Arcade Releases and Reviews: 'Emio' and More

Hello, gaming enthusiasts! Welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for September 5th, 2024. Another Thursday already! Time flies, doesn't it? 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 lists. Let's get started!

Reviews & Mini-Views

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

Sequels to long-dormant franchises are all the rage, mirroring Hollywood's trends. Nintendo's unexpected revival of Famicom Detective Club, primarily known in the West through a brief remake, is a prime example. This marks the first 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 maintains the style of the recent remakes, staying true to the originals. This creates a unique blend. The visuals are top-notch, and the narrative pushes boundaries beyond what 90s Nintendo would have attempted, even in Japan. However, the gameplay feels distinctly 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 eighteen-year-old unsolved murders with similar hallmarks, raising numerous questions about a potential serial killer, Emio. The police are baffled, so the Utsugi Detective Agency steps in. Through investigation and interrogation, you must uncover the truth.

Gameplay involves searching for clues, questioning individuals (often requiring repeated questioning), and connecting the dots to solve the case. Similar to the investigative sections of Ace Attorney, the gameplay might feel tedious or frustrating for some. Certain logical leaps could have been better signposted. While adhering to the genre's conventions, Emio doesn't excel in this area.

Despite some narrative criticisms, the story is engaging, suspenseful, and well-crafted. Certain plot points might not resonate with everyone, but discussing them would spoil the experience. It's best enjoyed fresh. The overall experience is positive, with particularly strong moments.

Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club is atypical of Nintendo, yet it showcases the team's skill. While its mechanics are perhaps too faithful to the originals, and the pacing occasionally falters, it's a captivating mystery adventure. Welcome back, Detective Club!

SwitchArcade Score: 4/5

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate ($29.99)

The Switch is accumulating a solid collection of TMNT games. From the Cowabunga Collection to Shredder's Revenge and Wrath of the Mutants, there's now Splintered Fate, offering a different console-style experience.

It's a surprisingly good game. If you've played the Apple Arcade version, you'll be familiar with it. Essentially, it blends a TMNT-style beat 'em up with elements of Hades. Playable solo or with up to four players locally or online, the multiplayer aspect works well. While enjoyable solo, adding players enhances the experience.

The story involves Shredder and a mysterious power, putting Splinter in danger. The Turtles must save him. Gameplay involves combat, strategic dodging, perk selection, and permanent upgrades. Death means restarting. It's a roguelite beat 'em up, but with the Turtles – automatically making it better. It's not groundbreaking, but it's well-executed.

Splintered Fate isn't a must-have, but TMNT fans will appreciate this unique take. The well-implemented multiplayer is a highlight. Those not particularly fond of the Turtles might find better roguelite options, but it holds its own in a crowded genre.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

Nour: Play With Your Food ($9.99)

Initially released on PC and PS5, Nour: Play With Your Food seemed perfectly suited for touchscreens. While enjoyable on PC, it's not a traditional game. Those who appreciate playful sandbox experiences and food will likely enjoy it, although the Switch version has some shortcomings.

Nour lets you interact with various food items across different stages, accompanied by engaging music and playful elements. Starting with basic tools, the game gradually expands, allowing for extensive food manipulation. This is where the lack of touchscreen support on Switch becomes apparent.

The absence of touchscreen controls is a significant drawback. Performance compromises were made for decent Switch performance, resulting in lengthy loading times.

Despite these issues, Nour: Play With Your Food is worth experiencing for food and art enthusiasts. While the Switch version isn't ideal, its portability is 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)

Released recently on Switch and Steam, Fate/stay night REMASTERED is a remaster of the 2004 visual novel. This is arguably the best entry point into the Fate universe.

Fate/stay night REMASTERED, even with its quality-of-life improvements, is a substantial 55+ hour experience, making its price incredibly appealing. The remaster enhances the original with English language support, 16:9 aspect ratio, and improved visuals for modern displays.

The remaster significantly improves the experience for those familiar with the Japanese versions. While not as visually stunning as Tsukihime's remake, it's a solid upgrade. The addition of touchscreen support on Switch is a welcome feature, making it ideal for handheld play.

The game performs well on both Switch and Steam Deck. The lack of a physical Switch release is a minor drawback.

-Mikhail Madnani

SwitchArcade Score: 5/5

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

This twin pack offers two VR titles now available on Switch. TOKYO CHRONOS follows high school friends in an alternate Shibuya, dealing with lost memories and murder. While the narrative is somewhat predictable, the visuals are good.

ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos is superior, with better production values, writing, voice acting, and characters. It also expands beyond a typical visual novel.

The Switch version has some camera movement performance issues, but touchscreen support and rumble functionality compensate.

TOKYO CHRONOS & ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos TWIN PACK is a strong Switch offering, enhanced by touchscreen controls and rumble. The demo is recommended.

-Mikhail Madnani

SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5

Select New Releases

Fitness Boxing feat. Hatsune Miku ($49.99)

A Fitness Boxing game featuring Hatsune Miku and friends, with 24 Miku songs and 30 additional tracks. Mechanically similar to other Fitness Boxing titles.

Gimmick! 2 ($24.99)

A faithful sequel to the original, featuring improved visuals and challenging platforming.

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 the PC-8801 and NES releases.

Arcade Archives Lead Angle ($7.99)

A gallery shooter from 1988, offering a decent example of the genre.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

No Man's Sky is a notable sale. Many other frequently discounted titles are also included.

Select New Sales

(List of new sales)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, September 6th

(List of expiring sales)

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