Hello discerning readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for September 5th, 2024. It's Thursday already, isn't it? Time flies, doesn't it? We're diving headfirst into reviews today. I have two for you, covering 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. We'll then explore the day's notable new releases and conclude with our usual sales lists. Ah, Thursday. I'll miss you when Friday arrives. Let's get started!
Reviews & Mini-Views
Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club ($49.99)
Resurrecting dormant franchises seems to be the latest trend, mirroring Hollywood's practices. Nintendo's unexpected revival of Famicom Detective Club, primarily known in the West through a fleeting remake, is a prime example. This marks the first new Famicom Detective Club adventure of the millennium – quite exciting!
The challenge of reviving an old IP lies in balancing faithfulness to the original with modern updates. Too faithful, and the game feels dated; too much change, and fans might be alienated. Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club largely maintains the style of the recent remakes, staying true to the originals. It's a curious mix. The visuals are on par with contemporary games, and the story pushes boundaries beyond what 90s Nintendo would have attempted. However, the gameplay remains old-school, significantly impacting enjoyment.
The narrative centers on a student found dead, a smiling face on a paper bag over his head. This triggers a re-investigation of eighteen-year-old unsolved murders with similar calling cards. The urban legend of Emio, a killer promising eternal smiles, is introduced. Is it a copycat killer, or has Emio returned? The police are baffled, so the Utsugi Detective Agency is called in! Through investigation and questioning, you'll uncover the truth.
Gameplay involves searching for clues, interrogating individuals (often requiring repeated questioning), and connecting the dots. It's reminiscent of the investigation sections in Ace Attorney. Depending on your preference for this style, you might find it tedious or frustrating. Certain aspects could have been streamlined, and clearer guidance would have been beneficial. However, by the standards of similar games, Emio isn't exceptionally flawed.
I'll keep my remaining criticisms brief. While I have some reservations about the narrative, I enjoyed it overall. The story is engaging, full of twists, and well-written. Certain plot points may not resonate with everyone, but discussing them would spoil the experience. This is a mystery best experienced fresh. The positive aspects outweighed the negatives, and the game truly shines at its peak.
Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club is atypical of Nintendo's output, but any potential team rust is imperceptible. The adherence to original mechanics might be excessive, and while the plot is largely excellent, the pacing occasionally falters. Despite minor flaws, it's a thoroughly enjoyable mystery adventure. Welcome back, Detective Club! Don't stay away so long next time.
SwitchArcade Score: 4/5
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate ($29.99)
The Switch is accumulating a respectable collection of TMNT games. We have the Konami classics in the Cowabunga Collection, the modern arcade beat 'em up Shredder's Revenge, Wrath of the Mutants, and now Splintered Fate, offering a more console-like experience. Several more are on the horizon. So, how does this one fare?
Quite well, actually. If you've played the Apple Arcade version, you'll be familiar. Imagine a TMNT beat 'em up blended with Hades. That's the essence. Play solo or with up to four players locally or online. Mikhail and I tested online multiplayer, and it worked flawlessly. The solo experience is adequate, but multiplayer enhances it considerably. That's the TMNT magic.
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, acquiring perks, and collecting currency for permanent upgrades. Death means restarting. It's a roguelite beat 'em up, but with the Turtles, making it inherently better. 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 welcome addition, especially considering the genre's usual solo focus. Those unfamiliar with the Turtles might find better roguelites on Switch, but Splintered Fate holds its own in a highly competitive market. Not bad at all.
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 perfect for touchscreens as an experimental food art experience. I enjoyed the PC version, 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 various food types across different stages, featuring engaging music and playful elements. Initially, you have basic tools, but the expansive content allows for creative food play. This highlights why touchscreen control might not be ideal.
The lack of touchscreen support on Switch is disappointing. Performance compromises are also noticeable, resulting from optimization for the Switch's hardware. Load times are excessively long, both docked and handheld.
Nour: Play With Your Food is worth experiencing if you appreciate food, art, and interactive apps. While the Switch version isn't optimal, 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 alternative 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 long-awaited title. Before reviewing the game, let me share some background. Years ago, I watched Fate/Zero, leading me to seek more from the universe. The lack of readily available English versions prompted me to import Fate/stay night Realta Nua for the PS Vita. Since then, I've played various Fate games and watched related anime.
This led to my excitement over Aniplex's localization of Witch on the Holy Night and Tsukihime's remake. However, Fate/stay night was the one I truly hoped for. Now it's here, in English, on Switch. Is it worth it? Absolutely.
Fate/stay night REMASTERED is a remaster of the 2004 visual novel, following Emiya Shirou and the Holy Grail War. It's the ideal entry point into the Fate universe, perfect for those familiar only with the anime and other games. Even with quality-of-life improvements, it's a 55+ hour experience, making the price incredibly reasonable. The remastering effort is substantial, enhancing the experience for those familiar with the original Japanese versions. The 16:9 support and visual enhancements are welcome additions.
The inclusion of touchscreen support on Switch is a significant improvement. I played extensively on Switch Lite and OLED, finding it perfectly suited to the system. Hopefully, it will see releases on other platforms like iOS and PS5. It also works flawlessly on Steam Deck.
The only drawback is the lack of a physical Switch release. Hopefully, its success will warrant one.
Fate/stay night REMASTERED is a must-have for visual novel fans. Its English availability on Switch and Steam is remarkable. The low price makes it an even easier recommendation. While not as visually stunning as Tsukihime's remake, it's a worthwhile experience. I'm thrilled to finally play it in English after years of owning the Japanese PS Vita version. -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. Friends praised their stories and immersive VR experience. 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, involving lost memories, killers, and more. The narrative is predictable at times, but the visuals are good. I'm curious to try the VR version after playing the Switch version.
ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos surpasses TOKYO CHRONOS in terms of production, music, writing, voice acting, and characters. It expands beyond a pure visual novel, enhancing the experience. It's the standout of the two.
Despite minor narrative shortcomings, the Switch version has camera movement issues. These are distracting but not game-breaking. Touchscreen support and rumble functionality are welcome additions.
TOKYO CHRONOS & ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos TWIN PACK offers a great Switch experience with touch controls and rumble. I'm glad to have experienced these stories without needing a VR headset. If you enjoy sci-fi, try 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 featuring Hatsune Miku, with 24 Miku songs and 30 more from the Fitness Boxing series. Mechanically, it's similar to other games in the series. If you want Fitness Boxing with Hatsune Miku, this is it.
Gimmick! 2 ($24.99)
A faithful sequel to the original, with enhanced presentation and challenging gameplay. If you enjoy clever platformers, this is worth checking out.
Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost ($29.99)
Combines rhythm game and bullet hell shooter elements. The Touhou theme unites them. Fans of the series will likely appreciate it.
EGGCONSOLE Hydlide MSX ($6.49)
Another Hydlide version for EGGCONSOLE, falling between the PC-8801 and NES versions. Hydlide fans will want it, but others might find it redundant.
Arcade Archives Lead Angle ($7.99)
A 1988 gallery shooter. A decent example of the genre, appealing to fans of this style of game.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
No Man’s Sky is a highlight. Other noteworthy 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. I also have a blog, Post Game Content, which will be updated soon. Have a great Thursday, and thanks for reading!
