Emio – The Smiling Man is the third installment of the classic series, Famicom Detective Club. Read on to learn everything we know, our review of the demo, and more.
Everything We Know About Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club
Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club Plot
A chilling incident unfolds as a student is discovered dead, their face hidden behind a paper bag with a hauntingly cheerful smile. This macabre detail stirs up memories of a terrifying urban legend—Emio, The Smiling Man—a serial killer who haunted the city nearly two decades ago. Emio’s victims were left with similar grotesque smiles, drawn onto the bags that covered their lifeless faces, a gruesome signature that remains unsolved to this day.
As a new assistant at Utsugi Detective Agency, you're thrust into this dark mystery. Tasked with uncovering the truth, you must connect the dots between the recent murder and the long-standing legend of Emio. With each step, you edge closer to unearthing secrets that have been buried for 18 years.
Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club Gameplay
Famicom Detective Club leans heavily into its visual novel roots, where the narrative and visuals are at the forefront of the experience. The gameplay is primarily point-and-click, with players making dialogue and action choices that shape the investigation. Each scene challenges you to piece together clues by interacting with characters and examining your surroundings, pushing the story forward with each deduction you make.
Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club Release Date
Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club will be coming out for the Nintendo Switch this coming August 29, 2024, and will most likely receive local midnight release time, as has been the case for most first-party Switch titles.
| Digital Storefronts | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Switch |
|||||
| Price | $49.99 | ||||
Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club Review (Demo)
A Classic Legacy Revisited
If you’re not familiar with the Famicom Detective Club series, Emio – The Smiling Man marks the third installment in this classic detective mystery franchise. The series began with The Missing Heir in 1988, followed by The Girl Who Stands Behind a year later. Although I haven't had the chance to play these titles, I’ve always been aware of their reputation as pioneers in the detective mystery genre.
Much like its predecessors, Emio – The Smiling Man places you in the shoes of a young private investigator, stepping into a world where every clue and conversation could be the key to unraveling a deadly mystery. The story kicks off with a call—an urgent request to help investigate a crime scene. As you arrive, it’s clear that this case has shaken even the most seasoned officers. Though you’re not allowed to see the body directly, you gather unsettling details: a student has been found dead with a paper bag over their head, a smiley face drawn crudely onto it.
This opening sequence sets the stage for what’s to come. In chapter one, set on the same day, you begin to learn about the chilling history of similar cases—specifically, a series of murders from 18 years ago. The killer was never caught, and now you’re left wondering: Are these new murders connected to that old case? Is it a copycat, or is something even more sinister at play? The narrative thickens as you uncover an urban legend surrounding Emio – The Smiling Man, a figure whispered about by high school students who often end up meeting a tragic end. The game masterfully sets up the idea that these different threads—the recent murders, the cold case, and the legend—are all interconnected, leaving you eager to piece them together.
Navigating the Mystery
The gameplay in Emio – The Smiling Man is largely driven by interaction, whether it’s with characters or your environment. While this approach is typical of visual novels and detective games, it’s not without its frustrations. I found that progression is often blocked by actions that lack a clear logical connection to the task at hand. In several instances, I found myself repeatedly cycling through dialogue and action options, hoping for something to change.
There were moments when I hit a dead end, with no new dialogue options available, only to discover that I needed to "Look" or "Examine" the person I was talking to, prompting them to reveal additional information. These instances felt like trial and error, rather than intuitive gameplay. Sometimes, the observations didn’t even relate directly to the case, leading the conversation in a completely different direction, which broke the immersion and focus on the mystery.
At the end of the day, after gathering all the necessary clues, you review notes with Ayumi, a fellow P.I. at your agency. This recap felt somewhat redundant, often covering ground that I had already pieced together on my own. It’s a minor gripe, but it contributed to a sense of the game holding my hand a bit too much, rather than letting me feel like I was truly solving the case.
Breaking Immersion With Character Quirks
While the story and core gameplay have a lot of potential, there are a few elements that detract from the overall experience. The characters sometimes act out-of-place that does little to enhance the narrative and instead pulls you out of the atmosphere.
For example, when you first meet Detective Kazu, if you choose to "Look" at her, she suddenly acts shy—an odd response for someone portrayed as a strong leader who doesn’t hesitate to grill her subordinates. Then there’s another character, whose quirks, while adding some flavor to the cast, quickly become grating. I’m hoping there’s significant character development in store because as it stands, these moments detract from the otherwise serious tone of the game.
The Pacing Is A Double-Edged Sword
Despite these issues, Emio – The Smiling Man does a solid job of building a mysterious atmosphere. The game’s pacing, while slow, feels appropriate for the genre. That said, the slow pace might not be to everyone’s taste. It’s clear that Emio – The Smiling Man is more interested in telling a methodical, layered story than delivering quick thrills. This approach works, as it allows the narrative to unfold at a measured pace, building suspense and drawing you deeper into the mystery. However, it’s something to keep in mind if you prefer a faster-paced experience.
Based on the demo, I’m cautiously optimistic about the full release of Emio – The Smiling Man. The game’s story has all the ingredients of a compelling detective mystery, and I’m eager to uncover more about the legend of Emio and how it ties into the current string of murders. While the gameplay has its flaws, particularly in how it sometimes stumbles over its own mechanics, there’s enough here to keep me intrigued. I just hope the full game refines these elements and focuses more on the mystery at its core, avoiding the distractions that occasionally break immersion.
Game8 Reviews
You may also like...
Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club Product Information
 | |
| Title | EMIO – THE SMILING MAN: FAMICOM DETECTIVE CLUB |
|---|---|
| Release Date | August 29, 2024 |
| Developer | Nintendo |
| Publisher | Nintendo |
| Supported Platforms | Nintendo Switch |
| Genre | Horror, Visual Novel |
| Number of Players | 1 |
| Rating | ESRB M17+ |
| Official Website | Emio Official Website |
