SINce Memories: Off the Starry Sky marks the first-ever official Western release in the long-running Memories Off series. While the franchise has been around since 1999 and, frankly, is a mess to get into, this emotionally mature spin-off is fully accessible to newcomers like me. It has a quiet, calming tone, exploring themes of loss and healing. It’s a welcome change from the more fanservice-heavy visual novels often found in the genre, and though not every route is equally satisfying, this is a story that feels more grown-up than it looks at first glance.
You play as Junya, a college student who struggles to deal with the death of his older brother. As Junya takes on odd jobs in his hometown of Sumisora and reconnects with a cast of distinct women, he slowly reveals the mystery surrounding his brother’s death.
There are tons of women with unique routes, making this feel like a harem romance story in the beginning. Fortunately, the tone is far more subdued than most others in the genre. Romance isn’t the focus here, but its a welcome addition. Instead, the game is about grief and connection. Junya is not a blank-slate protagonist, and his role as an active character with emotional baggage improves the narrative. There are occasional moments of fan service, but they are restrained and less frequent than in most visual novels. Hinata is the character with he most ridiculous chest in the game, but she is an adult, and her story does not revolve around sexual content. It feels far more comfortable and mature than many visual novels with similar setups, even if it isn’t perfect.
Gameplay consists entirely of reading and making dialogue choices that shape the direction of each route. Each heroine’s story includes multiple endings, and while there is no in-game route map, it is easy enough to use the generous save system to revisit branching paths. For those who like to experiment with choices or chase down all endings, the structure is approachable and doesn’t require much outside help.
Visually, the game is lovely. The background art is filled with soft colors and lively lighting. The character designs are detailed and expressive, and the UI is clean. Each character has a theme composed by Takeshi Abo, and most of them are excellent. The English script is serviceable but far from polished. There are a lot of awkward sentences in this visual novel, and even some typos.
SINce Memories: Off the Starry Sky is far from perfect, but it stands out on its own. Its strengths lie in its grounded characters and lovely presentation. For players who prefer adult characters and visual novels with more emotional depth and less reliance on fan service, this is a worthwhile read. As my introduction to the Memories Off franchise, it left me hoping that PQube can publish more entries in the future.
