Nintendo Switch Review: SINce Memories: Off The Starry Sky

SINce Memories: Off The Starry Sky, developed by PQube and MAGES, marks an exciting addition to the established visual novel series. For those unfamiliar with the Memories Off franchise, it all began in 1999 on the original PlayStation. This latest entry serves as a spin-off and is set a decade after the core series. Fans of the series can look forward to a new entry mentioned to be releasing next year on the Nintendo Switch in Japan, which we anticipate will eventually be accessible worldwide. In this story, you step into the shoes of Junya Mizumoto, a college student navigating life after a significant loss.

Junya is dealing with the sudden death of his brother from a year prior, a tragedy that deeply affects him. As fate would have it, he meets an unusual girl who delivers a chilling message: he was meant to die instead. How will you cope with such a revelation? Luckily, a comforting connection comes through reuniting with his childhood friend, Chihaya Hojo. They’re tasked with refurbishing the Hojo manor, a traditional Japanese house tethered to Chihaya’s family history, stirring the narrative in new and unexpected directions. However, the full story is for you to uncover, complete with branching paths where your decisions impact relationships with Chihaya and others like Hinata Ise, Azusa Satomi, Chunyu Huang, and Yuriko Oyama.

If you’re just getting into visual novels, you’re in for a treat. These games aptly live up to their name by presenting stories in a visually enhanced format. This style can vary from shorter tales to full-length narratives that often feature voice acting—a complex and expensive element to include. While SINce Memories: Off The Starry Sky enhances the experience with full voice acting, it’s only available in Japanese. So, be prepared to engage heavily in reading, which is an inherent part of this genre, and adds to the immersive nature of the game.

For an additional look at what to expect, SINce Memories immerses you in a tale filled with emotional depth and complex character dynamics. Set ten years after the original series, you play as Junya, a college student coping with his brother’s untimely death. An unsettling encounter with a mysterious girl feeds into the drama as she tells him he was the one meant to die. From there, the narrative weaves through heartwarming and challenging moments as you collaborate with Chihaya Hojo on her family’s manor refurbishment. The expansive storyline promised is entirely yours to explore thoroughly.

Although the game’s localization isn’t flawless, with minor grammar issues, the narrative quality largely compensates for that. This visual novel is available on Nintendo Switch for $39.99, offering a compelling experience in storytelling.

Remember, this overview of SINce Memories: Off The Starry Sky is informed by a review experience on a Nintendo Switch copy provided by PQube, ensuring an accurate representation of what to expect.