The Madness of the Illusion Mansion (Free Short ADV) - Introduction and Review

I was drawn to the keyword "optical illusion" and downloaded this short adventure game.
It has elements of exploration horror and mystery, and the playtime was about one hour.
There are three different endings, but the included text file contains detailed walkthroughs, so anyone can easily play the game.

Game Overview

The story centers on Yu Mihako, a college student who heads to a haunted spot called the "Illusion House" in order to write a horror novel.
The story follows a man who visits the Museum of Optical Illusions and, while encountering strange phenomena, gets closer to uncovering the truth behind past incidents that took place there.

The game is set in the "Illusion Museum," which is also the title of the game.
Players will control the protagonist and explore this mansion.
By obtaining keys and items, you can access new areas.
The story progresses as you explore new places.
However, since the stage isn't very large, we often find ourselves moving back and forth to the same spot.

There's a scene where they're being chased by a dangerous entity and have to run away.
If you get caught up to, it's game over immediately.
However, it's not that serious,Even people who aren't good at action games will have almost no problems.

Game features and impressions (almost no spoilers)

The "Optical Illusion Museum" is owned by a painter who is fascinated by optical illusions.
Even within the game, there are several images that utilize optical illusions, or "visual illusions," as shown in the image above.
This slightly strange and eerie phenomenon of "optical illusion" gives this building a unique atmosphere.
The background music has a mysterious atmosphere and a somewhat melancholic melody.
It's like a combination of the "Ancient Library" theme from "Final Fantasy V" and "One Deduction" from "Kamaitachi no Yoru".
(I have a feeling this analogy won't resonate with younger generations...)

The story itself feels quite concise and well-structured.
Because it involves supernatural phenomena, it might seem incompatible with the mystery genre.
However, there are fairly well-defined rules for spirits, and they don't do anything completely crazy.
The deductions and the uncovering of the truth, including the paranormal phenomena, were interesting and enjoyable.

It can be completed in a very short amount of time, and a walkthrough file is also included.
How about playing it without overthinking it, like reading a 100-page mystery novel?
You can see various optical illusions displayed throughout the museum, which is quite interesting in itself.