Osomatsu-kun: Back to the Me no Deppa no Maki

About

Osomatsu-kun: Back to the Me no Deppa no Maki is a retro adventure game where players guide the mischievous Osomatsu through a quest spanning centuries. The story kicks off when a family heirloom scroll hints at a long-lost treasure tied to a toothy ancestor. After uncovering a historical inconsistency, buckteeth or not, Osomatsu jumps into a prototype time machine to retrieve the prize. Gameplay revolves around platforming, exploration, and collecting items across Edo-period Japan. Puzzles and environmental interactions drive the progression as the protagonist navigates temples, villages, and hidden passages. The Famicom version retains the series' signature slapstick humor with exaggerated animations and quirky dialogue. This 1989 title leans heavily into the Osomatsu-kun franchise's comedic roots while offering a straightforward adventure structure. Though dated by modern standards, its charm comes from the cartoon's recognizable characters and chaotic energy. Early Japanese adventure games often prioritized action over complexity, and this one fits that mold with simple controls and a focus on physical comedy over deep storytelling. Fans of the source material may appreciate the direct nods to the manga’s running gags, but the lack of nuanced mechanics or lasting replayability keeps it niche. Still, it’s a brisk, silly romp for those curious about 80s Bandai games.

Storyline

One day, Iyami found a hanging scroll in his home that had been handed down from his ancestors. When Iyami looked at the contents, he found that it was a portrait of a samurai who seemed to be his ancestor, raising his dentures. But Iyami was very surprised. "SYEEEEEEE!" He was very surprised because the samurai who looked like his ancestor did not have bucktooths. Iyami wondered. "My father told me that Iyami's family has had bucktooth for generations," he said. Then Osomatsu, the protagonist of the story, came to visit. Iyami quickly hid the scroll, but Osomatsu snatched it away and looked at its contents. Osomatsu's gut instinct, without any evidence to support it, told him that the dentures depicted on the scroll must be highly valuable treasures. Osomatsu took the stolen scroll to the Dekapan Laboratory, where it was dated and found to have been painted in the Edo period. Osomatsu volunteered to be a test pilot for a time machine that had just been completed and was in the experimental stage at the Dekapan Laboratory, and began to travel back in time to obtain the treasure.