Famicom Tantei Club Part II - Ushiro ni Tatsu Shoujo - Zenpen (Japan) (3DS Virtual Console)
Famicom Tantei Club Part II - Ushiro ni Tatsu Shoujo - Zenpen (Japan) (3DS Virtual Console): FDS Adventure
Famicom Tantei Club Part II - Ushiro ni Tatsu Shoujo - Zenpen is a text-based adventure game originally released for the Famicom Disk System in 1989. Developed and published by Nintendo, it's the second entry in the Famicom Detective Club series, though chronologically it's a prequel to the first game. This particular version is the re-release for the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console, which brought the original FDS experience to a modern handheld with save states. The game is a classic example of Japanese adventure gaming, heavy on reading and puzzle-solving, and it never saw an official Western release.
The player takes on the role of a young detective's assistant, investigating the disappearance of a high school girl. Gameplay is driven by navigating through environments using a text cursor, examining objects, talking to characters, and making choices that advance the story. You'll collect clues, interrogate suspects, and piece together events through a menu-based interface. There are no action sequences; everything hinges on careful observation and logical deduction, much like a visual novel or point-and-click adventure.
Today, this title is worth checking out if you have an appetite for vintage narrative adventures and don't mind the language barrier. The writing is considered strong for its era, and the mystery is well-constructed. Compared to other FDS adventure games, it stands as one of the more polished examples from Nintendo. The 3DS Virtual Console release makes it easily accessible for emulation enthusiasts, though having some Japanese reading ability is essential to get through the menus and dialogue.
How to Play Famicom Tantei Club Part II - Ushiro ni Tatsu Shoujo - Zenpen (Japan) (3DS Virtual Console) Online
To start playing, boot the game and you'll be greeted with a title screen in Japanese. Press Start or confirm with X to proceed. The main menu offers options like 'New Game' (新しいゲーム) and 'Continue' (つづき), the latter only available if you have a saved state on the Virtual Console. After starting a new game, you'll see text at the bottom of the screen and a cursor. Use the D-Pad (Arrow Keys) to move the cursor over options or points of interest, then press X to interact.
The core loop involves exploring locations by selecting from a list of commands such as 'Look' (見る), 'Talk' (話す), 'Move' (移動), and 'Inventory' (持物). You must talk to key characters, examine rooms, and use items to uncover leads. Pay attention to dialogue and keep notes, as you'll need to recall details later. Since the game is entirely in Japanese, familiarity with basic adventure game kanji will help, but even without it, you can trial-and-error through menus. The Virtual Console version allows save states, so save often at points of progress.
Famicom Tantei Club Part II - Ushiro ni Tatsu Shoujo - Zenpen (Japan) (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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