Reviews: 'Emio' and Today's App Deals

Hello discerning readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Roundup for September 5th, 2024. Thursday already? Time flies! We're diving deep into reviews today, with two comprehensive analyses: Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate. Our contributor, Mikhail, also weighs in 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)

Resurrecting dormant franchises is the latest trend, it seems. Nintendo's unexpected revival of Famicom Detective Club, largely known in the West through a fleeting remake, delivers a brand-new adventure. This presents a challenge: balancing faithfulness to the original with modern appeal. Emio – The Smiling Man largely maintains the style of the recent remakes, creating a curious blend. The visuals are top-notch, and the narrative pushes boundaries beyond what 90s Nintendo would have dared. However, the gameplay remains firmly old-school, a key factor in its overall enjoyment.

A student's death, marked by a smiling face on a paper bag, unearths unsolved murders from 18 years prior. The legend of Emio, a killer promising eternal smiles, resurfaces. Is it a copycat, or has Emio returned? The Utsugi Detective Agency steps in to uncover the truth. The gameplay involves classic detective work: investigating scenes, interrogating suspects, and piecing together clues. While engaging, the process can feel occasionally tedious or lacking in clear guidance. However, this aligns with the conventions of the genre.

Despite some minor narrative criticisms, the story is compelling, twisting, and well-crafted. Certain plot points may not resonate with everyone, but discussing them would spoil the experience. The game's strengths outweigh its weaknesses, especially during its more intense moments.

Emio – The Smiling Man is atypical for Nintendo, but shows no signs of developer rust. Its adherence to the original's mechanics might be a drawback for some, and the pacing occasionally falters. Nevertheless, 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 accumulating a fine collection of TMNT games. Splintered Fate offers a blend of beat 'em up and roguelite elements reminiscent of Hades. Playable solo or with up to four players locally or online (online multiplayer functioned well in our testing), it's enhanced by cooperative play. The core gameplay loop involves battling enemies, utilizing tactical dashes, acquiring temporary perks, and collecting currency for permanent upgrades. Death sends you back to the lair to start again.

While not groundbreaking, Splintered Fate is a solid entry. TMNT fans will appreciate this unique take on the franchise. The well-implemented multiplayer is a plus. Those less familiar with the Turtles might find more satisfying roguelites on the Switch, but Splintered Fate holds its own in a competitive genre.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

Nour: Play With Your Food ($9.99)

Nour: Play With Your Food is a playful sandbox experience ideal for those who appreciate food and art. It combines interactive elements with an emphasis on creative food manipulation. While enjoyable on PC, the Switch version suffers from lengthy load times and a disappointing lack of touchscreen support.

Despite these drawbacks, Nour remains a worthwhile experience for its unique blend of creativity and food-centric gameplay. The Switch version's shortcomings, however, hinder its overall appeal. Hopefully, future updates or a physical release will address these issues. -Mikhail Madnani

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

Fate/stay night REMASTERED ($29.99)

Fate/stay night REMASTERED is a long-awaited remaster of the 2004 visual novel. It serves as an excellent entry point into the Fate universe, offering a comprehensive and immersive experience. The remaster includes English language support, 16:9 widescreen, and touchscreen functionality on Switch, significantly enhancing the original game. The sheer volume of content justifies the price point.

Improvements over previous versions are noticeable, including enhanced visuals for modern displays. While not as visually stunning as Tsukihime's recent remake, it still holds up well. The touchscreen support on Switch is a welcome addition. -Mikhail Madnani

SwitchArcade Score: 5/5

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

This twin pack offers two visual novels, TOKYO CHRONOS and ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos. While TOKYO CHRONOS provides a decent, if predictable, narrative, ALTDEUS stands out with superior production values, writing, and characters. The Switch version incorporates touchscreen support and rumble, enhancing immersion. However, some camera control issues affect performance. -Mikhail Madnani

SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5

Select New Releases

Fitness Boxing feat. Hatsune Miku ($49.99)

A Fitness Boxing title featuring Hatsune Miku and a substantial music library. Mechanically similar to other entries in the series.

Gimmick! 2 ($24.99)

A challenging but rewarding sequel to the original Gimmick!

Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost ($29.99)

Combines rhythm game and bullet hell shooter elements.

EGGCONSOLE Hydlide MSX ($6.49)

Another Hydlide installment in the EGGCONSOLE series.

Arcade Archives Lead Angle ($7.99)

A gallery shooter from 1988.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

Notable sales include No Man's Sky. Other frequently discounted titles are also available.

Select New Sales

Sales Ending Tomorrow, September 6th

That's all for today. Join us tomorrow for more reviews, new releases, and sales. Thanks for reading!