PARANORMASIGHT: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo
Genres: Horror, Mystery, Story Rich, Adventure
Release Date: 8-3-2023
Developer: Square Enix
Our verdict
9/10
- Difficulty: Medium
- Players: 1
- Playtime: 12–16 h
PARANORMASIGHT: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo is a horror mystery visual novel from Square Enix, set in late-1980s Tokyo and built on local urban legends. Several characters receive curses that let them kill, and a ritual promises to bring someone back from the dead. You switch between their stories on a flowchart, use what you learn in one route to unlock another, and look around scenes for clues. It suits solo players who like Zero Escape, Danganronpa or Ace Attorney.
Steam reviews are very positive (about 95% of 1,849). Players praise the art, the eerie mood and the way the separate stories click together into a satisfying whole, and many recommend going in blind. Several reviewers note it surprised them coming from Square Enix.
One warning recurs: it is a detective story more than a scary horror game, and you follow set paths rather than making free choices. Puzzles are light. Expect 12 to 16 hours. For visual novel and mystery fans it is a strong buy.
Pros
- Flowchart lets knowledge from one route unlock another
- Late-1980s Tokyo urban legends give a distinct setting
- Separate stories combine into a satisfying mystery
Cons
- Less scary than the horror marketing suggests
- Linear paths with light puzzles
About
Solve an ancient mystery in this horror-adventure visual novel game
PARANORMASIGHT: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo
How far would you go to bring someone back from the dead?
In Japan, whispers surround the tale of the "Seven Mysteries of Honjo."
A mysterious 'Rite of Resurrection' leads to conflict between those who have the power to curse...
This unsettling tale takes place in the Sumida Ward of Tokyo, Japan, in the late 20th century.
Unravel the hopes, dreams and fears of these unique characters who find themselves in the grip of deadly curses, as their motivations intertwine in a story that twists and turns.
Lead the story to its conclusion by your own hand!
Shogo Okiie, an ordinary office worker, visits Kinshibori Park in the dead of night with his friend, Yoko Fukunaga, to investigate a well-known local ghost story: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo.
Shogo doesn’t quite believe Yoko when she talks about how the Mysteries are connected to the Rite of Resurrection and doesn't pay it much mind - that is, until strange events begin to unfold before his very eyes.
Meanwhile, several others are making their own investigations into The Seven Mysteries...
Detectives investigating a series of strange deaths, a high-school girl seeking the truth behind her classmate’s suicide, and a mother who has sworn revenge for her lost son.
Their desires and motives intertwine and interplay, with the Seven Mysteries of Honjo at the core, leading the story towards a battle of wits and curses.
◆ Conduct investigations in Showa Japan; depicted through immersive, ambient 360 backgrounds.
With the full support and cooperation of Sumida City Tourism Division, the local museum, the tourist association, and the local community, real-life scenery from Sumida has been photographed with a 360° camera and recreated as photo spheres that cover the entire sky and surroundings.
◆ Unravel the mysteries of Honjo through investigation and conversations with many interesting - and suspicious - characters.
◆ Be sure to pick up all crucial clues, and choose your movements carefully - or you may just meet your demise!
◆ Explore a story that twists and turns through multiple points of view and find ways to reveal new pieces of information.
◆ Navigate strategic gameplay and choose to either deploy your curses at the opportune moment, or risk being cursed yourself.
