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

Hello discerning readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Roundup for September 5th, 2024. It's Thursday already! Time flies, doesn't it? We're diving headfirst into reviews today. I've got two for you: Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate. Our contributor, Mikhail, also weighs in with his thoughts on Nour: Play With Your Food, Fate/stay night REMASTERED, and the TOKYO CHRONOS & ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos TWIN PACK. Following that, we'll explore the day's noteworthy new releases and round things off with our usual sales lists. Ah, Thursday. I'll miss you when Friday rolls around. Let's get started!

Reviews & Mini-Views

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

Sequels to long-dormant franchises seem to be all the rage these days. Video games, always aping Hollywood. Nintendo, in a surprising move, has revived Famicom Detective Club, a series primarily known in the West through a fleeting remake of the first two games released on Switch a couple of years ago. I suspect there's a connection. Regardless, we finally have a brand-new Famicom Detective Club adventure this millennium! That's exciting.

The challenge with reviving an old IP lies in determining the level of faithfulness to the original. Too faithful, and the game risks feeling dated; too much change, and you alienate the fans. Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club largely maintains the style of the recent remakes, which closely adhered to the originals. It's a curious blend. The visuals are on par with contemporary titles in the genre, and the narrative pushes boundaries further than what 90s Nintendo would have dared, even in Japan. However, the gameplay feels distinctly old-school, significantly impacting the overall enjoyment.

The game centers around a student found dead with a smiling-face paper bag over his head. This unearths unsolved murders from eighteen years prior, featuring a similar calling card, raising numerous questions. Then there's the urban legend of Emio, a killer promising eternal smiles to his victims. Has a past killer returned? Is it an imitator? Does Emio even exist? The police are baffled, so it's time for the Utsugi Detective Agency! You'll use the power of investigation – questioning suspects and searching locations – to uncover the truth, a task the law enforcement couldn't manage.

Essentially, you search scenes for clues, interview characters (often requiring multiple questions to get the information you need), and connect the dots to solve the case. Think of the investigative sections of Ace Attorney, and you're close. Depending on your tolerance for this gameplay style, you might find parts frustrating or tedious. Certain logical leaps could have been smoother, and clearer guidance would have been beneficial. It's a classic mystery adventure, and by those standards, Emio doesn't commit any major offenses.

I'll leave it at that. While I have some minor story criticisms, I enjoyed the overall experience. The plot was engaging, twisty, and well-written. Some plot points didn't resonate with me as strongly as they did with others, but I can't elaborate without spoilers. This is a story best experienced fresh. I enjoyed it more than I didn't, and when it picks up, it really picks up.

Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club is atypical for Nintendo, but any potential team rust is certainly not apparent. Its mechanics might be too faithful to the originals, and while the plot is largely excellent, the pacing occasionally falters, and some resolutions felt less satisfying than hoped. Still, these are minor quibbles in an otherwise enjoyable mystery adventure. Welcome back, Detective Club. Don't stay away so long next time.

SwitchArcade Score: 4/5

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate ($29.99)

The Switch is getting a nice collection of TMNT games, isn't it? You have the Konami classics in the Cowabunga Collection, the superb modern arcade beat 'em up Shredder's Revenge, the modern arcade experience Wrath of the Mutants, and now Splintered Fate, offering a more console-like experience. More are on the way, too. We're swimming in Turtles! So, how does this one fare?

Quite well, actually. If you've played it on Apple Arcade, you know the drill. But just in case, here's the gist: imagine a TMNT beat 'em up blended with Hades. That's it. Play solo in roguelite fashion or with up to four players locally or online. Mikhail and I played online, and it worked seamlessly. The single-player experience is decent, but adding players enhances it. That's TMNT for you.

Shredder and a mysterious power cause chaos. Splinter is in danger, and the Turtles must save him. When all you have is a katana, every problem looks like a Foot Soldier. Slice, dice, and bludgeon enemies, dash strategically, utilize power-ups, and collect currency for permanent upgrades. Death means returning to the lair and starting again. Roguelite beat 'em up. But with the Turtles, making it inherently better. It's not groundbreaking, but it does the job effectively.

Splintered Fate isn't a must-have, but TMNT fans will likely appreciate this twist. The multiplayer is well-executed, a crucial TMNT element not overlooked despite the game's solo-focused nature. Those unfamiliar with the Turtles can find superior roguelites on Switch, but in such a competitive genre, Splintered Fate holds its own admirably. Not bad.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

Nour: Play With Your Food ($9.99)

The initial PC and PS5 release of Nour: Play With Your Food surprised me by skipping Switch and mobile. It seemed perfect for touchscreens as an experimental food art experience. I played the PC version and enjoyed it, but it's not a traditional game for everyone. If you appreciate playful sandbox experiences and love food, you'll likely adore Nour: Play With Your Food, but the Switch version has shortcomings.

For newcomers, Nour: Play With Your Food lets you interact with various food types across different stages, featuring interesting music and playful absurdity. It feels like a blend of an interactive app for food and art enthusiasts. You start with basic tools, but the developers' additions allow for extensive food manipulation, as the title suggests. This highlights why touchscreen control might be challenging.

The lack of touchscreen support on Switch is disappointing. Furthermore, Nour was resource-intensive on Steam Deck, and the Switch version shows performance compromises for decent gameplay. The most significant issue is the lengthy load times, both docked and handheld.

Nour: Play With Your Food is worth experiencing if you enjoy food, art, and interactive apps. While the Switch version isn't ideal, its portability is a plus, and I hope its success leads to more DLC or even a physical release. Games like Nour and Townscaper are welcome additions to the more involved RPGs and story-driven titles. -Mikhail Madnani

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

Fate/stay night REMASTERED ($29.99)

Fate/stay night REMASTERED launched a month ago on Switch and Steam. I intended to cover it sooner, but a busy month and the game's length delayed this. Before discussing the game, let me share a personal anecdote. Years ago, a friend introduced me to Fate/Zero, one of my first completed anime. I wanted more from the universe, but English-language options were limited. I imported the PS Vita version of Fate/stay night Realta Nua, and since then, I've played various Fate and Type-Moon titles. This includes Fate/EXTELLA, Fate/Samurai Remnant, watching Fate/stay night, and even dabbling in Fate/Grand Order.

This led to my excitement over Aniplex's releases of Witch on the Holy Night and Tsukihime's remake, but I eagerly awaited an English release of Fate/stay night. And here it is. It still feels surreal to have it in English on Switch. But is it worth it? Absolutely, with a few caveats.

Fate/stay night REMASTERED is a remaster of the 2004 visual novel, following Emiya Shirou, the Holy Grail War, and more. It's the best entry point into the Fate universe, perfect for those who've only experienced it through anime and other games. Even with quality-of-life improvements, Fate/stay night REMASTERED is a 55+ hour experience, making the low price remarkable. It's a remaster of an older game, but the sheer volume of content makes it one of the year's best value releases on the eShop.

For those familiar with the Japanese versions, Fate/stay night REMASTERED significantly enhances the experience. It adds English, but also 16:9 support. More effort went into this than initially expected. Comparing it to the PS Vita version, the developers have done a great job making Fate/stay night look good on modern displays, though it doesn't match the visual splendor of Tsukihime's remake.

The inclusion of touchscreen support on Switch is a welcome addition. I played much of Fate/stay night REMASTERED on my Switch Lite (now broken) and then synced it to my Switch OLED. It's perfect on Nintendo's hybrid system. Hopefully, it gets more platform releases (iOS, PS5) for wider accessibility.

I also played it extensively on Steam Deck, and it worked flawlessly. Play it wherever you prefer; it's that good.

The only drawback is the lack of a physical Switch release, which I hope changes given its success.

Fate/stay night REMASTERED is essential for visual novel fans. Its English availability on Switch and Steam is incredible. The low price makes it even more appealing. While not as visually stunning as Tsukihime's remake, Fate/stay night REMASTERED is well worth your time. I'm thrilled to finally play it in English after owning the Japanese PS Vita version for years. -Mikhail Madnani

SwitchArcade Score: 5/5

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

Having limited VR experience, I missed out on some great games. Friends with VR headsets often mentioned TOKYO CHRONOS and ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos, praised for their stories and VR immersion. I hadn't experienced them until the TOKYO CHRONOS & ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos TWIN PACK arrived on Switch via Izanagi Games.

The Switch version lets you choose which game to play. TOKYO CHRONOS follows high school friends in an alternate Shibuya, dealing with lost memories, killers, and more. The narrative, while predictable at times, is decent. The visuals are good, and I'd like to try the VR version for novelty's sake.

ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos, however, is superior in production, music, writing, voice acting, and characters. It transcends the visual novel format, which is a plus. Elevating a visual novel usually makes for a more memorable experience, especially with impactful story moments. ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos is the highlight, but the pack is worthwhile if you're comfortable with the controls and movement shown in the demo.

Beyond some narrative shortcomings, the Switch version has camera movement performance issues. They're not game-breaking, but distracting. However, touchscreen support and rumble compensate.

TOKYO CHRONOS & ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos TWIN PACK is a great Switch experience, with touch controls and rumble enhancing immersion. I'm glad to have finally experienced these stories without needing a VR headset, and I hope to see more from this team. If you enjoy sci-fi, download the demo to see how it feels on Switch. -Mikhail Madnani

SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5

Select New Releases

Fitness Boxing feat. Hatsune Miku ($49.99)

The title perfectly describes the game's content. It's Fitness Boxing featuring Hatsune Miku. It includes 24 songs from Miku and friends, plus 30 from the Fitness Boxing series. Plenty of music to work out to. Mechanically, it's similar to other games in the series. Get it if you want a Fitness Boxing game with Hatsune Miku.

Gimmick! 2 ($24.99)

(Already reviewed yesterday, but for those who missed it): A faithful sequel to the original, building upon its foundation with improved presentation and challenging gameplay. Recommended for fans of clever platformers who enjoy a challenge.

Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost ($29.99)

Combines rhythm game and bullet hell shooter elements. The Touhou theme connects the disparate styles. Fans of the series will likely find it appealing.

EGGCONSOLE Hydlide MSX ($6.49)

Another Hydlide version in the EGGCONSOLE series. For dedicated Hydlide fans.

Arcade Archives Lead Angle ($7.99)

A 1988 gallery shooter. A decent example of the genre.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

No Man’s Sky is always a good deal. Other notable titles are frequently on sale.

Select New Sales

Sales Ending Tomorrow, September 6th

That's all for today. We'll be back tomorrow with more reviews, new releases, and sales. I have a blog, Post Game Content, that will be active again soon. Check it out if you enjoy my game thoughts. Have a great Thursday, and thanks for reading!