In today’s Nintendo Direct presentation, Square Enix announced a new ‘supernatural mystery adventure’ game for Nintendo Switch, Steam, and iOS/Android smartphone platforms. Titled Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo where you will take the viewpoint of multiple cursed protagonists and investigate supernatural phenomena.
This curse also gives characters special abilities, which need to be used strategically to find new information or to fulfill a character’s goals. However, other characters also have these powers, and may use the against you. One wrong turn can lead to a protagonist’s demise.
The game takes place in the late 20th century in the Sumida Ward of Tokyo, Japan — an area that has real-world urban myths known as the aforementioned ‘Seven Mysteries’ (a few examples are described below) and a ‘Rite of Resurrection.’ The opening of the game will put you in the shoes of Shogo Okiie, who is an ordinary office worker who heads out to Kinshibori Park at night to help his friend Yoko Fukunaga investigate some local ghost stories. This kicks off the events of the game, in which other residents are carrying out their own investigations, including classmates investigating a high school student’s suicide and a grieving mother investigating her son’s death.
Sections of the game use a panoramic view using photographs taken from a 360-degree camera to portray locations authentically and realistically.
The game’s setting of Sumida, Tokyo has also been faithfully created in partnership with the Sumida City Tourism Division, a local museum, the tourist association, and the local community themselves.
Paranormasight releases on March 8th for Steam, and March 9th for Nintendo Switch.
The Whispering Canal
Many fisherman once gathered at a certain part of the canal that ran through Honjo. As their days came to a close, and the fishermen gathered up their catches, a terrifying voice would rise up from the canal, whispering: “Leave it behind…”
Those who ignored the sinister voice would find themselves unable to move – and their previously full buckets of fish emptied.
They would then be dragged into the canal, never to return…
This strange phenomenon continued to occur, and the people started to call the body of water the ‘Whispering Canal’.
The Beckoning Light
While walking along the road near Ho’onji at night, one might spot a hazy lantern up ahead, despite there being nobody else around.
Following it will cause it to go out suddenly when getting near, but just when one fears the darkness might swallow one up, another light will appear further ahead, as if guiding the one who sees it.
Some say the flame is benevolent, leading others to their homes, while others believe it a monster leading people astray. Some even believe that it’s the vengeful spirit of someone who died, luring the lost to the land of the dead.
The One-Sided Reed
There was once an infamous rogue by the name of Tomezo, who fell for a woman named Okoma.
Tomeza persistently chased after Okoma, attempting to win her heart again and again, but she rejected his advances each time. Enraged by her indifference, Tomeza brought a dagger to a canal near Ryogoku Bridge and attacked Okama.
He cut off her arm and leg on one side and threw them into the canal. Ever since that day, the reeds growing along the canal have only sprouted leaves on one side…
The Haunting Clappers
As the evening bell rings in Iriecho, a night watchman patrols the dark streets and announces his presence by shouting warnings about fires, all while striking his wooden clappers.
But tonight the sound of another set of clappers answers back.
He curiously claps his clackers together again. Clack clack – the echo answers again. But no matter how hard he searches for the source of this second set of clackers, he never finds it.
Some say it was the work of a mischievous tanuki or kitsune, while others say it was a warning from the spirit of someone who lost their lives in a terrible fire…
Paranormasight releases on March 8th for Steam, and March 9th for Nintendo Switch.
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