Nintendo's latest mystery, "Emio, the Smiling Man," is the newest addition to the revived Famicom Detective Club series. Producer Sakamoto considers this title the culmination of the entire series.
Emio, the Smiling Man: A New Chapter in the Famicom Detective Club Saga
The original Famicom Detective Club games, The Missing Heir and The Girl Who Stands Behind, debuted in the late 1980s. These games cast players as young detectives solving murders in rural Japan. Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club continues this tradition, placing players at the Utsugi Detective Agency, where they'll investigate a series of killings linked to the infamous Emio, the Smiling Man.
Launching globally on August 29, 2024, for the Nintendo Switch, this marks the first new entry in 35 years. A cryptic teaser featuring a trench-coated figure with a smiley-face bag over his head preceded the announcement.
The game's synopsis describes a chilling murder: "A student is found dead, his head covered with a paper bag bearing an unsettling smiley face. This image eerily mirrors clues from a string of 18-year-old cold cases, all connected to the legendary killer, Emio, who supposedly grants his victims ‘a smile that lasts forever.’"
Players will investigate the murder of Eisuke Sasaki, following clues that lead back to past unsolved crimes. They'll interview classmates, suspects, and examine crime scenes to uncover the truth.
Ayumi Tachibana, a skilled interrogator and returning character, assists the player. Shunsuke Utsugi, the agency director and a character from the second game, leads the investigation, having previously worked the same cold cases eighteen years prior.
A Divisive Reveal
Nintendo's cryptic teaser generated considerable buzz, with one fan accurately predicting the game's nature. While many welcomed the Famicom Detective Club's return, others expressed disappointment, particularly regarding the visual novel format. Some social media users humorously lamented the need to read, while others hoped for a different genre, such as action horror.
Exploring Diverse Mystery Themes
In a recent YouTube video, producer Yoshio Sakamoto discussed the series' creation. He described the original games as interactive movies, highlighting their engaging narratives and atmospheric storytelling. The success of the 2021 Switch remakes inspired the new installment. Sakamoto cited horror filmmaker Dario Argento as an influence, particularly Argento's use of music and quick cuts in *Deep Red*, which inspired *The Girl Who Stands Behind*. Composer Kenji Yamamoto recalled Sakamoto's instructions to make the latter game's ending as terrifying as possible, resulting in a dramatic audio climax.
Emio, the Smiling Man, is a new urban legend created specifically for the game. Sakamoto aims to deliver a thrilling experience centered around uncovering the truth behind this legend. While this installment focuses on urban legends, previous games explored superstitious sayings and ghost stories. The Missing Heir delved into a village curse, while The Girl Who Stands Behind featured a haunting school ghost story.
A Collaborative Masterpiece
Sakamoto has spoken extensively about the creative freedom granted during the original games' development. Nintendo only provided the title, allowing the team to develop the story freely. The original games received positive critical reception, both holding a 74/100 Metacritic score.
Sakamoto describes Emio – The Smiling Man as the culmination of the team's experience, promising a meticulously crafted script and animations. He also anticipates a controversial ending that will spark discussion among players for years to come.
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