Horror games are continuing to make a comeback this year, and independent game development team Bokusen Studio is looking to continue that trend with Noroware Cycle, a 2D side-scroller, and visual-novel horror game.
Three young girls begin to investigate the machinations behind a curse that claimed the lives of several students more than eight years ago. The more they explore though, the more they realize their lives are being consumed by this curse, figuratively and literally. Will they be able to break the cycle before it claims their lives next?
The game is coming to Steam and is only available in Japanese, but the developers expressed that they wish to localize the title after its initial release if you let them know you’re interested! You can do that by wishlisting for the game on Steam here and following the game’s Twitter account!
▍Noroware Cycle PV
▍Noroware Cycle Story and Characters
Noroware Cycle takes place in Tokyo, surrounding a school known as Mayuhara Private Academy.
Eight years ago, a mass-suicide event took place on school grounds claiming the lives of several students, and haunting family members, officials, and friends throughout the years. While the scars left by the traumatic event have slowly begun to heal, the truth behind the event was never fully revealed, with many murmurs awoke in its aftermath talking about an evil curse.
Suddenly, Mayuhara Academy is gripped again with mysterious deaths, and it is rumored that the Noroi (curse) is returning. Three students from Mayuhara Academy, Chihaya Natsume, Mai Akutagawa, and Sakura Shibusawa decide to investigate the strange happenings, motivated by the losses they suffered as a result of the curse.
But as they say, curiosity killed the cat, and as they dive deeper into the curse, they find that their lives will be changed irreversibly. Can they escape and break the curse cycle before it’s too late?
▍Noroware Cycle Gameplay Overview
Noroware Cycle plays as a mix between a 2D Side-scrolling adventure, and a visual novel. Over the course of the game, you will take control of the girls, explore the city, ask questions, and find more clues about the curse from social media. Over the course of the game, you will explore various areas in both the day and night, with new clues and horrors awaiting you.
The game features a “Kotonoha System” which lets you deduce the mystery alongside the characters, with certain keywords being highlighted that you can look up during conversations that will lead to further clues you can investigate.
Naturally, you are never alone. Throughout the story, as you explore more of the curse, you will uncover more dark secrets and slowly begin being haunted by them. Keep your wits about you as you may find yourself being attacked and by the curse with horrifying hand-drawn imagery and events that may end up scarring you too.
