Nintendo's latest entry in the long-dormant Famicom Detective Club series, "Emio, the Smiling Man," has been unveiled. Producer Sakamoto positions this title as the culmination of the entire series, a fitting capstone to a beloved mystery franchise.
Emio, the Smiling Man: A New Chapter in the Famicom Detective Club Saga
A Murder Mystery 35 Years in the Making
The original Famicom Detective Club games, The Missing Heir and The Girl Who Stands Behind, captivated players in the late 1980s with their immersive murder mysteries set in the Japanese countryside. Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club continues this tradition, placing players in the role of assistant detectives at the Utsugi Detective Agency. This time, the challenge is unraveling a series of murders linked to the infamous serial killer, Emio, the Smiling Man.
Announced on July 17th, with a global release slated for August 29th, 2024, on Nintendo Switch, this new installment marks the first new Famicom Detective Club story in 35 years. A cryptic pre-release trailer hinted at the game's darker tone, showcasing a mysterious figure in a trench coat and a smiley-faced paper bag.
The game's synopsis teases the chilling discovery of a student murdered in a disturbing manner, his head covered with a paper bag bearing an unsettlingly familiar smiley face. This grim image echoes a recurring clue in a string of unsolved murders from 18 years prior, linking the case to the urban legend of Emio, the Smiling Man – a killer who supposedly grants his victims "a smile that will last forever."
Players will investigate the murder of Eisuke Sasaki, a junior high school student, following a trail of clues that lead back to cold cases. Interrogating classmates, combing crime scenes, and exploring relevant locations are key to solving the mystery.
Joining the investigation is Ayumi Tachibana, a returning character known for her sharp interrogation skills, and Shunsuke Utsugi, the agency director, who previously encountered these unsolved murders eighteen years ago. Shunsuke, introduced in the second game, takes the orphaned protagonist under his wing.
A Divided Fanbase
The cryptic pre-release teaser generated significant buzz, sparking speculation within the gaming community. Interestingly, one fan on Twitter (X) accurately predicted the game's reveal, anticipating a darker, third installment in the Famicom Detective Club series.
While many fans celebrated the revival of this beloved point-and-click mystery series, others expressed disappointment. Some players voiced their disinterest in a visual novel format on social media, with one user humorously suggesting that some Nintendo fans were frustrated by the game's narrative focus. Others speculated that these fans were expecting a different genre, perhaps an action horror title.
Exploring Diverse Mystery Themes
Series producer and writer Yoshio Sakamoto shed light on the creation of Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club in a recent YouTube video. He recounted the origins of the Famicom Detective Club series, describing the original games as interactive movies, where players actively solve the mystery.
The Famicom Detective Club series is renowned for its captivating narratives and atmospheric storytelling. The 2021 Nintendo Switch remakes of the original games reignited fan interest, inspiring Sakamoto to create this new entry. He stated in the video, "I knew we'd be able to make something good. So, I decided to do it."
Sakamoto's inspiration draws from horror filmmaker Dario Argento, whose masterful use of music and quick cuts influenced the series, particularly The Girl Who Stands Behind, which was inspired by Argento's Deep Red. Composer Kenji Yamamoto recalled Sakamoto's instruction to make the final scene of The Girl Who Stands Behind as terrifying as possible, employing a dramatic volume increase to create a startling effect.
Emio, the Smiling Man, is a new urban legend created specifically for this game. Sakamoto aims to immerse players in a thrilling journey centered around uncovering the truth behind this urban myth. While this installment focuses on urban legends, previous Famicom Detective Club games explored themes of superstitious sayings and ghost stories.
The Missing Heir investigated the mysterious death of Kiku Ayashiro, uncovering a terrifying connection between a local ominous saying and the serial killings within the game. The Girl Who Stands Behind involved the murder of Yoko and a haunting ghost story, "The Tale of the Girl Who Stands Behind."
A Testament to Unbridled Creativity
In a 2004 interview, Sakamoto revealed his fondness for horror and high school ghost stories, which fueled the creative process for the original Famicom Detective Club games. He also highlighted the creative freedom afforded to the team by Nintendo, who provided only the title and allowed the team to develop the story freely.
The original Famicom Detective Club games were critically acclaimed in Japan, both currently holding a 74/100 Metacritic score based on critic reviews.
Sakamoto describes Emio – The Smiling Man as the culmination of the team's collective experience and creative insights, born from extensive collaboration and a dedication to crafting a compelling screenplay and animations. The game is expected to feature a divisive ending, intended to spark ongoing discussion among players. Sakamoto notes that the ending directly reflects his initial vision, which may lead to varied interpretations and opinions.
