Hello discerning readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Roundup for September 5th, 2024. Already Thursday, huh? Time flies! We're diving deep into reviews today. I've got two for you, covering 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 TOKYO CHRONOS & ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos TWIN PACK. We'll then highlight the day's noteworthy new releases and round things off with our usual sales lists. Ah, Thursday. I'll miss you when it's Friday. 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 – video games mirroring Hollywood. Nintendo's unexpected revival of Famicom Detective Club, primarily known in the West through a fleeting remake a few years ago, is a prime example. This new millennium marks the debut of a brand-new Famicom Detective Club adventure!

The challenge in reviving an old IP lies in balancing faithfulness to the original with modern sensibilities. Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club largely maintains the style of the recent remakes, staying true to the originals. It's a curious blend. The visuals are top-notch, and the story pushes boundaries beyond what 90s Nintendo would have dared, even in Japan. However, the gameplay feels distinctly old-school, significantly impacting enjoyment.

The narrative centers on a student found dead, a smiling face on a paper bag his only calling card. This triggers a re-examination of unsolved murders from eighteen years prior, raising numerous questions. The urban legend of Emio, a killer promising eternal smiles, looms large. Is a past killer back? A copycat? Or is Emio even real? The police are baffled, necessitating the intervention of the Utsugi Detective Agency! By investigating locations and questioning individuals (often repeatedly), you uncover the truth.

The gameplay involves searching for clues, interviewing characters, and connecting the dots. Similar to the investigative sections of Ace Attorney, but potentially tedious or frustrating depending on your preferences. Certain logical leaps could have been smoother, with clearer signposting. However, within the context of its genre, Emio isn't exceptionally flawed.

Despite some story criticisms, I found it engaging, suspenseful, and well-written. While some plot points may not resonate with everyone, I can't elaborate without spoilers. This is a mystery best experienced fresh. The positives outweighed the negatives, and the narrative really picks up steam at times.

Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club is atypical of Nintendo, but any potential team rust is imperceptible. While its mechanics adhere somewhat rigidly to the originals, and the plot has occasional pacing issues or less-than-satisfying resolutions, these are minor flaws in an otherwise enjoyable mystery adventure. Welcome back, Detective Club. Don't vanish for 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 modern arcade beat 'em up Shredder's Revenge, the arcade-style Wrath of the Mutants, and now Splintered Fate, offering a more console-like experience. Several more are on the horizon. It's a Turtle-tastic time! So, how does this one fare?

Quite well, actually. If you've played the Apple Arcade version, you know the drill. Imagine a TMNT beat 'em up blended with Hades. You can play solo or with up to four players locally or online. Mikhail and I played online, and it worked flawlessly. The solo experience is decent, but multiplayer significantly enhances it. That's TMNT in a nutshell.

Shredder and a mysterious power cause chaos. Splinter is in danger, and the Turtles must rescue him. Slice, dice, and bludgeon enemies, use tactical dashes, acquire temporary perks, and collect currency for permanent upgrades. Death means starting over. It's a roguelite beat 'em up, but with the Turtles, making it inherently better. It's not groundbreaking, but it's solid.

Splintered Fate isn't a must-have, but TMNT fans will likely appreciate this twist. The well-implemented multiplayer is a plus. Those without a fondness for the Turtles might find superior roguelites on Switch, but given the platform's competitive roguelite scene, Splintered Fate holds its own admirably. Not bad at all.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

Nour: Play With Your Food ($9.99)

The initial PC and PS5 release of Nour: Play With Your Food surprised me by omitting Switch and mobile. It seemed ideal 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 stages, accompanied by engaging music and playful absurdity. It blends an interactive app with food and art. You start with basic tools, but the expansive additions allow for genuine "playing with your food." This highlights why touchscreen control might be problematic.

The lack of touchscreen support on Switch is disappointing. Performance is also affected, with noticeable load times, 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, it performs well enough to warrant DLC or a physical release. Games like Nour and Townscaper offer a refreshing change of pace from more involved 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 to experience the series' origins as intended. The sheer volume of content makes the price incredibly reasonable.

For those familiar with the Japanese versions, Fate/stay night REMASTERED offers significant improvements. The addition of English is obvious, but 16:9 support and visual enhancements are welcome additions. The developers have done a commendable job in modernizing the visuals, though it doesn't reach the visual polish of Tsukihime's recent remake.

The inclusion of touchscreen support on Switch is a significant advantage. I played extensively on both Switch Lite and OLED, finding it perfectly suited to Nintendo's hybrid system. Wider platform availability (iOS, PS5) would be beneficial. It also runs flawlessly on Steam Deck.

The only significant drawback is the lack of a physical Switch release. Hopefully, its success will lead to one.

Fate/stay night REMASTERED is essential for visual novel fans. Its affordability further enhances its appeal. While not as visually stunning as Tsukihime's remake, Fate/stay night REMASTERED is 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. Both were praised for their VR presentation and narratives. The Switch version allows me to finally experience these stories.

The TOKYO CHRONOS & ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos TWIN PACK lets you choose which game to play. TOKYO CHRONOS follows high school friends in an alternate Shibuya, dealing with lost memories and killers. The narrative is somewhat predictable but features good visuals. I'm curious to compare the VR and Switch experiences.

ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos, however, is superior, boasting better production values, music, writing, voice acting, and characters. It transcends the visual novel format, enhancing the narrative impact. It's the standout of the two.

Despite some narrative shortcomings, the Switch version has camera movement issues, though not game-breaking. Touchscreen support and rumble 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 entries in the series. Pick it up if you're a fan of both.

Gimmick! 2 ($24.99)

A faithful sequel to the original, with improved presentation and challenging gameplay. Recommended for fans of clever platformers.

Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost ($29.99)

Combines rhythm game and bullet hell shooter elements. The Touhou theme unites the disparate gameplay styles.

EGGCONSOLE Hydlide MSX ($6.49)

Another Hydlide version for completionists. May not offer much beyond the PC-8801 release.

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 notable titles are frequently on sale.

Select New Sales

Sales Ending Tomorrow, September 6th

That's all for today. We'll return tomorrow with more reviews, new releases, and sales. Check out my blog, Post Game Content, for more gaming insights. Have a great Thursday!