Castlevania Dominus Collection Review and Today's App Recap

Hello, fellow gamers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Roundup for September 3rd, 2024! Today's article features several game reviews, including in-depth analyses of Castlevania Dominus Collection and Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn, plus quick takes on some recent Pinball FX DLC. We'll also cover the day's new releases, spotlighting the unique Bakeru, and round things off with the latest sales and expiring deals. Let's dive in!

Reviews & Mini-Views

Castlevania Dominus Collection ($24.99)

Konami's recent track record with classic game collections has been exceptional, and the Castlevania Dominus Collection is no exception. This third installment focuses on the Nintendo DS trilogy, expertly handled by M2. This might just be the most essential Castlevania collection yet, offering more than initially meets the eye.

The Nintendo DS Castlevania games offer a unique and surprisingly diverse set of experiences. Dawn of Sorrow, a direct sequel to Aria of Sorrow, initially suffered from clunky touchscreen controls, thankfully mitigated in this release. Portrait of Ruin cleverly integrates touchscreen elements into a bonus mode, focusing on a dual-character mechanic. Order of Ecclesia stands out with its challenging gameplay and design reminiscent of Simon's Quest. All three are excellent games.

This collection marks the end of Koji Igarashi's era of exploratory Castlevania titles. While each game has its own distinct identity, some might argue the series was showing signs of creative fatigue. Regardless, these are high-quality games, and their inclusion in this collection makes it a must-have for Castlevania fans.

The games aren't emulated but are native ports, allowing M2 to enhance the experience. Annoying touchscreen controls in Dawn of Sorrow are replaced with button presses, and a three-screen layout (main screen, status screen, and map) is included. This significantly improves Dawn of Sorrow, elevating it to a top-tier Castlevania title for many.

The collection is packed with options and extras. Players can choose game regions, customize button mapping, adjust screen layouts, select background colors, and fine-tune audio. A comprehensive compendium provides detailed information on equipment, enemies, and items. The only minor drawback is the limited screen arrangement options. This is an exceptional way to experience three fantastic games at an incredible price.

But that's not all! The collection also includes the notoriously difficult arcade game, Haunted Castle, along with a complete remake, Haunted Castle Revisited. M2 has essentially created a new, significantly improved version of this classic, adding a substantial bonus to an already impressive package.

If you appreciate Castlevania, Castlevania Dominus Collection is a must-buy. It offers a fantastic new Castlevania game alongside three excellent Nintendo DS titles. The inclusion of the original Haunted Castle is a welcome surprise. If you're unfamiliar with Castlevania, this collection, along with the others, is a great starting point. This is another outstanding collaboration between Konami and M2.

SwitchArcade Score: 5/5

Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn ($19.99)

My experience with Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn has been a mixed bag. While Tengo Project’s previous remakes have been exceptional, this one presents some unique challenges. The original game wasn't as strong as their other titles, and this is an 8-bit game being updated rather than a 16-bit one.

My initial impressions were positive after a preview at Tokyo Game Show. However, after completing the game multiple times, my feelings are more nuanced. Compared to Tengo Project's other work, Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn feels less polished. The improvements are undeniable – excellent presentation, refined weapon/item systems, and distinct playable characters. It's undeniably better than the original while retaining its core spirit. Long-time fans will adore this.

However, if you only found the original to be decent, this remake won't dramatically alter your opinion. While improvements like simultaneous access to both the chain and sword are welcome, the core gameplay remains largely unchanged. The new inventory system is a nice addition. The presentation is fantastic, masking its 8-bit origins. The difficulty spikes are noticeable, making it more challenging than the original. It's the best Shadow of the Ninja experience, but it's still Shadow of the Ninja.

Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn is another solid effort from Tengo Project, offering substantial improvements over the original. Whether or not it's worth purchasing depends on your feelings towards the original game. Newcomers will find an enjoyable but not essential action game.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

Pinball FX – The Princess Bride Pinball ($5.49)

A quick look at two Pinball FX DLC tables, following a significant update that improves Switch playability. The Princess Bride Pinball is a well-executed licensed table, featuring voice clips and video from the movie. The mechanics are solid and feel authentic to the source material. It's a relatively straightforward table, perfect for both newcomers and experienced pinball players.

SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5

Pinball FX – Goat Simulator Pinball ($5.49)

Goat Simulator Pinball embraces its source material's absurdity. It's a unique and quirky table, best suited for experienced pinball players. While initially bewildering, it offers rewarding and humorous gameplay. Goat Simulator fans who can master the mechanics will be rewarded.

SwitchArcade Score: 4/5

Select New Releases

Bakeru ($39.99)

A charming 3D platformer from Good-Feel. Play as Bakeru, a tanuki on a mission to save Japan. It's a fun and breezy experience, although the framerate on Switch is inconsistent.

Holyhunt ($4.99)

A top-down arena twin-stick shooter described as an 8-bit homage. It appears to be a fun, simple shooter.

Shashingo: Learn Japanese with Photography ($20.00)

A language-learning game where you take pictures and learn Japanese vocabulary. The price point may be a deterrent for some.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

Several notable sales are ongoing, including OrangePixel's titles, Alien Hominid (a rare discount!), and Ufouria 2. THQ and Team 17 titles are also ending their sales soon.

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Sales Ending Tomorrow, September 4th

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That's all for today! We'll return tomorrow with more new releases, sales, and possibly a review or two. Enjoy the abundance of great games! Thanks for reading!