Famicom Detective Club: The Missing Heir
Released: May 14, 2021 (WW)
Developer(s): MAGES. Inc.
Publisher(s): Nintendo
Platform(s):
Completed on Nintendo Switch in Docked Mode.
HowLongToBeat Time: 7hrs | My Clear Time: 7hrs 30min
Background
Famicom Detective Club made its debut on the Famicom Disk System in 1988, developed exclusively for Japan by Nintendo R&D1 and TOSE. The series was directed by Satoru Okada and produced by Gunpei Yokoi, the legendary creator behind the D-pad, Game Boy, and other iconic Nintendo products, as well as the mentor to Shigeru Miyamoto. Famicom Detective Club was also the first major project for Yoshio Sakamoto before he would go on to work on the Metroid series. The game’s soundtrack was composed by Kenji Yamamoto, who later gained fame for his work on Metroid and other Nintendo titles.
The series drew inspiration from several sources, including Enix’s 1983 release The Portopia Serial Murder Case, Dario Argento’s Italian horror films such as Deep Red, and Seishi Yokomizo’s detective novels. Initially exclusive to Japan, the Famicom Detective Club series was remade by MAGES of Steins;Gate and the Science Adventure series, with new graphics, full voice acting, new music and many other features. It was released worldwide on May 14, 2021, for the Nintendo Switch (Alexander, 2010).
The development staff of Famicom Detective Club: The Missing Heir (2021) consists of:
- Yoshio Sakamoto (Writer) – Known for Metroid, Super Metroid, Metroid Fusion, Metroid Dread, Wario Land 4
- Tsuyoshi Tonosaki, Hideo Sudo (Directors) – Known for Steins;Gate Elite, Yu-No: A Girl Who Chants Love at the Bound of this World
- Yukihiro Matsuo (Artist)- Known for Chaos;Head: Noah, Chaos;Child, Anonymous;Code
- Kenji Yamamoto, Takeshi Abo (Composers) – Kenji is known for Super Metroid, Metroid Prime, Metroid Fusion, Mike Tyson’s Punch Out!!.
Takeshi is known for Chaos;Head: Noah, Steins;Gate, Anonymous;Code - Yoshio Sakamoto, Makoto Asada (Producers) – Yoshio is known forMetroid,Super Metroid, Metroid Fusion, Metroid Dread, Wario Land 4.
Makoto is known for DeathSmiles II X, Corpse Party: Blood Drive, Anonymous;Code
Experience
Prior to playing Famicom Detective Club: The Missing Heir, I completed the Spirit Hunter series, the first two Danganronpa titles, Fate/Extra, and many other games in the adventure and visual novel genres. I’m familiar with MAGES, formerly known as 5pb, through their work on the SciAdv universe, Muv-Luv, and Corpse Party.
Impressions
From the beginning, it’s evident that Famicom Detective Club: The Missing Heir boasts a significant budget for an adventure game/visual novel. The characters are remarkably lively, with animated expressions and movements, which is quite a rarity in this genre. The game doesn’t just stop at character animations; even the backgrounds are animated, contributing to a dynamic visual experience that sets it apart from many other titles in the genre.
The UI (User Interface) strikes a very good balance between minimalism and ease-of-use, making the gameplay flow smoothly and reducing the frustration that can come from navigating through menus. In the options/settings menu, you have a variety of customization options, such as turning off voice acting entirely, disabling voice acting for the protagonist, selecting either the original Famicom music or the new arranged score, and configuring individual volume levels for sound effects, voices, and background music. Additionally, you can enable or disable skip-read text and adjust display speed settings.
One of the remake’s most impressive quality-of-life changes includes the addition of full voice acting, completely redone graphics, and enhanced animations. Not only are characters’ clothes, hair, and mouths animated during dialogue, but even NPCs in the background are doing something, making the world feel more alive.
The new soundtrack is selected by default, but you have the option to switch back to the original music at any time via the settings menu. Upon completing the game, you unlock a Music Mode in the main menu, which is a nice touch for those who appreciate the game’s soundtrack. Scenes have been faithfully recreated from the original, to the point that the game is almost a shot-for-shot remake.
The pacing of The Missing Heir is a bit uneven at times, but not to the extent that it feels jarring or makes any of the chapters overstay their welcome. The eleven chapters, now enhanced with subtitle cards as part of the remake’s quality-of-life improvements, drip-feed you information on potential suspects, causes of death, and other crucial details that keep the plot moving forward. Some chapters do feel like an expositional dump, which might appeal to those who enjoy that level of detail, but may cause others to feel like the non-expository chapters pale in comparison in terms of their contribution to the overall story.
In terms of gameplay mechanics, the detective commands you use throughout the game include traveling to different locations, talking to characters, showing evidence, calling or engaging with others, examining your surroundings, remembering clues, and quitting the investigation. You also have access to a Notepad that logs the game’s dialogue, allowing you to review information at any time.
While the puzzle-solving aspect of the game isn’t overly difficult, there is one part in chapter eight where progression can be tricky. You need to exhaust all your dialogue options, go down your entire inventory list, and then talk to characters about other topics again to move forward. This might irk some players, so keep that in mind during this particular chapter.
The game’s characters are brought to life by a talented cast of seiyuu, including some of my personal favorites from other games and anime:
- Megumi Ogata (known for Ken Amada from Persona 3, Nagito Komaeda from Danganronpa 2, Makoto Naegi from Danganronpa, Shinji Ikari from Neon Genesis Evangelion)
- Yuko Minaguchi (known for Videl from Dragonball Z, Momiji from Ninja Gaiden, Sailor Saturn/Hotaru Tomoe from Sailor Moon S)
- Tomokazu Sugita (known for Gintoki Sakata from Gintama, Yusuke Kitagawa from Persona 5, Joseph Joestar, Ragna The Bloodedge from BlazBlue)
- Atsuko Tanaka (known for Bayonetta, Motoko Kusangi from Ghost In The Shell, Kaine from Nier, Caster from Fate/Stay Night, Lisa Lisa from JoJos)
- Megumi Han (known for Kana Arima from Oshi No Ko, Gon Freecss from Hunter x Hunter, Eunie from Xenoblade Chronicles 3)
Their performances add depth and authenticity to the story, making the characters feel even more engaging and real.
For those who have played Doki Doki Literature Club, The Missing Heir also features some intriguing fourth wall-breaking elements that add another layer of mystery and engagement. Before the game even reached its climax, I was already deeply invested in the story. My motivation to complete these games was driven by the upcoming release of Emio – The Smiling Man at the end of this month.
Verdict
Famicom Detective Club: The Missing Heir stands out with its high production value, especially for an adventure game/visual novel. The lively character animations and dynamic backgrounds set it apart in the genre. The UI is intuitive, making gameplay smooth and user-friendly. The remake shines with quality-of-life improvements like full voice acting, enhanced graphics, and a new soundtrack, all of which breathe new life into the classic.
The game’s pacing, though occasionally uneven, keeps the mystery engaging through its eleven chapters. Some chapters may feel heavy on exposition, but they contribute well to the overall story. While the puzzle-solving isn’t overly challenging, certain sections require thorough exploration, which could frustrate some players.
The stellar voice cast, featuring talents like Megumi Ogata and Atsuko Tanaka, adds depth to the characters, making them more relatable and engaging. Fans of games with fourth wall-breaking elements will appreciate the unique twists The Missing Heir offers.
Overall, the game delivers a compelling experience, blending classic mystery storytelling with modern enhancements that will satisfy both longtime fans and newcomers.
TLDR
Rating: 8/10
In Summary: Famicom Detective Club: The Missing Heir impresses with its striking presentation and thoughtful updates, offering engaging homages to detective novels and giallos. It’s a gem for Yoshio Sakamoto fans and, while an acquired taste, remains a notable Nintendo classic.
References
- Alexander, L. (2010, March 10). GDC: Nintendo’s Sakamoto’s Four Creative Tenets. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/gdc-nintendo-s-sakamoto-s-four-creative-tenets
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