SwitchArcade Round-Up: Reviews Featuring ‘Emio – The Smiling Man’, Plus Today’s New Releases and Sales

Hello, readers! Welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for September 5th, 2024. It's Thursday already – where does the time go? We've got a batch of reviews for you today, including 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 noteworthy new releases and round things out with sales information. Let's dive in!

Reviews & Mini-Views

Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club ($49.99)

Resurrecting dormant franchises is the latest trend, it seems. Nintendo's unexpected revival of Famicom Detective Club, largely known in the West through a brief remake, delivers a brand-new adventure. This presents a challenge: how faithful should a new game be to its origins? Emio – The Smiling Man opts for a style similar to the recent remakes, resulting in a unique blend. The graphics are top-notch, and the narrative pushes boundaries beyond what 90s Nintendo would have dared, but the gameplay feels distinctly old-school. This is key to whether you'll enjoy it.

A student's death, marked by a smiling face on a paper bag, unearths eighteen-year-old unsolved murders with a similar calling card. The legend of Emio, a killer promising eternal smiles, resurfaces. Is it a copycat, or has Emio returned? The police are baffled, so the Utsugi Detective Agency steps in!

The gameplay involves searching for clues, questioning suspects (often repeatedly), and piecing together connections. It's reminiscent of the investigation segments in Ace Attorney. Depending on your tolerance for this style, you might find parts frustrating or tedious. While some aspects could be smoother, the core gameplay is largely true to the genre's conventions.

Despite some minor story criticisms, the overall experience is engaging, suspenseful, and well-written. Certain plot points may not resonate with everyone, but it's best experienced without spoilers. The story's strengths outweigh its weaknesses, particularly during its more captivating moments.

Emio – The Smiling Man is atypical of Nintendo, yet showcases polished execution. Its adherence to classic mechanics might be a drawback for some, and while the plot is largely excellent, pacing occasionally falters. However, these are minor flaws in an otherwise enjoyable mystery. Welcome back, Detective Club!

SwitchArcade Score: 4/5

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate ($29.99)

The Switch is building a solid collection of 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 familiar TMNT combat with the structure of Hades. Play solo or with up to four players locally or online. The online multiplayer worked well in our testing. While enjoyable solo, the experience is enhanced with friends.

Shredder's mischief and a mysterious power endanger Splinter, forcing the Turtles into action. Fight enemies, strategically evade attacks, utilize power-ups, and collect currency for permanent upgrades. Death means starting over. It's a familiar roguelite formula, but with the Turtles, it's undeniably more appealing. It’s not groundbreaking, but it’s solid.

Splintered Fate isn't a must-have for everyone, but TMNT fans will appreciate this unique take. The well-implemented multiplayer is a significant plus. While other excellent roguelites exist on Switch, Splintered Fate holds its own in a crowded genre.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

Nour: Play With Your Food ($9.99)

Nour: Play With Your Food's absence from Switch and mobile at launch was surprising, given its suitability for touchscreens. While enjoyable on PC, it’s not a traditional game. Those who appreciate playful sandbox experiences and food will likely love it, but the Switch version has shortcomings.

Nour lets you playfully interact with food across various stages, featuring engaging music and playful absurdity. You start with basic tools and gradually unlock more options, allowing for extensive food manipulation. This is where the lack of touchscreen support on Switch becomes noticeable.

The Switch version’s lack of touchscreen support is disappointing. Performance compromises are also evident, resulting in noticeable load times.

Despite these issues, Nour is worth checking out for food and art enthusiasts. While not ideal on Switch, its portability remains a plus. Hopefully, it will perform well enough to warrant DLC or a physical release.

-Mikhail Madnani

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

Fate/stay night REMASTERED ($29.99)

Fate/stay night REMASTERED, released recently on Switch and Steam, is a remaster of the 2004 visual novel. This serves as an excellent entry point into the Fate universe, offering a chance to experience the series' origins. The extensive content (55+ hours) justifies the low price.

Improvements include English language support, 16:9 aspect ratio, and enhanced visuals for modern displays. Touchscreen support on Switch is a welcome addition. The game performs well on both Switch and Steam Deck.

The remaster significantly enhances the experience for those familiar with the original Japanese versions. While not as visually stunning as Tsukihime's remake, it's a significant upgrade.

The lack of a physical Switch release is the only significant drawback. The game's success hopefully warrants a physical release.

-Mikhail Madnani

SwitchArcade Score: 5/5

TOKYO CHRONOS & ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos TWIN PACK ($49.99)

This twin pack brings two VR titles to Switch. TOKYO CHRONOS follows high school friends in an alternate Shibuya, dealing with memory loss and murder. While the narrative is somewhat predictable, the visuals are strong. ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos, however, is superior, boasting better production values, writing, voice acting, and characters. It also transcends the visual novel format.

The Switch version suffers from some camera movement issues, though this doesn't entirely detract from the experience. Touchscreen support and rumble enhance immersion.

Despite some narrative shortcomings, the Switch adaptation, with its touch controls and rumble, offers a compelling experience. The demo is recommended to assess compatibility.

-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, with minor wording changes for variety.)

Sales

(Sales information is largely the same, with minor phrasing adjustments.)

That’s all for today! We'll be back tomorrow with more reviews, new releases, and sales. Check out my blog, Post Game Content, for more gaming thoughts! Have a great Thursday!