SwitchArcade Round-Up: Reviews Featuring ‘Emio – The Smiling Man’, Plus Today’s New Releases and Sales

Hello, fellow gamers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Roundup for September 5th, 2024! Already Thursday? Time flies! We're diving headfirst 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. After that, we'll cover the day's hottest new releases and round things out 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 are all the rage, it seems. Nintendo, surprisingly, has revived the Famicom Detective Club series, building on the recent Switch remakes of the first two games. This new entry, however, marks the first entirely new Famicom Detective Club adventure in years, a welcome addition for fans.

The challenge in reviving an old IP lies in balancing faithfulness to the original with modern sensibilities. Emio – The Smiling Man opts for a style similar to the recent remakes, resulting in a unique blend. The visuals are polished and contemporary, and the narrative pushes boundaries beyond what a 90s Nintendo game would have attempted. However, the gameplay retains a distinctly old-school feel, which could be a make-or-break factor for players.

The game centers on a student found dead with a distinctive calling card, reigniting a decades-old cold case. The investigation unfolds through classic detective work: exploring locations, interviewing suspects, and piecing together clues. The gameplay is reminiscent of the investigation segments in Ace Attorney, but some players may find the process somewhat cumbersome or lacking in guidance.

While I have some reservations about certain story elements, overall, Emio is an engaging and well-written mystery. The plot is captivating, full of twists and turns. While some plot points might not resonate with everyone, the experience is best enjoyed without spoilers. The game's strengths outweigh its weaknesses, especially during its most intense moments.

Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club is a departure from typical Nintendo fare. While its mechanics closely adhere to the originals, potentially hindering some players, the plot is largely excellent. Despite occasional pacing issues or less satisfying resolutions, 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 becoming a haven for TMNT games! From classic Konami titles to modern beat 'em ups like Shredder's Revenge, there's something for every fan. Splintered Fate offers a unique blend of beat 'em up action and roguelite elements, akin to Hades. Playable solo or with up to four players locally or online, the multiplayer shines, enhancing the experience significantly.

The story involves Shredder and a mysterious power, putting Splinter in danger and sending the Turtles on a rescue mission. Gameplay involves battling Foot Soldiers, utilizing tactical dashes, collecting power-ups, and upgrading your abilities. Death sends you back to the lair to start again. While not groundbreaking, it's a solid execution of the roguelite beat 'em up formula, enhanced by the iconic TMNT setting.

Splintered Fate isn't a must-have for everyone, but TMNT enthusiasts will appreciate this unique take on the franchise. The well-implemented multiplayer is a standout feature, and the game holds its own in a crowded roguelite market.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

Nour: Play With Your Food ($9.99)

Nour: Play With Your Food is a playful, experimental food art experience. It’s a unique sandbox title that blends interactive elements with a focus on food and art. While enjoyable on PC, the Switch version has some shortcomings.

The game lets you interact with various food items across different stages, featuring unique music and over-the-top visuals. The content expands as you progress, but the lack of touchscreen support on Switch is a significant drawback. Performance is also affected, with noticeable load times.

Despite these issues, Nour remains a worthwhile experience for those who appreciate food, art, and interactive apps. While not ideal on Switch, its portability remains a plus, and hopefully, it will see future DLC or a physical release.

-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, finally available in English on Switch and Steam. This is an excellent entry point into the Fate universe, offering a comprehensive experience for newcomers. The sheer volume of content makes it an incredible value.

The remaster includes significant improvements, such as English language support and 16:9 widescreen support. While not as visually stunning as some modern visual novels, the visuals are greatly improved for modern displays. The inclusion of touchscreen support on Switch is a welcome addition.

The game plays wonderfully on both Switch and Steam Deck, making it highly accessible. The lack of a physical Switch release is a minor disappointment.

Fate/stay night REMASTERED is a must-have for visual novel fans. Its affordability further enhances its appeal. Despite not matching the visual fidelity of 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 brings two VR titles to Switch. TOKYO CHRONOS and ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos offer compelling sci-fi narratives. While TOKYO CHRONOS provides a solid visual novel experience, ALTDEUS stands out with superior production values and gameplay beyond the typical visual novel format.

The Switch version features some performance issues with camera movement, but the touchscreen support and rumble effects enhance immersion.

TOKYO CHRONOS & ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos TWIN PACK is a solid offering on Switch, especially with the added touch controls and rumble. The demo is recommended to assess if the gameplay suits your preferences.

-Mikhail Madnani

SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5

Select New Releases

Fitness Boxing feat. Hatsune Miku ($49.99)

A Fitness Boxing game featuring Hatsune Miku. Features 24 songs from Miku and various artists, along with 30 tracks from the Fitness Boxing series. Gameplay is consistent with previous entries.

Gimmick! 2 ($24.99)

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

Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost ($29.99)

A combination rhythm game and bullet hell shooter, appealing primarily to fans of the Touhou series.

EGGCONSOLE Hydlide MSX ($6.49)

Another Hydlide release for EGGCONSOLE, this time the MSX version. Of interest mainly to dedicated Hydlide fans.

Arcade Archives Lead Angle ($7.99)

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

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

No Man’s Sky is a notable sale. Other titles are frequently discounted, so consider your preferences.

Select New Sales

Sales Ending Tomorrow, September 6th

That’s all for today! Join us tomorrow for more reviews, new releases, and sales. Check out Post Game Content for more gaming insights. Have a great Thursday!