Released in 1987 by Data East, Tantei Jinguuji Saburou – Shinjuku Chuuou Kouen Satsujin Jiken is the inaugural entry in the long-running detective series known in the West as Jake Hunter. Originally launched for the Famicom Disk System and playable here as an NES title, this classic Japanese text adventure puts players in the shoes of private investigator Saburou Jinguuji as he works to solve a complex murder case in Shinjuku Central Park.
How to play
Your objective is to gather clues, interrogate suspects, and piece together the evidence to solve the mystery. The gameplay is entirely menu-driven. Use the D-pad (mapped to your keyboard’s arrow keys) to navigate command lists, press A (Z key) to confirm actions like “Look” or “Talk”, and use B (X key) to cancel or go back. Press Start (Enter) to begin or pause. As this is the original Japanese release, reading knowledge of the language or a walkthrough is essential to progress.
Tips
- Exhaust all dialogue: In each new scene, make sure to use the “Look” and “Talk” commands multiple times, as you often need to see every piece of text to trigger the next story event.
- Consult Yoko: If you find yourself completely stuck on where to go next, talking to your assistant, Yoko, can sometimes provide the subtle nudge you need.
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