The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story is a live-action full-motion video (FMV) mystery-adventure game published by Square Enix. Players take on the role of mystery novelist Haruka Kagami, who is invited to the Shijima family estate to investigate a century-spanning chain of inexplicable deaths and the legend of the "Fruit of Youth". Story and Setting

The narrative explores four different murder cases across three distinct time periods: 1922, 1972, and 2022. Each era features the same core cast of actors playing different roles, a stylistic choice justified in-game as Haruka's mental visualization of the past. The overarching mystery centers on the Shijima family's cursed history and a mysterious red camellia associated with death. Gameplay Mechanics

The game is structured into three recurring phases for each chapter:

Table of Contents

1. What is The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story?
2. Gameplay: The "Reasoning" and "Solution" Phases
3. The Narrative: Five Mysteries Across One Hundred Years
4. The Cast: Live-Action vs. Anime Aesthetics
5. Technical Breakdown: The Switch NSP Explained
6. Why the NSP Version Matters for Preservation
7. Final Verdict: Is It Worthy of Your Library?

Final Verdict: Is it Worth It?

The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story is a hidden gem for fans of logic puzzles and Japanese mystery tropes. If you enjoyed games like The Return of the Obra Dinn or Her Story, this offers a similar intellectual challenge but with a heavy dose of melodrama.

If you are downloading the NSP to test the game, keep an eye on that file size and video quality. If you enjoy the first chapter, consider supporting the developers by picking up an official license to ensure we get more unique FMV titles in the future.

Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes. We encourage users to adhere to copyright laws and support game developers by purchasing software legally.

The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story is a high-production live-action mystery adventure published by Square Enix that blends cinematic storytelling with deductive gameplay. Players take on the role of mystery novelist Haruka Kagami as she investigates a century-long string of inexplicable deaths within the Shijima family. Key Features

Gameplay: Mystery or Match-the-Pattern?

The gameplay loop is divided into three phases:

1. Investigation: You watch the events unfold and "clip" keywords and clues into your notes.
2. Hypothesis: You are transported to a "Mind Palace" (a grid of hexagons). You must connect clues to form deductions.
3. The Trail: You confront the suspect and prove your case by selecting the right evidence.

The Good: The deduction mechanic makes you feel smart when it works. You aren't just guessing; you are logically linking cause and effect. The Bad: Sometimes the logic is frustratingly specific. You might know who did it, but the game wants you to prove how they did it using a specific combination of clips that can feel arbitrary. It can lead to trial-and-error frustration.

Installation Guide (For archival purposes):

1. Download the Base NSP and the Update NSP.
2. Use a payload launcher (like Hekate) to boot into Atmosphere CFW.
3. Open Goldleaf or TinWoo Installer.
4. Navigate to your SD card folder containing the NSP.
5. Select "Install" → "Install as NSP."
6. Launch from the home menu.

Legal Disclaimer: You should only download NSP files for titles you physically own. This article is for educational and preservation purposes.

Pros & Cons for Switch

Pros
✅ Unique blend of FMV and interactive logic puzzles (not just “watch and click”).
✅ Excellent Japanese acting and direction.
✅ Thought board is satisfying and respects player intelligence.
✅ Stable performance, no cloud streaming required.
✅ Touchscreen makes clue linking intuitive.

Cons
❌ Some clues are too obvious on Normal, too obtuse on Hard.
❌ No English voice track (if you dislike subtitles during FMV).
❌ Thought board can feel tedious when you already know the killer but must manually link 20+ clues.
❌ Occasional pacing issues – long dialogue scenes between investigations.
❌ NSP size is large (~10 GB) for an FMV game; microSD card recommended.

2. Firmware Requirements

Games released by Square Enix often require newer Switch firmware versions to run. If you are attempting to install an NSP on a hardware setup that hasn't been updated, you may encounter "black screen" crashes or error messages. Always check the required firmware version for the specific title update.

What is The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story?

Developed by Square Enix (yes, the Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts studio) and h.a.n.d., The Centennial Case is a live-action mystery thriller. Unlike typical visual novels, this game uses fully acted FMV sequences to tell a story spanning 100 years.

You play as a mystery novelist helping the Shijima family solve a series of bizarre murders that repeat every generation. The game is split into three distinct eras (Past, Present, and Future), and you must piece together "riddle fragments" to unlock the truth behind a cursed recipe for immortality.