Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo is the latest horror visual novel from developer xeen in collaboration with Square Enix. The game’s story is based on the real-life urban legends of The Seven Mysteries of Honjo in Tokyo and explores the mysteries behind them. The game‘s unique atmosphere and art direction has been praised by critics and players alike. Nintendo Life had the opportunity to speak with Takanari Ishiyama, the writer and director of the game, Kazuma Oushu, the producer, and Gen Kobayashi, the character designer, about the inspiration behind the game, its characters, and the possibility of a sequel.
TL;DR:
- Paranormasight is a horror visual novel based on the real-life urban legends of The Seven Mysteries of Honjo in Tokyo
- The developers were drawn towards the myths because of the many different interpretations and the fact that there was so much room for imagination
- The game’s unique atmosphere is created through a mix of humor and seriousness
- The TV set is a symbol of the Showa Period and was added to represent that particular time period
- The hand-drawn art style of the characters is evocative of the Showa Period, and GUI effects resemble brush strokes
- The characters were designed to evoke a sense of the times by incorporating fashion and hairstyles from that era
- There are no current plans for a sequel, but the developers are open to the idea if there is enough demand from players
Paranormasight
Ishiyama explained that the many different interpretations of The Seven Mysteries of Honjo drew him towards the myths, as it left so much room for imagination. The team was also intrigued by the fact that the number and content of the mysteries were not set in stone. Oushu added that the tales had similarities to Japanese folktales, making them unique and interesting.
The game’s unique atmosphere is created through a mix of humor and seriousness, which Ishiyama described as his creative style. The game’s TV set was added to represent the Showa Period, with noise and filters evocative of old TV footage. The analog feel of brush strokes was also added to the characters’ line art and GUI effects to resemble brush strokes.
Kobayashi designed the characters to evoke a sense of the times by incorporating fashion and hairstyles from the Showa Period in Japan. The designs tended to be on the plain side, with personality added through facial expressions, poses, and more. An overview of the story had already been communicated to Kobayashi at the start of the design process, so it wasn’t difficult to grasp the overall feel.
When asked about the possibility of a sequel, Ishiyama stated that the team is currently looking at a completely blank slate in terms of future developments, and any plans for a sequel would depend on demand. Oushu added that they had worked closely with the Sumida City Tourism Division, who had given them permission to shoot backgrounds and materials from the Showa Period. They also cooperated with regards to promotion, and wanted to take care in depicting Sumida City and upholding its image because they were incorporating real-world urban legends as part of the game’s theme.
In conclusion, Paranormasight offers a chilling and atmospheric experience that combines horror, humor, and Japanese folklore. The game’s unique art style and authentic representation of Sumida City add to its overall appeal. While there are no current plans for a sequel, fans of the game can hope that the demand will bring back some of their favorite characters in the future.
