Famicom Tantei Club Part II - Ushiro ni Tatsu Shoujo - Zenpen (Japan)
Famicom Tantei Club Part II - Ushiro ni Tatsu Shoujo - Zenpen (Japan) - Adventure Classic
Famicom Tantei Club Part II: Ushiro ni Tatsu Shoujo - Zenpen is a mystery adventure game released in 1989 for the Famicom Disk System. Published and developed by Nintendo, it's the second entry in the Famicom Tantei Club series, a trilogy of text-heavy detective stories that never left Japan. This "Zenpen" (first half) sets up a suspenseful tale, originally sold on a disk format that required the FDS drive attachment on the Famicom. The game leans heavily on Japanese text and menu navigation, making it a niche relic even among retro collectors.
Players take on the role of a young detective tasked with investigating the death of a schoolgirl named Yoko Kojima, whose ghost is said to haunt the halls of her old school. Gameplay revolves around exploring environments by selecting from a list of verb commands like "talk," "examine," "use," and "move," presented via menu-driven text. You gather clues by talking to characters, inspecting objects, and advancing the story through dialogue trees. The game is split into chapters, and your choices can influence how the mystery unfolds, leading to multiple endings. There's no action or real-time mechanics - it's pure detective work in the style of a visual novel.
Today, Famicom Tantei Club Part II is celebrated for its mature storytelling and atmospheric writing, which set it apart from most Famicom games of its era. The game influenced later Nintendo mystery titles like the Professor Layton series (though those are much more puzzle-focused). For English-speaking fans, an official localized version never materialized on the FDS, but fan translations exist for ROMs. Playing the original disk requires either real hardware or emulation, and the clunky menu system can be a barrier - but for those who appreciate narrative-driven retro games, the experience is rewarding and unique.
How to Play Famicom Tantei Club Part II - Ushiro ni Tatsu Shoujo - Zenpen (Japan) Online
Getting Started
When you boot up the game, you'll be greeted by a title screen. Press Start (Enter) to proceed. The main menu offers options like "New Game" (はじめから) and "Continue" (つづきから). Since all text is in Japanese, a translation guide or a walkthrough will be very helpful if you don't read the language.
The core loop is investigation: you move the cursor over locations or text options using the D-pad, then press A (X key) to select. Dialogue chains are common - choose responses carefully, as some lead to dead ends or different paths. Use Select (V key) to toggle between action menus (e.g., しらべる = examine, はなす = talk, つかう = use). Check every room and talk to every character multiple times to uncover all clues.
Progression is measured in chapters, and the game autosaves periodically. The Famicom Disk System had a save battery, so you can continue without needing passwords. If stuck, try using items you find in combination with the environment - many puzzles require a specific object to be used at the right place. Patience and attention to dialogue are key.
Famicom Tantei Club Part II - Ushiro ni Tatsu Shoujo - Zenpen (Japan) 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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