Schrödinger’s Call is a unique visual novel that explores themes of grief, loss, and personal relationships, all told beautifully against the backdrop of a world-ending event. The main character is apparently the world’s last Confidant, and the story takes place over the final 21 nanoseconds before the world ends and everyone loses their lives.
Schrödinger’s Call begins with an air of mystery and gradually expands its narrative, allowing players to learn more about the events that unfold. It is eventually revealed that the world has ended after the moon crashed into Earth, and Mary, the Last Confidant in this realm, must help the lost souls who died in the catastrophe. Her role is to resolve their lingering desires and help them move beyond their regrets. The visual novel is fairly short, with a strong focus on individual stories that are presented as separate chapters.
The gameplay is quite minimal, but it remains functional. The story and writing elevate the game to another level, though the gameplay itself is still decent. There are light adventure elements throughout the experience. The core loop revolves around taking phone calls and speaking with lost souls who are struggling to come to terms with their deaths and the tragedy their families have suffered. At the same time, players gather information about these spirits and gradually learn more about what happened to Mary and the world itself. Every character has a story to tell, and Mary keeps a notebook to piece together useful information, making drawings and highlighting important words that can be used to trigger memories connected to their lives.
The game is not solely a visual novel, as there are occasional point-and-click mechanics that require players to interact with the environment. There are also multiple dialogue choices, although these do not appear to alter the final outcome and instead serve as a way to keep players engaged. Choosing different responses can change parts of the conversation, but it does not have a meaningful impact on the direction of the story. The narrative is strictly linear and only creates the illusion of choice. That is not necessarily a negative, but players should not expect multiple endings or complex systems that determine different story outcomes.
The story explores themes of struggle and acceptance. Mary starts off as an amnesiac who has trouble remembering her past and her final moments, but details slowly resurface as she speaks with others and helps them find peace. The writing is the game’s greatest strength, as the dialogue closely connects the struggles of other characters with Mary’s own personal journey. The story is genuinely heartwarming and emotional, with many of the qualities that make us human laid bare throughout the experience. The main issue comes from repetition, as some conversations tend to cover similar ground, and not every character has a story that feels equally compelling.
The visuals are impressive for a budget visual novel. The game creatively combines a black-and-white colour palette with vibrant artwork. There is very little UI to distract from the story, with only a few elements included to guide the player and provide quick access to actions. The art style is surreal and psychedelic, blending elements of dark fantasy. It is far from cheerful or vibrant, and its themes align closely with the writing, presenting a bleak view of the world that often gives way to moments of calm reflection. The same can be said for the soundtrack, which does a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to creating the game’s atmosphere. It is genuinely unsettling at times while also maintaining a strong sense of mystery.
One aspect of Schrödinger’s Call that may limit its appeal is its replay value. Since the story is strictly linear, there is not much reason to revisit it. However, it can still be rewarding to play through it again with a better understanding of the events and themes that unfold throughout the narrative.
Overall, I was genuinely surprised by Schrödinger’s Call. I expected a fairly standard visual novel with an emotional story, but the game tackles a wide range of sensitive topics and offers a thoughtful perspective on emotions that many people experience. While it does not always maintain the same pace from beginning to end, I feel it is a game that is well worth experiencing at least once. There is a good chance that some of the individual stories and their conclusions will leave a strong emotional impact and may even bring a few tears along the way.
Schrödinger’s Call Game Information
- Price: $17.99
- Publisher: Shueisha Games
- Developer: Acrobatic Chirimenjako
- Platform: PC, Switch (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
