Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for December 13th, 2019. In today’s article, we’re mostly covering news from last night’s Game Awards. But we also have a few new releases to check out and summarize, and a really big list full of some seriously awesome sales to dig into. I would have more, but I spent like two hours watching some weird Canadian guy quickly hand out awards between commercials and musical numbers. Let’s get to it!
News
Nintendo Takes Home Several Awards at The Game Awards 2019
Well, what can you say about The Game Awards 2019? I think they did their best with it, and if nothing else it was certainly entertaining. Not sure I agree with all of the winners, but that’s pretty normal for this sort of thing. Nintendo didn’t do too badly for itself, either. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate won the Best Fighting Game award, Luigi’s Mansion 3 took home Best Family Game, and Fire Emblem: Three Houses scored the Strategy Game of the Year prize. Perhaps the most important award went to Fire Emblem: Three Houses, which won the Player’s Voice award. The winner of that award was selected by a fan vote, and Fire Emblem was up against games like Death Stranding, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Not bad, Byleth!
Praise the Heavens, ‘Bravely Default II’ is Coming in 2020
In case you’ve been wondering just what the team behind Octopath Traveler has been up to since that game released, here’s your answer. Last night at The Game Awards, Bravely Default II was announced as an exclusive release for the Nintendo Switch. Better still, it’s coming in 2020! In all likelihood, this will serve as a clean break from the story told in the first two games, but we’ll have to wait and see exactly what’s in store as more information is released.
The Next ‘Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3’ DLC Hits on December 23rd
It’s been a bit quiet on the Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 front lately, and lots of speculation has been going on as to when its next DLC pack would arrive. We now know that it’s going to release on December 23rd, just in time for Christmas. Titled Rise of the Phoenix, it adds four new playable characters to the roster: Cable, Gambit, Iceman, and of course, Phoenix herself. You also get the new Danger Room mode, and some added Gauntlet missions. The trailer also gives a vague release date for the third and final DLC pack, which revolves around the Fantastic Four. Apparently, we can look forward to that one in the spring of next year.
‘No More Heroes 3’ Hits Switch Exclusively in 2020
Rounding out the trailers shown at The Game Awards was this lengthy number for the upcoming No More Heroes 3. It’s, uh, pretty weird, especially at first. But do give it a watch, as it sets the scene for the upcoming game. I don’t want to ruin it, so yeah, just go ahead. Anyway, the game will apparently be coming to the Switch exclusively in 2020. Maybe. Probably? Travis doesn’t seem all that confident, but I’m sure if we all wish hard enough, dreams will come true.
New Releases
Arcade Archives: Frogger ($7.99)
SwitchArcade Highlight!
Alright! Frogger! Some classic games hold up better than others, and you know what? Frogger holds up really well. This is the original arcade version of the game, albeit with changed music due to Konami naughtily using stuff they didn’t own back in the day. The gameplay hasn’t changed, however. Guide your little frog across a busy road and over a swift-moving river to reach his home. Then do it again and again until you run out of lives. See how high of a score you can get, then try to beat it. All the usual Hamster extras are here, making this a rather nice package of a game that Konami doesn’t re-issue all that often in its original form.
Event Horizon: Space Defense ($6.99)
Set in the same universe as the original Event Horizon game (no connection to the movie, as far as I know), Event Horizon: Space Defense sees you building and maintaining a variety of ships and other structures to defend from attackers. There are lots of different ships and parts to add to your stock, and many unusual enemies to face off against. It seems okay for what it is, though not really something I’d go running down the street screaming my head off over or anything.
Dead End Job ($16.99)
Although there aren’t that many games hitting today, we do have our requisite top-down twin-stick shooter. This one has a cartoony vibe to it, and lots of gross-out humor for the 90s kids who grew up on that stuff. The story is that you’re a professional buster of ghosts who is haunted by your mentor’s ghost. In order to help them avoid an eternity as a spirit, you have to save her soul. Just keep on catching those spirits and vanquishing the baddies, and you’ll get there eventually. The game has support for two players locally, as these games tend to. Do you need another game like this? That question is for you to answer.
Sales
As Nintendo tends to in recent years, the company has put a pretty awesome sale up for The Game Awards. Look at all those awesome, rarely-discounted titles! Cadence of Hyrule is on sale for the first time, Octopath Traveler actually has a discount for once, and recent release The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is available for a song. There are lots of other good titles on the list, so make sure you check it carefully. Retro fans may want to note that the entire line of Johnny Turbo games is on sale for a couple of bucks each. Wow! Some of them are worth that!
Select New Games on Sale
Cadence of Hyrule ($17.49 from $24.99 until 12/19)
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt ($41.99 from $59.99 until 12/19)
Octopath Traveler ($35.99 from $59.99 until 12/19)
Super Mario Odyssey ($41.99 from $59.99 until 12/19)
Sayonara Wild Hearts ($10.39 from $12.99 until 12/19)
Gris ($8.49 from $16.99 until 12/19)
Celeste ($9.99 from $19.99 until 12/19)
Crypt of the NecroDancer ($3.99 from $19.99 until 12/26)
Wargroove ($13.99 from $19.99 until 12/19)
Katana Zero ($9.74 from $14.99 until 12/19)
What Remains of Edith Finch ($11.99 from $19.99 until 12/19)
Yooka-Laylee & the Impossible Lair ($22.49 from $29.99 until 1/1)
Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes ($14.99 from $29.99 until 12/19)
Mortal Kombat 11 ($29.99 from $59.99 until 12/19)
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim ($29.99 from $59.99 until 12/19)
DOOM ($29.99 from $59.99 until 12/19)
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus ($29.99 from $59.99 until 12/19)
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 ($8.99 from $29.99 until 12/17)
LEGO DC Super-Villains ($14.99 from $59.99 until 12/17)
LEGO Harry Potter Collection ($14.99 from $49.99 until 12/17)
LEGO Worlds ($7.49 from $29.99 until 12/17)
LEGO Jurassic World ($19.99 from $39.99 until 12/17)
LEGO City Undercover ($8.99 from $29.99 until 12/17)
The LEGO Movie 2 Videogame ($15.99 from $39.99 until 12/17)
LEGO The Incredibles ($17.99 from $59.99 until 12/17)
Scribblenauts: Showdown ($9.99 from $39.99 until 12/17)
Scribblenauts Mega Pack ($9.99 from $39.99 until 12/17)
Cars 3: Driven to Win ($9.99 from $39.99 until 12/17)
Johnny Turbo’s Arcade – All Titles ($1.99 from $7.99 until 12/26)
Spy Chameleon ($3.99 from $7.99 until 12/26)
Gekido Kintaro’s Revenge ($4.94 from $9.89 until 12/26)
Die for Valhalla! ($2.39 from $11.99 until 1/2)
Defoliation ($4.99 from $9.99 until 12/26)
Super Volley Blast ($4.99 from $9.99 until 12/26)
Super Tennis Blast ($7.49 from $14.99 until 12/26)
Cycle 28 ($1.74 from $6.99 until 12/19)
Behind The Screen ($4.99 from $9.99 until 12/26)
Trouserheart ($1.59 from $7.99 until 1/1)
Thea: The Awakening ($8.99 from $17.99 until 1/2)
Battery Jam ($2.99 from $14.99 until 12/31)
Steamburg ($0.99 from $4.99 until 1/2)
Monster Puzzle ($1.49 from $4.99 until 12/26)
Human Rocket Person ($0.74 from $4.99 until 12/26)
Tetsumo Party ($2.49 from $4.99 until 1/2)
Dungeon Warfare ($4.99 from $9.99 until 12/20)
Kine ($15.99 from $19.99 until 12/18)
JDM Racing ($3.49 from $4.99 until 12/20)
Pixel Gladiator ($2.79 from $6.99 until 12/24)
Farabel ($4.99 from $9.99 until 1/3)
Sales Ending This Weekend
FoxyLand ($3.99 from $4.99 until 12/14)
Defenders of Ekron: Definitive ($11.19 from $13.99 until 12/15)
UNI ($0.49 from $4.99 until 12/15)
That’s it for today, friends. And for this week, apparently. Less than two weeks until Christmas, and that means I’d better start putting together some end-of-year lists. I only have to look through something like a thousand games that came out in 2019. Neato. Anyway, I hope you all have a great weekend and can pick up some nice vids to play from those hot sales. As always, thanks for reading!
News
Nintendo Takes Home Several Awards at The Game Awards 2019
Well, what can you say about The Game Awards 2019? I think they did their best with it, and if nothing else it was certainly entertaining. Not sure I agree with all of the winners, but that’s pretty normal for this sort of thing. Nintendo didn’t do too badly for itself, either. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate won the Best Fighting Game award, Luigi’s Mansion 3 took home Best Family Game, and Fire Emblem: Three Houses scored the Strategy Game of the Year prize. Perhaps the most important award went to Fire Emblem: Three Houses, which won the Player’s Voice award. The winner of that award was selected by a fan vote, and Fire Emblem was up against games like Death Stranding, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Not bad, Byleth!
Praise the Heavens, ‘Bravely Default II’ is Coming in 2020
In case you’ve been wondering just what the team behind Octopath Traveler has been up to since that game released, here’s your answer. Last night at The Game Awards, Bravely Default II was announced as an exclusive release for the Nintendo Switch. Better still, it’s coming in 2020! In all likelihood, this will serve as a clean break from the story told in the first two games, but we’ll have to wait and see exactly what’s in store as more information is released.
The Next ‘Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3’ DLC Hits on December 23rd
It’s been a bit quiet on the Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 front lately, and lots of speculation has been going on as to when its next DLC pack would arrive. We now know that it’s going to release on December 23rd, just in time for Christmas. Titled Rise of the Phoenix, it adds four new playable characters to the roster: Cable, Gambit, Iceman, and of course, Phoenix herself. You also get the new Danger Room mode, and some added Gauntlet missions. The trailer also gives a vague release date for the third and final DLC pack, which revolves around the Fantastic Four. Apparently, we can look forward to that one in the spring of next year.
‘No More Heroes 3’ Hits Switch Exclusively in 2020
Rounding out the trailers shown at The Game Awards was this lengthy number for the upcoming No More Heroes 3. It’s, uh, pretty weird, especially at first. But do give it a watch, as it sets the scene for the upcoming game. I don’t want to ruin it, so yeah, just go ahead. Anyway, the game will apparently be coming to the Switch exclusively in 2020. Maybe. Probably? Travis doesn’t seem all that confident, but I’m sure if we all wish hard enough, dreams will come true.
New Releases
Arcade Archives: Frogger ($7.99)
SwitchArcade Highlight!
Alright! Frogger! Some classic games hold up better than others, and you know what? Frogger holds up really well. This is the original arcade version of the game, albeit with changed music due to Konami naughtily using stuff they didn’t own back in the day. The gameplay hasn’t changed, however. Guide your little frog across a busy road and over a swift-moving river to reach his home. Then do it again and again until you run out of lives. See how high of a score you can get, then try to beat it. All the usual Hamster extras are here, making this a rather nice package of a game that Konami doesn’t re-issue all that often in its original form.
Event Horizon: Space Defense ($6.99)
Set in the same universe as the original Event Horizon game (no connection to the movie, as far as I know), Event Horizon: Space Defense sees you building and maintaining a variety of ships and other structures to defend from attackers. There are lots of different ships and parts to add to your stock, and many unusual enemies to face off against. It seems okay for what it is, though not really something I’d go running down the street screaming my head off over or anything.
Dead End Job ($16.99)
Although there aren’t that many games hitting today, we do have our requisite top-down twin-stick shooter. This one has a cartoony vibe to it, and lots of gross-out humor for the 90s kids who grew up on that stuff. The story is that you’re a professional buster of ghosts who is haunted by your mentor’s ghost. In order to help them avoid an eternity as a spirit, you have to save her soul. Just keep on catching those spirits and vanquishing the baddies, and you’ll get there eventually. The game has support for two players locally, as these games tend to. Do you need another game like this? That question is for you to answer.
Sales
As Nintendo tends to in recent years, the company has put a pretty awesome sale up for The Game Awards. Look at all those awesome, rarely-discounted titles! Cadence of Hyrule is on sale for the first time, Octopath Traveler actually has a discount for once, and recent release The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is available for a song. There are lots of other good titles on the list, so make sure you check it carefully. Retro fans may want to note that the entire line of Johnny Turbo games is on sale for a couple of bucks each. Wow! Some of them are worth that!
Select New Games on Sale
Cadence of Hyrule ($17.49 from $24.99 until 12/19)
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt ($41.99 from $59.99 until 12/19)
Octopath Traveler ($35.99 from $59.99 until 12/19)
Super Mario Odyssey ($41.99 from $59.99 until 12/19)
Sayonara Wild Hearts ($10.39 from $12.99 until 12/19)
Gris ($8.49 from $16.99 until 12/19)
Celeste ($9.99 from $19.99 until 12/19)
Crypt of the NecroDancer ($3.99 from $19.99 until 12/26)
Wargroove ($13.99 from $19.99 until 12/19)
Katana Zero ($9.74 from $14.99 until 12/19)
What Remains of Edith Finch ($11.99 from $19.99 until 12/19)
Yooka-Laylee & the Impossible Lair ($22.49 from $29.99 until 1/1)
Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes ($14.99 from $29.99 until 12/19)
Mortal Kombat 11 ($29.99 from $59.99 until 12/19)
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim ($29.99 from $59.99 until 12/19)
DOOM ($29.99 from $59.99 until 12/19)
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus ($29.99 from $59.99 until 12/19)
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 ($8.99 from $29.99 until 12/17)
LEGO DC Super-Villains ($14.99 from $59.99 until 12/17)
LEGO Harry Potter Collection ($14.99 from $49.99 until 12/17)
LEGO Worlds ($7.49 from $29.99 until 12/17)
LEGO Jurassic World ($19.99 from $39.99 until 12/17)
LEGO City Undercover ($8.99 from $29.99 until 12/17)
The LEGO Movie 2 Videogame ($15.99 from $39.99 until 12/17)
LEGO The Incredibles ($17.99 from $59.99 until 12/17)
Scribblenauts: Showdown ($9.99 from $39.99 until 12/17)
Scribblenauts Mega Pack ($9.99 from $39.99 until 12/17)
Cars 3: Driven to Win ($9.99 from $39.99 until 12/17)
Johnny Turbo’s Arcade – All Titles ($1.99 from $7.99 until 12/26)
Spy Chameleon ($3.99 from $7.99 until 12/26)
Gekido Kintaro’s Revenge ($4.94 from $9.89 until 12/26)
Die for Valhalla! ($2.39 from $11.99 until 1/2)
Defoliation ($4.99 from $9.99 until 12/26)
Super Volley Blast ($4.99 from $9.99 until 12/26)
Super Tennis Blast ($7.49 from $14.99 until 12/26)
Cycle 28 ($1.74 from $6.99 until 12/19)
Behind The Screen ($4.99 from $9.99 until 12/26)
Trouserheart ($1.59 from $7.99 until 1/1)
Thea: The Awakening ($8.99 from $17.99 until 1/2)
Battery Jam ($2.99 from $14.99 until 12/31)
Steamburg ($0.99 from $4.99 until 1/2)
Monster Puzzle ($1.49 from $4.99 until 12/26)
Human Rocket Person ($0.74 from $4.99 until 12/26)
Tetsumo Party ($2.49 from $4.99 until 1/2)
Dungeon Warfare ($4.99 from $9.99 until 12/20)
Kine ($15.99 from $19.99 until 12/18)
JDM Racing ($3.49 from $4.99 until 12/20)
Pixel Gladiator ($2.79 from $6.99 until 12/24)
Farabel ($4.99 from $9.99 until 1/3)
Sales Ending This Weekend
FoxyLand ($3.99 from $4.99 until 12/14)
Defenders of Ekron: Definitive ($11.19 from $13.99 until 12/15)
UNI ($0.49 from $4.99 until 12/15)
That’s it for today, friends. And for this week, apparently. Less than two weeks until Christmas, and that means I’d better start putting together some end-of-year lists. I only have to look through something like a thousand games that came out in 2019. Neato. Anyway, I hope you all have a great weekend and can pick up some nice vids to play from those hot sales. As always, thanks for reading!