Hello discerning readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Roundup for September 5th, 2024. Already Thursday? Time flies! We're diving straight into reviews today. I've got two for you: Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate. Mikhail also contributes his insights 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 wrap up with sales lists. Ah, Thursday. 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 trending, mirroring Hollywood's habits. Nintendo's unexpected revival of Famicom Detective Club, primarily known in the West through a fleeting remake, is intriguing. This marks the first new Famicom Detective Club adventure in years!
The challenge in reviving an old 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 the originals. The visuals are top-notch, and the narrative pushes boundaries beyond what 90s Nintendo would have attempted. However, the gameplay feels very retro, impacting overall enjoyment.
The game centers around a student found dead with a smiling-face paper bag over his head, echoing unsolved murders from 18 years prior. The urban legend of Emio, a killer promising eternal smiles, is introduced. Is it a copycat, a resurrected killer, or pure myth? The police are baffled, necessitating the Utsugi Detective Agency's intervention. Through investigation and questioning, you uncover the truth.
The gameplay involves searching for clues, interviewing suspects (often requiring repeated questioning), and connecting the dots. It's reminiscent of Ace Attorney's investigation segments. Depending on your preference for this style, you might find parts tedious. Certain logical leaps could have been smoother, and clearer guidance would have been beneficial. However, within the context of similar games, Emio isn't exceptionally flawed.
Despite some story criticisms, I found the game engaging, suspenseful, and well-written. While some plot points didn't resonate as strongly as others (details avoided to prevent spoilers), the overall narrative is compelling. The game's momentum builds effectively.
Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club is atypical for Nintendo, but shows no signs of developer rust. The mechanics are perhaps too faithful to the originals. While the plot is largely excellent, the pacing sometimes 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 accumulating a solid collection of TMNT games. Splintered Fate offers a different flavor, blending beat 'em up action with Hades-style roguelite elements. Play solo or with up to four players locally or online. Online multiplayer worked well in my experience. The game is enjoyable solo, but multiplayer enhances it.
The story involves Shredder, a mysterious power, and a jeopardized Splinter. The Turtles must save him. Combat involves slicing, dicing, and bludgeoning enemies, tactical dashing, and collecting power-ups and permanent upgrades. Death means restarting. It's a familiar roguelite beat 'em up formula, but with the Turtles, making it inherently more appealing. While not groundbreaking, it's well-executed.
Splintered Fate isn't essential, but TMNT fans will likely appreciate this twist. The well-implemented multiplayer is a significant plus. Those without a fondness for the Turtles can find superior roguelites 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 ideal for touchscreens as an experimental food art experience. 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.
Nour lets you interact with various food types across stages, set to interesting music. It blends interactive app elements with food and art. Initially, you have basic tools, but the game's depth is surprising. The lack of touchscreen support on Switch is disappointing. Performance compromises are evident on Switch to maintain decent framerates, resulting in long load times.
Despite the Switch version's flaws, Nour is worth experiencing for food and art enthusiasts. While not optimal on Switch, its portability is a plus. Hopefully, it will perform well enough to warrant DLC or a physical release. Games like Nour and Townscaper 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. It's an excellent entry point into the Fate universe, ideal for those familiar with the series through anime or other games. The extensive content (55+ hours) makes the price remarkably low.
Improvements over the original include English language support, 16:9 aspect ratio support, and enhanced visuals for modern displays. Touchscreen support on Switch is a welcome addition. The game performs well on both Switch and Steam Deck.
The lack of a physical Switch release is a minor drawback. Overall, Fate/stay night REMASTERED is highly recommended for visual novel fans. The low price makes it an even easier choice. While not as visually stunning as Tsukihime's remake, it's a worthwhile experience. -Mikhail Madnani
SwitchArcade Score: 5/5
TOKYO CHRONOS & ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos TWIN PACK ($49.99)
This twin pack offers two VR titles adapted for Switch. TOKYO CHRONOS features high school friends in an alternate Shibuya, dealing with lost memories and killers. ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos is superior, boasting better production values, writing, voice acting, and characters. It goes beyond a standard visual novel.
The Switch version has some camera movement performance issues, but touchscreen support and rumble make up for it. The stories, while enjoyable, might not resonate with everyone.
TOKYO CHRONOS & ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos TWIN PACK is a solid Switch experience with touch controls and rumble. Sci-fi fans should try the demo. -Mikhail Madnani
SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5
Select New Releases
Fitness Boxing feat. Hatsune Miku ($49.99)
A Fitness Boxing game featuring Hatsune Miku. Includes 24 Miku songs and 30 more from the Fitness Boxing series. Mechanically similar to other entries in the series.
Gimmick! 2 ($24.99)
A faithful sequel to the original, with enhanced visuals and challenging platforming.
Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost ($29.99)
Combines rhythm game and bullet hell shooter elements.
EGGCONSOLE Hydlide MSX ($6.49)
Another Hydlide version for fans of the 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 on sale.
Select New Sales
Sales Ending Tomorrow, September 6th
That's all for today. We'll return tomorrow with more reviews, new releases, and sales. Check out my blog, Post Game Content, for more gaming insights. Have a great Thursday!
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