Hey light readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Spherical-Up for October sixteenth, 2023. To start with, I apologize for my absence on Thursday and Friday of final week. I all of a sudden grew to become fairly in poor health in an unsavory method, and I simply bodily didn’t have the power to do something apart from sleep and attend to the signs. Mikhail was fortunately in a position to fill in for me on Thursday, however we needed to skip Friday’s version totally. What which means is that we now have a ton of latest video games to compensate for, and we’re going to just do that. Earlier than we go into the summaries, nonetheless, I’ve just a few critiques so that you can try. Silent Hope, CounterAttack: Rebellion, and Knight vs Large: The Damaged Excalibur, to be precise. Lastly, we’ve bought some lists of gross sales. Let’s get again to it!
Evaluations & Mini-Views
Silent Hope ($39.99)
On paper, I’m not absolutely positive why I preferred Silent Hope as a lot as I did. It’s not doing something new of observe. You’re simply utilizing your chosen hero to undergo procedurally-generated flooring of a dungeon, defeating enemies, leveling up, getting new skills, and gathering loot and sources as you go. A fundamental little hack-and-slash action-RPG whose important level of satisfaction is in its choice of a number of distinct characters to grasp. And but, it really works. It really works in the identical method video games like Diablo do. The essential loop of going into the dungeon, doing no matter you’ll be able to, coming again to camp, upgrading no matter you’ll be able to, after which heading again in for an additional spherical is as pleasing right here as ever.
I feel what helped this tried and true set-up shine a bit higher right here was in its presentation. I like the way in which this sport appears and sounds, and the setting is compelling even when the plot doesn’t absolutely ship on it. The mechanics really feel like they’ve actually been thought via fastidiously too. Every character genuinely feels distinct from the others, and the sport is cool about letting you mess around with them as you want whilst you discover your favorites. As you construct up every character and unlock superior courses and talents, the extent of customization comes off as spectacular not solely in scope however in how well-balanced it’s. You possibly can take every character in a good variety of viable instructions, and that makes you need to just do that. That in flip retains you coming again to be able to collect up extra sources and stomp extra enemies within the dungeon.
Silent Hope isn’t going to gentle your world on fireplace or something, however in case you get pleasure from a great dungeon crawl action-RPG, it’s assuredly price trying into. Its lack of any quick fancy thrives may make it appear forgettable at first, however give it time to unfold a little bit and I feel you’ll recognize the finer particulars of its design. It’s the type of sport that’s all too simple to slide out and in of, and I prefer to hold at the very least just a few video games like that dwelling on my Swap always.
SwitchArcade Rating: 4/5
CounterAttack: Rebellion ($14.99)
, I wasn’t positive if I used to be going to get pleasure from this sport or not. I like shoot-em-ups, however I’m type of over the entire roguelite spin on them. It was enjoyable for some time, however as of late after I play one it simply feels prefer it’s doing an amazing job of losing my time by forcing a grind to make the gameplay even a little bit enjoyable. CounterAttack at first looks like it’s going for the roguelite concept, however ultimately I felt it was extra like an everyday shooter with a ton of cool unlockables. It by no means got here throughout like I had no likelihood to win with out unlocking some key potential via replaying the sport again and again.
That mentioned, I ought to point out to anybody who cares in regards to the distinction that this sport in all probability falls extra into the “Euroshmup“ bucket than anything. Once I was enjoying it I couldn’t assist however be reminded of Undertaking-X, Team17’s basic Amiga shoot-em-up. The ability-ups felt related, the way in which the enemy waves got here in was acquainted, and the overall vibe simply echoed that sport to me. I feel, broadly talking, that’s not a foul factor. Simply bear in mind that’s what you’re stepping into and also you’ll be effective.
What actually offered this sport for me is the sheer quantity of stuff that has been packed into it. You’ve bought tons of characters and ships to select from, a large assortment of unlockable modifications you’ll be able to earn and equip, numerous phases to play, a number of problem ranges and modes, native and on-line multiplayer, and loads of bosses to battle. Certain, it sacrifices plenty of give attention to these particular person parts to attain that, but it surely works. I want the phases didn’t really feel fairly so samey each by way of visuals and general move, however absolutely loading out your ship and ripping via the big waves of enemies like a sizzling knife via butter is its personal leisure.
CounterAttack: Rebellion doesn’t provide the standard shoot-em-up enchantment, nor does it lean into the roguelite finish of the style very a lot. It’s doing its personal factor, and it’s doing it fairly nicely. The core taking pictures motion is enjoyable and it by no means feels such as you’re being intentionally hobbled to drive a grind, however the completely large listing of ship modifications you’ll be able to unlock nonetheless handle to really feel significant sufficient to function correct rewards. There’s quite a bit to chew on right here, and I feel it has quite a bit to supply style newcomers and veterans alike consequently.
SwitchArcade Rating: 4/5
Knight vs Large: The Damaged Excalibur ($19.99)
Once I first began enjoying Knight vs Large, I used to be having a fairly good time. The premise, which provides a barely comedic spin on King Arthur’s legends, is stable. The controls are responsive. And the way in which your skills work by channeling the facility of the Knights of the Spherical Desk is a good concept. Sure, I used to be having a great little bit of enjoyable within the early going. Sadly, that is a type of instances the place the sport places its finest foot ahead. There simply isn’t a lot to this sport, and what little it has is parceled out slowly and in small portions.
That results in a extra arduous grind than the standard for this style, and that’s saying one thing once we’re speaking a few style as sometimes grind-heavy because the roguelite hack-and-slash. A grind isn’t all the time a foul factor, and it may well really be fairly pleasing if the sport is ready up proper. However between repetitive environments, an inadequate number of enemy behaviors, and the gradual growth of your character’s capabilities, Knight vs Large slips into boredom far too typically.
Knight vs Large: The Damaged Excalibur has some issues going for it, and it may well definitely be entertaining at occasions. The issue is that it has too little seasoning to sprinkle over too little meat, leaving giant parts of it flavorless. When the sector is as crowded on Swap as it’s for these top-down roguelite motion video games, it’s onerous to vigorously suggest one thing that leaves you preventing off the yawns for a lot of its runtime.
SwitchArcade Rating: 3/5
New Releases
Kingdom Eighties ($11.99)
Stranger Issues positive has quite a bit to reply for as of late. Right here’s the most recent sport within the Kingdom sequence, and it has a very new theme to go together with the acquainted gameplay. See, it’s the Nineteen Eighties. As an alternative of a caravan of wagons and horses and what-not, it’s a bunch of youngsters on bicycles. You aren’t touring via spooky forests and the like, however relatively passing by Not-Toys-R-Us and different consolation food-like locales. The gameplay mechanics retain the identical distinctive allure discovered within the different Kingdom video games, and that’s not a foul factor in any respect. Our pal Mikhail can be doing a overview of this one as quickly as he can handle it, so do sit up for that.
Pillars of Mud ($6.99)
A brief and relatively easy retro throwback RPG, however one with its coronary heart in the correct place to make sure. If something it considerably jogs my memory of the early efforts from Zeboyd video games, albeit with significantly extra simple fight. There are two totally different characters to play as, every with their very own story, although you’ll must play as each of them ultimately. It doesn’t take itself too critically, so count on plenty of horrible jokes and a world financial system based mostly on hen nuggets. That may both be a plus or minus relying in your tastes, but it surely all goes down very simply as an entire.
Transformers: Earthspark – Expedition ($39.99)
I assume that is the place Transformers is as a model now, eh? Anyway, I hope you want Bumblebee, as a result of he’s the one Transformer you get to make use of right here. Optimus is in to provide some recommendation, however in any other case it’s Bumblebee all day and all evening. You’ve bought three areas to discover and battle via as you search to place an finish to your nemesis, Mandroid. You’ll unlock new strikes and talents for Bumblebee as you go, permitting the sport to examine off that all-important “RPG parts“ bullet level ought to it have to. This is similar developer that did Star Trek Prodigy: Supernova, which was okay as this sort of factor goes. Right here’s hoping it’s two for 2.
The Grinch: Christmas Adventures ($39.99)
I imply… positive, why not? This one comes from Outright Video games, who’re in all probability one of the best of the 4 Horsemen of the Crappy Licensed Recreation Apocalypse on Swap. As much as two gamers can play via the story of the Grinch as he tries to steal Christmas with the assistance of his loyal canine buddy Max. Resolve some gentle puzzles, do some gentle mini-games, and assist the Grinch uncover what Christmas is all about. I’m positive the little ones will get pleasure from it, and that’s the primary factor.
Haunted Home ($19.99)
Atari revisits one other certainly one of its classics, this time Haunted Home. Reasonably than go the Recharged route with this one, Atari has opted for a extra full-on reimagining developed by Orbit Studio of Retro Machina fame. Certain, it’s a roguelite, however the authentic was one thing of a roguelite itself. Discover the haunted home and collect the varied items of the urn so as to escape. I’ll have a full overview of this one as quickly as I put it via its paces.
Astebros ($12.99)
A roguelite prequel to Demons of Asteborg, Astebros sees you select certainly one of three heroes as you battle via procedurally generated dungeons to find their secrets and techniques. Go it alone or deliver a buddy by way of native multiplayer. An additional pair of arms may be useful for a few of the nasty bosses you’ll be battling. This was initially launched as a Genesis/Mega Drive sport, and I’ll say that it’s fairly a little bit of enjoyable. In case you preferred Demons of Asteborg, you received’t go fallacious right here.
Dementium: The Ward ($19.99)
An enhanced port of a 3DS remake of a Nintendo DS sport, Dementium doesn’t seem so as to add an excessive amount of over mentioned remake other than some gentle graphical enhancements and alternate management choices. It’s at finest an okay sport, in my view, and one that actually bought by again within the day on novelty. You didn’t have many first-person shooters or horror video games on the Nintendo DS, and right here this was. I’m unsure it’s punching on the identical weight on the Swap, however I do know it undoubtedly has its followers who can be joyful to drop twenty bones on this launch.
Toonsters: Crossing Worlds ($10.64)
Leaping over to the Swap from cell, that is an action-adventure of kinds the place you acquire creatures known as Toonsters and use them to battle others. It appears to be well-liked in its free-to-play cell kind, and I’d suggest making an attempt it out that method earlier than dropping a ten-and-change right here. I can also’t be too positive what (if any) modifications have been made to the sport’s stability on this transition to an up-front pay mannequin, however hopefully some have been completed because the cell model is fairly badly balanced.
Dwerve ($19.99)
A hybrid of tower protection and dungeon-crawling action-adventure is one thing we now have seen earlier than, however very not often. It normally works out effective sufficient, and I consider that to be the case right here as nicely. You play as a dwarf tinkerer who has to dig up historic know-how to make use of in protection in opposition to the depraved forces of Witch-Queen Vandra. Head into the dungeons to seek out cool stuff, use the cool stuff in tower protection segments. Not essential or something, however well-done sufficient that in case you assume it sounds good, you’ll in all probability prefer it.
Japan Prepare Fashions: JR East Version ($13.99)
This isn’t precisely a sport within the conventional sense, but it surely’s neat so I’m together with it. What you get right here is sort of a little mannequin practice set that includes some real licensed Japan Rail East trains. You possibly can arrange the surroundings across the practice, take photos, and even look contained in the trains. I do know some people on the market love trains and have an curiosity in Japanese trains particularly, so right here’s one for you. We don’t all the time see licensed stuff like this launch outdoors of Japan.
EGGCONSOLE Relics PC-8801 ($6.49)
D4 Enterprise is bringing a tackle its Egg service to the Swap, and it appears like we’re fortunate sufficient to be seeing these get world releases. The primary title is, as is customary for D4, Relics. Initially launched on the PC-8801 pc line in 1986 by Bothtec, Relics sees you enjoying as a drifting spirit and possessing enemies to make use of their abilities. Do observe that whereas the wrapper is in English and a good bit of the in-game textual content makes use of English, the sport itself stays unlocalized from its authentic Japanese supply.
Arcade Archives Guttang Gottong ($7.99)
You may higher acknowledge this Konami basic below one other title: Loco-Movement. It’s worthwhile to slide the rail monitor panels to maintain the practice shifting safely to all the stations on every stage. Regardless of being greater than forty years previous, that is nonetheless a relatively pleasant action-puzzler to dig into. You’ve in all probability performed puzzles like this to dying in different video games by now, after all. In case you’re not bored with them, you’ll have enjoyable right here.
Eventide 3: Legacy of Legends ($14.99)
Artifex Mundi has one other hidden object journey for many who get pleasure from them. Discover a legendary realm of Slavic folktales as you search to rescue your lacking brother. The same old Artifex Mundi high quality is on show right here. Not likely my cup of tea, but it surely may be yours.
Twin Thoughts: No person’s Right here Collector’s Version ($14.99)
Ocean Media has one other hidden object journey for many who get pleasure from them. Two detectives discover themselves making an attempt to unravel the seemingly inconceivable case of a murdered scientist. Not likely my cup of tea, but it surely may be yours.
Astrosmash ($14.99)
One other sport making its method over from the ill-fated Intellivision Amico console’s meant launch line-up. Just like the recently-released Shark Shark, this can be a remake of a preferred sport from the unique Intellivision console. Additionally like Shark Shark, this can be a worse sport than the unique. The visuals are too busy and seem like they got here from a circa-2000 Flash sport, and little or no has been completed to boost the gameplay other than tossing in some power-ups and some boss fights. With simply ten ranges on provide, there isn’t an entire lot of substance right here both. Truthfully, that is in all probability one of the best of the three “Amico ports“ BBG has launched, but it surely’s nonetheless not one thing I’d suggest for fifteen bucks.
Alphadia I & II ($19.99)
Gosh, have a look at these pixels. This artwork was by no means meant to be seen at these resolutions, however what are you able to do? Kemco brings two of its older cell RPGs to the Swap in a single bundle, providing you with a slight financial savings over the standard costs it likes to cost. That’s in all probability a great factor, as a result of these video games are actually getting up there in years and never coming off higher for it. Nonetheless, it’s good to see Kemco not treating its library as disposable. Sure different publishers may take observe.
Sakura Alien ($9.99)
One other Sakura visible novel from Gamuzumi, this time seemingly impressed by Urusei Yatsura. An alien princess lands on Earth and is set to marry the very regular first man she meets. She wants a visa, roughly. However mentioned very regular first man she meets already has two lovely women preventing over him. Make your selections and see who you find yourself with.
Trapped within the Difficult Jail ($9.99)
Oh no! You’re trapped! In a jail! And never simply any jail, however a difficult one! It’s one other room escape sport, completed in the identical type we’ve seen from a dozen or so different releases from Regista. In case you’re nonetheless hungry, they’ve bought one other bowl for you.
Whitestone ($19.99)
It is a fairly cool-looking action-RPG. You play as a man named Jack who’s apprenticing on-board an airship when one thing goes terribly fallacious. It begins off with a homicide, but it surely quickly turns into one thing way more insidious. There are a handful of various routes to play via, every with totally different important characters and tales. I haven’t had an opportunity to provide this a attempt but, however I’m trying ahead to digging into it after I do.
Chemically Bonded ($9.99)
Two associates are preventing and by some means you’ve ended up within the center on this visible novel. In some way you’ll not solely want to fix issues between the 2 but in addition work out a method to smooch the buddy of your alternative. Make your choices fastidiously. It’s that type of factor.
Kittengumi: The Sakabato’s Thief ($9.99)
Nicely, this one is uncommon, I’ll give it that a lot. One other visible novel, however this one stars a cat samurai and a panda who thinks he’s a cat. You’re looking for the stolen treasures of the Kittengumi, the samurai cats who shield Nyedo. There are ten totally different endings, and the one you get will rely on the alternatives you make.
Clan’s Revenge ($4.99)
This in all probability ought to be within the Bin Bunch, however I’m sitting right here making an attempt to inform if that is somebody’s earnest effort or one thing whipped up by AI and I don’t need to harm anybody’s feeling if it’s the previous. Anyway, it’s a visible novel about two ninjas who practice collectively, then one turns into a foul man, then… I imply, you’ve in all probability seen Naruto or no matter that is ripping off. There are a number of endings, must you really feel motivated to see multiple.
Buddy Canine Ballcaster ($4.99)
It’s a 5 greenback 3D platformer, so don’t get too excited. You play as a canine that may throw balls, and it is advisable use this distinctive expertise to rescue your brother from the Goblin King (this story sounds vaguely acquainted) and his minions. Dance, magic, dance? I can’t think about discovering this a worthwhile use of a fiver, however each sport has at the very least just a few followers.
Brutalism22 ($9.99)
I’m unsure what to make of this one. It’s a brief horror sport set within the Ukraine, the place you play as an atypical grocery store employee who’s thrown into disaster when bombs begin dropping in your metropolis. You need to escape along with your canine, your neighbor, and your neighbor’s daughter. It sounds just like the set-up for one thing a little bit too actual, however that assault in your metropolis isn’t coming from something terrestrial. Are you able to evade the weird invading monsters and get out alive?
Dino Ranch – Journey to the Rescue ($39.99)
I genuinely can’t hold monitor of all these licensed properties popping out on Swap as of late. That is apparently a Canadian animated sequence geared toward pre-schoolers? Alright. It’s a mini-game assortment of kinds, but it surely’s single-player solely. Discover the ranch, collect dinosaur eggs, nurture them and hatch them, and perform common repairs. I assume in case your baby is into the sequence, this may be price .
Re.Surs ($7.99)
A narrative-driven 2D scrolling shooter, or so it says on the tin. There are just a few totally different characters to make use of, every with their very own skills, and also you’ll must make the optimum use of all of them if you wish to repel a demonic invasion. Some slick artwork in locations however greater than a little bit tough across the edges. Whether or not that’s a great factor or a foul factor is an train finest left to the reader.
Bullet Rodeo ($11.99)
It is a taking pictures sport with three phases to blast your method via. It generally appears like a poor man’s Wild Weapons, however don’t be fooled: it’s a lot worse than you’re imagining. As common, you actually can’t belief the standard of a sport that launches with an 80%+ low cost. What that claims in regards to the output of RedDeer, who appears to do that with each sport it publishes, is as much as you to kind out.
Traumatarium ($2.99)
That is an indie Recreation Boy sport, so it’s not simply adopting that type for nostalgia factors. It’s a roguelite dungeon crawler the place it’s a must to defeat the 4 evil rulers on the backside of every lair. Reasonably quick, however candy sufficient that on the value it’s going for it’s not a foul worth.
Historic Relics – Egypt ($19.99)
That is in regards to the tenth sport like this from Inexperienced Sauce Video games, so there isn’t a lot to say. Play match-3 puzzles, acquire sources, rebuild a village. There are 116 ranges to play, and I’ll as soon as once more gesture wildly on the App Retailer the place you will discover a whole lot of video games similar to this free of charge.
The Bin Bunch
Large Chase ($0.99)
Flap Legends ($0.99)
Favela Zombie Shooter ($7.99)
The Legend of Shadow: Masks of the Power ($14.99)
Submersible Simulator – Uncover the Titanic into Ocean ($12.99)
Zombie Protection ($4.99)
Zombie Raft ($4.99)
Z Escape ($4.99)
Solely Method Up! Parkour Bounce Simulator ($4.99)
Taxi Driver Simulator 2024 ($5.99)
Want for Spirit Drink & Drive Simulator ($6.99)
Ironsmith Medieval Simulator ($9.99)
Break the Glass Cup: Breaking Physics Puzzle ($9.99)
Gross sales
(North American eShop, US Costs)
Since we’re performing some catching up, the listing of latest gross sales is a bit larger than we might normally see on a Monday. I’ll allow you to look via it since I’m already operating a bit not on time. There are some good indies in there, for positive. The outbox is smaller, with Capcom and Activision gross sales being the details of curiosity. Test these lists!
Choose New Video games on Sale
A Tiny Sticker Story ($8.49 from $9.99 till 10/20)
Warhammer 40k: Boltgun ($16.49 from $21.99 till 10/20)
Suhoshin ($9.49 from $18.99 till 10/20)
Venice 2089 ($6.29 from $6.99 till 10/21)
Sea Horizon ($8.99 from $14.99 till 10/27)
Macrotis: A Mom’s Journey ($4.19 from $11.99 till 10/27)
Spacewing Struggle ($2.79 from $6.99 till 10/27)
Hyper-5 ($6.99 from $9.99 till 10/27)
Teratopia ($3.99 from $9.99 till 10/27)
Neko Secret Room ($3.49 from $6.99 till 10/27)
Neko Journey ($6.99 from $9.99 till 10/27)
Fairly Ladies Velocity ($2.99 from $5.99 till 10/27)
Fairly Ladies Rivers ($2.99 from $5.99 till 10/27)
Burrow of the Fallen Bear ($9.99 from $19.99 till 10/27)
Rainbow Skies ($13.99 from $19.99 till 10/27)
Wire Lips ($3.49 from $6.99 till 10/27)
Tremendous Hen Jumper ($2.49 from $4.99 till 10/27)
Laserpitium ($10.49 from $14.99 till 10/27)
Cat Quest ($3.89 from $12.99 till 10/29)
Secret Summoner ($5.59 from $7.99 till 10/30)
Cosmo Dreamer ($4.10 from $8.20 till 10/30)
Like Dreamer ($8.39 from $11.99 till 10/30)
GemaBoy Zero Origins ($2.46 from $12.34 till 11/1)
Observer ($4.49 from $29.99 till 11/2)
Layers of Worry: Legacy ($2.99 from $19.99 till 11/2)
Volley Buddies ($3.89 from $6.49 till 11/2)
The Medium: Cloud Vers. ($27.49 from $49.99 till 11/2)
Dashing Orange ($3.39 from $3.99 till 11/2)
Whispike Survivors ($2.09 from $2.99 till 11/2)
Metropolis Limits ($4.24 from $4.99 till 11/2)
Elderand ($9.99 from $19.99 till 11/2)
Child Storm ($2.19 from $19.99 till 11/2)
Piczle Puzzle & Watch Assortment ($1.99 from $7.99 till 11/2)
Piczle Cells ($1.99 from $4.99 till 11/2)
Piczle Traces DX ($3.74 from $14.99 till 11/2)
Piczle Colours ($3.00 from $12.00 till 11/2)
Piczle Traces 2: Into the Puzzleverse ($7.49 from $14.99 till 11/2)
Dicey Dungeons ($1.99 from $14.99 till 11/2)
Pumped BMX Professional ($2.24 from $14.99 till 11/2)
For the King ($6.24 from $24.99 till 11/2)
Embr ($4.99 from $19.99 till 11/2)
Simply Die Already ($3.74 from $14.99 till 11/2)
Human: Fall Flat ($5.99 from $19.99 till 11/2)
Chemically Bonded ($7.99 from $9.99 till 11/3)
Paper io 2 ($1.99 from $4.99 till 11/3)
Gap io ($1.99 from $4.99 till 11/3)
Sakura Alien ($7.99 from $9.99 till 11/3)
Construct a Bridge! ($2.24 from $14.99 till 11/3)
Bridge Builder Journey ($2.24 from $14.99 till 11/3)
Agent A: A Puzzle in Disguise ($1.99 from $19.99 till 11/4)
Truck Simulator ($1.99 from $13.99 till 11/4)
Road Racing: Tokyo Rush ($2.79 from $13.99 till 11/4)
Gross sales Ending Tomorrow, Tuesday, October seventeenth
Andro Dunos 2 ($5.99 from $19.99 till 10/17)
Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium, Assorted ($0.99 from $1.99 till 10/17)
Capcom Arcade Stadium, Assorted ($0.99 from $1.99 till 10/17)
Crash Bandicoot Crashiversary Bundle ($39.99 from $99.99 till 10/17)
Crime O’Clock ($15.99 from $19.99 till 10/17)
Demise’s Gambit: Afterlife ($12.99 from $19.99 till 10/17)
Doki Doki Literature Membership Plus ($11.99 from $14.99 till 10/17)
Ganryu 2: Hakuma Kojiro ($4.99 from $19.99 till 10/17)
How 2 Escape ($11.99 from $14.99 till 10/17)
LISA: Definitive Version ($19.99 from $24.99 till 10/17)
Neversong ($4.49 from $14.99 till 10/17)
Smile For Me ($11.24 from $14.99 till 10/17)
Sqroma ($2.99 from $8.99 till 10/17)
The Great 101 Remastered ($17.99 from $39.99 till 10/17)
Virgo Versus The Zodiac ($15.99 from $19.99 till 10/17)
The place the Water Tastes Like Wine ($3.99 from $19.99 till 10/17)
That’s all for in the present day, associates. We’ll be again tomorrow with extra critiques, extra new releases, extra gross sales, and maybe some information. Personally, I’m simply joyful that I’m in a position to abdomen stable meals once more. A man can solely get by so lengthy on liquids! I hope you all have a powerful Monday, and as all the time, thanks for studying!
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