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 series.
Emio, the Smiling Man: A New Chapter in the Famicom Detective Club Saga
The original Famicom Detective Club games, The Missing Heir and The Girl Who Stands Behind, debuted in the late 1980s. These titles cast players as young detectives solving murders in rural Japan. Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club continues this tradition, placing players at the Utsugi Detective Agency, tasked with investigating a series of killings connected to the infamous Emio, the Smiling Man.
Launching globally on August 29, 2024, for the Nintendo Switch, this marks the first new entry in 35 years. A previous cryptic trailer hinted at the game, showcasing a mysterious figure in a trench coat and a smiley-faced paper bag.
The game's synopsis describes the discovery of a murdered student, his head covered with a similarly unsettling paper bag. This chilling detail links the crime to a string of unsolved cases from 18 years prior and the urban legend of Emio, a killer said to bestow a permanent smile upon his victims.
Players will investigate the murder of Eisuke Sasaki, uncovering clues that lead back to these cold cases. Interrogations, crime scene investigations, and exploration of relevant locations are key to solving the mystery.
Joining the investigation is Ayumi Tachibana, a returning character known for her sharp interrogation skills, and Shunsuke Utsugi, the agency director who worked on the 18-year-old cold cases and takes the orphaned protagonist under his wing.
A Divided Fanbase
Nintendo's initial cryptic teaser generated considerable buzz, sparking speculation within the gaming community. One fan even correctly predicted the reveal.
While many welcomed the return of this beloved point-and-click mystery series, others expressed disappointment, particularly those who preferred different genres. Some social media reactions highlighted the surprise and, in some cases, frustration of encountering a visual novel format.
Exploring Diverse Mystery Themes
Yoshio Sakamoto, the series producer and writer, recently discussed the game's development in a YouTube video. He recounted the series' origins, explaining that the first two games were designed to play like interactive movies.The Famicom Detective Club series is renowned for its compelling narratives and atmospheric storytelling. The 2021 Switch remakes of the original games were well-received, inspiring Sakamoto to create a new installment.
Sakamoto's inspiration, as revealed in a Wired interview, includes horror filmmaker Dario Argento, whose stylistic choices influenced the series' mood and pacing. The game's composer, Kenji Yamamoto, further enhanced the atmosphere, particularly in The Girl Who Stands Behind, creating a dramatic audio effect for the final scene.
Emio, the Smiling Man, is a wholly original urban legend for this new game. Sakamoto aims to deliver a thrilling experience centered on uncovering the truth behind this legend. While this installment focuses on urban legends, previous games explored themes of superstition and ghost stories, as seen in The Missing Heir and The Girl Who Stands Behind.
Sakamoto's creative process, as described in past interviews, involved considerable freedom and collaborative brainstorming, resulting in a unique and potentially divisive narrative. The original Famicom Detective Club games garnered positive critical reception, achieving a 74/100 Metacritic score.
Sakamoto describes Emio – The Smiling Man as the culmination of the team's experience, emphasizing the extensive effort put into the script and animation. The game's ending is anticipated to spark significant discussion among players for years to come.
