Fitness Boxing Miku Drops, Games Hit and Quit

Farewell, SwitchArcade Readers: A Final Round-Up

Hello, loyal readers, and welcome to the final regular SwitchArcade Round-Up. While a special edition with embargoed reviews will follow next week, this marks the conclusion of my long-standing contributions to TouchArcade. After several years, circumstances necessitate a change of course. Let's make this last one count!

Reviews & Mini-Views

Fitness Boxing feat. HATSUNE MIKU ($49.99)

Following the Fitness Boxing series' success, including the surprisingly enjoyable Fitness Boxing Fist of the North Star, Imagineer's collaboration with Hatsune Miku felt like a natural progression. Weeks of gameplay alongside Ring Fit Adventure reveal a compelling title.

This installment maintains the series' core mechanics: boxing-inspired rhythm game workouts, sweat-inducing mini-games, and exercise tracking. Hatsune Miku's inclusion adds a dedicated mode featuring her music alongside the standard tracks. Note: this is a Joy-Con-only game.

Standard features like difficulty settings, free training, warm-ups, and system-wide workout reminders are present. Unlockable cosmetics add an extra layer of engagement. While DLC remains unreviewed, the base game surpasses Fist of the North Star, save for one minor drawback: the main instructor's voice feels jarring and somewhat poorly directed. Lowering the volume improves the overall audio experience.

Fitness Boxing feat. HATSUNE MIKU successfully integrates Miku into the series, appealing to her fanbase. However, it's best used as a supplement to other fitness routines rather than a standalone solution. —Mikhail Madnani

SwitchArcade Score: 4/5

Magical Delicacy ($24.99)

Magical Delicacy from sKaule and Whitethorn Games blends Metroidvania exploration with cooking and crafting. While the exploration is surprisingly well-executed, some backtracking and inventory management issues detract from the experience. The charming pixel art, music, and extensive settings options (including UI scaling) are highlights.

The game follows Flora, a young witch on a wholesome, magical adventure. Crafting and cooking mechanics, while enjoyable, are hampered by UI quirks and inventory management.

Magical Delicacy shines with its visuals and audio, and the Switch version plays smoothly despite minor frame pacing inconsistencies. The game feels well-suited to handheld play. However, some quality-of-life improvements would elevate it to an essential title. —Mikhail Madnani

SwitchArcade Score: 4/5

Aero The Acro-Bat 2 ($5.99)

A polished sequel to the original, Aero The Acro-Bat 2 offers a refined platforming experience. While it lacks the rough charm of its predecessor, it's a solid entry in the genre. Ratalaika's improved emulation wrapper includes enhanced presentation, extras such as box and manual scans, achievements, and a gallery. The inclusion of only the SNES version is a minor drawback.

Fans of the original will appreciate this release, and those who found the first game's quirks off-putting may find this a more enjoyable experience. The enhanced emulation wrapper is commendable. A strong release for retro platformer enthusiasts.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

Metro Quester | Osaka ($19.99)

A prequel and expansion to the original Metro Quester, this installment offers a new dungeon, characters, and mechanics. Set in Osaka, the game introduces canoe travel across water sections. The turn-based combat, top-down exploration, and strategic gameplay remain core elements.

Fans of the original will find plenty to enjoy, and newcomers can jump directly into this improved entry. While more of an expansion than a full sequel, it expands upon the existing systems in interesting ways. Patience and strategic planning are essential for success.

SwitchArcade Score: 4/5

Select New Releases

NBA 2K25 ($59.99)

The latest iteration of the NBA 2K series boasts improved gameplay, a new "Neighborhood" feature, and MyTEAM enhancements. Requires 53.3 GB of storage space.

Shogun Showdown ($14.99)

A Darkest Dungeon-style game with a Japanese setting.

Aero The Acro-Bat 2 ($5.99)

(See review above)

Sunsoft is Back! Retro Game Selection ($9.99)

A collection of three previously unlocalized Famicom games, offering a diverse range of genres.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

Numerous sales are highlighted, including discounts on Cosmic Fantasy Collection and Tinykin. Check the provided lists for details.

A Final Farewell

This marks not only the end of my SwitchArcade Round-Ups but also the conclusion of my eleven-and-a-half-year tenure at TouchArcade. While I'll continue writing elsewhere, I extend my deepest gratitude to all TouchArcade readers for their support. Thank you for reading.