Oh man, I was supposed to get this out before the Switch 2 dropped, wasn’t I? But, you know, life’s unpredictable like that. So here I am, rambling several days late. Just roll with it. It’s kind of like that time back in February 2017 – the calm before the storm when we had a mere handful of games between two systems. Six in North America, four in Europe. Simple times, eh? Now, though, it’s madness. North America pumped up its game count like it’s been on a caffeine binge, and Europe is just about bursting. Japan’s out here doing its own thing with like 40 releases? Mad respect, but I have no clue because the region lock won’t let me in – classic.
Anyway, right before the Switch successor makes its grand entrance, we’ve got some last-chance releases. CyberConnect2 is back at it with “Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3.” Did they slip in a “story” button for the kids again? Maybe. I should check that. Playtonic decides to publish something quaint in “Cattle Country,” which just sounds so… cozy? And then there’s like a couple of throwbacks with the “Saturn Tribute” stuff – “Steam-Hearts,” a shooter, and “Advanced V.G.,” a fighting game, because why not?
Oh, and stuff we just kind of, you know, glossed over a week back: remember “Wilmot’s Warehouse”? No? Well, it has a sequel called “Wilmot Works It Out.” Plus, “Ryukyu,” a solitaire poker game from the past, just reappeared out of nowhere. Ah, nostalgia.
### North America
Here’s where things get a little wild. Ready? “Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3” demands $39.99 in the US – steep, I know. “Cattle Country” lands on Tuesday for $24.99. There’s “Shikhondo: Youkai Rampage” dropping in at the same price, which sounds more intense than it probably is. And a chilling mystery with “Staffer Case: A Supernatural Adventure” for the same price, because who doesn’t love a good haunt?
Mid-week wonders, anyone? “Steam-Heart’s Saturn Tribute” $19.99, and who could forget the whimsy of “Pipistrello and the Cursed Yo-Yo”? Just picturing a bat spinning tricks with a yo-yo makes me chuckle.
Sift through a sea of other titles, from the freaky “Submersed 2 – The Hive” at $19.99 to the more economical “Superation” at $4.99, and you’ve got quite the menu. Thrilling stuff, really.
### Europe
Over the pond in Europe, “Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3” slings for €39.99. Maybe you fancy chillin’ in “Cattle Country” for €24.99 – bit cheaper than across the Atlantic, eh? Other familiar names float by, much like hallucinations in a bumpy dream: “Shikhondo: Youkai Rampage,” “Staffer Case,” all the hits.
Then there’s a whole universe in low-budget, high-potential gaming. If you’ve only got a euro or two jangling in your pocket, titles like “Theater Unrest” or “Escape Game Room04” save the day.
### Japan
Now, Japan does things in true Japanese spirit: extra, as always. Top of the heap, “BYAKKO: Shijin Butai Enrenki” at a jaw-dropping ¥8580. Why so much? Your guess is as good as mine. But the word “BYAKKO” sounds powerful. Like… tiger powerful. Makes you think, right?
Then there’s the rest. “Sonic Wings Reunion” for a nifty ¥6380, a flash from some past I barely recall. Plan your yen wisely because “Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3” here is ¥4180. Japan estimates its gaming worth in plenty of digits, it seems.
So there you have it – a chaotic week’s digest of gaming craziness. Between the quirky titles and the looming arrival of the Switch 2, there’s a lot to unpack. But hey, that’s what makes it fun, right? Like sorting through a colorful, tangled mess of yarn and maybe finding a kitten somewhere in there. Who even knows what’s next? Certainly not me, but I’m here to find out.
