Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Meitantei Conan: Nishi no Meitantei – Saidai no Kiki!? delivers a layered detective experience that builds on the traditional point‐and‐click mechanics of its WonderSwan predecessors. At its core, players guide Conan through a series of investigations, collecting keys—tangible pieces of evidence that unlock segments of a logic grid. This key‐gathering mechanic adds depth to each case, ensuring that every clue you find has a direct impact on your ability to solve puzzles.

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Hints play a crucial secondary role, often obtained in the same way as keys but requiring a bit more detective work. You can combine hints to unlock additional dialogue options, or present them to suspects and witnesses in an effort to extract hidden information. This interplay between gathering evidence and leveraging hints creates an engaging loop that keeps players actively thinking about each scene rather than mindlessly clicking around.

Adding variety to the investigative segments, the game introduces chase sequences in which Conan must pursue suspects through multiple screens. These action‐oriented interludes break up the slower puzzle sections and heighten the tension when you’re hot on the trail of a culprit. Successfully tackling these sequences requires quick reflexes and a good memory of the environment, further showcasing the game’s willingness to blend genres.

Finally, the built-in character customization—and the ability to swap your personal doppelgänger with friends via the Communication Cable—offers a charming twist. By recording your information at the start, the game adapts certain dialogue and scenes to include your likeness. Exchanging characters with other owners of Meitantei Conan: Nishi no Meitantei – Saidai no Kiki!? adds a social element rarely seen on the WonderSwan platform, boosting replay value.

Graphics

Working within the hardware limits of the WonderSwan, Meitantei Conan: Nishi no Meitantei – Saidai no Kiki!? delivers crisp, expressive pixel art that captures the Spirit of the Conan anime series. Character sprites are recognizably faithful to Gosho Aoyama’s designs, complete with distinctive hairstyles, angular features, and expressive animations that bring interpersonal exchanges to life.

The game’s dual‐orientation design makes clever use of the WonderSwan’s screen. Investigation and exploration stages employ a horizontal layout, providing ample visual real estate for environments, dialogue boxes, and character portraits. When Conan pulls out his detective notebook, the display switches to vertical, mimicking the feel of flipping through a real notepad and allowing for a more natural, scrollable interface for your growing collection of evidence.

Environmental backdrops range from moody city scapes at dusk to detailed indoor crime scenes, each rendered with subtle shading that suggests depth despite the limited color palette. Animations—such as a suspect’s startled expression when confronted, or Conan’s triumphant fist pump when he pieces together a logic puzzle—are fluid and well‐timed, reinforcing key gameplay moments without becoming repetitive.

Texture and lighting effects are sparingly used but effective; flickering streetlights and dynamic shadows in interrogation rooms help set the tone for mystery and suspense. Overall, the graphical presentation stands out among WonderSwan titles, especially for fans seeking an anime‐inspired visual style on the go.

Story

Picking up the trail of the Black Organization, this entry in the Detective Conan franchise weaves an original narrative that balances standalone cases with an overarching threat. New characters from the Conan universe—ranging from enigmatic informants to suspicious crime‐scene onlookers—populate the story, each with their own hidden motives and secrets to uncover.

Players are introduced to fresh mysteries that range from high‐stakes art heists to midnight disappearances in secluded mansions. Each chapter feels uniquely crafted, offering twists that will surprise even seasoned Conan aficionados. Evidence you collect ties directly into the plotting, so every key you find and every hint you unearth contributes to the narrative’s forward momentum.

The personalized character feature adds an unexpectedly emotional dimension to the proceedings. By inserting “you” as a recurring figure in the storyline, the game creates subtle fourth‐wall moments that heighten immersion. Seeing your avatar interact with Conan and the usual supporting cast fosters a sense of ownership over the investigation’s outcome.

With stakes that escalate toward an inevitable showdown against agents of the Black Organization, the story constantly balances cerebral puzzle‐solving with pulse‐pounding tension. It’s a well‐paced journey that rewards patient players who take the time to fully explore each environment and interrogate every suspect.

Overall Experience

Meitantei Conan: Nishi no Meitantei – Saidai no Kiki!? stands out as one of the more ambitious titles on the WonderSwan, seamlessly blending puzzle‐driven detective work, investigative RPG elements, and light action sequences. For fans of the franchise, it offers an authentic Conan adventure that feels both fresh and familiar.

The learning curve for mastering the key‐and‐hint system is gentle yet satisfying, and the variety of mysteries ensures that you’re rarely solving the same type of puzzle twice. Chase sequences and communication‐cable exchanges provide welcome diversions, while the dual‐orientation display keeps the experience visually dynamic throughout lengthy play sessions.

Though hardware limitations occasionally result in longer loading times when flipping between horizontal and vertical modes, these pauses are brief enough not to disrupt immersion. The game’s faithful anime‐style presentation, coupled with an engrossing storyline about thwarting the Black Organization, compensates nicely for any minor performance hiccups.

Overall, Meitantei Conan: Nishi no Meitantei – Saidai no Kiki!? succeeds in delivering a robust portable detective simulator. Whether you’re a die-hard Conan fan or simply enjoy methodical mystery games, this title offers hours of engaging content, clever puzzles, and a satisfying sense of deduction—making it a must‐play for mystery enthusiasts.

Retro Replay Score

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