Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Meitantei Conan: Majutsushi no Chōsenjō! places you firmly in the shoes of Conan Edogawa as you traverse a variety of investigation sites via an overhead map screen. Each location becomes a mini-hub where you can examine your surroundings, question witnesses, pick up crucial items, or even fend off unexpected threats. This exploration phase encourages thorough observation, rewarding players who interact with every corner of the scene.

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Once you’ve gathered all the evidence, the game shifts to its signature logic grid, accessed by rotating the WonderSwan into a vertical orientation. This notebook interface challenges you to connect suspects, times, and clues by marking intersections on a grid. Filling it out completely lets you deduce the culprit or push your theories further. If your conclusions are off, you’ll need to revisit previously explored areas or uncover overlooked hints to correct your logic.

With five distinct scenarios—ranging from a high school girl’s kidnapping to a Jack the Ripper–style murder—the gameplay loop stays fresh. Each case introduces new characters, environmental puzzles, and red herrings, ensuring that detectives of all skill levels remain engaged. The pacing strikes a comfortable balance: it neither rushes you through investigations nor bogs you down with superfluous dialogue, making each session feel purposeful.

Graphics

Given the limitations of the WonderSwan hardware, Meitantei Conan delivers surprisingly detailed pixel art. Character sprites are crisp and immediately recognizable from the anime, with Conan, Ran, Ai Haibara, and the Junior Detective League members rendered in charming, expressive form. Portraits during conversations emphasize subtle facial expressions, adding emotional weight to witness testimonies.

Background environments, from school hallways to crime scenes, are painted with a muted palette that underscores the game’s investigative tone. While locations sometimes reuse tile sets, small touches—like scattered evidence markers or weathered doors—help each area feel distinct. Transitions between scenes are smooth, avoiding distracting load times and keeping the mystery momentum going.

During puzzle segments, the logic grid screen is cleanly laid out, with circles and crosses appearing crisply in contrast to the notebook’s faux-graph paper background. Although the screen real estate can feel cramped when examining lengthy testimonies, the vertical orientation makes efficient use of space. Overall, the visual presentation remains faithful to the Conan universe while maximizing the handheld’s capabilities.

Story

The narrative hinges on the iconic transformation of Shin’ichi Kudo into seven-year-old detective Conan Edogawa after a botched encounter with the Black Organization. Forced to adopt this youthful guise, Conan moves in with his childhood friend Ran Mōri and enrolls in elementary school to mask his true identity. This premise provides both emotional stakes and comic relief, as Conan balances everyday school life with a relentless pursuit of the mysterious syndicate.

Joining him on this quest are the Junior Detective League members—Ayumi, Genta, and Mitsuhiko—and the enigmatic ex-organization scientist Ai Haibara, herself reduced to a child by the same experimental drug. Their interactions deepen the plot, offering moments of camaraderie, tension, and surprising character growth. Each case weaves personal subplots with broader threats, ensuring you remain invested beyond simply cracking each crime.

The five chapters cover a diverse range of mysteries: from a suspenseful drama-set homicide to century-old treasure legends. The scenarios are well paced, introducing new twists just when you think you’ve pieced everything together. Dialogue is peppered with familiar catchphrases and investigative banter, making it a treat for longtime Conan fans and newcomers alike.

Overall Experience

Meitantei Conan: Majutsushi no Chōsenjō! stands out as one of the most engaging detective titles on the WonderSwan. Its blend of exploration, character-driven narrative, and cerebral logic puzzles offers a uniquely portable mystery-solving experience. While its hardware-imposed limitations show in color depth and occasional map reuse, the game’s strong design choices more than compensate.

The difficulty curve feels well calibrated: newcomers to deduction games will appreciate the gradual introduction of notebook mechanics, while veteran sleuths can dive into later cases for a tougher challenge. The five scenarios offer several hours of content each, and the incentive to revisit chapters—either to find missed clues or to achieve a flawless deduction—adds replay value.

For fans of the Conan franchise or anyone seeking a thoughtfully crafted handheld adventure, this title delivers. It captures the spirit of the original manga and anime with respect and creativity, making every solved mystery all the more satisfying. In short, Majutsushi no Chōsenjō! is a must-play for mystery aficionados looking to test their wits on the go.

Retro Replay Score

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