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. After that, we'll cover the day's hottest new releases and round things off with the usual sales lists. Let's get to it!
Reviews & Mini-Views
Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club ($49.99)
Resurrecting dormant franchises is all the rage, and Nintendo's unexpected revival of Famicom Detective Club is a prime example. Following the recent remakes, this new adventure marks the series' first entry in the 21st century. The challenge lies in balancing faithfulness to the original with modern sensibilities. Emio – The Smiling Man largely retains the style of the remakes, creating a unique blend. While the visuals are top-notch, the gameplay maintains an old-school feel, impacting overall enjoyment.
A student's death, mirroring unsolved murders from 18 years prior, ignites the investigation. The legend of Emio, a killer promising eternal smiles, adds intrigue. Was Emio responsible? A copycat? Or just a legend? The Utsugi Detective Agency is called in to unravel the truth. Players explore scenes, question suspects (often repeatedly), and connect clues—similar to the investigation sections in Ace Attorney. While engaging, the gameplay's pacing and signposting could be improved.
Despite some minor story criticisms, the narrative is compelling, twisting, and well-crafted. While some plot points may not resonate with all players, the experience is best enjoyed fresh. The story's momentum builds impressively.
Emio – The Smiling Man is atypical for Nintendo, but showcases the team's skill. While the mechanics closely adhere to the originals, and the plot has occasional slow moments, it remains an enjoyable mystery. Welcome back, Detective Club—let's hope the next installment doesn't take so long!
SwitchArcade Score: 4/5
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate ($29.99)
The Switch is becoming a haven for TMNT games. From classics to modern arcade-style beat 'em ups, and now Splintered Fate, a unique blend of beat 'em up and roguelite elements, similar to Hades. Playable solo or with up to four players (locally or online), the multiplayer significantly enhances the experience.
Shredder's machinations and a mysterious force put Splinter in peril, sending the Turtles on a rescue mission. Players slice, dice, and bludgeon enemies, utilizing tactical dashes and collecting perks and upgrades. Death means starting over, but permanent upgrades improve subsequent runs. It’s a familiar formula, but the TMNT theme elevates it.
While not a must-have for everyone, TMNT fans will appreciate this twist. The well-implemented multiplayer is a highlight. Those seeking the best roguelites might find better alternatives, but Splintered Fate holds its own in a competitive genre.
SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5
Nour: Play With Your Food ($9.99)
Nour: Play With Your Food is a unique, experimental food art experience. It's a playful sandbox perfect for those who appreciate food and art. While enjoyable on PC, the Switch version has shortcomings. The core gameplay involves interacting with various food types across different stages, featuring interesting music and over-the-top elements.
The progression system unlocks new food items and tools, adding depth to the experience. However, the lack of touchscreen support on Switch is disappointing, and load times are lengthy.
Despite these issues, Nour remains a worthwhile experience for fans of food, art, and interactive apps. The portability aspect is appealing, and hopefully, future DLC or a physical release will follow.
-Mikhail Madnani
SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5
Fate/stay night REMASTERED ($29.99)
Fate/stay night REMASTERED is a long-awaited remaster of the 2004 visual novel, offering the best English-language entry point into the Fate universe. This comprehensive remaster adds English localization, 16:9 support, and significant visual enhancements. The sheer volume of content justifies the low price point, making it a remarkable value.
The remaster enhances the experience for those familiar with the original Japanese versions. While not as visually stunning as Tsukihime's remake, it presents Fate/stay night beautifully on modern displays. The addition of touchscreen support on Switch is a welcome feature, making it perfect for handheld play. The game also runs flawlessly on Steam Deck.
The lack of a physical Switch release is the only notable drawback. This remaster is essential for visual novel fans, offering a compelling narrative and exceptional value.
-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, featuring a predictable but enjoyable narrative. ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos, however, stands out with superior production values, writing, and characters. It also transcends the visual novel format.
While the stories may not resonate deeply with everyone, the Switch version includes touchscreen support and rumble, enhancing immersion. However, some camera movement issues impact performance.
Despite minor flaws, the twin pack is a worthwhile purchase, particularly for sci-fi fans. The demo is recommended to assess the Switch version's controls and gameplay.
-Mikhail Madnani
SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5
Select New Releases
Fitness Boxing feat. Hatsune Miku ($49.99)
A Fitness Boxing title featuring Hatsune Miku and friends, offering 24 Miku songs and 30 additional tracks from the 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)
A combination rhythm game and bullet hell shooter, appealing to fans of the Touhou series.
EGGCONSOLE Hydlide MSX ($6.49)
Another Hydlide release for EGGCONSOLE, falling between previous versions.
Arcade Archives Lead Angle ($7.99)
A gallery shooter from 1988, a decent example of the genre.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
Notable sales include No Man's Sky, frequently discounted titles, and a range of other games.
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. Check out Post Game Content for additional gaming insights! Have a great Thursday!
