Famicom Tantei Club Part II - Ushiro ni Tatsu Shoujo - Kouhen (Japan) (DV 4) (3DS Virtual Console)
Getting to Know Famicom Tantei Club Part II - Ushiro ni Tatsu Shoujo - Kouhen (Japan) (DV 4) (3DS Virtual Console)
Famicom Tantei Club Part II - Ushiro ni Tatsu Shoujo - Kouhen is a text-driven adventure game that originally came out on the Famicom Disk System in 1989. It's the second half of the two-part story, picking up where the first part left off. Nintendo developed and published this title, which is one of the earlier examples of a visual novel style game on the system. This particular version, labeled DV 4, is the ROM used for the 3DS Virtual Console rerelease, so it plays exactly as the original disk did back in the day.
You control a young detective investigating a series of mysterious events surrounding a school. The core gameplay involves reading dialogue, examining scenes by selecting commands from a menu, and collecting items that help advance the plot. Key choices you make affect how conversations play out, and you need to pay attention to clues to figure out what to do next. There are no action sequences or fast reflexes required here; it is all about piecing together the narrative through careful observation and logical deduction. The interface is entirely in Japanese, but the structure is straightforward once you get used to the command layout.
For anyone interested in the history of adventure games on Nintendo platforms, this one is a hidden gem. It was never released outside Japan, so the only way to experience it is through imports or rereleases like this Virtual Console version. The storytelling is surprisingly deep for its era, with multiple characters to talk to and a plot that keeps you guessing. Compared to later point-and-click adventures, it feels a bit basic, but the atmosphere and pacing hold up well. If you are patient and enjoy reading, it is worth checking out to see where the genre was heading on the Famicom.
How to Play Famicom Tantei Club Part II - Ushiro ni Tatsu Shoujo - Kouhen (Japan) (DV 4) (3DS Virtual Console) Online
Getting started: you begin at the title screen showing the game's logo. Press Enter to start, then you will see a menu in Japanese. The first option is usually "Start" or "New Game", so press Enter to confirm. The game presents text boxes with character dialogue and a command window at the bottom. Use the arrow keys to move a cursor over the commands, which include Talk, Examine, Take, Use, and Move. Use X (A button) to select a command, then use the arrow keys to highlight a target on the screen. For example, choose "Talk" and then point at a character to start a conversation.
Because the game is entirely in Japanese, you will need to recognize a few key kanji or rely on pattern matching. The interface shows a map of the current area at the top and a list of available exits. To move to a different location, select the "Move" command and then choose a direction from the list. As you progress, you will collect items that appear in your inventory. You can use items by selecting "Use" and then the item icon. Pay close attention to what characters say; sometimes you need to talk to the same person multiple times to trigger new events. There is no time limit or fail state, so you can explore freely and reload from your last save (press V for Select to access the save menu).
Famicom Tantei Club Part II - Ushiro ni Tatsu Shoujo - Kouhen (Japan) (DV 4) (3DS Virtual Console) Keyboard Controls
Controls
- Arrow Keys: D-Pad / Movement
- X: A button (jump / confirm)
- S: B button (run / attack / cancel)
- Enter: Start / Pause
- V: Select
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