Emio - The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club Reviews
Emio - The Smiling Man looks like it came out from the '80s, thanks to gameplay mechanics unbelievably dated that hold up its true potential.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Emio – The Smiling Man has a rich, empathetic heart, there's just not enough of it. Solid character work and a decent setting can't get around the fact that the game isn't ever all that thrilling.
A visual novel rated 17+ that will appeal to fans of the genre and the Famicom Detective Club series, and will be able to capture the general player audience with its story and visuals.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
The story is around 12 hours to complete and, as I mentioned above, there were some bugs and some minor gameplay frustrations. But do give it a chance if you enjoy strong narratives that keep you on the edge of your seat and have an interest in the macabre.
Just because something has dark themes like mental illness and domestic abuse doesn't suddenly make it a great commentary on them. Games such as Mother 3 and Captain Rainbow being left unlocalized compared to the cavalcade of embarrassment in Emio is probably the biggest mystery this game has. Hopefully you're left with a bigger smile on your face than I was.
Although not without its faults in due part to the trial-and-error situations that require exhausting all options in conversations, Emio - The Smiling Man is a game that will keep fans glued to the end, topped off with a very appealing art style and fair 10+ hour storyline that doesn't overstay its welcome. There isn't much else to see and do once the full story is done, but it is one worth experiencing.
A slow burner that while modernized still feels like a natural extension to the series that stopped more than 3 decades ago. One that rewards those who persevere.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
The brand new Detective Club title brings very compelling plot luring players to discover murders and mystery. On the other hand, gaming options might be limited and linear for some adventurers ' if you come for the lengthy dialogues and investigation, you will like the outcome.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
To say anything else about Emio would be doing you all a disservice, as it’s a winding, twisting mystery that is best enjoyed unspoiled. If you did play the remakes of the first two Famicom Detective Club titles then you’ll get more of the same here, just with modern standards of writing. That alone makes it a much stronger experience, because the narrative in this thing is incredible.
Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club is an intriguing option for Nintendo Switch users looking for a mature and dark story. The game allows players to find a wide cast of characters, any of whom might be considered suspects at any moment, and gives the chance to analyze every action and word from them to advance in their investigation. Despite some obstacles posed by its interface, the title offers an engaging experience for those seeking a memorable adventure.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club is one of the most engaging and emotional visual novels I’ve ever played. The well-written, unpredictable story, multi-dimensional characters, and beautiful anime-style visuals makes the newest entry in the Famicom Detective Club series a must-have for anyone that loves murder mystery and psychological horror.
Emio – The Smiling Man was a comfortable, familiar experience that both benefited from that familiarity and suffered from it. I loved revisiting this world and the characters, and the overall excellent writing was engaging and entertaining; however, retaining the same point-and-click nature of the previous games lead to some frustrating play sessions and unintuitive courses of action. The presentation was gorgeous, with beautiful background art, detailed and emotive sprites, excellent voice work and an amazing soundtrack. It took me roughly 20 hours to finish the game, and while the Fukuyama’s Report Card extra does give some minor incentive to replay for a higher grade, there isn’t much else, which makes it slightly more difficult to recommend at the $50 price tag, especially since you can get the twin pack of the first two games for only a few dollars more. To be clear, I really enjoyed my time with Emio, and if you liked the previous Famicom Detective games or really enjoy mystery visual novels, then this is a surefire title to grab. Due to its dated gameplay and shorter length, if you’re more of a casual enjoyer, I’d wait for it to go on sale. If you’re unsure where you stand, there’s a free demo available so you can test the waters yourself.
Emio: The Smiling Man – Famicom Detective Club is a Visual Novel with a very rich story, an engaging mystery, and many hours of enjoyment, which unfortunately are hindered by a tiring soundtrack and a lack of accessibility regarding localization.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
With an extremely interesting and unpredictable story, charismatic characters, highly detailed scenes, and an immersive soundtrack, Emio - The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club for the Nintendo Switch is a great entry point for those who have never experienced a visual novel before. Long-time fans of the franchise will also be well-served, as Emio maintains the quality already known to players, despite being a slightly longer title than previous games.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Emio - The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club is a fantastic return to form for Nintendo's beloved visual novel series. The game really does have it all, from an engaging narrative to striking visuals to strong voice acting that adds depth to the characters. If you appreciate a good story and enjoy unravelling mysteries, this game is worth your time.
Despite shining in its narrative, the great mystery of Emio is discovering how to progress in its case without getting frustrated with its gameplay.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Emio - The Smiling man is a chilling detective story that leans a little too heavily into repetitive mechanics, but will reward those who stick with it.
Emio - The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club is definitely my favorite part of the series. It's clear that the developers have gained experience and are now capable of delivering a narrative worthy of the name. I love this kind of story, where we're left to quietly discover every little element of the investigation before arriving at a grand, unexpected conclusion. It's the kind of adventure in which you'll feel so invested that you'll want more. I'm already looking forward to another adventure in the series.
Review in French | Read full review
If you like mysteries intertwined with urban legends, Emio - The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club will definitely pique your interest.
Review in Greek | Read full review
It offers an engaging story with appropriately speedy pacing that engages the brain without overtaxing it and there’s no bizarre leaps of logic required. Newcomers to the series can happily jump in at any point, but after the remakes showed that there’s plenty of modern appeal from its classic gameplay design, it’s great to see another title carrying the legacy on.