Hello fellow gamers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Roundup for September 5th, 2024. Already Thursday? Time flies! We're diving straight into reviews today, with in-depth looks at Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate. Mikhail also shares his thoughts on Nour: Play With Your Food, Fate/stay night REMASTERED, and the TOKYO CHRONOS & ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos TWIN PACK. We'll then cover the day's hottest 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 unknown in the West until the recent Switch remakes, is a prime example. This new entry 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 opts for a stylistic approach similar to the recent remakes, resulting in a curious blend. The visuals are top-notch, and the narrative pushes boundaries beyond what 90s Nintendo would have dared, yet the gameplay retains a distinctly old-school feel. This retro gameplay is key to enjoying the game.
The game centers on a student's death, a case that unearths a series of unsolved murders linked by a peculiar calling card – a smiling face. This leads to investigations into the Emio urban legend, a killer promising eternal smiles. The police are baffled, so it's up to the Utsugi Detective Agency to uncover the truth!
Gameplay involves exploring scenes for clues, interrogating suspects (often requiring repeated questioning), and piecing together the solution. It's reminiscent of the investigative sections in Ace Attorney. While engaging and twisty, some aspects could have been streamlined, and the logic chains occasionally lack clear guidance. However, by the standards of the genre, Emio isn't overly problematic.
While I have some minor story critiques, overall, Emio is an engaging and well-written mystery. Certain plot points may not resonate with everyone, but discussing them would spoil the experience. The game's pacing falters at times, and some resolutions feel less satisfying than hoped, but these are minor flaws in an otherwise enjoyable adventure. Welcome back, Detective Club!
SwitchArcade Score: 4/5
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate ($29.99)
The Switch is getting a fantastic collection of TMNT games lately. We have the Konami classics in the Cowabunga Collection, the modern arcade masterpiece Shredder's Revenge, Wrath of the Mutants, and now Splintered Fate, offering a different console-style experience. So, how does this one fare?
Quite well, actually. If you've played the Apple Arcade version, you'll be familiar. Essentially, it's a TMNT beat 'em up blended with Hades. Play solo or with up to four players locally or online. The online multiplayer worked flawlessly in our testing. While enjoyable solo, the experience is significantly enhanced with friends. It’s classic TMNT fun.
The story involves Shredder, a mysterious power, and a troubled Splinter. The Turtles must save their sensei. Expect plenty of slicing, dicing, and bludgeoning of Foot Soldiers. Utilize tactical dashes, collect power-ups, and earn permanent upgrades. Death means starting over, classic roguelite style. It's not groundbreaking, but it's well-executed and enhanced by the TMNT theme.
Splintered Fate isn't a must-have for everyone, but TMNT fans will appreciate this unique take. The well-implemented multiplayer is a welcome addition to a genre usually played solo. Those less familiar with the Turtles might find better roguelite options on Switch, but Splintered Fate holds its own in a competitive market.
SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5
Nour: Play With Your Food ($9.99)
Nour: Play With Your Food's absence from Switch and mobile at launch was surprising, given its suitability for touchscreens. While enjoyable on PC, it's not a traditional game. If you appreciate playful sandbox experiences and love food, Nour will likely appeal, but the Switch version has shortcomings.
Nour is an interactive food art experience, combining playful sandbox elements with food and art. You start with basic tools and gradually unlock more options, allowing for creative food play. However, the lack of touchscreen support on Switch is disappointing, and performance is impacted by load times.
Despite these issues, Nour is worth considering if you enjoy food, art, and interactive apps. While the Switch port isn't ideal, its portability is a plus. Hopefully, it will perform well enough to warrant DLC or a physical release. Games like Nour 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 a fantastic entry point into the Fate universe, perfect for those familiar only with the anime or other games. The low price point is astonishing, considering the sheer volume of content.
The remaster significantly improves the experience, adding English language support and 16:9 widescreen. The visuals are enhanced for modern displays, though not as polished as Tsukihime's recent remake. Touchscreen support on Switch is a welcome addition. The game runs smoothly on Switch and Steam Deck.
For those who played the original Japanese versions, the improvements are substantial. The game is a 55+ hour experience, offering exceptional value. The addition of touchscreen support makes it ideal for Switch. Hopefully, it will see releases on more platforms. -Mikhail Madnani
The only drawback is the lack of a physical Switch release. Fate/stay night REMASTERED is essential for visual novel fans, offering incredible value and a compelling story. -Mikhail Madnani
SwitchArcade Score: 5/5
TOKYO CHRONOS & ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos TWIN PACK ($49.99)
This twin pack brings two VR titles to Switch. TOKYO CHRONOS follows high school friends in an alternate Shibuya, dealing with memory loss and murder. The narrative is somewhat predictable but features good visuals. ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos, however, is superior, boasting better production values, writing, voice acting, and characters. It also expands beyond the visual novel format.
While both games are enjoyable, the Switch version suffers from some camera movement performance issues. However, touchscreen support and rumble compensation for the lack of VR.
Despite minor narrative shortcomings and performance hiccups, the twin pack is worthwhile, especially with the added touchscreen controls and rumble. The demo is recommended to assess the Switch experience. -Mikhail Madnani
SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5
Select New Releases
Fitness Boxing feat. Hatsune Miku ($49.99)
A Fitness Boxing game featuring Hatsune Miku. Includes 24 Miku songs and 30 tracks from the Fitness Boxing series. Mechanically similar to other entries in the series.
Gimmick! 2 ($24.99)
A faithful sequel to the original, featuring enhanced visuals and challenging platforming.
Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost ($29.99)
Combines rhythm game and bullet hell shooter elements.
EGGCONSOLE Hydlide MSX ($6.49)
Another Hydlide release in the EGGCONSOLE series.
Arcade Archives Lead Angle ($7.99)
A gallery shooter from 1988.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
Select New Sales
No Man’s Sky ($23.99 from $59.99 until 9/17) The Last Campfire ($1.99 from $14.99 until 9/17) XALADIA: Rise of the Space Pirates X2 ($8.09 from $17.99 until 9/18) Scars of Mars ($15.99 from $19.99 until 9/18) Die for Valhalla ($3.59 from $11.99 until 9/25) Moonlighter ($3.74 from $24.99 until 9/25) Thea: The Awakening ($5.39 from $17.99 until 9/25) Children of Morta ($5.49 from $21.99 until 9/25) Dungeon of the Endless ($3.99 from $19.99 until 9/25) Yes, Your Grace ($2.99 from $19.99 until 9/25) Hypnospace Outlaw ($4.99 from $19.99 until 9/25) Nowhere Prophet ($2.49 from $24.99 until 9/25) Soccer Story ($7.99 from $19.99 until 9/25) Family Man ($1.99 from $19.99 until 9/25) South of the Circle ($6.49 from $12.99 until 9/25) Wingspan ($9.99 from $19.99 until 9/25)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, September 6th
Ambition: A Minuet in Power ($4.99 from $9.99 until 9/6) Dance of Death: Du Lac & Fey ($2.39 from $15.99 until 9/6) Fear Effect Sedna ($1.99 from $19.99 until 9/6) Galak-Z The Void Deluxe ($2.99 from $14.99 until 9/6) Kingdom Rush ($5.49 from $9.99 until 9/6) Kingdom Rush Frontiers ($5.49 from $9.99 until 9/6) Kingdom Rush Origins ($8.24 from $14.99 until 9/6) My Time at Portia ($4.49 from $29.99 until 9/6) PowerWash Simulator ($17.49 from $24.99 until 9/6) Skulls of the Shogun ($3.99 from $19.99 until 9/6) Suhoshin ($4.49 from $14.99 until 9/6) The House of Da Vinci 2 ($4.99 from $9.99 until 9/6) Ty the Tasmanian Tiger 4 ($9.99 from $19.99 until 9/6) Ty the Tasmanian Tiger HD ($10.49 from $29.99 until 9/6) Violet Wisteria ($7.49 from $14.99 until 9/6) What the Fork ($4.49 from $17.99 until 9/6)
That’s it for today! Join us tomorrow for more reviews, new releases, and sales. Thanks for reading!
