Famicom Detective Club Sequel Shines amid Nintendo Direct Emio Reveal

Nintendo's latest mystery, "Emio, the Smiling Man," is the newest addition to the revived Famicom Detective Club series. Producer Sakamoto positions it as the culmination of the entire franchise.

Emio, the Smiling Man: A New Chapter in Famicom Detective Club

A Murder Mystery After Three Decades

The original Famicom Detective Club games, The Missing Heir and The Girl Who Stands Behind, debuted in the late 1980s, immersing players in Japanese countryside murder investigations. Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club continues this tradition, placing players as assistant detectives at the Utsugi Detective Agency, tasked with solving a series of murders connected to the infamous serial killer, Emio.

Launching globally on August 29, 2024, for the Nintendo Switch, this marks the first new entry in 35 years. The game was initially teased with a cryptic trailer featuring a mysterious figure in a trench coat and a smiley-faced paper bag.

"A student is found dead, his head covered with a paper bag bearing an unsettling smiley face," the synopsis reveals. "This eerie visage echoes clues from 18-year-old cold cases and links to Emio, a legendary killer who supposedly grants victims ‘a smile that lasts forever.’"

Players investigate the murder of Eisuke Sasaki, uncovering clues from past cold cases. Interviews with classmates and others involved, alongside thorough crime scene examinations, are crucial to solving the mystery.

Ayumi Tachibana, a returning character with exceptional interrogation skills, assists the player. Shunsuke Utsugi, the agency director who worked on the unsolved cases 18 years prior, also plays a key role.

Divided Fan Reactions

Nintendo's cryptic teaser generated considerable buzz, with one fan accurately predicting a new, darker Famicom Detective Club game. While many celebrated the series' return, others expressed disappointment. Some voiced their dislike for visual novels, with humorous comments about the "reading" requirement, while others hoped for a different genre, such as action-horror.

Exploring Diverse Mystery Themes

Sakamoto cited horror filmmaker Dario Argento as an influence, particularly Argento's use of music and quick cuts in Deep Red, which inspired The Girl Who Stands Behind. Composer Kenji Yamamoto recalled Sakamoto's instructions to make the latter game's final scene as terrifying as possible, using a dramatic volume increase for a jump scare effect.

Emio, the Smiling Man, is a new urban legend created specifically for the game. Sakamoto aims to deliver a thrilling experience centered on uncovering the truth behind this legend. While this game focuses on urban legends, previous installments explored superstitious sayings and ghost stories. The Missing Heir featured a village curse connected to the murders, while The Girl Who Stands Behind involved a school ghost story.

A Product of Creative Freedom

Sakamoto has spoken about the creative freedom during the development of the original games, with Nintendo only providing the title and allowing the team to shape the story. The original Famicom Detective Club games received positive critical reception, currently holding a 74/100 Metacritic score.

Sakamoto describes Emio – The Smiling Man as the culmination of the team's experience, the result of extensive creative discussions and a dedication to a powerful screenplay and animations. He also anticipates a divisive ending that will spark continued discussion among players.