Absolute Zero Night Murder (Free Horror Suspense Novel) Introduction, Impressions, and Walkthrough Notes

This is an article introducing the visual novel game "Absolute Zero Night Murder," created using TyranoBuilder.
It's a closed-circle horror/suspense novel with elements of mystery and deduction, reminiscent of the classic "Kamaitachi no Yoru."

The total time to complete all endings was approximately 5 hours.
There are a total of 12 different endings.
The breakdown is nine bad endings, a survival ending, a resolution ending, and a special ending.

Game Overview

The protagonist, high school student Kazuya, and his friend's older sister, Suzu, somehow ended up on a plane bound for Hokkaido together.
However, their plane crashed into a snowy mountain, leaving them stranded, but they somehow managed to reach a nearby house.
There were other people who had arrived there in the same way, and Kazuya and Suzu managed to get away unharmed.
However, the real nightmare begins here.

The main story begins with this introduction.
Just like in typical visual novels, the game progresses as you read through the text.

During the game, you will naturally encounter choices, and some of these choices will affect the subsequent events.
Additionally, there are sections where you can freely enter the name of the perpetrator, among other things.
To fully solve a case, it's not enough to simply try every possible option; careful consideration is also necessary.

During gameplay, you can access information such as character profiles and building maps.
As new information is added, each person's explanation will become more detailed.

Additionally, the color of the text changes depending on who is speaking during the game.
The main character's lines are in white, male characters' lines are in blue, and female characters' lines are in pink.
Remembering this will make it easier to understand who is speaking.

You can save up to six save data files during gameplay.
While it seems to have fewer features than some, there is a skip function, and once you reach the ending towards the end, a function that allows you to resume from each scene is unlocked.
I think this will be helpful when playing the game repeatedly.

Review (no spoilers)

I've seen all the endings and completed the game.
This is a game that will have you hooked and playing through in one go, as you'll want to know the final truth.

I was surprised by the rather outlandish plot developments, such as the plane crashing right at the beginning.
However, looking back after completing the game, I found it strange that a locked mansion with a murderer in it was scarier than a plane crash, which is far more likely to kill you and therefore more dangerous.
In that sense, I'm reminded once again how fascinating human psychology is.

While the writing style is somewhat informal in places, it doesn't detract from the overall atmosphere of the work, and I found it easy to read.
Furthermore, the story progressed at a good pace, and I never felt like it dragged.

There were some parts that seemed a little far-fetched, but I don't think that's the core of the story, so I personally interpret it positively.
(For example, when enjoying 'Resident Evil' as a horror game, it's pointless to nitpick about the existence of the T-virus itself; it's a similar kind of nuance.)
For some reason, I got the feeling that it had a similar vibe to Innocent Grey's "Cartagra" and "Shell Girl" series.

The epilogue, after the case is solved, includes scenes that delve deeper into the story of the protagonist and heroine, which I think is an element rarely seen in similar suspense novels.
I think it was a good decision to place these elements after they've been resolved, so as not to disrupt the horror-suspense of the main story.

To be honest, I think the difficulty level is quite high.
The endings that can be reached by brute-forcing all the choices are fine, but I could hardly reach the endings that require input on my own.
Sometimes, you need to enter a specific word to see the response before entering further answers.
I was frustrated that I only managed to get there after reading the author's hints and tips.

In any case, I think this is definitely a game that will appeal to people who like works like "Kamaitachi no Yoru."
If you're interested, why not give it a try?

Strategy Notes(Major spoilers ahead)

This section describes how to reach endings that cannot be achieved by simply trying all the options.
The further you progress into the game, the more direct spoilers you'll encounter, so please be aware if you want to complete the game on your own.

END7

The truth is far away
First, let's discuss how to interpret Bad End 7, which I found somewhat difficult to see.
The key point is that, even in dire situations, one continues to choose the same option.
The specific steps to reach your goal are as follows:

START → "9. Just before going to sleep again"
·sleep
Go outside
Do not turn off the alarm.
Go down to the first floor.
Living room + dining kitchen
・Go to the basement x3

END10

- Sacrificing everything
This is one of the survival endings.
The case itself isn't solved, but the story is about somehow surviving.

The key, I think, is whether you can think of any useful items that you keep near the entrance.
(Perhaps you can come up with it by working backward from the typical ending of a mystery about a mansion?)

Please note that the answer is written below.

・START→"9. Just before going to sleep again"
·sleep
Go outside
Do not turn off the alarm.
Go down to the first floor.
Living room + dining kitchen
- Look for things that might be useful
・Toyu

END11

The end of the nightmare
The case is solved.
While there are a few minor points that still bother me, I think this is the main route to complete the game.
The key is the names that appear in the landlord's note.

Please note that the answer is written below.

START → "9. Just before going to sleep again"
·think
Who stole the ring and necklace? → "Saruwatari"
Who killed Saruwatari-san? → "A monster"
- Propose an alternative theory
・"The culprit who killed Takahashi-san. It was—" → Miyu
* Repeat typing until Suzu asks, "Who are you talking about?"
・"...Who are you talking about?" → Sato

END12

・〇〇
This is the special ending that remains at the end.
If you like A-chan, finish the story at END11 and be happy.
If you're a fan of Suzu-sama... well, maybe it's better if you don't watch it.

Please note that the answer is written below.

START → "9. Just before going to sleep again"
·think
Who stole the ring and necklace? → "Saruwatari"
Who killed Saruwatari-san? → "A monster"
- Propose an alternative theory
・"The culprit who killed Takahashi-san. It is—" → Suzu
*Repeat the input until Suzu asks, "How do I appear in Kazuya's eyes?"
・"How do I appear in Kazuya's eyes?" → Tenma Hiromi's daughter

Review (Contains spoilers) *Recommended to read after reaching END 12

This section includes my impressions after reaching END12.
please note.

The first ending I saw was the one where the character dies on the airplane.
It's human nature to want to choose a slightly outlandish option rather than a sensible one, but I certainly didn't expect to die so suddenly.
In subsequent playthroughs, it's impossible to identify the real culprit, and the game inevitably descends into survival mode towards the end.
In the original "Kamaitachi no Yoru," the culprit's elusive nature towards the end was monstrous, but in this game, the monster is quite realistically close to being monstrous, so it makes sense that it can move around effortlessly in the dark.

The existence of monsters was uncertain, so I was a little surprised to find out they actually existed.
However, the fact that the mutilation of the corpses, which seemed like nothing more than a horror effect, was calculated to cause everyone to disperse was interesting.
I also found the plot twist—that some of the passengers pretending to be stranded were actually local residents—to be interesting.

The relationship between Kazuya and Suzu was refreshing because it's a pairing you don't often see elsewhere.
The relationship with her, being an older friend's sister, was a delicate balance—not exactly close friends—and it created a bittersweet tension that was different from the main story.
It was surprising that Suzu would end up taking refuge in a place connected to her own origins.

The next thing I need to discuss is which heroine you, as a player, will choose: Suzu or Mizumachi.

While a protagonist with amnesia having a past connection with the heroine is a common trope in dating sim games, I never expected to see it depicted in a mystery suspense horror novel.
While it's fine to leave the post-game scenario with the heroine to the player's imagination, I think it's also good to have it officially depicted.
Despite being in the position of the heroine, Suzu is treated more like a secondary heroine, while Mizumachi's episode is entirely that of the main heroine.
Honestly, from a personal preference standpoint, it's hard to say which is better, and I can't choose based on emotion alone.

To reach a conclusion on this issue, we first need to correctly interpret the epilogue that appears after the title screen changes.

In short, this epilogue depicts Kazuya and Suzu, who died at the end of END12, being reborn as siblings.
The names of the two children are explicitly stated as "Rinya" and "Nodoka," but it is clear that these are combinations of the names "Kazuya" and "Suzu."
(If written in kanji, it would probably be "Rinya" and "Nodoka")
Being reborn safely and finding happiness in the next life could also be considered one possible outcome.
The idea that they are siblings rather than lovers feels fitting and suits their relationship perfectly.

So let's go back to the previous problem.

Based on the above interpretation of the epilogue, it can be said that if happiness is to be found in this life, it will be Mizumachi, but if happiness is to be found in the next life, it will be Suzu.
However, in Suzu's case, their relationship in the next life will be that of siblings, so it's important to keep in mind that they won't be able to be affectionate with each other like lovers.

If we consider this from a practical standpoint, I am already married and have a family in this lifetime.
In that case, according to normal ethical standards, choosing Mizumachi in this life is impossible, and the inevitable choice is to choose Suzu and be happy in the next life.

I ended up talking about the heroine for about half the time.
I thought the surprises would end with END 11, but I never expected to be even more surprised in END 12.
While some parts of the premise were a bit far-fetched, as entertainment, it was very enjoyable, offering many surprises and satisfying moments.