As you may know, I'm a huge Visual Novel fan.
Last year, while searching for horror VNs to play, I was surprised when I found PARANORMASIGHT: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo. It was a story featuring multiple characters, gameplay where you can move the camera and interact with people and objects, and even gameplay that breaks the 4th Wall. And I was even more surprised to find out that it was made by Square-Enix, mind you.
The game features graphics that looks like it came straight from a comic book (Or maybe an hand-draw animation), but unfortunately there's no voice acting. But that's OK. It's not only a Visual Novel, though. Sometimes you will have puzzles and investigation segments. Plus, the chapters are non-linear, and at certain moments, you will be unable to continue a character's story before playing other routes. But relax, there's a very useful Story Chart where you can select the available chapters and even replay story segments.
The Seven Mysteries of Honjo is a fantastic experience. At the first couple of chapters you will take A LOT of jumpscares, but once the plot starts to make it's way to the climax, it gets much more mild.
But that's not all...
A couple of days ago, I found out that this game had a sequel!
I was so happy when I discovered that!
The Mermaid's Curse is Square-Enix's second PARANORMASIGHT game, which tells a story about folklore and a paradise about to get terminated by a curse. The gameplay is expanded, having some mini-games along the way.
I'm currently playing it, and loving it, but to be honest, so far the story takes place at daytime, and I haven't got a single scare up to now. I remember the very beginning of The Seven Mysteries of Honjo had one jumpscare after another. This one looks way more story based.
Anyway, you can't go wrong with any of them. Both are amazing titles, and deserve to be supported, so Square-Enix can continue this series.
Available on PC and Nintendo Switch.
