As an Ace Attorney and Professor Layton fan, PARANORMASIGHT: The Mermaid’s Curse had me intrigued. Set on the fictional Japanese island of Kameshima, this supernatural visual novel sees you play through a rotating cast of characters. The goal? To break seven curses, all while uncovering the truth behind the island’s eerie mermaid legends.
Unfortunately for me, this game leans far more into the unsettling tone of Emio: The Smiling Man — no quirky charm here. While the lore and varied gameplay kept me interested, the story often felt a little far-fetched and left me scratching my head.
Hope You Like Reading — This Is A Visual Novel Through And Through
PARANORMASIGHT: The Mermaid’s Curse is a visual novel through and through — and yes, that means a lot of reading. There’s extensive dialogue, case files, and character profiles to sift through. Some repetition creeps in, but thankfully you can fast-forward text by holding B. There’s also a handy conversation log if you accidentally skip something important (we’ve all been there), and the touchscreen helps when pinpointing smaller clues.
The story doesn’t unfold chronologically, either. You’ll jump between chapters, unlocking new branches by progressing through others. Events can take place before, after, or concurrently with your current timeline, which adds an extra layer of mystery.
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Recollections trigger during specific dialogue moments — and you’ll want to act on them immediately. They disappear quickly, and activating them unlocks new chapters. Miss one, and you might stall your progress.
Investigation sections feel very Ace Attorney-coded, minus the heavy evidence presentation. You’ll need to exhaust dialogue options with characters, though there’s noticeably less environmental interaction than I’d hoped. As someone who loves combing through every inch of a crime scene, that was a small letdown.
An Eerie Aesthetic And A Standalone Sequel
The Mermaid’s Curse is the second release in Square Enix’s PARANORMASIGHT universe. While you don’t have to play 2023’s PARANORMASIGHT: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo to enjoy this one, there’s a cheeky reference that hints at a possible connection. It was enough to make me consider playing the previous game, which scored well with players
The soundtrack has light, tinkling melodies that feel reminiscent of Professor Layton, paired with sudden tonal shifts that lean into the supernatural. Combined with the stylised art direction, it captures the atmosphere of an older Japan beautifully — slightly nostalgic, slightly unsettling. It’s creepy without going full horror, which suits the title perfectly.
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To break up lengthy narrative scenes, PARANORMASIGHT: The Mermaid’s Curse introduces a few gameplay variations. There’s a small diving minigame that offers a welcome breather, and occasional text-input responses that require you to actually pay attention.
Breaking The Fourth Wall — Should You Play PARANORMASIGHT: The Mermaid’s Curse?
Additionally, the PARANORMASIGHT series is known for breaking the fourth wall, which means you have to really think out of the box for some solutions.
There are multiple endings to unlock depending on your decisions as well, which only come about once certain things have been triggered. Some of these things were so obscure that it made it slightly frustrating, though cool once you eventually figure it out. If you don’t land the outcome you’re after, you can easily revisit earlier chapters armed with new knowledge.
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Overall, if you enjoy folklore, mystery, and a slower-paced narrative experience, PARANORMASIGHT: The Mermaid’s Curse is worth picking up — though some may find the $37.95 price tag slightly steep. If reading-heavy games aren’t your thing, this likely won’t convert you.
PARANORMASIGHT: The Mermaid’s Curse is available on Nintendo Switch, PC via Steam, iOS and Android on February 20th for $37.95.
Quest Daily scores PARANORMASIGHT: The Mermaid’s Curse:
7/10
A copy of PARANORMASIGHT: The Mermaid’s Curse was supplied to Quest Daily for this review.
