Hello discerning readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Roundup for September 5th, 2024. Already Thursday? 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 explore the day's noteworthy new releases and conclude with our usual sales updates. Let's begin!
Reviews & Mini-Views
Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club ($49.99)
Sequels to long-dormant franchises are trending, mirroring Hollywood's practices. 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!
Balancing faithfulness to the original with modern appeal is crucial. Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club maintains the style of recent remakes, closely adhering to the originals. The result is a unique blend. The visuals are top-notch, and the narrative pushes boundaries beyond what 90s Nintendo would have attempted, yet the gameplay feels distinctly retro. This significantly impacts enjoyment.
The game centers on a student's death, echoing unsolved murders from 18 years prior. The urban legend of Emio, a killer promising eternal smiles, is introduced. Is it a copycat, a resurfaced killer, or pure myth? The police are baffled, necessitating the intervention of the Utsugi Detective Agency. Through investigation and interrogation, you uncover the truth.
The gameplay involves searching for clues, questioning suspects (often repeatedly), and connecting evidence. It's reminiscent of Ace Attorney's investigative segments. The pacing and clarity could be improved, with certain logical connections needing better signposting. However, within the context of similar titles, Emio isn't exceptionally flawed.
While I have some story-related reservations, I generally enjoyed the game. The plot is engaging, suspenseful, and well-crafted. Certain plot points may resonate differently with individual players, but detailed discussion would spoil the experience. The game's strengths outweigh its weaknesses, particularly during its most compelling moments.
Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club is atypical for Nintendo, but shows no signs of developer rust. While its mechanics remain faithful to the originals, the plot is mostly excellent, though the pacing occasionally lags. Despite minor flaws, 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 solid collection of TMNT games. This title offers a unique blend of beat 'em up and roguelite elements, akin to Hades. Solo play is available, but local and online multiplayer (up to four players) enhances the experience. Online multiplayer worked well in our testing.
The game revolves around Shredder's machinations and a mysterious power, endangering Splinter. The Turtles must rescue him. Gameplay involves combat, strategic dodging, perk acquisition, and permanent upgrades. Death results in a return to the lair and a fresh attempt. It's a roguelite beat 'em up, but with the TMNT advantage. While not groundbreaking, it's well-executed.
Splintered Fate isn't a must-have, but TMNT fans will appreciate this unique take. The well-implemented multiplayer is a notable plus. Those less familiar with the franchise may find superior 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's absence from Switch and mobile upon its initial release was surprising. It seemed ideally suited for touchscreens. The PC version was enjoyable, but it's not a traditional game. Those who appreciate playful sandbox experiences and food-related themes will likely find it appealing. The Switch version, however, has shortcomings.
Nour offers interactive food play across various stages, featuring engaging music and playful elements. Initially, only basic tools are available, but the expansive content allows for extensive food manipulation. This highlights why touchscreen control might not be optimal.
The lack of touchscreen support on Switch is disappointing. Performance compromises are also evident, resulting in longer loading times.
Nour: Play With Your Food is worth experiencing for those who enjoy food, art, and interactive apps. While the Switch version isn't ideal, its portability is a plus. Hopefully, its success will lead to more 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. The 55+ hour playtime justifies the low price. Improvements include English language support and 16:9 aspect ratio. The visual enhancements are impressive, although not as striking as Tsukihime's recent remake.
The game's accessibility is enhanced by touchscreen support on Switch. It performs well on both Switch Lite and OLED models. Steam Deck compatibility is also excellent.
The only notable omission is a physical Switch release. Hopefully, its success will warrant one.
Fate/stay night REMASTERED is essential for visual novel enthusiasts. Its affordability further strengthens the recommendation. While not visually comparable to 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 now available on Switch. TOKYO CHRONOS features high school friends in an alternate Shibuya, dealing with memory loss and murder. While the narrative is somewhat predictable, the visuals are strong. The VR experience is intriguing.
ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos is superior, boasting better production values, music, writing, voice acting, and characters. It transcends the visual novel format.
Camera movement issues exist in the Switch version, but touchscreen support and rumble functionality compensate.
TOKYO CHRONOS & ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos TWIN PACK offers a satisfying Switch experience. The demo is recommended to assess control and movement. Sci-fi fans should consider this title. -Mikhail Madnani
SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5
Select New Releases
(Brief descriptions of Fitness Boxing feat. Hatsune Miku, Gimmick! 2, Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost, EGGCONSOLE Hydlide MSX, and Arcade Archives Lead Angle are included, maintaining the original style and tone.)
Sales
(Sales information is retained, preserving the original formatting and content.)
