A couple of days ago, a very intriguing video was posted on Nintendo’s social media pages. Labelled as #WhoisEmio, the video solely showed a masked man standing in a creepy unlit room, implying that it was a new horror game the company had in development.
It was a shocking reveal for Nintendo, and one which got many people wondering what it was even about. Was this that unknown project that Nintendo were collaborating with Bloober Team on? Was it some sort of Resident Evil or Silent Hill rival, except with Nintendo as the main developers? Could it be a creepy spinoff of an existing series, or a shock revival of something like Eternal Darkness?
The internet was awash in theories, and all of them seemed as viable as each other.
But now it seems the mystery is over. Why? Because Nintendo has finally revealed what Emio actually is.
And surprisingly enough, the answer is a new game in a sequel no one saw coming. Famicom Detective Club.
Yep, 3 years after the remakes on Switch (and 30 years after the series had seemingly wrapped up), Nintendo has revealed a new game is in development. Namely, Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club. Here’s the post about it from Nintendo’s Twitter page:
In addition to a video starring series producer (and longtime Metroid creator) Yoshio Sakamoto:
As you can see, it’s a point and click adventure game like the last ones, with a graphics style much like the recent remakes. In it, you’re investigating the murder of a high school student named Eisuke Sasaki, who’s been found dead with a creepy smiley faced paper bag over his head. This is apparently similar to a string of similar unsolved murders from 18 years ago, as well as the urban legend of Emio the Smiling Man, a killer said to grant his victims “a smile that lasts forever”.
It’s a horrifying tale, and one which has you trying to figure out whether the killings are by Emio after a surprise return, or by a new culprit trying to continue his ‘legacy’.
Yet the craziness isn’t confined to the story or marketing.
No, the whole release of the game is a strange experience in of itself.
Since not only is the game the first instalment in of its series for over 30 years, but it’s being released next month on August 29th as well. So not only did Nintendo manage to creep us all out with an unexpected teaser, and tackle one of the darkest stories they’ve ever worked on…
But they’ve also managed to keep it completely under wraps for months. Pretty impressive, we have to say.
Regardless, that’s Emio for you. It’s a new Famicom Detective Club game about a mysterious serial killer that leaves his victims with smiling paper bags on their heads, and it’s heading to the Switch eShop in just over a months’ time.
So, are you excited to try it? What are your thoughts on this game and its reveal?
Leave your thoughts in the comments below, or over on our Discord server today!
Source:
Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club (Official Website)