Hello discerning readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Roundup for September 5th, 2024. It's Thursday already! Time flies, doesn't it? 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. Our contributor, Mikhail, also weighs in with 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 cover the day's noteworthy new releases and round things off with our usual sales lists. Let's get started!
Reviews & Mini-Views
Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club ($49.99)
Sequels to long-dormant franchises seem to be all the rage these days. Nintendo's unexpected revival of Famicom Detective Club, a series largely known in the West through a fleeting remake of the first two games on Switch a few years ago, is a prime example. This marks the first entirely new Famicom Detective Club adventure in years – a welcome surprise.
The challenge with reviving an old IP lies in balancing faithfulness to the original with modern sensibilities. Too faithful, and the game risks feeling outdated; too much change, and you alienate the fanbase. Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club largely maintains the style of the recent remakes, staying true to the originals. The result is a curious blend. The visuals are on par with contemporary games, and the narrative pushes boundaries beyond what 90s Nintendo would have attempted, even in Japan. However, the gameplay remains firmly rooted in the past, a key factor in determining enjoyment.
The game centers around a student found dead, a smiling face on a paper bag over his head. This triggers a re-examination of unsolved murders from eighteen years prior, all bearing a similar calling card. The urban legend of Emio, a killer promising eternal smiles, emerges. Is a past killer back? A copycat? Or is Emio even real? The police are baffled, so the Utsugi Detective Agency is called in! Through investigation and questioning, you'll uncover the truth.
Gameplay involves searching scenes for clues, interrogating suspects (often requiring repeated questioning), and connecting the dots to solve the mystery. It's reminiscent of the investigative sections in Ace Attorney. Depending on your preference for this style, you might find parts tedious. Certain logical leaps could have been better guided. However, by the standards of similar games, Emio isn't particularly flawed.
Despite some story criticisms, I found the game engaging, suspenseful, and well-written. While some plot points didn't resonate as strongly with me as others, I can't elaborate without spoilers. This is a mystery best experienced fresh. The positives outweighed the negatives, and when the plot accelerates, it really takes off.
Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club is atypical of Nintendo, but any potential developer rust is certainly not evident. The mechanics may adhere too closely to the originals, and while the plot is largely excellent, the pacing occasionally lags or resolutions feel less satisfying than hoped. Still, these are minor flaws in an otherwise enjoyable mystery adventure. Welcome back, Detective Club! Don't take so long next time.
SwitchArcade Score: 4/5
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate ($29.99)
The Switch is accumulating a solid collection of TMNT games. We have the Konami classics in the Cowabunga Collection, the excellent modern arcade beat 'em up Shredder's Revenge, the modern arcade experience Wrath of the Mutants, and now Splintered Fate, offering a more console-like experience. More are on the horizon. So, how does this one fare?
Quite well, actually. If you've played it on Apple Arcade, you know the drill. It blends a TMNT-style beat 'em up with Hades. You can play solo or with up to four players locally or online. Mikhail and I played online, and it worked smoothly. The solo experience is decent, but multiplayer significantly enhances it.
Shredder and a mysterious power cause chaos. Splinter is in danger, and the Turtles must save him. The gameplay involves battling enemies, using tactical dashes, selecting perks for your run, and collecting currency for permanent upgrades. Death means starting over. It's a roguelite beat 'em up with Turtles – automatically better than without them. It's not groundbreaking, but it's effective.
Splintered Fate isn't a must-have for everyone, but TMNT fans will likely appreciate this twist. The multiplayer is well-done, a crucial TMNT element not overlooked. Those without a fondness for the Turtles might find better roguelites on Switch, but given the platform's competitive roguelite scene, Splintered Fate holds its own. Not bad at all.
SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5
Nour: Play With Your Food ($9.99)
The initial absence of Switch and mobile releases for Nour: Play With Your Food surprised me. It seemed perfectly suited for touchscreens as an experimental food art experience. I played the PC version and enjoyed it, but it's not a traditional game for everyone. If you appreciate playful sandbox experiences and love food, you'll likely adore Nour, but the Switch version has shortcomings.
For newcomers, Nour lets you interact with food in various stages, accompanied by engaging music and playful elements. You start with basic tools, but the developers' additions allow for extensive food manipulation. This highlights why touchscreen control might not be ideal.
The lack of touchscreen support on Switch is disappointing. Performance compromises are also evident compared to other platforms, resulting in noticeable load times.
Nour: Play With Your Food is worth experiencing for food and art enthusiasts. While the Switch version isn't optimal, its portability is a plus, and 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 a month ago 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 content makes the price incredibly reasonable.
For those who played the original Japanese versions, Fate/stay night REMASTERED offers significant improvements. The addition of English is obvious, but the 16:9 support and visual enhancements are also welcome. The remaster's quality surpasses initial expectations. While not as visually stunning as Tsukihime's recent remake, it still looks great on modern displays.
The inclusion of touchscreen support on Switch is a fantastic addition. I played extensively on both Switch Lite and OLED, finding it perfectly suited to Nintendo's hybrid system. Hopefully, it will see releases on other platforms like iOS and PS5.
The game also performs flawlessly on Steam Deck. The choice of platform is largely a matter of preference. The only drawback is the lack of a physical Switch release. Hopefully, that will change.
Fate/stay night REMASTERED is a must-have for visual novel fans. Its English release on Switch and Steam is remarkable. The low price further strengthens the recommendation. While not as visually impressive as Tsukihime, it's still 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 stories and VR implementation were frequently praised. The Switch release of the TWIN PACK finally allowed me to experience them.
The TWIN PACK lets you choose between the two games. TOKYO CHRONOS follows high school friends in an alternate Shibuya, dealing with lost memories, killers, and more. While the narrative is somewhat predictable, the visuals are good. I'm curious to try the VR version after playing the Switch version.
ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos is superior, boasting better production values, music, writing, voice acting, and characters. It transcends the visual novel format in parts, making for a more memorable experience. It's the standout of the two, but the pack is worthwhile if you can tolerate the controls in the demo.
The Switch version has some camera movement performance issues, though not game-breaking. Touchscreen support and rumble are welcome additions.
TOKYO CHRONOS & ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos TWIN PACK is a great Switch experience thanks to touch controls and rumble. I'm glad I could finally play these stories without needing a VR headset. If you enjoy sci-fi, download the demo. -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. It's Fitness Boxing with Hatsune Miku, featuring 24 songs from Miku and others, plus 30 from the Fitness Boxing series. Mechanically, it's similar to other games in the series. Pick it up if you want a Fitness Boxing game with Hatsune Miku.
Gimmick! 2 ($24.99)
A faithful sequel to the original, with improved visuals and challenging gameplay. Recommended for fans of clever platformers.
Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost ($29.99)
Combines rhythm game and bullet hell elements. The Touhou theme unites them, and fans will likely appreciate it.
EGGCONSOLE Hydlide MSX ($6.49)
Another Hydlide version for completionists. Falls between the PC-8801 and NES versions.
Arcade Archives Lead Angle ($7.99)
A gallery shooter from 1988. A decent example of the genre.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
No Man’s Sky is a highlight. Other good games are frequently on sale.
Select New Sales
Sales Ending Tomorrow, September 6th
That's all for today. We'll be back tomorrow with more reviews, new releases, and sales. Check out my blog, Post Game Content, for more gaming thoughts. Have a great Thursday!
