Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo graced our computer screens in 2023. Visual novel and mystery enthusiasts clamored for more after this surprise hit. Three years later, here’s Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse, and I couldn’t be happier. Thank you, Square Enix, for continuing this universe. Can we have a third game in less than three years, please?
A video game series is largely defined by at least a few core characteristics continuing across entries. Here, expect more dark, grim occult; setting in the ’80s with blurry, washed-out colors to match (that’s a good thing) and alternating character perspectives across a central plot. Other factors, like the first-person camera, match the first game, but the aforementioned elements might be the focal point.
Like the first game, The Storyteller greets us with a charming introduction, this time regarding the legendary history of mermaids. Before you scoff, please know that Ariel doesn’t make a debut. Yuza’s the core protagonist and the first character you meet, but you wouldn’t know it after the first couple hours. We heavily take on the perspective of three other characters. No complaints, though, because this cast is incredible. A strong story often requires equally strong characters, and players can expect unique voices (not to be confused with voice acting), motives, and personalities that make for one enchanting crew.
Curses take center stage as we realize the sleepy, isolated life of ama divers in rural Japan isn’t as calm as the waters that surround Kameshima, our primary location in The Mermaid’s Curse. Yuza was the only survivor in a tragic accident at sea that sank three ships, which included his parents. With no memory of the incident or how he survived, Yuza set off to Kyushu—mainland Japan—until he returned years later to take care of his grandmother. In desperate search of a mermaid for reasons unknown to us, Yuza realizes that the citizens of Kameshima have no love for his late mother, as they blame her for the tragedy that occurred five years prior.
These initial mysteries—what happened five years ago and why Yuza’s mother is to blame—are but the beginning. We meet a slew of other characters—primary, secondary, and tertiary—who enhance the storytelling with vibrancy and depth not seen in most other games. We get to take on the perspective of a mysterious teenager who showed up out of nowhere a few months ago and doesn’t attend school, yet sits at home watching TV all day. Once again, we get to take the role of the Paranormal Affairs Bureau, this time as Yumeko Shiki, a housewife-turned-psychic whose stark, confident demeanor belies her modest background. Finally, we take on the role of American fantasy author Avi, whose bold, cartoonish approach to life serves as his primary weapon in his search for a mermaid.
What’s with the mermaid obsession, anyway? Well, get ready to don a school uniform because this might be a singular example of edutainment done right. That’s right, I said “edutainment.” In a positive way, even! The Mermaid’s Curse is an unreserved course in Japanese history, literature, and occult topics. The developers spared no effort in fluidly communicating volumes of text about the region, mermaids, and generals in the most accessible way possible. Not only is the writing and localization smooth as butter, but the infusion into this magical realistic world enhances the narrative. Throughout the entire game, I kept asking myself, “What if this were true?” and “What other parts of history might be explained by the supernatural?”
All that said, The Mermaid’s Curse clumps its more academic tendencies behind certain characters, which I have no problem with, but the pattern is uncanny. Although I personally loved each protagonist and their paths, some others may groan as they prepare for a veritable deluge of history lessons. I’ve always been a history buff and drawn to Asian folklore, so I’m clearly biased; my fawning over this aspect of The Mermaid’s Curse may not apply to you, dear reader.
Zooming out a bit, the pacing and flow throughout the 20-or-so-hour journey will leave your sails idle as the currents carry you along at a snail’s pace, yet I didn’t mind the slow burn whatsoever. Others may take issue with this, but I found the slow trickle of new information and mystique quite appealing. In large part, this is due to the likable cast and unique premise. Eventually, players experience some horror and bad endings, but even then, this takes some time.
The Mermaid’s Curse may initially appear as a horror game, but I’d certainly describe it as a mystery adventure game, first and foremost. This iteration of Paranormasight has fewer scares, but the outstanding music and unique art style keep the tension floating along. Like most mystery games, expect subtle foreshadowing out of the gate until the hints start hitting you in the face like flotsam before big reveals. Some puzzles exist, but nothing that gatekeeps players. At times, The Mermaid’s Curse will quiz you about history or the plot, so be prepared to go back into the history books the developers so generously plopped into the main menu.
One last note is the linearity. Folks might imagine this is an open-ended game with choices that matter based on the timeline and variety of character perspectives we take, but don’t expect vastly diverging paths. Some choices exist, but they’re either binary choices with a “but thou must” option, or they lead to one short, quickly stunted path. Linear storytelling doesn’t matter much to me—hell, I may even prefer it because I think it’s easier for developers to craft a well-constructed narrative that way, but I know some players crave open-ended storytelling, so I want to temper expectations.
Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse encourages me because it confidently plants a flag for the Paranormasight series, firmly establishing it as a quality new IP from Square Enix. Consistent in mechanics, storytelling, visuals, sound, music, and vibes, The Mermaid’s Curse is virtually guaranteed to elate fans of The Seven Mysteries of Honjo. If you’re a newcomer with even the slightest interest in Japanese history, the occult, or mysteries, you owe it to yourself to dive right into these murky depths.
