
4×4 Dirt Track ($5.99 from $11.99 until 2/18)
City Driving Simulator ($5.99 from $11.99 until 2/18)
Art Sqool ($1.99 from $12.99 until 2/18)
Carnage: Battle Arena ($4.49 from $14.99 until 2/18)

Brawl Chess Deluxe Edition ($1.99 from $11.99 until 2/19)
Insert Before Flight ($11.24 from $12.49 until 2/20)
Knockout City ($8.99 from $19.99 until 2/21)
Knockout City Deluxe ($13.49 from $29.99 until 2/21)
Plants vs Zombies BfN Complete ($14.79 from $39.99 until 2/21)
Unravel Two ($4.99 from $19.99 until 2/21)
Lost in Random ($14.99 from $29.99 until 2/21)
FIFA 22 Legacy Edition ($19.99 from $39.99 until 2/21)
Burnout Paradise Remastered ($9.89 from $29.99 until 2/21)
Need for Speed Hot Pursuit ($9.99 from $39.99 until 2/21)
The Last Kids on Earth: TSoD ($23.99 from $39.99 until 2/21)
DreamWorks Dragons DoNR ($15.99 from $39.99 until 2/21)
Ben 10 ($11.99 from $19.99 until 2/21)
Zoids Wild Blast Unleashed ($15.99 from $39.99 until 2/21)
Crayola Scoot ($5.99 from $29.99 until 2/21)
My Friend Peppa Pig ($29.99 from $39.99 until 2/21)
PJ Masks Heroes of the Night ($29.99 from $39.99 until 2/21)
Blaze & the Monster Machines ACR ($29.99 from $39.99 until 2/21)
The Addams Family: MM ($29.99 from $39.99 until 2/21)
Trollhunters: DoA ($15.99 from $39.99 until 2/21)

Hotel Transylvania 3 MO ($11.99 from $29.99 until 2/21)
PAW Patrol Mighty Pups ($23.99 from $39.99 until 2/21)
Ice Age Scrat’s Nutty Adv. ($19.99 from $39.99 until 2/21)
Adventure Time: Pirates ($15.99 from $39.99 until 2/21)
Fast & Furious Spy Racers RoS ($29.99 from $39.99 until 2/21)
DreamWorks Spirit LBA ($23.99 from $39.99 until 2/21)
Pode ($12.49 from $24.99 until 2/21)
Breathing Fear ($1.99 from $4.99 until 2/21)
Atomic Heist ($1.99 from $7.99 until 2/21)
One Person Story ($1.99 from $2.99 until 2/21)
Dark Burial ($1.99 from $3.99 until 2/21)
Swordbreaker The Game ($1.99 from $4.99 until 2/21)
Dead Dungeon ($1.99 from $4.99 until 2/21)
Mad Carnage ($1.99 from $4.99 until 2/21)
Football Killer ($3.49 from $6.99 until 2/21)
Cat Go! Ult. Challenge ($2.49 from $4.99 until 2/21)
Speedway Heroes ($4.00 from $8.00 until 2/21)
Beach Volleyball Challenge ($2.24 from $4.49 until 2/21)
Football Run ($4.99 from $9.99 until 2/21)
Gravity Light ($2.49 from $4.99 until 2/21)
S.U.M. Slay Uncool Monsters ($2.39 from $5.99 until 2/21)

Treachery in Beatdown City ($8.99 from $19.99 until 2/21)
Little Mouse’s Encyclopedia ($4.99 from $12.99 until 2/22)
Under Leaves ($1.99 from $12.99 until 2/22)
Event Horizon ($1.99 from $5.99 until 2/22)
Debtor ($1.99 from $2.99 until 2/22)
Mushroom Quest ($1.99 from $2.99 until 2/22)
Colorful Colore ($1.99 from $2.99 until 2/22)
FunBox Party ($1.99 from $2.49 until 2/22)
Tactical Mind ($1.99 from $2.99 until 2/22)
Pew Paw ($1.99 from $6.99 until 2/22)
Skull Rogue ($1.99 from $2.99 until 2/22)
Grood ($1.99 from $4.99 until 2/22)
Drawful 2 ($4.49 from $9.99 until 2/22)
The Jackbox Party Pack 6 ($16.49 from $29.99 until 2/22)
Zombo Buster Advance ($1.99 from $3.99 until 2/27)
Lamentum ($9.59 from $15.99 until 2/28)
Yuppie Psycho EE ($6.66 from $16.66 until 2/28)
The Legend of Tianding ($13.39 from $19.99 until 2/28)
Grandmaster Sudoku ($1.99 from $4.99 until 2/28)
Build a Bridge! ($2.99 from $14.99 until 2/28)

WeakWood Throne ($2.49 from $4.99 until 3/1)
Postal Redux ($4.49 from $9.99 until 3/1)
Woven ($1.99 from $19.99 until 3/3)
Pirates All Aboard! ($1.99 from $5.99 until 3/4)
City Traffic Driver ($5.99 from $11.99 until 3/4)
Driving World: Italian Job ($5.99 from $11.99 until 3/4)
Sports & Wild Pinball ($7.49 from $14.99 until 3/4)
Morphies Law ($1.99 from $19.99 until 3/4)
Blackberry Honey ($10.39 from $12.99 until 3/4)
Canceled! Puzzles Dream ($1.99 from $5.99 until 3/4)
Curve Racer ($2.09 from $2.99 until 3/5)
Castle Heroes ($2.09 from $2.99 until 3/5)
Dungeon’s Hell ($2.09 from $2.99 until 3/5)
Tomb Sweeper ($2.09 from $2.99 until 3/5)
Snowball Collections Bubble ($1.99 from $5.99 until 3/5)
#Halloween Puzzles Dream ($1.99 from $5.99 until 3/5)
Escape Route ($2.09 from $2.99 until 3/5)
Animal Bomber ($3.49 from $4.99 until 3/5)
Fire & Water ($2.09 from $2.99 until 3/5)
Tank Battle Retro ($3.49 from $4.99 until 3/5)

Dirt Bike Retro ($3.49 from $4.99 until 3/5)
Bullet Trail ($2.09 from $2.99 until 3/5)
LocO-SportS ($1.99 from $5.99 until 3/5)
Niche Genetics Survival Game ($9.99 from $19.99 until 3/6)
Cookie Bakery ($9.99 from $14.99 until 3/6)
American Man ($1.99 from $9.99 until 3/6)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, Tuesday, February 15th