SwitchArcade Round-Up: Reviews Featuring ‘Record of Lodoss War’ and ‘Vagante’, Plus the Latest Releases and Sales

Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for January 31st, 2022. In today’s article, we kick off the week with a trio of reviews. Record of Lodoss War -Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth-, Vagante, and RPGolf Legends all sit in the ultra-comfy judgement chair this time around. We then go into the new releases for the day, which seem to be a bit unimpressive on the whole. Well, that seems to happen a lot on Mondays of late. Finally, it’s a big list of new sales and a not-so-big list of expiring sales for you to think about. Let’s get to work!

Reviews & Mini-Views Record of Lodoss War -Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth- ($24.99)

Gosh, there are a lot of Metroidvania-style games out there. It’s a loose enough genre descriptor that a wide range of games can fit into it, and some of them end up pretty far from both the Metroid and the ‘Vania titles that created the portmanteau. Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth is rather content to follow carefully in the footsteps of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night in most ways, but it does offer up a few mechanics to catch your interest. Fans of the Lodoss War IP will be happy to see that Deedlit has to make extensive use of her archery skills, and there’s also a mechanic that involves you juggling active spirits to absorb attacks and heal. That latter bit has the feel of Ikaruga about it.

While the game doesn’t do a whole lot to shake up the formula and its story is going to be largely nonsensical to those unfamiliar with the somewhat vintage Record of Lodoss War property, the controls are tight, the pacing is brisk, and the map designs are strong. It’s a very pleasant Metroidvania experience, and the six or so hours it takes to finish go by in a flash. Those who love Symphony of the Night in particular will find this game wonderfully familiar in all the best ways. I doubt it will inspire many imitators of its own, but it’s very well-done.

SwitchArcade Score: 4/5

Vagante ($14.99)

This is a game that has to grow on you a bit, but once it does it’s really fantastic. It initially comes off a bit generic. You’re plunking around in side-scrolling dungeons, battling monsters, avoiding traps, and exploring for secrets. Give it some time and you’ll realize it has some real roguelike chops to it. You pick a class and while that determines your starting circumstances, what you find during your explorations will greatly shape the abilities you have at your disposal. There’s a hint of Spelunky here, but it’s wrapped up with more RPG elements, resulting in a game with its own feel.

I can safely say that if you enjoy roguelite action games such as Dead Cells or more intense examples like Spelunky, you’ll find a lot to like in Vagante. There’s a lot to discover in this game, and it never stops feeling dangerous enough to produce the tension that makes this genre work so well. It also has some great multiplayer options for those who want to tackle a game like this with that advantage and/or disadvantage. A well-rounded experience where you get all of the fun of building up a character and all of the thrills of narrowly evading instant-death traps. Give it a chance, and you’ll reap the rewards.

SwitchArcade Score: 4/5

RPGolf Legends ($29.99)

Sports and RPGs go together so well that it’s a wonder we don’t see these two genres mash-up more often. Golf seems to be a popular choice when these combinations do happen, with a few of Mario’s outings leaning into RPG elements and the very popular Golf Story providing a robust adventure. Prolific RPG publisher KEMCO and developer ArticNet have provided their own example in the form of RPGolf Legends, a follow-up to a previous mobile release simply called RPGolf. In truth, it feels more like an action-adventure game blended with golf than an RPG, but there’s enough of all of the different parts represented here to sell the concept.

The problem, I suppose, is that this is neither a particularly excellent golf game nor is it an especially good RPG/adventure. There’s a lot of grinding involved if you want to tackle all of the various sub-quests, and neither the golfing nor the combat mechanics are robust enough to fend off the repetitiveness that comes with that. It truly feels like a game that tries to do too many things at the expense of giving any one of those things the necessary polish. Still, everything is properly functional and the game certainly has its charms. RPGolf Legends isn’t a must-have by any means, but if you’re looking for something to tide you over while you wait for Sports Story, this will keep your belly full for a while.

SwitchArcade Score: 3/5

New Releases Treasure Hunter Man 2 ($1.99)

This is a Metroidvania-style game where you play as a mother searching an island for her treasure-hunting son. It’s rather rough in some regards, but it’s an earnest effort and I can’t help but admire it for that. Explore the island, find an assortment of upgrades and gear, and make your way to one of three different endings. There are also two optional challenge dungeons to check out if you really want to squeeze out your two bucks’ worth. If you’ve only got a little money to spend today, this is a nice enough thing to kick it at.

Broken Blades ($3.99)

Well, an attempt was made. This is a side-scrolling action game where you play as a fairly generic sword-wielding hero exploring fairly generic dungeons and battling fairly generic monsters. Collect coins, upgrade your sword, you know how it goes. It’s not completely intolerable, but it really doesn’t play as well as it needs to in order to sell what is a highly exhausted concept.

Magic Pen Color Book ($3.99)

Pix Arts checks in today to contribute its own cheap coloring app to the pile. Handheld mode only, because it’s probably assembled from an Android template. You can find better coloring apps on the Switch, but I suppose this one at least doesn’t have IAP.

Cue Sports ($5.90)

Benjamin Kistler has a plain-looking billiard game for us that is almost certainly cobbled together from a purchased template. You can tell it’s a serious game of billiards because it spells the word ‘billiard’ incorrectly four different times in its eShop description. I wouldn’t recommend it, but I’m not President Batman so you can do what you like.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

Another Monday, another list largely made up of the usual suspects. There are some interesting items in here, though. Banner of the Maid and Paradise Killer immediately jump out at me, but if you comb through you’ll find plenty of other decent titles. The outbox has a couple of games worth considering as well. Freedom Finger for two bucks is a great deal for shoot-em-up fans, and Sydney Hunter is a nice platforming adventure that isn’t on sale super-often.

Select New Games on Sale

AAA Clock ($1.99 from $9.99 until 2/1)
Battleship ($9.99 from $19.99 until 2/4)
Clue: Classic Mystery Game ($14.99 from $29.99 until 2/4)
4×4 Dirt Track ($5.99 from $11.99 until 2/4)
City Driving Simulator ($5.99 from $11.99 until 2/4)
Car Driving School Sim ($6.99 from $13.99 until 2/4)
Carnage: Battle Arena ($4.49 from $14.99 until 2/4)
Aloof ($1.99 from $9.99 until 2/4)
Art Sqool ($1.99 from $12.99 until 2/4)
Madorica Real Estate ($8.99 from $14.99 until 2/5)
BeatTalk ($11.79 from $17.99 until 2/5)
Nirvana Pilot Yume ($1.99 from $4.99 until 2/5)
OMG Police Car Chase TV ($1.99 from $4.99 until 2/5)
Cyber Protocol ($1.99 from $9.99 until 2/5)
Brawl Chess Deluxe Edition ($1.99 from $11.99 until 2/5)
Clumsy Rush ($1.99 from $4.99 until 2/5)
Sky Games ($7.77 from $14.99 until 2/7)
Funny Bunny Adventures ($1.99 from $4.99 until 2/7)
Tactical Mind 2 ($1.99 from $4.99 until 2/8)
Aborigenus ($1.99 from $4.99 until 2/8)
Event Horizon: Space Defense ($1.99 from $6.99 until 2/8)
Girabox ($1.99 from $2.49 until 2/8)
Diabolic ($1.99 from $4.99 until 2/8)
Swaps & Traps ($1.99 from $8.99 until 2/8)
Pato Box ($4.49 from $14.99 until 2/8)

Neon City Riders ($7.99 from $19.99 until 2/8)
My Singing Monsters Playground ($29.99 from $39.99 until 2/8)
Foregone ($4.99 from $19.99 until 2/9)
Cannibal Cuisine ($10.39 from $12.99 until 2/9)
Banner of the Maid ($8.49 from $16.99 until 2/10)
Fight of Animals: Arena ($15.99 from $19.99 until 2/11)
Horned Knight ($2.99 from $5.99 until 2/11)
Piczle Cross Adventure ($4.99 from $9.99 until 2/12)
PictoQuest ($4.99 from $9.99 until 2/12)
Transcripted ($1.99 from $7.99 until 2/12)
Burly Men At Sea ($3.99 from $9.99 until 2/12)
Flipon ($3.59 from $5.99 until 2/12)
A Normal Lost Phone ($2.39 from $5.99 until 2/12)
Another Lost Phone: Laura’s Story ($2.39 from $5.99 until 2/12)
Lost Phone Stories ($3.99 from $9.99 until 2/12)
Healer’s Quest ($10.04 from $14.99 until 2/12)
Alba: A Wildlife Adventure ($13.99 from $19.99 until 2/12)
The Last Door CE ($3.74 from $14.99 until 2/12)
Astrologaster ($5.99 from $9.99 until 2/12)
Yono & the Celestial Elephants ($4.99 from $19.99 until 2/12)

Alt-Frequencies ($3.19 from $7.99 until 2/12)
Skelittle: A Giant Party! ($2.49 from $9.99 until 2/12)
Children of Zodiarcs ($7.19 from $17.99 until 2/12)
Double Kick Heroes ($13.19 from $21.99 until 2/12)
Iris & the Giant ($8.99 from $14.99 until 2/12)
Lethis: Path of Progress ($7.99 from $19.99 until 2/12)
Bury me, my Love ($1.99 from $4.99 until 2/12)
Accidental Queens Collection ($5.99 from $14.99 until 2/12)
Linelight ($5.99 from $9.99 until 2/12)
Before I Forget ($5.99 from $7.99 until 2/12)
Shape of the World ($3.74 from $14.99 until 2/12)
Momonga Pinball Adventures ($1.99 from $5.99 until 2/12)
Steredenn: Binary Stars ($5.19 from $12.99 until 2/12)
Kill The Bad Guy ($2.09 from $6.99 until 2/12)
Lost in Harmony ($2.09 from $6.99 until 2/12)
Super Rocket Shootout ($1.99 from $9.99 until 2/12)
DragoDino ($2.99 from $9.99 until 2/12)
Bombslinger ($2.99 from $11.99 until 2/12)
Ghost of a Tale ($14.99 from $24.99 until 2/12)
White Night ($2.99 from $14.99 until 2/12)

Zombie Night Terror ($3.74 from $14.99 until 2/12)
Galaxy of Pen & Paper ($6.24 from $12.49 until 2/12)
Knights of Pen & Paper ($5.99 from $14.99 until 2/12)
Knights of Pen & Paper 2 ($3.89 from $12.99 until 2/12)
Chroma Squad ($7.49 from $14.99 until 2/12)
Instant Sports ($7.49 from $14.99 until 2/12)
Instant Sports Summer Games ($12.99 from $19.99 until 2/12)
Instant Sports Winter Games ($19.99 from $24.99 until 2/12)
Instant Sports Paradise ($16.24 from $24.99 until 2/12)
My Farm ($2.99 from $9.99 until 2/12)
My Exotic Farm 2018 ($2.99 from $9.99 until 2/12)
My Jurassic Farm 2018 ($2.99 from $9.99 until 2/12)
My Arctic Farm 2018 ($2.99 from $9.99 until 2/12)
Melbits World ($2.99 from $9.99 until 2/12)
Dungeon Rushers ($2.99 from $14.99 until 2/12)
Anarcute ($4.49 from $14.99 until 2/12)
The Next Penelope ($2.59 from $12.99 until 2/12)
Brakes Are For Losers ($2.00 from $4.99 until 2/12)
ScourgeBringer ($11.04 from $16.99 until 2/12)

Pankapu ($2.39 from $11.99 until 2/12)
NeuroVoider ($4.19 from $13.99 until 2/12)
Away: Journey to the Unexpected ($3.39 from $16.99 until 2/12)
Old School Musical ($5.19 from $12.99 until 2/12)
Dead in Vinland True Viking ($11.19 from $27.99 until 2/12)
Splasher ($3.74 from $14.99 until 2/12)
Hover ($7.49 from $24.99 until 2/12)
Astria Ascending ($31.99 from $39.99 until 2/12)
The Smurfs: Mission Vileaf ($31.99 from $39.99 until 2/13)
In Other Waters ($8.99 from $14.99 until 2/13)
Super Mutant Alien Assault ($1.99 from $9.99 until 2/13)
No Longer Home ($9.74 from $14.99 until 2/13)
Think of the Children ($2.59 from $12.99 until 2/13)
Paradise Killer ($12.99 from $19.99 until 2/13)
Framed Collection ($1.99 from $9.99 until 2/13)
Genesis Noir ($9.74 from $14.99 until 2/13)
Marsupilami Hoobadventure ($23.99 from $29.99 until 2/13)
Juiced! ($1.99 from $4.99 until 2/13)
Unstrong: Space Calamity ($3.74 from $4.99 until 2/13)
Suzerain ($12.59 from $17.99 until 2/13)

The Stillness of the Wind ($3.89 from $12.99 until 2/13)
Neo Cab ($3.99 from $19.99 until 2/13)
The Church in the Darkness ($3.99 from $19.99 until 2/13)
Horrid Henry’s Krazy Karts ($23.99 from $29.99 until 2/14)
Frozen Friends ($2.99 from $9.99 until 2/14)
Twist & Switch Bundle ($1.99 from $5.99 until 2/14)
Love Colors ($2.79 from $3.99 until 2/14)
Genetic Disaster ($2.99 from $14.99 until 2/14)
Pixel Gladiator ($1.99 from $6.99 until 2/15)
Tardy ($1.99 from $9.99 until 2/15)
Bridge Strike ($1.99 from $6.99 until 2/15)
Aspire: Ina’s Tale ($8.70 from $12.99 until 2/18)
Chess Royale ($1.99 from $2.99 until 2/18)
Emergency Driver Simulator ($6.99 from $13.99 until 2/18)
Monster Truck Arena ($5.99 from $11.99 until 2/18)
Monster Truck XT Airport Derby ($5.99 from $11.99 until 2/18)
Driving World: Aspen ($5.99 from $11.99 until 2/18)
SteamWorld Dig ($2.49 from $9.99 until 2/19)
SteamWorld Dig 2 ($6.99 from $19.99 until 2/19)
SteamWorld Heist UE ($4.99 from $19.99 until 2/19)

SteamWorld Quest: HoG ($8.74 from $24.99 until 2/19)
Anthill ($2.49 from $9.99 until 2/19)
Crypt of the NecroDancer ($3.99 from $19.99 until 2/19)
Rawr-Off ($1.99 from $2.99 until 2/19)
Powertris ($1.99 from $4.99 until 2/19)
Make War ($1.99 from $9.99 until 2/19)
Supersonic Tank Cats ($2.49 from $4.99 until 2/19)
Classical Logical Bundle 4in1 ($2.99 from $9.99 until 2/19)
Kickerinho World ($1.99 from $4.99 until 2/19)
Tanuki Justice ($6.99 from $14.99 until 2/19)
Nonograms Prophecy ($1.99 from $3.99 until 2/19)
Ego Protocol: Remastered ($1.99 from $4.99 until 2/19)
Body of Evidence ($1.99 from $9.99 until 2/19)
Wallachia: Reign of Dracula ($6.99 from $14.99 until 2/19)
Exorder ($1.99 from $12.99 until 2/19)
Splashy Cube ($1.99 from $4.99 until 2/19)
Strike Force Kitty ($1.99 from $4.99 until 2/19)
Pool Pro GOLD ($1.99 from $9.99 until 2/19)
Creepy Tale ($3.49 from $9.99 until 2/19)
Star Horizon ($1.99 from $9.99 until 2/19)