One of the first big surprises of Wednesday’s Nintendo Direct was the announcement of theNintendo Switchversion of two games over 30 years old. Introducing theFamicom Detective Club, a series of two games originally released in 1988 and 1989, respectively. These two Nintendo-developed adventure games, modernized for 2021, will be released individually on Switch starting May 14. Their official localized titles will beFamicom Detective Club: The Missing HeirandFamicom Detective Club: The Girl Who Stands Behind.
As should be clear, these twoFamicom Detective Clubgames are complete remakes.Text-based adventure gamesoriginally released on the Japanese equivalent of the Nintendo Entertainment System aren’t going to have aged particularly well. Now both games have impressive animated visuals akin to modern visual novels and updated gameplay. Gone are the text-based mechanics, but the mystery-based storytelling has been preserved.
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For those curious as to how the game will play, it’s perhaps best conveyed by the developer’s past works. The twoFamicom Detective Clubremakes are being made by Mages, formerly known as 5pb. Mages is a well-known visual novel developer responsible for the highly-ratedSteins; Gategame franchise, as well as dozens of other VNs. In 2021 alone, Mages will release five other VNs, includingMemories Off Historia Vol. 1and2,Phantom Breaker: Omnia, andSteins; Gate 0 Elite.
Officially, bothFamicom Detective Clubgames were announced in September 2019. At the time, it was believed that the two games would be exclusively available in Japanese. The games were eventually delayed in 2020 and have now both been announced for worldwide launch. Nintendo must have seen something special in the twoFamicom Detective Clubremakes, especially to feature them in today’sNintendo Direct.
Famicom Detective Club: The Missing HeirandFamicom Detective Club: The Girl Who Stands Behindrelease May 14 on Nintendo Switch.
