SwitchArcade Round-Up: ‘Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin’, ‘Songs for a Hero’, and Today’s Ot

Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for July 9th, 2021. In today’s article, we’ve got the rest of the new releases for the week to go through. We’ve also got a whole lot of new sales to check out. Mostly the usual stuff, but there are a few interesting things in there. And that’s about it, but it’s all I could muster after losing half a day to hospital tests. Let’s look at it all together!

New Releases

Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin ($59.99)

SwitchArcade Highlight!

Here’s the big gun for the day. I frankly never expected to see a sequel to Monster Hunter Stories, as it rather famously didn’t live up to Capcom’s expectations in a lot of ways. I think they’ve roped in their hopes this time around and decided to focus on making the game all it can be, and it’s turned out rather good. It still feels a lot like a spin-off rather than something that can stand on its own, but that’s fine provided you like Monster Hunter. Team up with Monsties, fight in turn-based battles, and uncover legends as you explore a colorful world in this JRPG.

Bai Qu: Hundreds of Melodies ($9.99)

That title sounds like it’s going to be for a rhythm game, but no. This is a musical-themed visual novel about a college student who meets a young woman while visiting his sick father. She’s a musician, and they quickly become good friends. Things seem like they’re going in a good direction, but things are never as simple as they seem. There are multiple routes and endings in this one, and it isn’t really about right or wrong so much as different choices. You can expect this one to come in just under ten hours, which isn’t too shabby at all for the price it’s asking.

Songs for a Hero: Definitive Edition ($14.99)

So this looks like your average, ordinary action-platformer. But there’s a twist here: the game has a dynamic soundtrack that will sing about your actions. I can’t decide if that’s utterly brilliant, completely annoying, or both. It was co-developed by a popular Brazilian YouTube comedy duo, the Castro Brothers, so I’m sure the humor is going to be on point for quite a few people. The gameplay seems decent enough, with a nice Monster World vibe to it. It’s fine enough. You’re really here for the comedy and the strength of the gimmick, though. If it works for you, you’re going to have a really good time here. If not… well, you won’t. This version includes some additional DLC that was originally sold separately on other platforms.

Shopping Mall Parking Lot ($11.99)

Live the dream of… driving a car around a shopping mall parking lot? Uh, okay. I get that new ideas are running thin, especially in the whole driving game genre. Anyway, this game touts a realistic shopping mall parking lot for you to drive around in with twelve different cars to choose from. There are sixty missions to complete, such as parking in between two cars, parking a big truck in a tight space, and other parking-related challenges. Complete the missions, earn money, use the money to unlock new vehicles, and so on. This is a port of a free-to-play mobile game with the IAPs stripped out and an upfront price tag slapped on, so feel free to check it out on your favorite mobile device to see how you like it before deciding on this Switch port.

Metro Simulator ($19.99)

My Metro preferences lean more towards the 2033 end of things, but if you’d prefer something a little more mundane, Metro Simulator might scratch the itch. Live the life of a subway train driver in Moscow, or simply enjoy the passenger life and ride around the many lines and stations. You’ll have to learn how to handle the flow of passengers through the day and night, follow the traffic signals properly, brake at the right times, and so on. If you’re tired of the routines the game is throwing at you, a free mode allows you set your own route right down to the timetable. Seems alright for what it is, at least.

Fantasy Cards ($4.99)

This isn’t even the McDonalds we have at home. This is the McDonalds in the dumpster down the street. If for some reason you find Hearthstone to be too rich for your blood, you can learn new depths of lighting your money on fire by buying this latest Pix Arts treat. It’s handheld mode only, because the most likely case is that this was an Android template the developer bought from the Unity Asset Store. Single player only, three levels of AI opponents. You can do better. Treat yourself.

Connect Bricks ($9.98)

The borderline copyright infringing LEGO-style aesthetic hides what is basically just another PathPix/Slitherlink style puzzle game. Make a line between two points of the same color and fill the board without overlapping any lines. You get more than 2000 puzzles here, with the biggest being 14 x 14. Not really big enough for my tastes, but beginning players should have their hands sufficiently full. If you get stuck, there is a hint system you can call on. I’d recommend the Piczle Lines games over this one, but I sure can’t argue with the sheer amount of content here.

Connect the Dots ($6.99)

I don’t want to be rude or anything, but Connect the Dots is the name of an existing puzzle type and it is not this. No, this is another PathPix/Slitherlink style puzzle game. Like I said when I was describing the other release with ‘connect’ in its title today, you have to make lines between similarly colored dots and fill the board without having any lines overlapping. This one apparently can’t be played docked, and only offers “hundreds” of puzzles instead of the two thousand the other guy is promising today. My opinion is the same: stick to those Piczle Lines games if you want this kind of thing.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

As promised, we’ve got a giant list of new sales. The big companies joining in are WB Games and Ubisoft, but there are lots of good indies to check out along with all of that. I’m a bit pressed for time today so I’ll leave it to you to go through and find what appeals to you. Not too much worth caring about in the weekend outbox, but this is your last chance to grab FUSER at a discount before it goes back to its regular price.

Select New Games on Sale

Solitaire Deluxe 3 in 1 ($1.99 from $14.99 until 7/12) Ultrawings Flat ($4.99 from $19.99 until 7/15) Word Crush Hidden ($3.49 from $4.99 until 7/15) Fledgling Heroes ($5.99 from $9.99 until 7/15) AntVentor ($3.19 from $7.99 until 7/16) Brawl Chess ($3.99 from $9.99 until 7/16) The Bunker ($6.49 from $12.99 until 7/16) Little Mouse’s Encyclopedia ($8.44 from $12.99 until 7/16) Puzzle Box 3 in 1 ($1.99 from $4.99 until 7/17) Quest Hunter ($10.49 from $29.99 until 7/19) Get Ogre It ($3.95 from $11.99 until 7/19) Flying Soldiers ($5.93 from $17.99 until 7/19) Naught ($4.99 from $19.99 until 7/19) Mortal Kombat 11 ($14.99 from $49.99 until 7/20) LEGO City Undercover ($5.99 from $29.99 until 7/20) LEGO NinjaGO Movie Video Game ($9.99 from $49.99 until 7/20) The LEGO Movie 2 Videogame ($7.99 from $39.99 until 7/20) LEGO Worlds ($5.99 from $29.99 until 7/20) LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 ($7.49 from $29.99 until 7/20) LEGO DC Super-Villains ($11.99 from $59.99 until 7/20) LEGO The Incredibles ($11.99 from $59.99 until 7/20) LEGO Jurassic World ($9.99 from $39.99 until 7/20) Cars 3: Driven to Win ($7.99 from $39.99 until 7/20) Bakugan: CoV ($14.99 from $49.99 until 7/20) Scribblenauts Showdown ($3.99 from $39.99 until 7/20) Scribblenauts Mega Pack ($7.99 from $39.99 until 7/20)

Immortals Fenyx Rising ($23.99 from $59.99 until 7/22) Assassin’s Creed III ($15.99 from $39.99 until 7/22) Assassin’s Creed Rebel Collection ($19.99 from $39.99 until 7/22) South Park The Stick of Truth ($11.99 from $29.99 until 7/22) South Park The Fractured But Whole ($14.99 from $59.99 until 7/22) Rayman Legends Definitive ($9.99 from $39.99 until 7/22) Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle ($14.99 from $59.99 until 7/22) Mario + Rabbids KB Gold ($19.99 from $79.99 until 7/22) Starlink: Battle for Atlas ($14.99 from $59.99 until 7/22) Starlink: BfA Deluxe Edition ($23.99 from $79.99 until 7/22) Just Dance 2020 ($19.99 from $39.99 until 7/22) Just Dance 2021 ($19.99 from $49.99 until 7/22) Sports Party ($9.99 from $39.99 until 7/22) RISK Global Domination ($9.99 from $49.99 until 7/22) Wheel of Fortune ($7.99 from $19.99 until 7/22) Family Feud ($14.99 from $29.99 until 7/22) Jeopardy! ($7.99 from $19.99 until 7/22) Trivial Pursuit Live! ($9.99 from $19.99 until 7/22) Monopoly ($9.99 from $39.99 until 7/22) Hungry Shark World ($2.49 from $9.99 until 7/22) Valiant Hearts: The Great War ($4.99 from $19.99 until 7/22) Child of Light Ultimate ($4.99 from $19.99 until 7/22) Child of Light & Valiant Hearts ($7.49 from $29.99 until 7/22) Trials Rising Standard ($5.99 from $19.99 until 7/22) Trials Rising Gold ($8.99 from $29.99 until 7/22)

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World ($9.74 from $14.99 until 7/22) 39 Days to Mars ($10.04 from $14.99 until 7/22) Dark Fantasy: Jigsaw Puzzle ($3.99 from $4.99 until 7/22) Asterix & Obelix XXL Romastered ($14.99 from $29.99 until 7/22) Torn Tales: Rebound Edition ($3.99 from $7.99 until 7/22) Azurebreak Heroes ($2.49 from $6.99 until 7/22) Demon’s Rise: Lords of Chaos ($3.99 from $7.99 until 7/22) The Swindle ($3.74 from $14.99 until 7/23) American Fugitive ($1.99 from $19.99 until 7/23) PixARK ($13.19 from $39.99 until 7/23) Space Crew ($9.99 from $19.99 until 7/23) Hue ($1.99 from $9.99 until 7/23) A Knight’s Quest ($4.99 from $24.99 until 7/23) Velocity 2X ($4.99 from $19.99 until 7/23) Manuel Samuel ($2.49 from $9.99 until 7/23) Parking Madness ($2.10 from $6.00 until 7/23) Bunny Adventure ($2.10 from $6.00 until 7/23) Narcos: Rise of the Cartels ($5.99 from $29.99 until 7/23) Peaky Blinders: Mastermind ($7.49 from $24.99 until 7/23) Behind the Screen ($7.99 from $9.99 until 7/23) Up Cliff Drive ($2.10 from $6.00 until 7/23) Beholder: Complete Edition ($2.99 from $14.99 until 7/23) Freaky Awesome ($4.41 from $12.99 until 7/23) Danger Mouse: The Danger Games ($3.99 from $4.99 until 7/23) Bomber Crew ($2.99 from $14.99 until 7/23)

Motorsport Manager ($4.49 from $14.99 until 7/23) Serial Cleaner ($2.24 from $14.99 until 7/23) Super Space Serpent ($1.99 from $9.99 until 7/23) For The King ($8.49 from $24.99 until 7/23) Human: Fall Flat ($7.99 from $19.99 until 7/23) The Flame in the Flood ($3.74 from $14.99 until 7/23) Smoke and Sacrifice ($4.99 from $19.99 until 7/23) Awe ($2.49 from $4.99 until 7/23) Leopoldo Manquiseil ($1.99 from $3.99 until 7/23) When Ski Lifts Go Wrong ($2.99 from $14.99 until 7/23) Monkey Wall ($3.99 from $4.99 until 7/23) Pumped BMX Pro ($2.99 from $14.99 until 7/23) The Office Quest ($4.19 from $11.99 until 7/23) Gnomes Garden 2 ($2.49 from $4.99 until 7/23) Tower Climb ($2.10 from $6.00 until 7/23) Just Die Already ($11.24 from $14.99 until 7/23) Death Crown ($11.04 from $12.99 until 7/23) Anima: Gate of Memories ($8.99 from $19.99 until 7/23) Anima: GoM The Nameless Chronicles ($8.99 from $19.99 until 7/23) Anima: GoM Arcane Edition ($13.49 from $29.99 until 7/23) Hotshot Racing ($6.79 from $19.99 until 7/23) Taxi Chaos ($24.99 from $34.95 until 7/26) Speed 3: Grand Prix ($14.99 from $39.99 until 7/26) Stencil Art ($1.99 from $3.99 until 7/27) Zombie Blast Crew ($1.99 from $9.99 until 7/27)

Good Night, Knight ($6.49 from $11.99 until 7/27) Mini Trains ($1.99 from $5.99 until 7/27) Wreckin’ Ball Adventure ($1.99 from $4.99 until 7/27) #RaceDieRun ($1.99 from $9.99 until 7/27) CHOP ($1.99 from $9.99 until 7/27) Tharsis ($5.99 from $11.99 until 7/27) Arcane Arts Academy ($4.99 from $7.99 until 7/27) Tiny Lands ($3.99 from $5.99 until 7/27) Rimelands: Hammer of Thor ($1.99 from $9.99 until 7/27) Shipped ($1.99 from $5.99 until 7/27) Party Treats ($1.99 from $2.49 until 7/27) REKT! High Octane Stunts ($1.99 from $5.99 until 7/27) Space Pioneer ($1.99 from $9.99 until 7/27) Barbarous: Tavern of Emyr ($1.99 from $7.99 until 7/27) Akuto: Showdown ($1.99 from $7.99 until 7/27) Guards ($2.99 from $4.99 until 7/27) Robonauts ($1.99 from $3.99 until 7/27) Archaica: The Path of Light ($3.49 from $14.99 until 7/27) Genetic Disaster ($2.99 from $14.99 until 7/27) Blazing Beaks ($1.99 from $14.99 until 7/27) Akane ($1.99 from $4.99 until 7/27) Jumping Joe & Friends ($1.99 from $2.49 until 7/27) One Strike ($1.99 from $4.99 until 7/27) BIT.TRIP Series, Assorted ($2.49 from $4.99 until 7/27) Door Kickers ($5.99 from $11.99 until 7/27)

DungeonTop ($4.99 from $13.99 until 7/27) Timothy & the Mysterious Forest ($3.99 from $7.99 until 7/27) Coffee Crisis ($1.99 from $9.99 until 7/27) Escape Doodland ($1.99 from $9.99 until 7/27) Mana Spark ($1.99 from $9.99 until 7/27) Wondershot ($1.99 from $9.99 until 7/27) Koloro ($1.99 from $9.99 until 7/27) Super Hero Fight Club ($1.99 from $9.99 until 7/27) Utopia 9 ($1.99 from $9.99 until 7/27) Welcome to Primrose Lake ($1.99 from $7.99 until 7/27) Gravity Rider Zero ($1.99 from $6.99 until 7/27) Dex ($1.99 from $19.99 until 7/27) Death’s Hangover ($1.99 from $4.99 until 7/27) Eyes: The Horror Game ($1.99 from $2.49 until 7/27) Pocket Mini Golf ($1.99 from $2.49 until 7/27) HyperParasite ($8.99 from $17.99 until 7/27) Unit 4 ($1.99 from $14.99 until 7/27) Not Not: A Brain Buster ($1.99 from $2.49 until 7/27) Infernium ($2.20 from $24.95 until 7/28) MIND: Path to Thalamus ($2.39 from $11.99 until 7/28) Koral ($2.39 from $11.99 until 7/28) Soulblight ($3.74 from $14.99 until 7/29) Zombieland: Double Tap ($9.99 from $39.99 until 7/29) Goosebumps The Game ($2.49 from $9.99 until 7/29) Pure Mahjong ($2.99 from $9.99 until 7/29)

Summer Sweetheart ($7.99 from $19.99 until 7/29) Street Outlaws: The List ($9.99 from $39.99 until 7/29) DreamGallery ($2.39 from $5.99 until 7/29) Panzer Dragoon: Remake ($6.24 from $24.99 until 7/29) Cube Creator X ($11.99 from $19.99 until 7/29) Goblin Sword ($1.99 from $4.99 until 7/29) Rise: Race the Future ($9.89 from $16.49 until 7/29) American Ninja Warrior ($7.49 from $29.99 until 7/29) Vaccine ($2.49 from $9.99 until 7/29) Cartoon Network: Battle Crashers ($2.49 from $9.99 until 7/29) 10 Second Run Returns ($1.99 from $4.99 until 7/29) Syberia 3 ($9.99 from $49.99 until 7/29) Nickelodeon Kart Racers ($7.49 from $29.99 until 7/29) Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2 ($19.99 from $39.99 until 7/29) Agatha Christie ABC Murders ($14.99 from $29.99 until 7/29) Crazy Oce ($4.79 from $5.99 until 7/29) Tyd wag vir Niemand ($1.99 from $9.99 until 7/29) ‘n Verlore Verstand ($2.09 from $13.99 until 7/29) Big Buck Hunter Arcade ($4.99 from $19.99 until 7/29) Rapala Fishing Pro Series ($4.99 from $19.99 until 7/29) Animated Jigsaws: Wild Animals ($2.49 from $9.99 until 7/29) Indigo 7 Quest for Love ($11.99 from $14.99 until 7/29) My Maite ($3.74 from $4.99 until 7/29) Knowledge Trainer: Trivia ($2.99 from $14.99 until 7/29) Beauty Bounce ($3.99 from $4.99 until 7/29)

Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid ($19.99 from $39.99 until 7/29) GI Joe Operation Blackout ($15.99 from $39.99 until 7/29) Fury Unleashed ($8.99 from $19.99 until 7/30) Yet Another Zombie Defense HD ($1.99 from $4.99 until 7/30) I, Zombie ($1.99 from $4.99 until 7/30) ELEA: Paradigm Shift ($1.99 from $7.99 until 7/30) Warplanes: WW1 Sky Aces ($6.99 from $9.99 until 7/30) Shopping Mall Parking Lot ($8.99 from $11.99 until 7/30)

Sales Ending This Weekend

Aquatic Rampage ($1.99 from $9.99 until 7/10) Best Day Ever ($13.49 from $14.99 until 7/10) Death end re;Quest ($20.99 from $29.99 until 7/10) FUSER ($29.99 from $39.99 until 7/10) FUSER VIP Edition ($69.99 from $79.99 until 7/10) AnimaLudo ($3.99 from $9.99 until 7/11) Bridge Builder Adventure ($2.99 from $14.99 until 7/11) Build a Bridge! ($2.99 from $14.99 until 7/11) Evoland: Legendary Edition ($4.99 from $19.99 until 7/11) Northgard ($13.99 from $34.99 until 7/11) Pet Shop Snacks ($1.99 from $4.99 until 7/11) Pigeon Fight ($3.99 from $4.99 until 7/11) Rainbows, Toilets & Unicorns ($3.49 from $6.99 until 7/11) SmuggleCraft ($2.99 from $9.99 until 7/11) Tcheco in the Castle of Lucio ($2.49 from $4.99 until 7/11)

That’s all for today and this week, friends. Next week is going to be a busy one, with Link himself gracing our presence with The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD. We’ll also have some reviews to look at, including my take on the Switch version of Ys IX: Monstrum Nox. I hope you all have a great weekend, and as always, thanks for reading!

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