New Games, Now! Emio Thrills in Latest SwitchArcade Round-Up

Hello fellow gamers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for September 5th, 2024. Already Thursday? Time flies! We're diving straight into the 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. Following that, we'll highlight the day's top 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)

Sequels to long-dormant franchises are all the rage, it seems. Nintendo's unexpected revival of Famicom Detective Club, a series largely known in the West through a fleeting remake, is a prime example. This marks the first brand-new Famicom Detective Club adventure in years – a significant event.

The challenge in reviving an old IP lies in balancing faithfulness to the original with modern sensibilities. Emio – The Smiling Man largely maintains the style of the recent remakes, staying true to its roots. The visuals are top-notch, and the narrative pushes boundaries beyond what 90s Nintendo would have dared. However, the gameplay retains a distinctly old-school feel, a key factor in determining enjoyment.

The game centers on a student found dead, a recurring symbol mirroring unsolved murders from 18 years prior. The urban legend of Emio, a killer promising eternal smiles, adds intrigue. Is it a copycat? A resurrected killer? The police are baffled, leaving the case to the Utsugi Detective Agency. Through investigation and questioning, you seek the truth.

Gameplay involves searching for clues, interrogating suspects (often requiring repeated questioning), and connecting the dots. Similar to Ace Attorney’s investigative segments, but with a potentially frustrating, slow pace. Certain logical leaps could use clearer guidance. However, within the context of its genre, Emio doesn't stray too far from the norm.

Despite some story criticisms, the overall experience is engaging and well-written. While some plot points may not resonate universally, the narrative's best enjoyed fresh. The game's strengths outweigh its weaknesses, particularly during its most compelling moments.

Emio – The Smiling Man is atypical for Nintendo, yet showcases polished execution. While its mechanics remain faithful to the originals, potentially hindering some players, the plot is largely excellent. A few pacing issues and less-than-satisfying resolutions are minor drawbacks. Nevertheless, this is a highly enjoyable mystery adventure. Welcome back, Detective Club!

SwitchArcade Score: 4/5

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate ($29.99)

The Switch is getting a solid collection of TMNT games. From the Cowabunga Collection to Shredder’s Revenge and Wrath of the Mutants, Splintered Fate offers a different flavor, a more console-like experience. And more are on the horizon. So, how does this one stack up?

Quite well, actually. If you've played the Apple Arcade version, you know the drill. Essentially, it blends a TMNT-style beat 'em up with Hades-like roguelite elements. Play solo or with up to four players locally or online. Online multiplayer worked flawlessly in our testing. While enjoyable solo, the experience is significantly enhanced with friends.

Shredder's mischief and a mysterious power put Splinter in danger, forcing the Turtles into action. Combat involves slicing, dicing, and bludgeoning enemies, tactical dashing, utilizing perks, and collecting currency for permanent upgrades. Death means starting over. It's a roguelite beat 'em up, but with the Turtles – automatically an improvement. It's not groundbreaking, but it's solid.

Splintered Fate isn't a must-have for everyone, but TMNT fans will likely appreciate this unique take. The well-implemented multiplayer is a welcome addition. Those without a fondness for the Turtles might find better roguelite options on the 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 initial PC and PS5 release surprised me by omitting Switch and mobile. It seemed perfectly suited for touchscreens as an experimental food art experience. While enjoyable on PC, it's not a traditional game for everyone. Those who enjoy playful sandbox experiences and food will likely find it captivating, but the Switch version has shortcomings.

For newcomers, Nour lets you interact with various foods across different stages, accompanied by engaging music and playful absurdity. It blends an interactive app with food and art. While starting with basic tools, the expansive features allow for genuine food play. However, this is where the touchscreen limitations become apparent.

The lack of touchscreen support on Switch is disappointing. Performance compromises are also noticeable, resulting in lengthy load times, both docked and handheld.

Nour: Play With Your Food is worth experiencing for food and art enthusiasts. While the Switch version isn't ideal, its portability is a plus. Hopefully, its success will lead to more DLC or even 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. This is arguably the best entry point into the Fate universe, offering a chance for those familiar only with the anime or other games to experience the series' origins. The extensive length (55+ hours) makes the price incredibly appealing.

For those who played the original Japanese versions, Fate/stay night REMASTERED offers significant improvements. Beyond the addition of English, the 16:9 support and visual enhancements are welcome. The remaster's effort is impressive, resulting in a visually appealing experience on modern displays, though not as stunning as Tsukihime's recent remake.

The inclusion of touchscreen support on Switch is a significant advantage, particularly for handheld play. It performs well on both Switch Lite and OLED models. Hopefully, future releases on platforms like iOS and PS5 will expand its reach. It also runs flawlessly on Steam Deck.

The only notable absence is a physical Switch release. Its success could warrant one in the future.

Fate/stay night REMASTERED is a must-have for visual novel fans, especially considering its availability in English on both Switch and Steam. The low price further strengthens its recommendation. While not as visually impressive as Tsukihime, it's a worthwhile experience. -Mikhail Madnani

SwitchArcade Score: 5/5

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

Having limited VR experience, I missed out on TOKYO CHRONOS and ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos. Their Switch release via Izanagi Games provided an opportunity to finally experience these praised VR titles.

The TOKYO CHRONOS & ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos TWIN PACK allows players to choose between the two games. TOKYO CHRONOS follows high school friends in an alternate Shibuya, dealing with lost memories and killers. While the narrative might feel predictable at times, the visuals are strong, and the VR experience is intriguing.

ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos, however, is superior in terms of production, music, writing, voice acting, and characters. Its occasional departure from a pure visual novel format enhances the experience.

Beyond some narrative shortcomings, the Switch version suffers from camera movement issues, though not game-breaking. Touchscreen support and rumble functionality compensate for these flaws.

TOKYO CHRONOS & ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos TWIN PACK offers a compelling Switch experience with enhanced controls and immersion. The demo is recommended to gauge its suitability. -Mikhail Madnani

SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5

Select New Releases

Fitness Boxing feat. Hatsune Miku ($49.99)

The title perfectly describes the game's content: Fitness Boxing featuring Hatsune Miku. It includes 24 songs from Miku and friends, plus 30 from the Fitness Boxing series. Mechanically, it's similar to other games in the series. A worthwhile purchase for fans of both.

Gimmick! 2 ($24.99)

A faithful sequel to the original, with enhanced presentation and challenging gameplay. Recommended for fans of clever platformers.

Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost ($29.99)

Blends rhythm game and bullet hell elements, appealing to fans of the Touhou franchise.

EGGCONSOLE Hydlide MSX ($6.49)

Another Hydlide version for completionists.

Arcade Archives Lead Angle ($7.99)

A gallery shooter from 1988.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

No Man’s Sky is a notable sale. Other frequently discounted titles are also included.

Select New Sales

Sales Ending Tomorrow, September 6th

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