I have always loved reading. And like any avid reader, I had my favorite genre: mystery! Solving puzzles and crimes and all kinds of unexplained phenomena has always been my first love, the literature that got my heart pounding before I even realized was it meant to “like like” someone. Nancy Drew was my girl, but I also enjoyed Cam Jansen, Sammy Keyes, and Violet Baudelaire (who I think totally counts!). Girls solving mysteries has always been my jam.
While I don’t read as many mystery series twenty years down the line due to less time to read overall, I can still find that spark of fun in my otome games (which I, admittedly, do make time for)! Mirage Noir draws inspiration from games like Bustafellows & Ace Attorney, both of which I enjoyed plenty, so I was excited when after following development for a bit, a demo was released! And I, of course, devoured it 🙂
Publisher & Developer: Studio Chawan
Sprite Artist: merururuu
BG Artist: EVYAN Art Design
CG Artist: Somate Studio (Volontes, Peachleaf Valley, Save the Villainess)
Writer: mari of Studio Chawan (also the director & programmer! #girlboss)
Summary
When Yunie graduated from college, she believed she had an exciting life ahead of her. Returning to her hometown with a shiny new dream job, it seemed like it would only onwards and upwards from here on out. Yet two years later, it feels like not much has changed. She hasn’t made any new friends, isn’t allowed to investigate anything worthwhile, and feels like she’s stuck in mediocrity. So when an unexpected but risky opportunity arises, she doesn’t hesitate to take it. The case is a weird one, but it introduces Yunie to an eccentric team of people she immediately connects with. No matter what, she won’t regret getting involved. Even if it means crossing paths with a serial killer!
Initial Love Interest Ranking
This includes how I felt about them taking into account the prologue, common chapters, and general impressions of their aesthetics/character design.
- Thierry – My taste in men is the beautiful, well-dressed kind, especially if they have long hair. Immediate fav.
- Alexei – I know myself, and I know I love blondes, so…
- Sami – Pretty boy, a little hard to read, but you can immediately clock him as the guy-in-the-chair character!
- Jem – Here’s the nice boy next door character, I love boys with pink hair but I will admit this character type isn’t usually for me…
Summarized Rating (Spoiler-free)
High points:
- Great music & BGM themes for each character
- Fun, unique take on investigation-type gameplay
Music
Can’t even decide who has my favorite theme?! They’re all so good?! (I think it’s Niko, actually)
I left the screen on Nikolai’s introduction just to listen to the music on loop for a bit.
Character Designs
Honestly everyone is so hot? And Yunie’s design as an MC is so unique and stands out even amongst all those hot boys, which I believe is definitely a staple for a good otome game – the heroine needs to be able to stand out on her own even without the men surrounding her. No notes, 10/10.
UI & Graphics
The UI is very cute, but I felt like maybe was a little too simple compared to the highly-detailed CGs, sprites, and backgrounds? It would be nice if things felt a bit more balanced in terms of simplicity vs. elaborated.
Main Character
Yunie super cute! She’s a very fun MC. Like I said, my fellow working girlie with photographic memory. She has her own personality and motives so she is very much her own character, which I appreciate more than blank, self-insert MCs who sort of just go along with whatever the other characters say or do.
Love Interests
The love interests in this game are thus far well-rounded, and it seems they all have distinct flavors in order for players to find one that appeals to them! I’m excited to see how their personalities deepen over the course of the full game!
*Please note these ratings may change once the full game is out! These are just my impressions based on the demo!
Final Love Interest Ranking
- Thierry
- Alexei
- Sami
- Jem
…Yes, the list is exactly the same as my first impressions! I know what I’m about, apparently.
In-depth Impressions (Spoilers ahead)
Gameplay
I like the presentation of evidence! It’s similar to Ace Attorney or AI Somnium Files – it takes a cute & unique twist when the boys present a possibility and you can choose which one you agree with; that’s a gameplay mechanic I don’t believe I’ve ever seen before, and of course fits very well in an otome game. Sami is a silly little man.
Characters
Yunie – She’s very relatable in that I think lots of my fellow working girls will feel like they’re at dead-end jobs. Me especially, because I’m also at what I would consider “my dream job” but am still unhappy. And my fellow photographic memory bestie! I’ve been acutely aware of my photographic memory since I was a kid. Rarely have I seen it utilized in stories, except for literally Cam Jansen lol.
Thierry – An interesting subversion of the perfect prince type, I LOVEEEEE how shady and sassy he can be. Not even in a pampered, blue-blood type of way, but in a “man, I’m so busy and so done with all of this” type way, which again, I think lots of us working girlies can relate to… Haha! As someone who loves Frederick Fire Emblem Awakening & Seteth Fire Emblem Three Houses, I knew I was cooked when I ran into a beautiful man who initially did not trust the MC. That’s exactly my type! I also like when he’s sweet to Yunie but sassy to the boys LOL Nothing says male bonding like guys who are jerks to each other.
Alexei – I expected him to be really straightforward meathead buuuut he’s surprisingly cool! Tartaglia Genshin lovers this one’s for you. He grew on me! I really do like blondes. I feel like they never miss. He’s a bit of a himbo (affectionate) as well, which sort of is gap moe considering his infamous reputation for a ~cool and tough criminal~. I’m interested in seeing how his backstory and gang is unraveled a little bit more. Will we get to see a soft & vulnerable side of him? That’s what I’m most excited for.
Sami – SURPRISINGLY? GAP MOE. Funny silly little man. He talks like he’s chronically online, so he’s relatable and funny in that sense, but depending on how normie you are that might go the other way :’3c My type is people who are not chronically online A.K.A. normies, so he’s a character that to me, would probably stay squarely in the friend zone if we were actually acquainted. EASILY the cutest when drunk though.
Jem – Such a sweetie! He’s so nice and cute! There’s absolutely nothing wrong with him he’s like a golden retriever! And that’s it, I think? That’s just… usually not my type personally…. I feel so bad about ranking him last! For real! I just like a little more spice in my men! But who knows, maybe the demo doesn’t do the true depth of his character justice, and I will change my tune and regret my decisions in the future and keep a picture of him in my wallet? (Can you tell I’m speaking from experience?) All we can do is wait and see.
Very Special Particular Request to the Devs From Me
PleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseIwanthimcanIhavehim
Thank you for your consideration.
Support the Game!
Download the demo from itch.io!
As always, support otome games!
Thanks for following along this far!
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