Info about PARANORMASIGHT: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo:

Official game description:
PARANORMASIGHT: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo is now Steam Deck Verified!
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About the Game
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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.

Release date: 8 Mar, 2023

Categories: Visual Novel, Investigative Gameplay, Choice-based Narrative, Multiple Endings, Puzzle Solving, Point-and-click Adventure, Multi-Perspective Narrative, Unique Curse Mechanics


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Innovative Gameplay & High Quality (weight 0.99): Players consistently praise the game's overall quality, innovative mechanics, and engaging gameplay experience. The unique meta-elements and clever puzzles are frequently highlighted as major strengths, contributing to a highly immersive and satisfying experience that feels fresh and distinct from other games in its genre.
- Compelling & Cohesive Story (weight 0.45): The story is widely acclaimed for its compelling narrative, intricate plot twists, and well-developed characters. Players appreciate how all plot threads converge logically, providing a satisfying and coherent conclusion, making the narrative a significant draw.
- Stunning Art & Atmosphere (weight 0.43): The game's artistic presentation, including its unique art style, character designs, and atmospheric music, receives strong positive feedback. These elements are consistently praised for enhancing immersion and contributing significantly to the overall appeal and quality of the game.
- Excellent Visual Novel Experience (weight 0.27): The game is highly regarded as an excellent visual novel, particularly within the mystery and horror genres. Reviewers note its effective use of suspense and horror elements, which are generally well-balanced and not overly reliant on jump scares, making it accessible even for those not typically fond of horror.
- Effective & Balanced Horror (weight 0.15): The game's horror elements, particularly jump scares, are generally well-managed and not overwhelming, making the game approachable for a wider audience. The innovative use of a 360-degree rotating camera is specifically noted for enhancing immersion and contributing to the suspenseful atmosphere.
- Satisfying & Clever Endings (weight 0.07): The game's various endings, especially the true ending, are well-received for their satisfying conclusions and clever twists. Players appreciate how the narrative ties up loose ends and provides a sense of fulfillment upon completion.

Common complaints:
- Declining Story Quality & Ending (weight 0.84): Many players felt the game started strong but significantly declined in quality towards the middle and end. This includes issues with the plot becoming rushed, predictable, or anticlimactic, underdeveloped characters, and a shift in genre/atmosphere that disappointed initial expectations, particularly regarding horror and 'curse battle' elements. The true ending, in particular, was frequently criticized for being unsatisfying, illogical, or undermining previous events.
- Excessive Jump Scares (weight 0.08): The game's frequent and often 'cheap' jump scares, particularly in the early stages, were a major point of contention. Many players found them annoying, excessive, or a deterrent, with some even considering refunding the game due to them.
- Lack of Voice Acting (weight 0.07): A significant number of players expressed disappointment over the complete lack of voice acting for characters. They felt this omission negatively impacted immersion, character engagement, and the overall emotional impact of the narrative, especially for a visual novel-style game.
- Underutilized Mechanics (weight 0.06): Players noted that several unique or interesting game mechanics and narrative concepts introduced early on, such as the 'Curse Manifestation' system and meta-elements, were underutilized or abandoned in later parts of the game. This resulted in missed opportunities for deeper gameplay and storytelling.
- Overpriced for Content (weight 0.05): Many reviewers found the game's price to be too high, especially considering its relatively short length and the perceived lack of content or depth in the later stages. This led to a feeling of low cost-effectiveness.
- Genre Misalignment (weight 0.05): The game's genre identity was a source of confusion and disappointment for many. While advertised as a horror-adventure or mystery, it often felt more like a static visual novel, particularly after the prologue, with a heavy reliance on text and a lack of interactive gameplay or deep puzzle-solving, which did not meet player expectations for the genre.
- Simple & Sparse Puzzles (weight 0.05): The puzzle elements in the game were generally perceived as too simple, sparse, or straightforward, offering little challenge or satisfaction. Some players also found certain puzzles to be illogical or frustrating to progress without a guide.
- Tedious UI & Interactions (weight 0.04): The user interface for dialogue and interaction was frequently criticized for being clunky and repetitive. Players found themselves needing to click multiple times to advance conversations or re-select characters after brief interactions, leading to a tedious experience.
- Buggy Achievements (weight 0.03): Several players reported issues with buggy achievements, particularly those related to playtime or idling. This caused frustration and negatively impacted their overall experience, with some even changing their review rating due to these bugs.

Gameplay feedback:
- Mystery over Horror Focus (weight 0.29): The game is primarily a mystery or detective visual novel with supernatural elements, rather than a pure horror game. While it features jump scares and horror elements, these are mostly concentrated in the early stages or prologue, with the narrative shifting towards investigation and suspense later on.
- Point-and-Click Visual Novel (weight 0.13): The core gameplay involves point-and-click interactions, text reading, and command selection, typical of a visual novel. Players navigate through dialogue, investigate scenes, and make choices to advance the story, often requiring camera rotation to find clues.
- Multi-Perspective Narrative Structure (weight 0.1): The narrative is structured with multiple intertwining character perspectives and timelines, requiring players to switch between them to gather information and progress. This multi-threaded approach is crucial for uncovering the full story and solving the central mystery.
- Concise Playtime (7-10 Hours) (weight 0.08): The game is relatively short, with most players completing it within 7-10 hours. It generally does not require multiple playthroughs to experience all content, though some achievements might encourage re-visiting scenes.
- Choices Impact Multiple Endings (weight 0.07): Player choices, particularly in dialogue and key decisions, influence the story's progression and lead to multiple endings. While some choices are superficial, others are critical for unlocking different paths, including a hidden true ending that may require specific actions or external guidance.
- Frequent Meta-Narrative Elements (weight 0.05): The game frequently incorporates meta-elements and breaks the fourth wall, often integrating these into the puzzles and narrative progression. These elements are particularly prominent towards the end and are essential for achieving the true ending.
- Unique Curse Mechanics (weight 0.05): A core mechanic involves characters possessing unique curses that activate under specific conditions, leading to 'ability battles' or 'curse killings.' Players must understand these conditions to progress and collect 'soul fragments' for a resurrection ritual.
- Simple Puzzles, Few Tricky (weight 0.04): The puzzles are generally straightforward and not overly difficult, making the game accessible. However, some players found a few puzzles, especially the final deduction, to be more challenging, occasionally requiring external help.
- 360-Degree Panoramic Views (weight 0.03): Many scenes feature 360-degree panoramic views, allowing players to freely rotate the camera to inspect environments, find clues, and enhance immersion. This mechanic is often used for investigation and finding hidden details.
- Clever Narrative Tricks (weight 0.03): The game incorporates clever narrative tricks, particularly towards the end, often requiring players to remember seemingly minor details from the beginning (like their input name) or to change their mindset to unlock hidden endings and progress.
- 1980s Japanese Folklore Setting (weight 0.02): The game is set in 1980s downtown Tokyo, specifically Sumida City, and draws heavily on Japanese folklore and urban legends, particularly the Honjo Seven Mysteries, creating a distinct cultural and historical backdrop.

Performance notes:
- Excellent Steam Deck performance (weight 0.01): Players consistently report excellent performance on the Steam Deck, noting smooth gameplay without lag or freezing. This indicates strong optimization for the portable platform.
- Late-game crashes observed (weight 0): A few players experienced game crashes specifically in the late-game, though thankfully no progress was lost. This suggests potential stability issues during later stages of gameplay.
- High PC fan activity (weight 0): One player noted that their PC fan runs loudly during gameplay, despite the game not appearing to be graphically intensive. This could indicate unoptimized resource usage.
- Astigmatism post-processing tip (weight 0): A specific accessibility tip was provided for players with astigmatism, suggesting that turning off post-processing might improve their visual experience. This is a niche but helpful piece of feedback.

Recommendations:
- Highly Recommended Experience (weight 0.3): The overwhelming sentiment is that the game is highly recommended and a worthwhile experience, often described as a masterpiece or excellent work. Many players express strong satisfaction and encourage others to play it, with some even calling it their 'Game of the Year'.
- Ideal for Genre Fans (weight 0.18): The game is particularly recommended for fans of visual novels, mystery, horror (especially light horror or supernatural themes), and specific titles like Zero Escape, Ace Attorney, and Danganronpa. It's also suggested for those interested in Japanese folklore and narrative-driven puzzle games.
- Good Value, Buy on Sale (weight 0.13): Many players recommend purchasing the game, especially when it's on sale or at a discounted price. While some believe it's worth the full price, a significant portion suggests waiting for a sale to get the best value, particularly given its length.
- Sequel Highly Desired (weight 0.09): There is a strong desire among players for a sequel or more games in the series. Many express anticipation for future installments and hope that Square Enix continues to develop similar titles, often wishing for returning characters or expanded lore.
- Play Blind, Avoid Spoilers (weight 0.02): Players strongly advise going into the game with as little prior knowledge as possible to maximize the experience. Avoiding spoilers, walkthroughs, and external information is recommended to fully enjoy the narrative and mysteries.
- Play in One Sitting (weight 0.01): Players suggest playing the game in one continuous session for the best experience. It's also recommended to ensure the true ending is reached.
- Manage Deduction Expectations (weight 0.01): Some players note that those expecting deep deduction or complex brain games might be disappointed. The game is potentially more enjoyable for a general audience rather than genre specialists.

Other player notes:
- Short Playtime (weight 0.1): Players generally found the game to be short, with most completing it within 7-15 hours, even for full completion. While some felt it was a bit too short, others found the length appropriate for the price and lack of 'filler' content.
- Appeals to Visual Novel Fans (weight 0.05): The game is highly recommended for fans of visual novels, especially those who appreciate strong storytelling, unique direction, and stimulating text. It also appeals to players looking for cinematic experiences and well-crafted mysteries.
- Rich Cultural Integration (weight 0.03): A significant highlight for players was the game's integration of Japanese urban legends, folklore, and the real-life Sumida Ward. This aspect enhanced immersion and even inspired some players to visit the actual locations.
- High-Quality Localizations (weight 0.03): The game features high-quality Chinese and Korean localizations, which were greatly appreciated by players. However, there were mentions of a bug with Chinese input and a general lack of Korean guides.
- Mild Horror Elements (weight 0.03): While marketed as a horror-mystery, many players found the game not particularly scary, with horror elements mainly relying on sound effects and jump scares. Some players, however, did experience anxiety or fear.
- Highly Engaging Experience (weight 0.03): Players generally had a very positive overall impression, with some calling it their personal best of the year or a masterpiece. Many found it highly engaging, leading to long play sessions and continued thought after completion.
- Room for Improvement (weight 0.03): Based on limited and low-quality feedback, some players felt there was room for improvement in various aspects of the game, though specific details were sparse.
- Tricky Achievements (weight 0.01): Achieving 100% completion or platinum can be tricky due to specific achievement requirements, including returning to the game days after the first playthrough. Guides are recommended for full completion.
- Casual Player Friendly (weight 0.01): The game is considered suitable for casual players, achievement hunters, and those who prefer relaxing games, making it a good fit for portable devices like the Steam Deck or Switch.
- Similarities to Other Works (weight 0.01): Some players noted thematic or structural similarities to other works, such as the 'Holy Grail War' concept or 'Cross Tantei Monogatari', but generally found the game to be a more refined experience.
- Positive Life Messages (weight 0.01): The game conveys positive messages about cherishing life, love, friendship, and justice, leaving players with a sense of warmth and reflection.
- Purchased on Discount (weight 0.01): Many players purchased the game at a discount, indicating that sales influenced their decision and contributed to their perception of its value.

Emotions:
- Satisfaction (weight 0.32): Players felt satisfied due to the game's high overall quality, including its engaging and intricate story, well-developed characters, and innovative gameplay mechanics. The strong art style, immersive atmosphere, and excellent music also contributed significantly to a fulfilling experience, often exceeding expectations and providing good value for money.
- Disappointment (weight 0.17): Disappointment primarily stemmed from the game's perceived short length and high price, along with a rushed or anticlimactic ending that left many plot points unresolved or characters underdeveloped. The lack of voice acting and underutilized gameplay mechanics also contributed to a feeling of unfulfilled potential.
- Excitement (weight 0.08): Excitement was driven by the game's high quality, suspenseful plot, and creative mechanics, particularly the innovative meta-elements and unexpected twists. Players were often hooked by the initial intrigue and desired more content or a sequel, finding the overall experience engaging and thrilling.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.08): Enjoyment came from the game's overall fun factor, including its engaging story, well-designed puzzles, and charming characters. The unique meta-elements and multi-line narratives also contributed to a pleasant and immersive experience, making the game enjoyable despite any minor flaws.
- Frustration (weight 0.07): Frustration arose from abrupt or unsatisfying endings, poorly handled plot details, and a perceived lack of guidance for puzzles, leading players to get stuck. Issues like repetitive dialogue, lack of voice acting, and bugs also contributed to a negative experience, sometimes making players feel tricked by positive reviews.
- Admiration (weight 0.04): Admiration was expressed for the game's exceptional art style, innovative design, and brilliant writing and pacing. Players often considered the game a masterpiece, praising its clever meta-elements, intricate plot, and well-developed characters.
- Surprise (weight 0.03): Surprise was often linked to well-timed jumpscares, unexpected genre shifts, and clever meta-elements that broke the fourth wall. Players were also surprised by the game's overall quality, especially if it exceeded their initial expectations or came from an unexpected developer.
- Appreciation (weight 0.02): Appreciation was shown for the game's beautiful visuals, excellent audio, and unique presentation style. Players valued the well-developed character relationships, clever design choices, and the appropriate use of horror elements, highlighting the game's overall high quality and innovative aspects.
- Fear (weight 0.02): Fear was primarily caused by effective jumpscares and the game's initial horror atmosphere, particularly the unsettling 360-degree camera rotation feature. These elements created genuine tension and fright for players, especially in the early stages of the game.
- Anticipation (weight 0.01): Anticipation stemmed from a strong desire for new content, particularly sequels or future works from the same developers. Players were eager to see how the plot might resolve further or what new experiences the studio might offer.
- Joy (weight 0.01): Joy was experienced through the game's fun and engaging scenario, including its meta-elements and charming character interactions. Players found personal enjoyment in the story, art, and design, often laughing at humorous moments and appreciating the overall positive experience.
- Hope (weight 0.01): Hope was expressed for the revival of the series or the development of future games in a similar style, often with a desire for increased budget and voice acting. Players wished for more content and sequels from the publisher or director.
- Engagement (weight 0.01): Engagement was driven by the game's compelling and unpredictable story, immersive atmosphere, and well-developed characters. The mystery and unique presentation kept players hooked, consistently drawing them into the game's world.
- Desire (weight 0.01): Desire was primarily for more content, such as a longer true ending epilogue or additional games in the same world. Players wished for more fleshed-out character stories and a longer overall experience.
- Immersion (weight 0.01): Immersion was achieved through the game's strong atmosphere, realistic elements, and engaging story and characters. Players felt deeply drawn into the game's world, especially when playing at night or connecting with familiar real-world locations.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Anger arose from feeling ripped off by the game's price, dissatisfaction with character fates, and perceived moral implications of the ending. Specific character actions, unsatisfying endings, and achievement bugs also contributed to player frustration and anger.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): Amusement came from humorous character animations, expressions, and specific ending scenarios. Players found humor in protagonist fates, witty dialogue, and the subversion of genre expectations, including reactions to jumpscares.
- Affection (weight 0.01): Affection was felt for the game's character designs, particularly specific characters and character teams, and the touching depiction of friendships. Players developed a fondness for reliable characters and the overall game experience.
- Love (weight 0.01): Love was expressed for the game's overall quality, including its story, characters, art, atmosphere, and innovative design. Players deeply appreciated the game's soundtrack and its ability to create a unique and cherished experience.
- Sadness (weight 0.01): Sadness was caused by emotional plot points, specific character fates, and the unfulfilled potential of the game. Players were moved to tears by certain storylines and expressed sorrow over character deaths or the desire for a sequel.}