Hello, gamers! Welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for September 5th, 2024. It's Thursday already – where does the time go? 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. Following the reviews, we'll highlight the day's top new releases and round things off with a look at new and expiring sales. Let's get to it!

Reviews & Mini-Views

Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club ($49.99)

Resurrecting dormant franchises is the latest trend, and Nintendo's revival of Famicom Detective Club is a prime example. This new installment follows the style of recent remakes, offering a compelling blend of old and new. The visuals are top-notch, and the story pushes boundaries beyond what we saw in 90s Nintendo titles. However, the gameplay retains a classic feel, which may be a deciding factor for some players.

A student's death, marked by a smiling face on a paper bag, unearths a series of unsolved murders from eighteen years prior. The legend of Emio, a killer promising eternal smiles, is brought to the forefront. Is it a copycat, a resurrected killer, or just an urban myth? The police are baffled, leaving it to the Utsugi Detective Agency to uncover the truth.

Gameplay involves classic detective work: searching for clues, interrogating suspects (often requiring multiple attempts to get the information you need), and piecing together the connections to solve the case. While reminiscent of Ace Attorney investigations, some aspects might feel cumbersome or slow-paced. The game could benefit from clearer signposting in certain logical sequences.

Despite some minor criticisms of the plot's pacing and resolution of certain elements, the overall story is engaging, suspenseful, and well-written. The experience is best enjoyed without spoilers. The game shines when it truly picks up the pace.

Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club is a unique offering from Nintendo. While the mechanics stick closely to the originals, which might not appeal to everyone, the plot largely succeeds in delivering a satisfying mystery adventure. Welcome back, Detective Club!

SwitchArcade Score: 4/5

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate ($29.99)

The Switch is getting a fantastic selection of TMNT games lately. Splintered Fate offers a different take, blending beat 'em up action with roguelite elements reminiscent of Hades. Play solo or with up to four players locally or online (online multiplayer works well).

Shredder's schemes and a mysterious power put Splinter in danger, and the Turtles must act. Combat involves slicing, dicing, and bludgeoning enemies, strategic dashing to avoid attacks, collecting power-ups, and earning currency for permanent upgrades. Death means starting over.

While not groundbreaking, Splintered Fate successfully delivers a fun TMNT experience. The well-implemented multiplayer enhances the gameplay. It might not be the top roguelite on Switch, but it's a solid entry for fans of the franchise.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

Nour: Play With Your Food ($9.99)

Nour: Play With Your Food is a unique experience blending sandbox gameplay and food art. It's a playful and creative title that's perfect for those who enjoy interactive experiences and love food. While enjoyable on PC, the Switch version suffers from some drawbacks.

The lack of touchscreen support on Switch is disappointing, and the load times are lengthy, both docked and handheld. Despite these issues, Nour remains a worthwhile experience for those who appreciate its unique style and creative premise.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5 -Mikhail Madnani

Fate/stay night REMASTERED ($29.99)

Fate/stay night REMASTERED is a fantastic remaster of the 2004 visual novel. This is a great entry point into the Fate universe, offering a comprehensive story that many have only experienced through anime or other games.

The remaster includes English language support, 16:9 widescreen support, and other quality-of-life improvements. The visuals are enhanced for modern displays, although not to the level of Tsukihime's recent remake. The addition of touchscreen support on Switch is a welcome feature.

The game runs well on both Switch and Steam Deck, making it highly accessible. The length of the game (55+ hours) is remarkable, especially given its price point. This is a must-have for visual novel fans.

SwitchArcade Score: 5/5 -Mikhail Madnani

TOKYO CHRONOS & ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos TWIN PACK ($49.99)

This twin pack brings two VR titles to the Switch. TOKYO CHRONOS and ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos offer engaging sci-fi stories. While TOKYO CHRONOS is enjoyable, ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos stands out with superior production values and a more compelling narrative.

The Switch version features touchscreen support and rumble, enhancing the immersive experience. However, some camera movement issues might be distracting. Despite these minor flaws, the twin pack is a worthwhile purchase for fans of sci-fi visual novels.

SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5 -Mikhail Madnani

Select New Releases

(Brief descriptions of new releases with images)

Sales

(Lists of new and expiring sales with images)

That's all for today! We'll be back tomorrow with more reviews, new releases, and sales. Thanks for reading!