Hello fellow gamers, 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, 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. After that, we'll cover the day's top 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)
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 brief remake, leads to a brand-new entry – a noteworthy event!
The challenge lies in balancing faithfulness to the original with modern appeal. Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club opts for a style similar to the recent remakes, resulting in a unique mix. The visuals are top-notch, and the narrative is bolder than its 90s counterpart. However, the gameplay retains an old-school feel, impacting overall enjoyment.
The game centers around a student's death, linked to unsolved murders from eighteen years prior. The infamous Emio, a killer promising eternal smiles, is implicated. The police are baffled, prompting the Utsugi Detective Agency's intervention. Through investigation and interrogation, you'll uncover the truth.
Gameplay involves searching for clues, questioning suspects (often requiring repeated questioning), and connecting evidence. Similar to Ace Attorney's investigation segments, this style may prove tedious for some. Certain logical connections could benefit from clearer guidance. While adhering to its genre conventions, Emio avoids major flaws.
Despite some story criticisms, Emio is captivating and well-written. While some plot points may not resonate universally, the overall experience is engaging. The game's momentum builds effectively.
Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club is a departure from typical Nintendo fare. Its mechanics closely mirror the originals, and while the plot is generally excellent, the pacing occasionally falters. However, these are minor flaws in an otherwise enjoyable mystery. Welcome back, Detective Club!
SwitchArcade Score: 4/5
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate ($29.99)
The Switch is gaining a solid collection of TMNT games. From the Cowabunga Collection to Shredder's Revenge and Wrath of the Mutants, now we have Splintered Fate, offering a different console experience.
This game blends beat 'em up gameplay with Hades-style roguelite elements. Play solo or with up to four players locally or online. Online multiplayer works well. While enjoyable solo, the experience improves with multiple players.
Shredder's mischief and a mysterious power endanger Splinter, prompting the Turtles to act. Fight enemies, utilize tactical dashes, collect perks, and earn currency for permanent upgrades. Death sends you back to the lair. It's a familiar formula, but the TMNT theme elevates it. It's not groundbreaking, but it's solid.
Splintered Fate isn't a must-have, but TMNT fans will appreciate this unique take. The well-implemented multiplayer is a plus. While not the most innovative roguelite, it holds its own in a crowded genre.
SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5
Nour: Play With Your Food ($9.99)
Nour: Play With Your Food's absence from Switch and mobile upon its initial PC and PS5 release was surprising. Its playful food art experience seemed ideal for touchscreens. While enjoyable on PC, the Switch version has shortcomings.
Nour offers a sandbox-style experience for food lovers and art enthusiasts. You interact with food items across various stages, accompanied by engaging music. Starting with basic tools, the game gradually expands, allowing for extensive food manipulation. However, the lack of touchscreen support on Switch is disappointing. Performance compromises are also noticeable compared to other platforms, particularly long loading times.
Despite the Switch limitations, Nour is worth exploring for those who appreciate food, art, and interactive apps. While not optimal on Switch, its portable nature remains appealing. Hopefully, it will receive further DLC or a physical release.
-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 an excellent entry point into the Fate universe. The extensive content (55+ hours) makes the price incredibly reasonable.
The remaster boasts English language support, 16:9 aspect ratio support, and improved visuals for modern displays. Touchscreen support on Switch is a welcome addition, enhancing the experience. It performs well on both Switch and Steam Deck.
While not as visually stunning as Tsukihime's remake, Fate/stay night REMASTERED is a significant improvement over previous versions. Its accessibility and extensive content make it a must-have for visual novel fans. The lack of a physical Switch release is the only real drawback.
-Mikhail Madnani
SwitchArcade Score: 5/5
TOKYO CHRONOS & ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos TWIN PACK ($49.99)
This twin pack offers two VR titles now available on Switch. TOKYO CHRONOS follows high school friends in an alternate Shibuya, dealing with lost memories and murder. While the narrative is somewhat predictable, the visuals are good, and the VR version is worth exploring.
ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos surpasses TOKYO CHRONOS in terms of production value, story, and characters. It expands beyond a traditional visual novel format. The Switch version features touchscreen support and rumble, enhancing immersion. However, camera movement issues exist.
Despite minor narrative flaws and performance quirks, TOKYO CHRONOS & ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos TWIN PACK is a solid Switch experience. The added features improve immersion. The demo is recommended to assess the Switch version's suitability.
-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 Miku songs and 30 additional tracks from the series. Mechanically, it's similar to other Fitness Boxing games.
Gimmick! 2 ($24.99)
A faithful sequel to the original, offering improved 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 version for fans of the series.
Arcade Archives Lead Angle ($7.99)
A gallery shooter from 1988.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
Notable sales include No Man’s Sky. Other games are frequently discounted.
Select New Sales and Sales Ending Tomorrow, September 6th (Images included as in original text)
That's it for today! We'll be back tomorrow with more reviews, new releases, and sales. Thanks for reading!
