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Hello discerning readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up 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 highlight the day's noteworthy new releases, followed by a roundup of new and expiring sales. Ah, Thursday. Until Friday, let's proceed!

Reviews & Mini-Views

Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club ($49.99)

Sequels to long-dormant franchises are trending, mirroring Hollywood's habits. 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 – a noteworthy event.

The challenge of reviving an old IP lies in balancing faithfulness to the original with modern updates. Emio – The Smiling Man maintains the style of recent remakes, closely adhering to the originals. The result is a curious blend. The visuals are top-notch, and the narrative is more ambitious than its 90s counterpart. However, the gameplay retains an old-school feel, significantly impacting the overall experience.

The game centers on a student found dead, a smiling face on a paper bag mirroring unsolved murders from 18 years prior. This introduces the Emio urban legend, a killer promising eternal smiles. Is it a copycat, a resurfaced killer, or pure myth? The police are baffled, prompting the Utsugi Detective Agency's intervention. Through investigation and questioning, you unravel the truth.

Gameplay involves searching for clues, interrogating suspects (often requiring repeated questioning), and connecting evidence. Similar to Ace Attorney's investigation segments, this approach may prove tedious for some. Certain logical leaps could benefit from clearer guidance. While adhering to the genre's conventions, Emio doesn't excel in this area.

Despite some narrative criticisms, Emio is largely engaging, twisting, and well-written. While certain plot points may not resonate with all players (details withheld to avoid spoilers), the overall narrative is compelling. The game's pacing is uneven, but when it picks up, it truly captivates.

Emio – The Smiling Man is atypical of Nintendo, but showcases polished execution. Its adherence to the original's mechanics is a double-edged sword, and while the plot is excellent, the pacing occasionally falters. However, these minor flaws don't detract from an 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 titles. From the Cowabunga Collection to Shredder's Revenge and Wrath of the Mutants, there's a TMNT game for every preference. Splintered Fate offers a console-style experience, blending beat 'em up action with Hades-like roguelite elements.

The game's premise involves Shredder's machinations and a mysterious power, endangering Splinter. The Turtles must save him, battling Foot Soldiers along the way. Gameplay involves combat, tactical dashing, perk acquisition, and permanent upgrades. Death sends you back to the lair for another attempt. It's a familiar roguelite formula, enhanced by the TMNT theme. While not groundbreaking, it's well-executed.

Splintered Fate isn't a must-have, but TMNT fans will likely appreciate this unique take on the franchise. The well-implemented multiplayer enhances the experience, a commendable aspect often absent in solo-focused roguelites. While superior roguelites exist on Switch, 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 initial PC and PS5 release surprisingly omitted Switch and mobile platforms. Its sandbox-style gameplay, focused on food art, seemed ideally suited for touchscreens. While enjoyable on PC, its Switch version falls short.

Nour offers playful experimentation with various food types across different stages, accompanied by engaging music. It blends interactive app elements with food and art themes. While starting with basic tools, the game's depth expands as you progress. However, the lack of touchscreen support on Switch is disappointing. Performance is also compromised, with noticeable load times.

Despite the Switch version's shortcomings, Nour remains a worthwhile experience for those who appreciate food, art, and interactive apps. While not optimal on Switch, its portability remains a plus. Hopefully, future DLC or a physical release will address the current limitations. 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 on Switch and Steam, is a remaster of the 2004 visual novel. This serves as an excellent entry point into the Fate universe, offering a comprehensive experience for those unfamiliar with the series beyond anime and other games. Its length (55+ hours) and low price make it a remarkable value.

The remaster enhances the original with English language support, 16:9 aspect ratio, and improved visuals for modern displays. While not reaching the visual fidelity of Tsukihime's remake, the effort is evident. Touchscreen support on Switch is a welcome addition, enhancing the gameplay experience.

For those familiar with the Japanese versions, the remaster offers significant improvements. It performs flawlessly on Switch and Steam Deck, making it highly accessible. The lack of a physical Switch release is the only notable drawback. Hopefully, its success will warrant a physical release.

Fate/stay night REMASTERED is essential for visual novel fans, offering a compelling narrative and excellent value. Its availability in English on multiple platforms is a significant achievement. 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, TOKYO CHRONOS and ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos, now adapted for Switch. While previously exclusive to VR, the Switch versions provide an accessible alternative.

TOKYO CHRONOS follows high school friends in an alternate Shibuya, dealing with memory loss, murder, and more. The narrative, while predictable at times, is engaging. The Switch version offers good visuals, making one curious about the VR experience.

ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos surpasses its counterpart in terms of production value, music, writing, voice acting, and characters. It transcends the visual novel format, enhancing the overall experience. However, the Switch version suffers from camera movement issues, occasionally distracting the player. Touchscreen support and rumble features compensate for these limitations.

TOKYO CHRONOS & ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos TWIN PACK offers a satisfying experience on Switch, enhanced by touchscreen controls and rumble. The demo is recommended to assess compatibility. Sci-fi fans should consider this twin pack. -Mikhail Madnani

SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5

Select New Releases

Fitness Boxing feat. Hatsune Miku ($49.99)

This title clearly describes its content: Fitness Boxing featuring Hatsune Miku. It includes 24 songs from Miku and friends, plus 30 from the Fitness Boxing series. Mechanically, it's consistent with previous entries in the series. A worthwhile purchase for fans of both Fitness Boxing and Hatsune Miku.

Gimmick! 2 ($24.99)

A faithful sequel to the original, Gimmick! 2 builds upon its predecessor with improved visuals and challenging gameplay. Fans of clever platformers will appreciate its difficulty and design.

Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost ($29.99)

This game combines rhythm and bullet hell elements, potentially appealing to fans of both genres. The Touhou theme provides a cohesive experience.

EGGCONSOLE Hydlide MSX ($6.49)

Another Hydlide installment in the EGGCONSOLE series, this MSX version falls between previous releases. A must-have for dedicated Hydlide fans.

Arcade Archives Lead Angle ($7.99)

A gallery shooter from 1988, Lead Angle offers a decent example of the genre. Fans of classic shooters may find it enjoyable.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

While the sales are unremarkable, No Man's Sky is always a tempting option. Many other titles are frequently discounted, offering various choices.

Select New Sales

Sales Ending Tomorrow, September 6th

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