New Releases: Emio and More Headline Today's App Update

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. We'll then cover the day's hottest new releases and round it all up with our usual sales lists. 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 unexpected revival of Famicom Detective Club is a prime example. This new installment follows the style of the recent remakes, blending modern visuals with classic gameplay. While the graphics are top-notch, the gameplay retains a retro feel, which will be a deciding factor in your enjoyment.

A student's death, mirroring unsolved murders from 18 years prior, leads to a gripping mystery centered around the urban legend of Emio, a killer who leaves behind a smiling face. The investigation involves exploring scenes, questioning suspects, and piecing together clues. The process is similar to the investigative sections of Ace Attorney, but some players might find the pacing slow or the logic a bit obscure.

Despite some minor pacing and narrative issues, the story is engaging, cleverly plotted, and well-written. The mystery unfolds effectively, with surprising twists and turns. While certain plot points may not resonate with everyone, the overall experience is highly enjoyable.

Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club is a unique offering from Nintendo. Although the mechanics stick closely to the originals, potentially hindering some players, the captivating plot makes it a worthwhile mystery adventure. Welcome back, Detective Club!

SwitchArcade Score: 4/5

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate ($29.99)

The Switch is getting a fantastic collection of TMNT games, and Splintered Fate adds another solid entry. This roguelite beat 'em up blends the classic TMNT formula with the structure of Hades. Play solo or with up to four players locally or online. The online multiplayer worked flawlessly in our testing.

The game follows the Turtles as they attempt to rescue Splinter from Shredder's machinations. Gameplay involves battling enemies, utilizing strategic dashes, collecting power-ups, and upgrading your abilities. Death sends you back to the start, typical of the roguelite genre.

While not groundbreaking, Splintered Fate is a fun and well-executed title. The multiplayer is a highlight, a welcome addition to a genre often played solo. While not a must-have for everyone, TMNT fans will appreciate this unique take on the franchise.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

Nour: Play With Your Food ($9.99)

Nour: Play With Your Food is a playful, experimental food art experience. It's a unique sandbox game perfect for those who enjoy interactive apps and food-related themes. The Switch version, however, suffers from long load times and a lack of touchscreen support, which is disappointing.

Despite these shortcomings, Nour remains a fun and creative experience. The gameplay is simple yet engaging, with a constantly expanding range of food items and interactions. The visuals and music are excellent.

Despite the technical issues, Nour: Play With Your Food is worth checking out if you appreciate creative and relaxing gameplay. The Switch version could benefit from future updates to improve performance and add touchscreen controls. -Mikhail Madnani

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

Fate/stay night REMASTERED ($29.99)

Fate/stay night REMASTERED is a fantastic remaster of the classic visual novel. This is the ideal entry point for newcomers to the Fate universe. The remaster includes English localization, 16:9 support, and improved visuals, making it a great experience on modern hardware. The sheer volume of content justifies the price.

The game follows Emiya Shirou's journey through the Holy Grail War. The narrative is engaging and well-written, with a compelling cast of characters. The Switch version features touchscreen support, making it perfectly suited for the platform. It also runs smoothly on Steam Deck.

Fate/stay night REMASTERED is a must-have for visual novel fans. The excellent localization, improved presentation, and touchscreen support make it an exceptional release. The lack of a physical release is the only downside. -Mikhail Madnani

SwitchArcade Score: 5/5

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

This twin pack offers two VR visual novels ported to the Switch. TOKYO CHRONOS tells a story of high school friends in an alternate Shibuya, while ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos boasts a superior story, visuals, and characters, even incorporating elements beyond a typical visual novel.

The Switch version features touchscreen support and rumble, enhancing immersion. However, some camera movement issues in the first-person sections affect performance.

Despite minor performance issues, TOKYO CHRONOS & ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos TWIN PACK is a worthwhile purchase, particularly for fans of sci-fi narratives. The added Switch features compensate for the occasional technical hiccups. -Mikhail Madnani

SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5

Select New Releases

(Brief descriptions of Fitness Boxing feat. Hatsune Miku, Gimmick! 2, Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost, EGGCONSOLE Hydlide MSX, and Arcade Archives Lead Angle are included here, similar to the original text but with slight phrasing changes for variety.)

Sales

(Sales lists are included here, maintaining the original format and image placements.)

That's all for today! Join us tomorrow for more reviews, new releases, and sales. Have a great Thursday!