[Nintendo Switch] Review of SINce Memories: Off The Starry Sky

SINce Memories: Off The Starry Sky, developed by PQube and MAGES, is the latest entry in the enduring Memories Off visual novel series, which has captured players’ imaginations since its inception on the original PlayStation back in 1999. This brand-new installment offers a fresh spin on the main series and is set a decade later. It’s worth noting that a new game from the series is slated for release in Japan on the Nintendo Switch next year, and fingers crossed, it’ll make its way to our shores soon!

In this game, you step into the shoes of Junya Mizumoto, a college student struggling with the heartbreaking loss of his brother who tragically passed away a year ago. Just when you think life can’t get more complicated, you encounter a mysterious girl who bluntly tells you that it should have been you who died. How does one even begin to process that? Thankfully, there’s a silver lining. You’ll be teaming up with your childhood friend, Chihaya Hojo, working on a project close to her heart—a renovation of the Hojo manor, a beautiful traditional Japanese house that’s part of her family’s legacy. The path you choose in the game affects your relationships with various characters like Chihaya, Hinata Ise, Azusa Satomi, Chunyu Huang, and Yuriko Oyama, offering plenty of twists and turns.

If you’re new to visual novels, this genre lives up to its name by presenting engaging stories with visual elements. Some of these narratives are as hefty as a novel itself. What makes many visual novels stand out is voice acting—a pricey feature in the world of gaming. Fortunately, SINce Memories: Off The Starry Sky comes fully voice-acted, albeit in Japanese. So, if you’re not versed in the language, be prepared for quite a bit of reading. But hey, isn’t that part of the charm of visual novels?

The story kicks off with Junya Mizumoto, dealing with his brother’s tragic death. Then a peculiar encounter with a girl informs you that you should have been the one to die. Quite the revelation, right? But soon, you find yourself collaborating with Chihaya Hojo on an intriguing project—a renovation of the historic Hojo manor, ingrained in Chihaya’s family history. What happens next? Well, playing the game is the only way to find out! Aside from a few grammatical hiccups in the localization, there’s little to critique.

SINce Memories: Off The Starry Sky is now available on Nintendo Switch for $39.99, offering a richly woven narrative for those who crave compelling storytelling.

Disclaimer: This review is based on a Nintendo Switch copy of SINce Memories: Off The Starry Sky provided by PQube.