Sanma no Meitantei

About

Sanma no Meitantei is a 1987 Famicom adventure game where you act as an assistant to a detective solving a dual mystery: a murder and a stolen diamond. Explore locations linked to the crime scene and victim to collect clues, which unlock new areas for deeper investigation. The story centers on a party at a villa where a guest is killed near a vault housing the "Star of Africa" diamond, which vanishes during the chaos. Gameplay mixes dialogue choices and inventory management with a surprise mini-game inspired by Galaxian, plus sound bytes borrowed from Namco classics like Dig Dug. The title remains entirely in Japanese, with no official translation. What sets it apart is its role as a precursor to later adventure games, using a structure similar to Portopia Renzoku Satsujin Jiken. The Galaxian parody adds a quirky break from the murder mystery, while the familiar audio quirks give it a distinct Namco flavor. Though it lacks modern polish, it's a curious artifact for fans of early interactive fiction and retro puzzle games. The untranslated script may limit accessibility, but the core mechanics hold up as a clever, if demanding, blend of deduction and action.