MINDCIRCUS (Free Mystery-Style Suspense ADV) Introduction and Review

Preface

I played "Midday Darkness," another work by the same author, and found it very enjoyable, so I decided to play this game, "MINDCIRCUS."

The product description page states that it is a "mystery-flavored adventure novel game."
This game contains some quite grotesque and gruesome depictions, so I wouldn't recommend it to people who are sensitive to such things.
This game is rated R-15, so please refrain from playing if you are under 15 years old.

The game files posted on "Freem" are versions with the cruel illustrations removed, while "Free Game Mugen" is the version that is not.

I played the "Freem" version without knowing there were differences, but even then, there were some pretty intense scenes.
You can choose whichever you prefer to play on.

Game Overview

This game, "MINDCIRCUS," is a visual novel where the ending changes depending on the choices you make as you read through the text.
The retro graphics are a distinctive feature, giving the entire work a unique atmosphere.

There are scenes where you move around the map and search rooms, so it has a strong adventure feel to it.

Unusually for a game that primarily uses text, it was created using RPG Maker MV.
On the single-image map, you can move the pointer to enter buildings or move between maps.

Sometimes you might not know where to go next, but if you go to a location marked with a "!" on the map screen, the story will progress.

This work is a "mystery-style" story, but it is not a "mystery."
If you're expecting a typical mystery novel, you might find the story unfolding in a way that's not what you're looking for.

Indeed, there are parts of the game where you need to input text to solve puzzles.
However, it's important to note that this isn't a story where you try to guess the culprit or the trick.
By the way, strategy information is available on the official website.

If you ask me what genre this work belongs to, well, it's a long story."A mystery-style psychological suspense adventure novel"I think that's a reasonable assessment.

The synopsis of this work, "MINDCIRCUS," is as follows:

The above is an overview of the game "MINDCIRCUS".

Review (no spoilers)

In the previous section, we introduced the outline of the game.
However, I believe the most important aspect of an adventure game is the story itself and the quality of the writing.

This work is told from the first-person perspective of the protagonist, Infu, butNarrative textI found it interesting to read.
Of course, the story itself was interesting, but what really made it compelling was the way the court officials thought and acted, as described in the narrative, which gave it a sense of humanity and realism.

It's not that I sympathize with the Imperial Court's way of thinking, but rather that his thoughts are conveyed through the narrative as if the Imperial Court actually existed.

For example, the narrative text in the image above, while not directly related to the plot's progression, conveys a sense of the court's rules of thumb, enhancing the characters' presence.

Because the characters have such a strong presence, the inferiority complex and hopeless worries that the court officials experience feel so real, and you can't help but feel their gloomy emotions.
It may have its origins in "inferior," but to me, it gave me the impression of "negative" or "negative."

Generally speaking, I feel that many visual novels are designed to keep players engaged by rapidly advancing the story.

As a result, the narrative text inevitably tends to be devoted more to describing the situation.
If there is a lot of description of the narrator's psychology and inner thoughts, you need to let them narrate skillfully, otherwise the story won't progress and the pace will be poor.

I think the highlights of this work are not only the story, but also the portrayal of the characters' inner lives and emotions.
The story is set on an island perfect for a vacation, but the characters, including the court official, all harbor some kind of darkness.
The stark contrast between the idyllic island atmosphere and the portrayal of the characters' gloomy inner lives will surely dazzle players like a circus act.

The game system had some slightly inconvenient aspects.
The story can't progress until I've finished investigating everything that needs investigating, but sometimes I don't know where to look, so I have no choice but to try every single square one by one.

Also, the fact that you can't save at any time was a bit of a drawback for me.
However, overall, it was as enjoyable as reading a high-quality novel, so even considering this point, I still recommend it.

Furthermore, please note that this work contains spoilers for Agatha Christie's masterpiece, "And Then There Were None."
The culprit and the trick will be revealed, so please be careful if you haven't read it yet.

Review (contains spoilers)

The island's name kind of spoils the plot, but I figured it out partway through.
However, the fact that everyone, including Wakaho, was so ill that they committed suicide made me sad.

There are several bad endings, but each one is so gruesome that it's a must-see.
The intense depictions were so captivating that I lost all interest in what would happen next in the main story.

As you might expect from someone who's come to this island, everyone seems to be harboring some kind of darkness within them.
Because the narrator, Infu, provides such detailed descriptions of his inner world, the sudden shift to grotesque and disturbing events creates a stark contrast, making it all the more unsettling.

But what's strange is that, even though the transformation of the Imperial Court feels abrupt, I find myself accepting it as natural.
It might be because people who were supposed to be dead come back to life, or people suddenly commit suicide, creating an atmosphere where anything can happen.

There are several true endings, but I liked ending number 2 the best.
The fact that not only I, but also Heido-san, are here makes me feel a sense of helplessness.
The two characters in the event illustration have such lovely smiles, which makes it all the more painful to watch.

Having played this game after "Darkness at Noon," I've come to realize that I've probably become a fan of this author's writing style.
If a new game comes out, I will definitely play it.