Adventure Corner ~ Schrödinger’s Call

Welcome to Adventure Corner, a column where members of the RPGamer staff can give their thoughts, impressions, and pseudo-reviews for various adventure titles that don’t come under our usual coverage. Adventure Corner is aimed at delivering opinions on a wide range of titles, including visual novels, point-and-click adventures, investigative mysteries, and so forth.

In this edition of the column, we take a look at Schrödinger’s Call, an extraordinary debut visual novel by Acrobatic Chirimenjako and published by SHUEISHA GAMES. Set in the realm between life and death, it tells the story of the world’s end from the perspective of the “world’s last confidant”.

Schrödinger’s Call

They say that life flashes before the eyes of those who are about to die. Flickers of regret, loneliness, and despair set in as amends cannot be made and wishes have not been fulfilled. What does one do when they abruptly find themselves in this moment? Who would they call or trust to listen to their life story one last time? Schrödinger’s Call is a harrowing narrative about the regrets and emotional burdens one carries throughout their lives, and whether they choose to accept or confront them in their last moments.

In Schrödinger’s Call, the world is about to end in approximately twenty-one nanoseconds due to an unexpected apocalypse. Right before humanity is wiped out, however, players find themselves in an existence between life and death. There is no one else around except an elusive cat named Hamlet who calls the player Mary and explains that she is the “world’s last confidant”. Mary has the all-important task of guiding unsettled spirits into the afterlife. Struggling with amnesia and with no way to leave, Mary has little choice but to help for the time being.

From the depths of the void, the telephone rings. Once Mary forms a connection with a spirit, she is able to call them back on her telephone and speak with them. Just like Mary, however, each spirit initially struggles to remember anything about their lives. Through a series of telephone conversations, Mary takes notes and listens with empathy to their life stories, trying to piece together their identities and repressed memories. Hamlet guides Mary, connecting her to other spirits known as “third parties” who may know further information about the particular spirit Mary is helping.

What troubles you, dear Lucy?

When a spirit is on the verge of remembering their past, everything intensifies. The more painful the memories, the more visibly distraught the spirit become, eventually triggering an “endless thought spiral”. The player must break this cycle to save the spirit by using phrases in Mary’s notebook. Despite how emotionally confronting Schrödinger’s Call is, players are not expected to uncover complex clues to progress the linear story, but to merely witness the visual spectacle akin to turning the pages of a storybook. Clues are as straightforward as they appear, simply serving as a vehicle to drive the story forward. On a number of occasions, dialogue options are even identical or fragments of the same sentence, and the game is quite forgiving when it comes to mistakes.

Who is Mary? This is a question that will constantly be on the back of the player’s mind as they catch glimpses of Mary’s old life in between saving the spirits. With every soul saved, she gets closer to her past and remembers fragments about who she is. Schrödinger’s Call does a fantastic job at keeping players on the edge of their seats by breaking up the dialogue sequences with point-and-click elements when Mary explores her surroundings to uncover the truth.

The void is calling.

Schrödinger’s Call relies on its tasteful execution of storytelling, striking visuals, and uncanny soundtrack, particularly in the last arc where the player’s decisions are written into the climax. The sound design is incredibly immersive, comprising a spiritual blend of classical orchestration, atmospheric synth, and tracks reminiscent of sound baths. The human spirits Mary helps are portrayed as animals and speak in a muffled babble, not dissimilar to that of Animal Crossing villagers. Additionally, the sleek sketchbook art style is complemented with flashing images, both beautiful and unsettling, creating the otherworldly feel of Schrödinger’s Call.

For players who are fascinated by the human condition or poignant stories, Schrödinger’s Call is an easy recommendation. With a playtime of less than ten hours, this stunning visual novel is nothing short of surreal. It hits extremely hard and is a must-play. Acrobatic Chirimenjako has made all the right calls in this compelling debut, and players are sure to hold the line for future games.

Disclosure: This article is based on a free copy of the game provided by the publisher.