Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for May 20th, 2024. It’s the start of a new week, and in this column that means you’re getting some reviews. Three this time, all from yours truly. I take a look at Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, Qualia: The Path of Promise, and Musashi vs Cthulhu. Really covering the whole spectrum there. We have a few new releases to look at today, and we naturally have our usual lists of new and outgoing sales for the day. Let’s get down to business!
Reviews & Mini-Views
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes ($49.99)
Broadly speaking, there are three ways I want to approach this review of Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes for the Switch. We need to talk about the game as a tribute to Suikoden, which is of course its primary purpose. We should also talk about the game in the general modern RPG context, because some people aren’t necessarily here for the nostalgia trip. And we also really need to talk about this Switch version, because there are some serious problems here.
Taking it in as Shaun the Suikoden fan, I’m largely satisfied with Eiyuden Chronicle. I think it suffers from some pacing issues when compared to the better Suikoden games, and at times its cap-tipping to its predecessors can be a little too on the nose. But I can attribute some of that to ring rust, as the Suikoden veterans here haven’t done something like this in a couple of decades. Even with the occasional misfire, I think this game scratches the Suikoden itch in a way no other game released has ever since Konami put the series to bed. If you love the Suikoden games, you’ll want to play some version of Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes. It does what you want it to do.
When compared to modern fare, it’s clear Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is more interested in being a throwback experience. Nothing wrong with that! But there are a lot of design choices here that, while they evoke the feeling of a late 1990s RPG, are a bit cumbersome and not terribly intuitive by the standards of the here and now. Comparing it to things like Bravely Default 2 or even indie fare like Chained Echoes, there’s a lot of friction to this game that might not go over well for people without nostalgia for the era it’s paying homage to.
But really, the main thing I need to talk about is this Switch version of the game. I’m going to start by saying that I really enjoyed Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes as a game. The original Suikoden games were a little clunky in places even in their era after all, but they were still excellent. I’ve no doubt this game will find a strong following on other platforms. Here on Switch, though? You name the technical issue, it’s got it. The framerate is all over the board, and at its worst it is awful. The loads are frequent and lengthy. There’s obvious lag in many of the menus. We’re already four patches in and there are still bugs. I suppose on the positive side, the developers are patching it. But this is not the version of the game you want to be playing. The gap is just too big here.
I think Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes does a good job of carrying out its goal of giving Suikoden fans a new game with a similar sort of appeal. There are some pacing issues here, and its commitment to the bit means those without the necessary nostalgia might feel a little annoyed at times, but overall this is an enjoyable RPG that hits some notes these ears of mine haven’t heard in a while. Unfortunately, this Switch version suffers from too many technical issues to recommend with any real vigor. Play this game, but I wouldn’t play it here unless you really have no other option.
SwitchArcade Score: 3/5
QUALIA ~The Path of Promise~ ($19.99)
First up, this isn’t one of those visual novels where your choices will determine the story. You get one choice that has no real consequences, and the story will always play out the same way. It’s all about the narrative here, and given that this is a sanitized version of an explicit PC game, that could go either way. Qualia was all over the place for me as a story. The premise isn’t exactly promising for being more than a story about getting to the sex scenes as quickly and frequently as possible. A lonely scientist and his colleague invent a robot that seems to possess a greater level of intelligence than any before. This robot also looks like a cute young woman with giant breasts.
To test her capabilities further, lonely scientist takes her home and has her work as his live-in maid. Lonely scientist falls in love with this wife-doll almost immediately, all while she tries to sort out her feelings, or what feelings even are. There are a lot of things you could point out here, but the game is just trying to be heartwarming romance stuff, so it’s best not to overthink it.
Or is it? At a certain point in Qualia, the story takes a twist and starts fumbling its way over some genuinely interesting questions. It’s not really equipped to deal with them in a truly compelling way, but I certainly appreciate the effort. In the end, the game can’t quite commit to this direction and ends up back around to where it started, and the whole thing left me rather unsatisfied as the story reached its close.
Qualia is a visual novel that can’t seem to settle on what it wants to be. A sweet little romance with a quirky premise? A piece of science fiction? An excuse for lewd scenes that have been cut from this version? At times it is all of these things, but it fails to nail down any of them to the degree that I would have preferred. It’s not entirely without its charms, but Qualia ultimately doesn’t live up to its potential in any regard.
SwitchArcade Score: 3/5
Musashi vs Cthulhu ($4.99)
Sometimes you just want to play something simple, and Musashi vs Cthulhu satisfies that craving reasonably well. Indeed, strip away its presentation and you’re left with something not far off from a Game & Watch game. You’re Miyamoto Musashi, the famous warrior. Gnarly creatures are attacking you from left and right, and you have to dispatch them with precise strikes as they approach. Buttons are mapped corresponding to high, medium, and low strikes on either side of you, plus one more for activating a special technique when you’ve filled the appropriate meter. This special move will simply grant you temporary invulnerability, but it can be handy in a pinch.
If you miss the timing or use the wrong strike too many times, your game is over. Your score corresponds to how many enemies you’re able to take out before then. The monsters change up as you score more points, with some requiring multiple strikes to put down. You’ll also unlock some in-game achievements as you play, so if you need a meta-goal beyond trying to beat your best score, I suppose getting all of those could serve the purpose. The presentation helps to dress this all up a little, though it’s obviously not something you’re going to show off at fine cheese parties or anything.
As long as you know what you’re getting into, I think you’ll find Musashi vs Cthulhu to be a decent little time-waster. It does what it sets out to do well enough, and although it gets repetitive in a hurry, I think it’s fine for the small snack price it’s selling for.
SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5
Select New Releases
Undercat ($14.99)
A relatively short and simple platformer about some dogs trying to overthrow the tyrannical cats that rule the world. Play alone or pull in a friend for some local co-op multiplayer if that’s your preference. Anyway, it’s pretty normal in a lot of ways, but you can shake the heck out of things like in Mischief Makers or Wario Land: Shake It!, and that is always a welcome mechanic. You can also pick up and chuck a lot of things, including the enemies and your own friend. Good fun.
Beastwatch: Meat & Mayhem ($11.99)
You’re a security guard in a slaughterhouse, and it’s your first night on the job. It would be terrible if somehow events transpired that led to things becoming a horror-themed first-person shooter, wouldn’t it? Well, I’ve got some unfortunate news for you on that front. I mean, unless you like retro-styled shooters where you blast away weird monsters, but who likes that kind of thing? Vulgar. Anyway, I’ll be over here playing something very classy and thought-provoking.
Loving Life ($0.99)
If you’ve ever wondered how publisher Serenity Forge got started, here’s a visual novel for you to check out. This is a non-fictional autobiographical story about the company’s founder, Zhenghua Yang, and a certain series of events that led the formation of Serenity Forge. This was actually the first game released by the studio back in the day, and it’s been given a nice little glow-up to celebrate its tenth anniversary.
Eternal Light ($24.99)
Fans of visual novels about plain dudes getting into relationships with amazing ladies, rejoice! Here is one more. Enjoy.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
Sure, that’s a fine list in the inbox. Note Cassette Beasts at its lowest price yet, plus some deals on Limited Run Games’ digital offerings. Take 2 stuff as well. Over in the outbox: war! What is it good for? Some good video games, apparently. Not much other than that, good God y’all. Get some Front Mission, get some Fuga, get whatever else your little heart desires. Check those lists!
Select New Sales
Red Dead Redemption ($34.99 from $49.99 until 5/23)
Borderlands 3: Ultimate Edition ($29.99 from $59.99 until 5/23)
Return ($11.19 from $13.99 until 5/25)
Jurassic Park Classic Collection ($22.49 from $29.99 until 5/26)
This Way Madness Lies ($7.49 from $9.99 until 5/26)
Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore ($14.99 from $19.99 until 5/26)
Plumbers Don’t Wear Ties ($14.99 from $19.99 until 5/26)
The House in Fata Morgana ($29.99 from $39.99 until 5/26)
Night Trap 25th Anniversary Edition ($11.24 from $14.99 until 5/26)
Krimson ($8.49 until $9.99 until 5/27)
Arcade Tycoon ($15.99 from $19.99 until 5/27)
My Time at Sandrock ($29.99 from $39.99 until 5/27)
My Time at Sandrock Deluxe ($27.49 from $49.99 until 5/27)
Alchemic Cutie ($8.99 from $19.99 until 5/27)
Blade Assault ($8.09 from $17.99 until 5/27)
Cassette Beasts ($13.99 from $19.99 until 5/29)
Pilgrims ($1.99 from $6.99 until 6/3)
Happy Game ($3.28 from $13.13 until 6/3)
Synaxarion Acts Part 1 ($2.49 from $4.99 until 6/4)
8th Millennium: War Against Pagan Gods ($14.99 from $29.99 until 6/4)
The Last Dragon Slayer ($7.49 from $14.99 until 6/4)
Outbreak The Fedora Files WLN ($15.99 from $19.99 until 6/7)
High Noon Revolver ($1.99 from $2.99 until 6/8)
Who Wants to be a Millionaire: New Edition ($10.49 from $34.99 until 6/9)
XIII ($5.99 from $19.99 until 6/9)
Mega Party: A Tootuff Adventure ($1.99 from $14.99 until 6/9)
Asterix & Obelix XXL: Romastered ($5.99 from $19.99 until 6/9)
Asterix & Obelix XXXL: TRFH ($11.99 from $39.99 until 6/9)
Equestrian Training ($5.99 from $19.99 until 6/9)
My Universe: My Baby ($1.99 from $24.99 until 6/9)
My Universe: Doctors & Nurses ($5.99 from $29.99 until 6/9)
My Universe: Pet Clinic Cats & Dogs ($1.99 from $24.99 until 6/9)
My Universe: School Teacher ($4.99 from $24.99 until 6/9)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 21st
A Hat in Time ($14.99 from $29.99 until 5/21)
All I Want for Christmas are Subgames CE ($6.99 from $9.99 until 5/21)
Ampersat ($2.49 from $9.99 until 5/21)
Archvale ($7.49 from $14.99 until 5/21)
Big Adventure: Trip to Europe 4 ($4.49 from $14.99 until 5/21)
Connect Hearts: Full Moon Curse CE ($10.49 from $14.99 until 5/21)
Connected Hearts: Fortunate Play CE ($10.49 from $14.99 until 5/21)
Cook, Serve, Delicious ($5.84 from $12.99 until 5/21)
Dodgeball Academia ($9.99 from $24.99 until 5/21)
Flynn: Son of Crimson ($7.99 from $19.99 until 5/21)
Forager ($6.99 from $19.99 until 5/21)
Front Mission 1st Remake ($17.49 from $34.99 until 5/21)
Front Mission 2 Remake ($27.99 from $34.99 until 5/21)
Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2 Ultimate ($40.49 from $67.49 until 5/21)
Fuga: Melodies of Steel Ultimate ($40.49 from $67.49 until 5/21)
Ghost Song ($11.99 from $19.99 until 5/21)
Ikenfell ($5.99 from $19.99 until 5/21)
Infinite Guitars ($11.99 from $19.99 until 5/21)
Midnight Fight Express ($11.99 from $19.99 until 5/21)
Mineko’s Night Market ($13.99 from $19.99 until 5/21)
Moonscars ($13.99 from $19.99 until 5/21)
Mystery Box: Escape the Room ($6.99 from $9.99 until 5/21)
Mystery Box: Evolution ($6.99 from $9.99 until 5/21)
Mystery Box: The Journey ($6.99 from $9.99 until 5/21)
Prodeus ($14.99 from $24.99 until 5/21)
Slaughter: The Lost Outpost ($3.75 from $7.50 until 5/21)
Slay the Spire ($8.49 from $24.99 until 5/21)
Stories in Glass: Winter ($6.99 from $9.99 until 5/21)
Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical ($20.99 from $29.99 until 5/21)
Supraland ($9.99 from $19.99 until 5/21)
Tails of Trainspot ($5.99 from $11.99 until 5/21)
Temtem ($17.99 from $44.99 until 5/21)
The Wild at Heart ($9.99 from $24.99 until 5/21)
Top Racer Collection ($15.99 from $19.99 until 5/21)
Twin Mind: Ghost Hunter CE ($7.49 from $14.99 until 5/21)
Unpacking ($9.99 from $19.99 until 5/21)
Unsighted ($7.99 from $19.99 until 5/21)
Void Bastards ($8.99 from $29.99 until 5/21)
While the Iron’s Hot ($14.99 from $19.99 until 5/21)
Wizard of Legend ($4.79 from $15.99 until 5/21)
That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with more reviews, more new games, more sales, and perhaps some news. With all the work I have on my plate review-wise, you’d think I wouldn’t spend time grinding through Breath of Fire for the twentieth time. You would think. I hope you all have a magnificent Monday, and as always, thanks for reading!