Nintendo posted a cryptic question on X on July 10, asking, “#WhoIsEmio?” The developer then followed up on the question with an equally cryptic and brief, 15-seconds teaser, leaving the gaming community curious. Finally, one week later, it officially announced Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club, a new game for investigative-mystery fans.
Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club is in the final stages of development and will launch in about a month. Fortunately, Nintendo and the developers behind the game have shared plenty of information about it. Here is a comprehensive preview of what to expect from the game.
What is Emio – The Smiling Detective: Famicom Detective Club?
Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club is a Visual Novel game by Nintendo. It is the third and latest entry in the Famicom Detective Club series. The previous games in the series include Famicom Detective Club: The Missing Heir and Famicom Detective Club: The Girl Who Stands Behind. Notably, it comes over 30 years since the second installment in the series launched in the late 80s.
The game is new and stands alone from the other Famicom Detective Club games. However, its story and plot are inspired by bits and pieces of the previous games in the series. Interestingly, it also features two characters from the previous games, including Ayumi Tachibana and the unnamed protagonist. Notably, the game has a M (mature) rating from the ESRB because of its dark tone and tragic story.
Story
As a Visual Novel, Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club is all about storytelling. It is based on a dark and twisted story about murder and an elusive killer with a strange modus operandi.
Eisuke Sasaki, a junior high school student, winds up dead. She has a peculiar accessory over her head: a paper bag with an eerie smiley face drawn on it. The strange modus operandi resembles a string of unresolved murders committed 18 years ago. The past murders were attributed to Emio, also known as The Smiling Man.
Emio is an elusive serial killer, so elusive that he turned into an urban legend. He preys on sad and crying girls, offering them a lasting smile in exchange for their lives. The “lasting smile” comes in the form of a plastic bag with a smile drawn on it, making it the killer’s signature style.
Notably, the prolonged period between Emio’s previous and most recent murders raises doubts as well as worries. On the one hand, Emio could be back after all this time. On the other hand, it could be a copycat seeking to continue the real Emio’s legacy. Either way, it is bad news for the community, especially all of the sad and depressed people.
You take on the case as an assistant private investigator working for the Utsugi Detective Agency. As such, you must investigate the murderer and catch the killer before they kill more people. The story unfolds as you progress with the investigation, taking unexpected twists and turns as more clues arise. Interestingly, the producer notes that the story’s ending may be divisive for some players.
It is worth noting that Emio and the story are only an urban legend created just for this game. However, it is more vivid than other far-fetched urban legends because it is more grounded in reality. As such, it is more relatable and believable.
Gameplay
As a Visual Novel, Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club employs a point-and-click gameplay style. Essentially, you control the characters as they move from place to place and interact with other characters. Notably, everything your characters do and say is pre-determined based on how the scenes and story progress. You can play two characters, including the main protagonist and Ayumi Tachibana.
The game’s passive gameplay style mostly involves interrogating various characters as you try to solve the crime. Notably, the interrogations go beyond simply asking questions related to the murder. You must also learn about each character’s background story and understand their personalities to see through the lying characters’ deceit.
Additionally, you must look for clues when examining the crime scene and other areas of interest. Notably, each clue and testimony tells a story that fills gaps in the mystery, bringing you closer to the truth.
Development
Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club internally by Nintendo with the help of Yashio Sakamoto. Notably, Sakamoto also developed the other two games in the series. He actively participated in every aspect of the new game’s development, including the plot, scripts, and cutscenes. He participated in every aspect of the new game’s development, including the plot, scripts, and cutscenes. Interestingly, there were rumors that the developer Bloober Team is working on the game, which is untrue.
Although the new game is distinct, Sakamoto notes that its concept was inspired by the remakes of the other two games in the series.“Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club is the culmination of everything my most trusted colleagues and I have learned and the ideas we’ve accumulated from working on the previous games and their remakes,” says Sakamoto in the game’s official trailer. Interestingly, the M-rated game contrasts sharply with Nintendo’s typically family-friendly image.
The game boasts sharp graphics, smooth animations, and beautiful visuals. It supports various languages, including Japanese, English, Chinese (traditional and simplified), Korean, French, German, Spanish, and Italian.
Trailer
The official trailer for Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club is brief and informative. Essentially, it is a short interview with Yashio Nakamoto with scenes of the game in the background. In it, Nakamoto discusses the game’s plot, inspiration, and gameplay style.
Release Date, Platforms & Editions
Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club will launch on August 29, 2024. The digital version will be available to all players worldwide. Moreover, players in Japan, North America, and Europe can also purchase physical editions of the game for a more old-school, hands-on experience. Interestingly, players in Japan will also receive a collector’s edition that includes an Emio paper bag, a soundtrack, and an art book. The game will only be available on Nintendo Switch.
So, what’s your take on our preview of Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club? Let us know over on our socials here or in the comments below.
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