SINce Memories: Off The Starry Sky, brought to us by PQube and MAGES, enriches the storied tradition of visual novels, adding another chapter to the well-known Memories Off series. Initially launched way back in 1999 for the original PlayStation, the franchise has now offered us this enticing spin-off. This particular entry sets itself a decade after the main storyline, inviting us into the world of Junya Mizumoto, a college student navigating the challenges life throws his way.
Junya is grappling with a profound loss after his brother’s untimely death, which happened a year prior. Things take a shocking turn when he encounters an enigmatic girl who tells him he should have been the one to die. It’s hardly the kind of message anyone would know how to process. Fortunately, an unexpected opportunity arises that might divert his thoughts. Junya dives into a renovation project with Chihaya Hojo, rekindling the bonds of childhood friendship. Their task? To breathe new life into a traditional Japanese estate, the Hojo manor, which is a treasured part of Chihaya’s family heritage. But what journey will this collaboration take them on? I won’t give away any spoilers here. What I will say is that your decisions shape the narrative pathways, influencing how Junya’s relationships evolve with characters like Chihaya Hojo, Hinata Ise, Azusa Satomi, Chunyu Huang, and Yuriko Oyama.
If you’re new to the visual novel genre, let me fill you in. These games, true to their name, offer narrative experiences that can range from short stories to epic sagas, all delivered through engaging visuals. Often, but not always, they incorporate voice acting, a feature that can be costly to produce. SINce Memories: Off The Starry Sky is fully voice-acted, and, much like its peers, it’s presented in its original Japanese. Non-Japanese speakers will have plenty of text to read—fitting, given that reading is at the heart of any visual novel experience.
Back to our story, as Junya takes on the role of restoring the Hojo manor, what follows is a compelling narrative you’ll have to explore yourself to fully appreciate. The game boasts a rich plot despite a few grammatical hiccups in the translation, but these are minor blemishes on an otherwise engaging experience. SINce Memories: Off The Starry Sky is now available for the Nintendo Switch, priced at $39.99.
Note: This review of SINce Memories: Off The Starry Sky was conducted using a Nintendo Switch copy provided by PQube.
