Undercover AD2025 Kei | January 27, 2000
The Identity of the Detective Action Adventure Game Released in January 2000
In January 2000, a detective action adventure game was released, with a scenario written by mystery novelist Arimasa Osawa. Prior to the game's launch, Osawa published a prequel novel titled "Ryoko: The Rose That Shoots AD2023", showing his deep enthusiasm for the project.
Unique Development Team Lineup
Three key staff members are listed on the back of the game package:
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Story: Arimasa Osawa (notable works: Shinjuku Shark, etc.)
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Character Design: Kenichi Kutsugi (Guard Dog, etc.)
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Music: Gomi (not found in other notable works)
Story: A Beautiful Detective in Chaotic Tokyo, 2025
One morning, the two receive a call from Chief Ishida—a terrorist has taken over the Royal City Hotel and is demanding Kei and Li by name. This incident sets Kei on a path to confront her hidden past.
Weaknesses of the Game
The storyline is riddled with unnatural developments and inconsistencies, leaving much to be desired in terms of narrative quality.
Main Characters
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Kei Samejima (CV: Masako Katsuki)The protagonist. After the Royal City Hotel incident, she investigates the mastermind by going undercover in Yokohama’s Bay Area. She is known to drink alcohol straight from the bottle during missions.
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CATA cat-shaped AI robot linked to Kei’s brain after her surgery. Assists in missions with information support.
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Li Zhen (CV: Kiyoyuki Yanada)Kei’s partner and lover. Provides backup support during missions.
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Sammy (CV: Ai Uchikawa)A mysterious girl met during the Bay Area investigation. Eventually becomes an ally.
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Ron Wei (CV: Toru Furusawa)The main antagonist. He refers to Kei as “Ryoko” and vows to kill her himself, implying a shared past.
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Chief Ishida (CV: Yuzuru Fujimoto)Kei’s superior. Holds key knowledge about her past and the truth behind the events.
Enemies are mostly copy-pasted models with only different outfits. They share the same motions and AI behavior.
The Flawed but Unique “Hold-Up” System
The game features a "Hold-Up" system, where players point their gun at enemies to force them to surrender. This is essential for acquiring items and conserving limited ammunition. However, the control scheme is problematic.
Aiming and shooting are both mapped to the R trigger on the Dreamcast controller. Light pressure aims; full pressure fires. This leads to many accidental shots, making it difficult to hold up enemies and secure resources—an issue exacerbated by the game’s poor overall controls.
All enemies surrender in the exact same pose and remain that way until the player leaves the room. Some even surrender from far away with just a warning shot, breaking immersion.
Cameos and Bonus Content
Depending on the number of hold-ups and kills, players can unlock cameo appearances from Arimasa Osawa, Miyuki Miyabe, and Natsuhiko Kyogoku. The latter two are novelists from Osawa’s office and have no direct involvement in the game, but appear as bonus content.
Conclusion: A Flawed but Ambitious Experiment
The Hold-Up system is an interesting concept but is hampered by poor controls and unrefined mechanics. The story lacks depth and polish, leading to a game that feels more like a missed opportunity.
Still, for fans of police-themed media or Arimasa Osawa’s work, the game may hold some value.
One-Point Tip
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The GD-ROM includes a promotional video featuring Osawa’s thoughts on the project. It contains spoilers, so it's recommended to watch after playing.
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Even without bullets, using a special baton to injure an enemy and then aiming an empty gun can still trigger a hold-up. This technique is especially useful in the later stages.
