New Arcade Reviews and Releases Highlight 'Emio'

Hello fellow gamers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Roundup for September 5th, 2024. Already Thursday? Time flies! 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. Our contributor, 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 off with our usual sales updates. Let's get to it!

Reviews & Mini-Views

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

Resurrecting dormant franchises seems to be the latest trend, mirroring Hollywood's practices. Nintendo's unexpected revival of Famicom Detective Club, primarily known in the West through a brief Switch remake, is a prime example. This marks the first entirely 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 updates. Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club largely retains the style of the recent remakes, staying true to its roots. The visuals are top-notch, and the narrative pushes boundaries beyond what 90s Nintendo would have attempted. However, the gameplay feels distinctly old-school, a key factor in whether you'll enjoy it.

The game centers on a student found dead with a smiling-face paper bag over his head, triggering a re-investigation of similar unsolved murders from eighteen years prior. The legend of Emio, a killer promising eternal smiles, is brought into question. Is a past killer back? A copycat? Or is Emio just a myth? The police are baffled, leaving the case to the Utsugi Detective Agency. You'll solve the mystery by investigating locations and questioning suspects, much like the non-courtroom segments of Ace Attorney. The gameplay's old-school nature might feel tedious to some. Certain logical leaps could use clearer guidance.

Despite some story criticisms, the game is largely engaging, full of twists, and well-written. While some plot points may not resonate with everyone, discussing them would spoil the experience. It's best enjoyed fresh. The game's strengths outweigh its weaknesses, especially during its most captivating moments.

Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club is atypical of Nintendo's output, but shows no signs of developer rust. Its adherence to the original mechanics might be excessive for some, and the pacing occasionally falters. However, these are minor flaws in an otherwise 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 of TMNT games. We have the Cowabunga Collection, Shredder's Revenge, Wrath of the Mutants, and now Splintered Fate, offering a home console experience. So, how does this one fare?

Quite well, actually. If you've played the Apple Arcade version, you know the gist. It blends a TMNT-style beat 'em up with the roguelite mechanics of Hades. Solo play is fine, but the experience is significantly enhanced with up to four players locally or online. Online multiplayer worked flawlessly in our testing.

The story involves Shredder and a mysterious power, endangering Splinter. The Turtles must save him, battling Foot Soldiers along the way. You'll slice, dice, and bludgeon enemies, using tactical dashes and collecting perks and upgrades. Death sends you back to the lair to retry. It's a roguelite beat 'em up, but with the Turtles, making it inherently more appealing. While not groundbreaking, it's well-executed.

Splintered Fate isn't a must-have for everyone, but TMNT fans will appreciate this unique take. The well-implemented multiplayer is a plus. Those unfamiliar with the Turtles might find better roguelite options on Switch, but Splintered Fate holds its own in a highly competitive genre.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

Nour: Play With Your Food ($9.99)

Nour: Play With Your Food's absence from Switch and mobile upon its initial PC and PS5 release was surprising. It seemed perfectly suited for touchscreens. While enjoyable on PC, it's not a traditional game for everyone. Those who appreciate playful sandbox experiences and food will likely love it, but the Switch version has shortcomings.

For newcomers, Nour lets you interact with various food types across different stages, featuring engaging music and playful elements. You start with basic tools, but the game's depth unfolds as you "play with your food." This is where the touchscreen limitation on Switch becomes apparent.

The lack of touchscreen support is disappointing. Performance compromises are also noticeable on Switch, particularly long load times, both docked and handheld.

Despite these issues, Nour is worth experiencing if you enjoy food, art, and interactive apps. While not ideal on Switch, its portability remains a draw. Hopefully, its success will lead to more DLC or a physical release. Games like Nour and Townscaper offer a refreshing change of pace from more involved titles. -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 is arguably the best entry point into the Fate universe, offering a chance to experience the series' origin. The game's length (55+ hours) and low price point make it an exceptional value.

For those familiar with the original Japanese versions, Fate/stay night REMASTERED offers significant improvements, including English localization, 16:9 support, and enhanced visuals for modern displays, although it doesn't match the visual fidelity of Tsukihime's remake.

The inclusion of touchscreen support on Switch is a welcome addition. It works seamlessly on both Switch Lite and OLED models, and also performs well on Steam Deck.

The only notable absence is a physical Switch release. Hopefully, its success will warrant one.

Fate/stay night REMASTERED is a must-have for visual novel fans. Its English localization and availability on Switch and Steam, combined with its low price, make it highly recommended. -Mikhail Madnani

SwitchArcade Score: 5/5

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

For those who haven't experienced VR gaming, TOKYO CHRONOS and ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos offer a compelling entry point on Switch. Both games are praised for their narratives and VR immersion.

TOKYO CHRONOS & ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos TWIN PACK allows you to choose which game to play. TOKYO CHRONOS follows high school friends in an alternate Shibuya, dealing with lost memories and murder. While the narrative might feel predictable at times, the visuals are strong. The VR experience is intriguing.

ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos surpasses TOKYO CHRONOS in terms of production quality, writing, voice acting, and character development. It also moves beyond a purely visual novel format.

Despite some narrative shortcomings and minor camera control issues on Switch, the touchscreen support and haptic feedback enhance immersion.

TOKYO CHRONOS & ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos TWIN PACK provides a great Switch experience, enhanced by touch controls and rumble. The demo is recommended to gauge the Switch version's feel. -Mikhail Madnani

SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5

Select New Releases

Fitness Boxing feat. Hatsune Miku ($49.99)

This title clearly explains its content: Fitness Boxing featuring Hatsune Miku. It includes 24 Miku songs and 30 more from the Fitness Boxing series. Mechanically, it's similar to other games in the series.

Gimmick! 2 ($24.99)

A faithful sequel to the original, offering enhanced presentation and challenging platforming gameplay.

Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost ($29.99)

Combines rhythm game and bullet hell shooter elements within the Touhou universe.

EGGCONSOLE Hydlide MSX ($6.49)

Another Hydlide version for EGGCONSOLE, falling between previous releases.

Arcade Archives Lead Angle ($7.99)

A gallery shooter from 1988.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

No Man’s Sky is a highlight among the sales. Many other noteworthy titles are frequently discounted.

Select New Sales

Sales Ending Tomorrow, September 6th

That's it for today! Join us tomorrow for more reviews, new releases, and sales. Check out Post Game Content for additional gaming insights. Have a great Thursday!