TL;DR Tomorrow, November 12, is another big day for Switch 2 owners. Metaphor: ReFantazio, Atlus’ award-winning fantasy RPG, makes its Nintendo debut for ₱1,068 on the Philippine eShop. Pikmin 4 – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Dandori Academy arrives the same day for ₱3,380, or ₱390 as an upgrade if you already own Pikmin 4, with voice commands and a new challenge mode. Both are on the new PH eShop, so no US account needed. Kakatapos lang ng Zelda week, pero heto na naman ang wallet.
Metaphor: ReFantazio finally comes to Nintendo
If you skipped Metaphor in 2024 because you don’t own a PlayStation, Xbox, or gaming PC, this is your chance. The game comes from Studio Zero, an Atlus team led by people who worked on Persona 3, 4, and 5, and it shows. You still get a calendar system where you plan how to spend each day, bond-building with your party, and turn-based fights with a lot of style.
The big difference is the setting. Instead of a modern high school, you’re in the United Kingdom of Euchronia, a fantasy kingdom thrown into chaos after its king is assassinated. You play as Will, traveling with his fairy companion Gallica to lift a curse from the kingdom’s lost prince, while a royal tournament decides who takes the throne.
Its track record is hard to argue with. Metaphor won Best RPG, Best Narrative, and Best Art Direction at The Game Awards 2024, and it sold one million copies on launch day, making it Atlus’ fastest-selling game.
A few things to know about the Switch 2 version:
- Lower price than the original release, according to SEGA
- The physical edition uses a game-key card, so the cartridge unlocks a download instead of holding the full game. Make sure your internet and storage are ready on day one.
- A Digital Deluxe Edition and early purchase bonuses are available
- A limited Steelbook Edition is available at launch in Western markets, so check with local stores before you count on it here
Philippine eShop price: ₱1,068. Good news for anyone who just switched to a PH Nintendo account: Metaphor: ReFantazio is listed on the new Philippine eShop with a November 12 release date, so you can buy it in pesos without a US account.
Fair warning: this is a long RPG, at least 80 hours if you take your time. Perfect for the long Christmas break, though.
Pikmin 4 gets the Switch 2 Edition it deserves
Pikmin 4 came out on the original Switch in July 2023. The Switch 2 Edition adds the usual graphics and performance boost, plus a couple of genuinely new things:
- Voice commands: use the Switch 2 mic to give orders to Oatchi, your rescue pup. Say “jump” and he jumps.
- Dandori Academy: a new mode of timed exams that tests how efficiently you plan your routes, with a global leaderboard. Nintendo will release 72 stages over time.
- Pikmin Bloom tie-in: clearing exams can earn special maps for the mobile game’s upcoming Secret Caves feature.
- Upgrade pack: if you already own Pikmin 4 on Switch, you can buy an upgrade instead of the full game.
Philippine eShop price: Pikmin 4 – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Dandori Academy costs ₱3,380 for the full game. If you already own Pikmin 4 on the original Switch, the upgrade is only ₱390, which is the clear sulit pick.
Not sure yet? There’s a free demo on the eShop that has been out since November 2. It includes the Sun-Speckled Terrace area and two Dandori Academy stages, and your progress carries over to the full game. Subukan mo muna bago bumili.
Which one should you get?
If you want a deep, story-heavy RPG to sink the holidays into, go for Metaphor. If you want something you can play in short bursts, or share with the kids and the barkada, Pikmin 4 is the easier pick, especially if you already own it and just need the upgrade.
And don’t forget, GTA 6 lands one week later on November 19. Budget wisely, mga ka-PGN.
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