Azure Striker Gunvolt and its sequel were standout releases on the 3DS eShop, bringing a fresh and unique take on the tried and true run ‘n’ gun gameplay of Mega Man, while also introducing a fascinating narrative and world around the action. It had been previously announced that the two of these games would be bundled in the Azure Striker Gunvolt: Striker Pack for the Nintendo Switch eShop, but Inti Creates just announced that the game will be available in cartridge form, too.
The digital release is still taking place next Thursday, so there’s no delay there, but the physical release has been announced for some time this fall. It’ll be published by Nighthawk Interactive and will be releasing in both North America and Europe, so nobody’s getting excluded here. And, as a nice plus, there’s no “Switch Tax” here; the cart will cost the same as the digital version. Pretty good, eh?
What do you think? Will you be picking this up in physical form? How long do you think it’ll be before we see an Azure Striker Gunvolt 3? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
[source inticreates.com]
Comments 61
I loved them on 3ds, don't know if I'll double dip or not though.
I wonder will this publisher take up the duties and actually release the Striker Pack for 3DS as well in Europe since that never happened?
Still waiting for the missing updates for the 3DS version, hopefully those come before this Switch version arrives, or then the developer truly does hate their European fans.
Never played them on 3ds, looks great will definitely want to get that physical release
I just noticed this on the Eshop 5 minutes ago. £31.49 seems a bit steep for it. How much were the originals individually on 3DS?
I'll pass on this since I already have both games. But for anyone who hasn't played Gunvolt yet, I highly recommend getting this! Both games are challenging, yet fair, and the story is really interesting throughout both. The gameplay is really fun, and there is a lot of replay value going for high scores.
I hope there is a Gunvolt 3 very soon! Day one buy for me already.
I will be getting it but probably a digital release...i still need to get the true ending...i think. I didn't for master blaster but some day i will.
How much is the European version in € ? I've got the starter pack preordered from Amazon.co.jp for 54€ (shipping costs included) but I will gladly wait a couple of weeks if I can get the cartridge for 15-20€ less. There are so many games to play (Mario + Rabbids, Metroid: Samus returns) and the SNES mini is coming out as well.
I can't wait for the physical release...
@N8tiveT3ch
to get the true ending of Blaster Master Zero is quite easy - am almost done with Shovel Knight which took me approx 5 hours. Have to play through it with Ekoro and Shantae, yet
Never got a chance to play the games on 3DS, so I'll probably try this out, especially now that it is available physically.
@OorWullie think first one was about 11 pound. I though price was expense to. :/
Isn't the Switch tax in regards to the Switch version vs other consoles? Physical releases always cost the same as digital so this is just normal.
I thought it seemed a bit too expensive when I saw it on the eShop but for a physical version, I can accept that price. Played the first one but didn't finish it and haven't played the second so look forward to giving it another go.
If the file size isn't too big then it's fine to just release it as a digital download. But if it is huge then by all means make a physical copy for people to buy.
Played the first game, skipped the second, gonna wait for the physical release.
@pitchblack It's 2.5 GB according to the eShop.
Yes this is what I have been waiting for, physical all the way.
Gonna have to wait. I want that physical copy.
And yeah, I think this Striker Pack is definitely Inti Creates laying the foundation for Gunvolt 3 on Switch (and possibly a dual release on 3DS, like with Blaster Master Zero and Mighty Gunvolt Burst).
@OorWullie Keep an eye on the regional eShops for the best price.
Physical version it is. The 3DS version never got the physical release I wanted in Europe.
I might grab this, I had the first one on 3DS and wasn't totally enamoured with it but Mighty Gunvolt Burst was so amazing I just want more Gunvolt at this point! Hopefully if there's a Gunvolt 3 there will be another 8-bit spin off game too.
Nice, will get that!
But the guy talking in the trailer is a mess... sounds like an infomercial produced by Michael Bay (which I might actually watch out of a weird fascination with all things trash).
I've heard good things about these games. Can't wait to get the physical version.
@BenAV I don't think Mitch Vogel knows what tax is. The way tax works can vary from each country. In the USA, you pay an extra 20% (rough estimate) of what the item is. Whether you order it from the eShop or buy it from a shop/online store, you still pay for tax. So US$30 would result in an extra US$6 tax.
In the United Kingdom, tax is included in the prices. Doesn't matter if it's from the eShop or from a shop/online store. So a game worth £30 (£24 + £6).
I would argue physical games are usually cheaper than the download counterparts. I got arms for £42, while the eShop charges £60 (remember, this includes tax).
Nice with a physical release, more indie developers need to do this.
I still need to play my 3ds cart, i enjoy mega man games so this should be awesome!
Preordered the cart today!
@BenAV I just know that sometimes games are more expensive on Switch because the carts cost more or something. It's not always the case, but it seems like smaller releases like this are the ones that get it.
Japan has has been getting a physical version of this ever since the game was first announced for Switch. There is even a collector's edition that comes with the OVA.
Oh Mitch, that isn't what the "Switch Tax" is at all. The Switch Tax is any game released on the Switch, physical or digital, that for some unexplained reason is more expensive than other console releases, usually by £10.
You could argue that these games do have a switch tax in that each version individually is £12 in the UK and this version is £32 for both. However it seems to be the case that Nintendo requests that any game released on the eshop must cost the same as the RRP as any physical release. That is why this twin pack costs more on the eshop.
Looks interesting. Will propably buy the physical version when it comes out.
Oh yes. I shall be getting the physical version. Loved the first one but never got around to downloading the second.
@RadioShadow true. the typical UK game is cheaper as a physical edition compared to digital. This is due to rrp. The retailers can charge whatever they want for the game and will make it competitive.
There has been talks about cost of digital ever since it became a big thing with Sony claiming that they needed to charge full price to ensure that they don't out price the retailers.
@SwitchVogel Yeah, but that's different than digital vs physical prices. Switch retail games sometimes cost more than the same game on other consoles. Physical versions of Switch games (the RRP at least) cost the same as their digital counterpart. So I'm just a bit confused by the mention of 'Switch Tax' when comparing the price of the physical and digital versions.
May be no switch tax, but it's still 55 bucks here in Canada. That's a lot for two old 3DS games, especially 3DS games that sell for about fifteen on their own. I was gonna buy this on launch, but now I think I'll wait for a sale.
Physical for me.
I never played them on 3ds, but I'll pick this up on physical for me
According to the eshop description there are updates and new content added compared to the original 3DS releases. Maybe that is also why the game costs more.
How much we get new however is still up in the air.
Glad now I never imported the 3DS version; not that I would have been able to play it but I like having a physical back up of any digital games I really like
@GauBan But items sold in retail stores still have to pay tax on the items. Just in the UK, the item you buy includes the VAT. The http://www.thegamecollection.net/ actually tells you the VAT you are paying. Rayman Legends for the Switch costs £26.95 to buy (basically £22.46 & £4.49 VAT). So The Game Collection would only get a £22 profit.
The thing with cartridges is, the bigger the data, the more expensive it is to make. From what I read in the comments, this game is around 3GB. Because of this, they could sell cheaper than say Zelda: Breath of the Wild which is 12GB.
Using discs have a fixed capacity space and are cheaper to produce, so manufacturing costs are lower compared to that of Switch games. Doesn't stop the prices of these games going all over the place.
@RadioShadow all retailer will tell how much VAT you are paying on an item it's on your receipt or invoice. Just because under UK trading standards any product sold at public retail needs to include VAT prices to remove any "hidden costs". I was not bringing the tax side into it as digital items are also taxed by VAT in the UK. Thus removing this as being a point of difference.
But look at a number of UK retailers and you will that their price will vary on the same item. But they all (apart from maybe Game or a catalogue shops) will be selling the game as less than the price that it will be if purchased from the eShop, PSN or Xbox Store.
But you are incorrect, Gamecollection.net is not making £22 profit on that copy of Rayman Legends. Be more around the £5 profit mark (could even be less) unless they have a great distributor.
As for cost of manufacture this is a interesting thing. While yes producing a card with larger capacity will cost more to produce but again the cost difference if marginal to the fact that publishers need to buy the carts from Nintendo. They always have had to. All the way from the NES this is one of the reasons for the "Nintendo Tax" something that wasn't as much an issue when Nintendo moved over to optical media which can be widely produced.
A delay on the physical release? Well, I'm still replaying the Mega Man Zero series, so I can wait.
People these days.... exact reason why Nintendo is only releasing old games/ramakes/ports, etc. ''I already have it on the 3DS, but I will buy it for the Switch''. WHY??? lol ''I played it on the PS4 and PC, but I will buy it for the switch anyway''. WHY?? The companies are now releasing anything and people are buying it... it's incredible... They are now releasing the digital version first like Sonic Mania or this game (2-3 months before release and at the same price on top of that, no discount) just because they know people will buy the digital and physical as well later the majority of the time... People then whine about Nintendo....well you are ''entertaining'' their marketing stretegies...just don't and it should not continue that way.
Hmm, I'd get the physical release, but I've been looking forward to this and kind of just want to download it. Probably still going with the download.
@crackafreeze
May I ask why? Game like a lot of fun
Ohhh man, I never saw or played the second red guy... definitely a buy from me as he reminds me of zero from mega man only way cooler...
Well that explains the high price on the eShop. lol.
I'll either wait on the physical edition or because I can, import it.
Now we needs AMIIBOS!!!!!
@crackafreeze
now I understand. Wasn't fond of these kind of games myself until I played Ghost Recon Shadow Wars on the 3DS. An absolutely gem on that system. And Mario+Rabbids just looks like hilarious fun. If it is just your taste - then play something different. For my part, I just don't understand how people like Monster Hunter or Xenoblade - I am more of a Mega Man, Platformer and Zelda player myself (and NES).
That's awesome! At least Inti's bringing the love to Nintendo fans.
Am I buying this? No. Why?
1) I don't have a Switch.
2) I already own the Striker Pack on the 2DS
@MegaTen
Yeees!!!
I was gonna buy this digitally, but i might do an exception for this.. Closest ill get to Megaman Zero on the Switch.
Just realised the physical relase isn't relased at the same time, im not bound to wait any longer to be honest, guess ill stick to digital for now.
I just want the box art because I already have both games on the 3DS.
@FrankoAmmo This has nothing to do with Nintendo. Nintendo doesn't make these games.
I'm absolutely buying the physical version
Oh sweet. I was annoyed the 3DS physical release never came to Europe.
Physical for me
is it out the same time as the eshop ?
I was hoping for this. 🙂 Waiting for physical now.
@1eyedlink Yeah, I love how they added a cool playable red character to the second game. Really reminds me of how in the first two Mega Man X games you could only play as X, but then Zero became playable later.
@OorWullie Both were $15. And both were absolutely worth the price so this would be a no-brainer if you haven't pick it up yet.
This has nothing to do with Nintendo? I understand they do not create most of the games, but the company decides which games will be released on their systems and at what time (digital or physical), etc. They do the rules and regulations surrounding the games. @NinNin
@FrankoAmmo You're mistaken. Nintendo doesn't decide which games will be released once the developers get the development kit. Nintendo doesn't set release dates either. Release dates are entirely up to the developers.
"How does publishing my content on the Nintendo eShop work? Who gets to control the price, release date and promotional materials?
As the developer, the price, release date and content are all set by you."
https://developer.nintendo.com/faq
Well thanks for the lesson seriously. I had no idea anybody could release a game on a Nintendo console...not logical, but interesting I guess. That is probably why there are so many bad games out there. @NinNin
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