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. 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. Following that, we'll highlight the day's noteworthy new releases and round up the latest sales, both new and expiring. 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 surprise revival of Famicom Detective Club, a series largely unfamiliar to Western audiences outside of the recent Switch remake, is a prime example. This new entry, the first in decades, offers a fascinating challenge: how to modernize a classic without alienating fans.
Emio – The Smiling Man largely retains the style of 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. However, the gameplay feels distinctly old-school, a key factor determining enjoyment.
The game centers on a student's death, a case echoing unsolved murders from 18 years prior. The investigation delves into the urban legend of Emio, a killer promising eternal smiles. Is it a copycat, a resurfaced killer, or pure myth? The police are baffled, necessitating the intervention of the Utsugi Detective Agency.
Gameplay involves classic point-and-click investigation: searching for clues, interrogating suspects (often requiring repeated questioning), and piecing together the truth. While reminiscent of Ace Attorney's investigation segments, some aspects feel less streamlined than ideal. Specific logical connections could benefit from clearer guidance. However, this is a fairly standard approach for this genre.
Despite some minor story criticisms, the overall experience is engaging, suspenseful, and well-written. Certain plot points may resonate differently with individual players, but discussing them would spoil the surprise. The game's pacing occasionally falters, and certain resolutions felt less satisfying than hoped. Nevertheless, these are minor flaws in an otherwise 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 games. From the Cowabunga Collection to Shredder's Revenge and Wrath of the Mutants, there's a TMNT title for every taste. Splintered Fate adds a home console-style roguelite beat 'em up to the mix.
This title blends the familiar beat 'em up action with the roguelite structure of Hades. Playable solo or with up to four players (locally or online), the multiplayer shines, enhancing the experience significantly. While solo play is functional, adding friends elevates the fun.
The story involves Shredder and a mysterious power, leaving Splinter in peril. The Turtles must save him, battling Foot Soldiers and utilizing strategic dashes, power-ups, and permanent upgrades. Death sends you back to the lair to try again. It's a familiar formula, but the TMNT branding adds significant appeal.
While not a must-have for everyone, TMNT fans will appreciate this unique take. The well-implemented multiplayer is a standout feature. While other roguelite titles on Switch may offer more innovative gameplay, Splintered Fate holds its own in a competitive market.
SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5
Nour: Play With Your Food ($9.99)
Initially released on PC and PS5, Nour: Play With Your Food is a playful sandbox experience perfect for food and art enthusiasts. While enjoyable on PC, the Switch version falls short.
The game allows players to interact with various food items across different stages, featuring engaging music and whimsical elements. While initially limited, the game's depth unfolds as more options become available. However, this depth doesn't translate well to touchscreen controls, a significant drawback on Switch.
The lack of touchscreen support is disappointing. Performance is also compromised, with noticeable load times, both docked and handheld.
Despite these issues, Nour remains a worthwhile experience for those who appreciate food-based art and interactive apps. While the Switch version isn't ideal, its portability is a plus. Hopefully, future DLC or a physical release will address these shortcomings. Nour offers a unique contrast to more involved games. -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 arguably the best entry point into the Fate universe, offering a comprehensive experience for those unfamiliar with the series.
The remaster significantly enhances the original, adding English language support, 16:9 support, and improved visuals for modern displays. The sheer volume of content justifies the price, making it a great value.
The inclusion of touchscreen support on Switch is a welcome addition, making it perfectly suited for Nintendo's hybrid system. The game also runs flawlessly on Steam Deck.
While not as visually stunning as Tsukihime's recent remake, Fate/stay night REMASTERED is a must-have for visual novel fans. The low price and availability on multiple platforms make it highly recommended. -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, murder, and more. While the narrative is somewhat predictable, the visuals are strong, and the VR experience is intriguing.
ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos surpasses TOKYO CHRONOS in terms of production values, writing, voice acting, and character development. It also expands beyond the visual novel format, making it more memorable.
The Switch version has some minor performance issues with camera movement, but touchscreen support and rumble functionality enhance immersion.
The twin pack is a worthwhile purchase for sci-fi fans, especially considering the demo's availability. -Mikhail Madnani
SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5
Select New Releases
(Brief descriptions of new releases with images)
Sales
(Lists of new and expiring sales with images)
That's all for today! Join us tomorrow for more reviews, new releases, and sales. Thanks for reading!
