Of course, this isn’t straight-up horror as early trailers suggested, but even so, Emio – smiling man is one of the darkest games Nintendo has ever made. It’s a murder mystery that doesn’t skimp on murder and sprinkles in disturbing urban legends. But more importantly, it’s really a huge mystery for a platform that has steadily become their ideal home.
Like its predecessors, Emio Just like the visual novel, your actions are determined by a series of verbs on a menu. This is how you “view” a crime scene or “ask” a witness questions or “review” your notes. Sometimes, these actions are context-specific—you can’t talk to someone without someone there—but there’s almost always something you can do at any given moment. If not, you can always “think”.
It’s not the most elegant way to interact with the world, but it’s functional. It also requires a lot of reading and repetition. You often have to ask the same questions over and over to pressure witnesses, and the only way to understand what’s going on is to listen to what people have to say. This combination is an acquired taste, and one that only really works in the right narrative – which is Emio Sparkling.
The game tells the story of a series of murders in which a killer both wears a paper bag with a creepy smiley face and puts one on his victim. At the beginning of the game, a recent murder seems to be related to a series of murders from 18 years ago, and may also be related to the urban legend of a man named Emio who killed people in much the same way. You play the role of a young assistant to a private investigator, working alongside the police to put the pieces together.
Because there were so many moving parts, and only loose theories holding them together in the beginning, I had a lot of fun asking, looking, and reviewing. It’s very satisfying when things go smoothly. There are plenty of threads to pull at, which will take the story in a darker, more disturbing direction as the scope becomes clear. Even without the horror elements, there are still plenty of creepy spots Emio.
The game also joins a large lineup of similar puzzles on the Switch, and thanks to its portability, it feels right at home, like the video game equivalent of a good book. outside Famicom Detective Club,have Ace Lawyer, murder by numbersor coffee talkto name just a few. EmioThe gameplay may feel a little dated in comparison, but its core mystery is present throughout.
Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club Now available on Nintendo Switch.
