Skies Unknown’, Plus the Latest Releases and Sales – TouchArcade
Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for July 29th, 2024. The start of another week, and for me a rather lovely week because my birthday falls in it. For today’s article, we’ve got a full review of Bandai Namco’s Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown. Then there’s a single new release to look at, involving some kind of brined vegetables. After that, there’s a surprisingly hefty list of new sales to dig through, followed by the sales that are set to expire today. Let’s get to the games!
Reviews & Mini-Views
Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown Deluxe Edition ($59.99)
Top Gun reference! That’s how you’re meant to start a review of this game, and with that done we can move along. We’re in what is likely to be the last year for the Switch as a major going concern, and it’s truly time to smoke them if you’ve got them for any Switch projects that might have been laying about. Is this port of Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown one of those? I have no idea, but it is more than a little odd to see such an impressive port of a years-old title arrive this late in the cycle. Welcome, but odd.
I haven’t played the original version of this game on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, but I do remember many of my friends raving about it. Yes, they were right. This is a very fun game. It really scratches the itch for aerial action, offering just enough depth to keep you interested without going into the territory of those highly intimidating flight simulators. It’s a very easy game to get into, and the excellent story helps maintain the freshness of gameplay that otherwise might have been at light risk of becoming repetitive.
As you complete the missions in the lengthy, enjoyable campaign, you’ll unlock various goodies and earn points that you can use to customize your wings or even pick up new aircraft. Since your objectives vary, it never hurts to have a good selection of diverse craft to choose from. Sometimes you’ll need speed to stay on top of multiple targets, other times you’ll want more power for taking down larger targets. You’ll have to run defense at times, too. You’ll also need to keep your eyes peeled for ace pilots because if you take them down you’ll get some cool liveries to add to your collection. That part is optional, but it’s nifty.
Apparently one of the new features in this installment is the presence of weather, with a special focus placed on the clouds. They work the way you might think they would, providing hiding places for aircraft and reducing visibility. You’ll have to deal with other weather-related mechanics, and this is another way the game keeps things from getting old. It also looks really cool, and I’m impressed the port has managed to keep that quality. I can guess at the compromises made, as this version runs at 30 fps and I would imagine the version on other consoles aims higher. Still, relative to other games on the Switch, Ace Combat 7 looks terrific.
If you want to extend your fun past the campaign, there’s an online multiplayer mode you can try. I was not able to find many people playing in my various attempts, but perhaps you’ll have better luck. Probably best to set something up in advance with people if you want to dig into this end of the game. There’s also a fair bit of DLC you can buy, including a Top Gun: Maverick themed set with the planes you would expect and the two pieces of music you would want, in nicely arranged form. One of the Top Gun planes is completely broken, so if you want an advantage in multiplayer, there you go.
With full recognition of my ignorance regarding the quality of the port, I’ve called in our pal Mikhail to offer up some of his thoughts on this game. He’s also dipped his toes more into the multiplayer than I was able to. Consider this a handy supplement. I’ll meet you at the end for the final paragraph.
“I have also been playing Ace Combat 7 on Switch, and I’ve been focusing on the multiplayer and technical differences with other platforms. So far, I’m pleased with how the multiplayer works across private rooms and with random matchmaking. I tested it for about a week now and had no issues playing online on wired or wireless. Not being able to play 1v1 directly with a friend is still annoying because Ace Combat 7 makes you create a room for 2-8 players and then sortie rather than just being able to challenge a friend. Ace Combat 7 does support the Switch’s native invite system which is nice to see since so few games use it.
On the whole, Ace Combat 7 is an excellent version of the game compared to the other platforms, and I’ve played it on PS4 Pro, Xbox One X, and Steam Deck over the years. The drop to 30fps was expected, but the porting team did a fantastic job making Ace Combat 7 look and feel great on Switch both docked and handheld. The Steam Deck is obviously the best way to play Ace Combat 7 on the go, but the Switch version is one of Bandai Namco’s best ports to Nintendo’s hybrid system.
The only annoyance with Ace Combat 7 on Switch right now is the pricing. For a port that is so many years late, it is disappointing that not all DLC was included in the base release. I can understand the Top Gun DLC not being included for licensing reasons, but with the current pricing, Nintendo Switch owners will end up paying a lot more since there is no bundle with everything included. Aside from the pricing, I love the Ace Combat 7 Switch port.” –Mikhail Madnani
Ace Combat 7: Unknown Skies is an excellent port of a high-quality action game, and it fills a gaping hole in the Switch’s library almost perfectly. It’s more approachable than you might expect, and it’s very easy to get sucked into both its story and gameplay. It’s unfortunate that the multiplayer seems to have a handful of oversights and balance issues, but you’ll get your time and money’s worth out of the campaign and its many unlockables all on its own. Definitely one to add to the collection for those feeling the need for speed.
SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5
Select New Releases
PPA Pickleball Tour 2025 ($49.99)
This is a whole thing that has risen up since I left North America. It looks like tennis, but I assume there must be some twist. Maybe the ball is substituted with a pickle? That would be weird, but I can’t think of any other reason to call it pickleball. Up to four people can play via local multiplayer, and you get a few different modes to play. All the proper licensing too, by the looks of it. Real players, real logos, real pickles.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
A number of sales today, friends. Games like Terra Memoria, ScourgeBringer, Gravity Circuit, and Borderlands 3 are at new low prices, along with a bunch of other solid games. Over in the outbox, Capcom’s latest sale is finishing up. Give both lists a glance and see what jumps out at you, because there’s plenty worth considering.
Select New Sales
The Case of the Golden Idol ($10.79 from $17.99 until 8/1)
AK-xolotl ($11.39 from $18.99 until 8/1)
Mortal Shell: Complete ($4.49 from $29.99 until 8/1)
End of Lines ($8.49 from $16.99 until 8/6)
Crypt Stalker ($1.99 from $6.99 until 8/7)
Harvest Days ($14.99 from $19.99 until 8/9)
Pompom: The Great Space Rescue ($4.49 from $9.99 until 8/10)
Foretales ($11.99 from $19.99 until 8/10)
Ruggnar ($6.99 from $13.99 until 8/10)
Souldiers ($9.99 from $19.99 until 8/10)
They Always Run ($9.99 from $19.99 until 8/10)
Instant Sports Summer Games ($3.99 from $19.99 until 8/10)
Instant Sports Winter Games ($9.99 from $24.99 until 8/10)
Instant Sports Plus ($13.74 from $24.99 until 8/10)
Astria Ascending ($13.99 from $39.99 until 8/10)
RUN: The World In-Between ($4.99 from $9.99 until 8/10)
Nocturnal ($11.99 from $19.99 until 8/10)
Revita ($10.19 from $16.99 until 8/10)
Ashwalkers ($6.99 from $19.99 until 8/10)
Letters: A Written Adventure ($7.49 from $14.99 until 8/10)
Guild of Ascension ($5.94 from $16.99 until 8/10)
Mari & Bayu: The Road Home ($8.49 from $16.99 until 8/10)
Cassiodora ($9.34 from $16.99 until 8/10)
The Land Beneath Us ($11.24 from $14.99 until 8/10)
Terra Memoria ($13.99 from $19.99 until 8/10)
Saviorless ($9.74 from $12.99 until 8/10)
Passing By: A Tailwind Journey ($7.49 from $9.99 until 8/10)
Vernal Edge ($13.19 from $21.99 until 8/10)
Lords of Exile ($12.99 from $19.99 until 8/10)
Abandon Ship ($7.49 from $24.99 until 8/10)
Children of Zodiarcs ($1.99 from $17.99 until 8/10)
Lethis: Path of Progress ($4.99 from $19.99 until 8/10)
Fireball Wizard ($7.49 from $9.99 until 8/10)
Elypse ($12.99 from $19.99 until 8/10)
Alba: A Wildlife Adventure ($4.99 from $19.99 until 8/10)
Before I Forget ($3.59 from $7.99 until 8/10)
Astrologaster ($2.99 from $9.99 until 8/10)
Out of Space: Couch Edition ($1.99 form $9.99 until 8/10)
Iris & The Giant ($3.74 from $14.99 until 8/10)
Pankapu ($2.39 from $11.99 until 8/10)
NeuroVoider ($2.79 from $13.99 until 8/10)
ScourgeBringer ($4.24 from $16.99 until 8/10)
Ghost of a Tale ($6.24 from $24.99 until 8/10)
Double Kick Heroes ($6.59 from $21.99 until 8/10)
Healer’s Quest ($4.49 from $14.99 until 8/10)
Skabma: Snowfall ($16.24 from $24.99 until 8/10)
Born of Bread ($14.99 from $29.99 until 8/10)
Gravity Circuit ($14.29 from $21.99 until 8/10)
Eternal Light ($20.99 from $24.99 until 8/11)
Terror of Hemasaurus ($7.49 from $14.99 until 8/11)
Potion Party ($1.99 from $9.99 until 8/12)
Frogun ($8.99 from $14.99 until 8/12)
Frogun Encore ($11.04 from $12.99 until 8/12)
Super Impossible Road ($9.99 from $19.99 until 8/16)
Sifu ($15.99 from $39.99 until 8/16)
Railbreak ($9.99 from $19.99 until 8/16)
Super Mega Zero ($4.99 from $9.99 until 8/16)
Borderlands 3 Ultimate ($23.99 from $59.99 until 8/16)
Borderlands Collection: Pandora’s Box ($37.49 from $149.99 until 8/16)
Why Pizza? ($2.49 from $4.99 until 8/17)
The Gap ($13.99 from $19.99 until 8/18)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, July 30th
A Guidebook of Babel ($13.59 from $15.99 until 7/30)
Bear and Breakfast ($12.99 from $19.99 until 7/30)
Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium Bundle ($15.99 from $39.99 until 7/30)
Capcom Arcade Stadium Bundle ($15.99 from $39.99 until 7/30)
Capcom Beat ‘Em Up Bundle ($9.99 from $19.99 until 7/30)
Capcom Fighting Bundle ($19.99 from $59.99 until 7/30)
Capcom Fighting Collection ($15.99 from $39.99 until 7/30)
Dance of Death: Du Lac & Fey ($7.19 from $15.99 until 7/30)
Deliver Us The Moon ($15.99 from $19.99 until 7/30)
Dragon’s Dogma Dark Arisen ($4.99 from $29.99 until 7/30)
Freedom Finger ($3.99 from $7.99 until 7/30)
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective ($19.99 from $29.99 until 7/30)
Ghosts n Goblins Resurrection ($9.99 from $29.99 until 7/30)
Gravity Circuit Deluxe Edition ($16.24 from $24.99 until 7/30)
Kamaeru: A Frog Refuge ($16.99 from $19.99 until 7/30)
Mega Man 11 ($9.99 from $29.99 until 7/30)
Mega Man Battle Network Collection ($19.99 from $39.99 until 7/30)
Mega Man Battle Network Collection 2 ($19.99 from $39.99 until 7/30)
Mega Man Legacy Collection ($7.99 from $14.99 until 7/30)
Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 ($7.99 from $19.99 until 7/30)
Mega Man X Legacy Collection ($7.99 from $19.99 until 7/30)
Mega Man X Legacy Collection 2 ($7.99 from $19.99 until 7/30)
Mega Man Zero/ZX Collection ($9.99 from $29.99 until 7/30)
Monster Hunter Generations Ult. ($9.99 from $39.99 until 7/30)
Monster Hunter Rise ($9.99 from $39.99 until 7/30)
Monster Hunter Rise + Sunbreak ($19.99 from $59.99 until 7/30)
Monster Hunter Rise Sunbreak DLC ($15.99 from $39.99 until 7/30)
No Man’s Sky ($23.99 from $59.99 until 7/30)
Onimusha Warlords ($7.99 from $19.99 until 7/30)
Planet Cube: Edge ($5.99 from $14.99 until 7/30)
Rainbow High: Runway Rush ($19.99 from $39.99 until 7/30)
Resident Evil ($9.99 from $19.99 until 7/30)
Resident Evil 0 ($9.99 from $19.99 until 7/30)
Resident Evil 4 ($9.99 from $19.99 until 7/30)
Resident Evil 5 ($9.99 from $19.99 until 7/30)
Resident Evil 6 ($9.99 from $19.99 until 7/30)
Resident Evil Revelations ($7.99 from $19.99 until 7/30)
Resident Evil Revelations 2 ($7.99 from $19.99 until 7/30)
Shinsekai Into the Depths ($9.99 from $19.99 until 7/30)
Street Fighter Anniversary Collection ($9.99 from $29.99 until 7/30)
The Last Campfire ($1.99 from $14.99 until 7/30)
Trackline Express ($8.44 from $12.99 until 7/30)
Ugly ($7.99 from $19.99 until 7/30)
Ultra Street Fighter II ($19.99 from $39.99 until 7/30)
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire – New Edition ($8.74 from $34.99 until 7/30)
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire ($7.49 from $29.99 until 7/30)
XIII ($4.99 from $19.99 until 7/30)
That’s all for today, friends. We should be back tomorrow with more new releases, more sales, a review or two, and perhaps some news. I say “should” because my guts are hurting badly again so I’ll be heading to the hospital in the morning. I think they’ll just give me medicine and let me go, but you never know – I could end up admitted. With any luck you’ll see my article tomorrow and all will be well. I hope you all have a marvelous Monday, and as always, thanks for reading!
