Emio: The Smiling Man - How To Unlock The Secret Chapter

Emio: The Smiling Man is divided into 12 chapters. Or rather 13. You see, Utsugi Detective Agency's investigation encompasses a dozen neatly-separated chapters which climax with a major confrontation and a sense of resolution. It's only a sense, however. There are a handful of underlining mysteries left unresolved.

Emio: The Smiling Man - Beginner Tips

Famicom Detective Club's new game, Emio: The Smiling Man, is a thrilling narrative journey with some cumbersome mechanics. Let's overcome them!

Thankfully, those mysteries are given their dues, albeit in a surprising way. In this quick guide, we'll tell you what you need to know in order to unlock the Minoru Chapter and witness the developers' deeper dive into who, exactly, the titular character is - what makes him tick, and why he did what he did.

Be advised that endgame spoilers follow!

How To Unlock The Minoru Chapter

In order to access this secret epilogue chapter, you must first clear the game. Pretty simple stuff, no? Specifically, you must let the credits play to completion, at which point you'll hear the ringing of the protagonist's cellphone.

The person calling is Utsugi, who wants you to call him back. How do we do that? You'll soon see - the title screen shifts from "Emio: The Smiling Man" to "Minoru." By selecting the new option, Call Utsugi, you will commence the Minoru chapter.

What Is The Minoru Chapter?

It's telling that Utsugi asks the player to set aside some time. (He also mentions disturbing content, which tracks; the Minoru chapter has the hardest-hitting grim content in the game.)

You see, the Minoru chapter is a largely hands-off experience. For the first ten minutes tops, you'll take the role of Utsugi, repeatedly using the 'Ask/Listen" command to inquire with a couple of townsfolk.

There won't be any in-depth mechanics. It's simply a chain of "Ask/Listen" markers.

Following these tidbits of vaguely interactive gameplay, Emio: The Smiling Man plays its last hat trick, and it's a big one. For almost the entirety of the remaining runtime, the Minoru chapter is a full-fledged anime, clocking in at about 20 minutes.

It's like an in-game OVA (original video animation), to borrow the term. The sequence follows Utsugi, from childhood trauma to his fateful encounter with Junko Kuze at the end of Chapter 12. It's a fantastic - if evidently divisive - way to finish out the game, and we hope you enjoy it.

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Famicom Detective Club's unexpected newest entry, Emio: The Smiling Man, is here. But for how long will it be occupying your Switch?