Hello fellow gamers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Roundup for September 5th, 2024! It's Thursday already – where does the time go? We're diving straight into reviews today, with in-depth looks at Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate. Mikhail also shares his thoughts on Nour: Play With Your Food, Fate/stay night REMASTERED, and the TOKYO CHRONOS & ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos TWIN PACK. We'll then cover the day's hottest new releases and round things off with our usual sales lists. Let's get started!
Reviews & Mini-Views
Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club ($49.99)
Resurrecting dormant franchises is all the rage these days, mirroring Hollywood's trends. Nintendo's unexpected revival of Famicom Detective Club, primarily known in the West through a brief remake, is a testament to this. This new installment marks the first brand-new Famicom Detective Club adventure in years – a significant event.
The challenge in reviving an old IP lies in balancing faithfulness to the original with modern sensibilities. Emio – The Smiling Man largely maintains the style of the recent remakes, which themselves closely adhered to the originals. This creates a unique blend: modern visuals meet a story that pushes boundaries beyond what 90s Nintendo would have dared. However, the gameplay remains decidedly old-school, significantly impacting the overall enjoyment.
The game centers on a student found dead with a distinctive calling card – a smiling face on a paper bag. This triggers a re-investigation of similar unsolved murders from 18 years prior, introducing the urban legend of Emio, a killer promising eternal smiles. The Utsugi Detective Agency is called in to unravel the mystery, employing classic investigative methods – interviewing suspects and searching for clues.
The gameplay involves searching scenes for clues, interrogating characters (often requiring repeated questioning), and connecting the dots to solve the case. It's reminiscent of the investigation sections in Ace Attorney. The pace can feel slow at times, and certain logical connections could benefit from clearer signposting.
Despite some minor narrative criticisms, the story is engaging, suspenseful, and well-crafted. While some plot points may not resonate with all players, the experience is best enjoyed without spoilers. The game's strengths outweigh its weaknesses, particularly during its more captivating moments.
Emio – The Smiling Man is a departure from typical Nintendo fare. While slightly too reliant on its original mechanics, the plot is mostly excellent, although the pacing occasionally falters. Nevertheless, it's a highly enjoyable mystery adventure. Welcome back, Detective Club!
SwitchArcade Score: 4/5
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate ($29.99)
The Switch is seeing a surge in TMNT games. Following the Cowabunga Collection, Shredder's Revenge, and Wrath of the Mutants, Splintered Fate offers a different flavor. This roguelite beat 'em up blends the classic TMNT formula with elements of Hades. It supports solo play or up to four players via local or online multiplayer.
The game functions well in solo mode, but the multiplayer significantly enhances the experience. The story involves Shredder and a mysterious power, putting Splinter in danger and requiring the Turtles to save him. Gameplay involves combat, tactical dodging, perk collection, and permanent upgrades. Death sends you back to the lair to start again.
While not groundbreaking, Splintered Fate is a solid entry. TMNT fans will appreciate this unique take on the franchise. The well-implemented multiplayer is a welcome addition. While other, more inspired roguelites exist on Switch, Splintered Fate holds its own.
SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5
Nour: Play With Your Food ($9.99)
Nour: Play With Your Food is an experimental food art experience. It's a playful sandbox ideal for those who appreciate food and art. The game offers a unique blend of interactive app and artistic expression. While initially limited to basic tools, the game progressively unlocks more options, allowing players to truly "play with their food."
The Switch version, however, suffers from a lack of touchscreen support and noticeable performance compromises compared to other platforms. Load times are particularly long.
Despite these shortcomings, Nour is worth experiencing for its unique concept. While the Switch port isn't optimal, its portability remains appealing.
-Mikhail Madnani
SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5
Fate/stay night REMASTERED ($29.99)
Fate/stay night REMASTERED is a remaster of the 2004 visual novel. It serves as an excellent entry point into the Fate universe. The remaster includes English language support, 16:9 aspect ratio support, and improved visuals for modern displays. The sheer volume of content justifies the low price point.
The game boasts touchscreen support on Switch, enhancing the experience, especially on the Switch Lite. It also runs smoothly on Steam Deck.
Fate/stay night REMASTERED is a must-have for visual novel fans. Its availability in English on both Switch and Steam, coupled with its affordable price, makes it highly recommended.
-Mikhail Madnani
SwitchArcade Score: 5/5
TOKYO CHRONOS & ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos TWIN PACK ($49.99)
This twin pack includes TOKYO CHRONOS and ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos, both originally VR titles. The Switch versions offer touchscreen support and haptic feedback. TOKYO CHRONOS features a predictable narrative, while ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos stands out with its superior production values and gameplay elements beyond the standard visual novel format.
The Switch port experiences some performance issues with camera movement, but the overall experience is enhanced by touchscreen controls and rumble.
This twin pack is a worthwhile purchase for fans of sci-fi stories. The demo is recommended to assess the gameplay on Switch.
-Mikhail Madnani
SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5
Select New Releases
(Descriptions of Fitness Boxing feat. Hatsune Miku, Gimmick! 2, Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost, EGGCONSOLE Hydlide MSX, and Arcade Archives Lead Angle are similar to the original text, but with minor phrasing changes for variation.)
Sales
(Sales lists are similar to the original, with minor alterations in presentation.)
That's all for today! We'll be back tomorrow with more reviews, new releases, and sales. Have a great Thursday!
