Hello fellow gamers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Roundup for September 5th, 2024! It's Thursday already – where does the time fly? We're diving straight into the 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 to it!
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 mirroring Hollywood's trends. Nintendo's surprise revival of Famicom Detective Club, a series primarily known in the West through a fleeting remake of the first two games on Switch, is a prime example. This marks the first brand-new Famicom Detective Club adventure in years, a welcome addition.
The challenge in reviving an older IP lies in balancing faithfulness to the original with modern sensibilities. Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club largely retains the style of the recent remakes, staying true to its roots. The visuals are on par with contemporary games, and the narrative pushes boundaries beyond what 90s Nintendo would have dared, even in Japan. However, the gameplay feels distinctly old-school, a crucial factor in determining enjoyment.
The game centers around a student found dead with a smiling-face paper bag over his head, unearthing unsolved murders from 18 years prior with a similar calling card. The urban legend of Emio, a killer promising eternal smiles, is introduced. Is it a copycat? A resurrected killer? The police are baffled, prompting the involvement of the Utsugi Detective Agency. Players must unravel the truth through investigation, questioning suspects, and connecting clues. Think Ace Attorney without the courtroom segments.
Depending on your tolerance for this style, the gameplay might feel tedious. Certain logical leaps could have been smoother, and clearer guidance would have been beneficial. However, it's a classic point-and-click adventure, and by those standards, Emio doesn't stumble significantly.
Despite some story criticisms, the overall experience is engaging, suspenseful, and well-written. While some plot points may not resonate with everyone, detailing them would spoil the surprise. The game's strengths outweigh its weaknesses, particularly during its most compelling moments.
Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club is atypical of Nintendo, but shows no signs of developer rust. Its adherence to the original game's mechanics might be a drawback for some, and the pacing occasionally falters. Nonetheless, it's a highly enjoyable mystery adventure. Welcome back, Detective Club!
SwitchArcade Score: 4/5
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate ($29.99)
The Switch is amassing a solid collection of TMNT games. From the Cowabunga Collection to Shredder's Revenge and Wrath of the Mutants, now we have Splintered Fate, offering a different console-style experience.
This title is a surprisingly solid entry. If you've played the Apple Arcade version, you'll be familiar. Essentially, it blends a TMNT-style beat 'em up with the roguelite elements of Hades. Play solo or with up to four players locally or online. Online multiplayer worked well in our testing. The solo experience is acceptable, but multiplayer significantly enhances it.
Shredder's machinations and a mysterious power put Splinter in jeopardy, forcing the Turtles into action. Fight enemies, utilize tactical dashes, collect power-ups, and earn upgrades for permanent improvements. Death means starting over. It's a roguelite beat 'em up with a TMNT twist, making it inherently superior to a generic version. It's not groundbreaking, but 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, showcasing the importance of the social aspect of TMNT games. Those unfamiliar with the franchise might find better roguelite options on Switch, but Splintered Fate holds its own in a competitive genre.
SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5
Nour: Play With Your Food ($9.99)
The initial absence of a Switch and mobile release for Nour: Play With Your Food was surprising, given its suitability for touchscreens. The PC version was enjoyable, but it's not a traditional game for everyone. If you appreciate playful sandbox experiences and food-related themes, you'll likely find Nour appealing, though the Switch version has shortcomings.
For newcomers, Nour lets you playfully interact with various food items across different stages, accompanied by engaging music and over-the-top elements. It's a blend of interactive app and artistic food experience. Starting with basic tools, the game gradually unlocks more options, allowing for extensive food manipulation. This highlights the limitations of touchscreen controls on Switch.
The lack of touchscreen support is a significant disappointment. Performance compromises are also evident, with longer loading times than ideal, 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 optimal, its portability is a plus. Hopefully, its success will lead to more DLC or even a physical release. Games like Nour offer a refreshing contrast to more complex 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 serves as an excellent entry point into the Fate universe, offering a chance to experience the series' origins as intended. The extensive playtime (55+ hours) makes the price incredibly reasonable.
For those familiar with the original Japanese versions, this remaster offers significant improvements. The addition of English is obvious, but the 16:9 support and visual enhancements are welcome additions. The effort invested in this remaster is impressive, resulting in a visually appealing experience on modern displays, though not as polished as Tsukihime's recent remake.
The inclusion of touchscreen support on Switch is a great feature, making it perfectly suited for the Nintendo hybrid system. Its compatibility with Steam Deck is also a plus.
-Mikhail Madnani highlights the game's strengths, emphasizing its value and enjoyment across various platforms. The absence of a physical Switch release is the only significant drawback. He hopes its success will warrant a physical release.
SwitchArcade Score: 5/5
TOKYO CHRONOS & ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos TWIN PACK ($49.99)
For those unfamiliar with VR, this twin pack offers a chance to experience two titles previously exclusive to the platform. TOKYO CHRONOS and ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos are praised for their stories and VR immersion.
The Switch version allows players to choose between the two games. TOKYO CHRONOS follows high school friends in an alternate Shibuya, dealing with lost memories and murder. While the narrative may be predictable at times, the visuals are appealing. The VR experience is intriguing, based on the Switch version alone.
ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos is the superior title, boasting better production values, music, writing, voice acting, and characters. It transcends the visual novel format, enhancing the overall experience.
Despite some narrative shortcomings and minor camera control issues on Switch, the touchscreen support and rumble features add to the immersion.
SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5
Select New Releases
This section covers new game releases, including Fitness Boxing feat. Hatsune Miku, Gimmick! 2, Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost, EGGCONSOLE Hydlide MSX, and Arcade Archives Lead Angle. Brief descriptions and images are provided for each.
Sales
This section details current and expiring sales on the North American eShop, highlighting notable titles.
That's all for today! We'll be back tomorrow with more reviews, new releases, and sales. Thanks for reading!
