Azami Fukurai has always been able to see ghosts. When she seeks out the Urban Myth Dissolution Center to help with her issue, she instead finds herself working for the Center to pay off a debt for breaking an antique item. Now, Azami, aided by her eccentric supervisor Ayumu Meguriya and lazy but skilled part-time Jasmine, must hunt down and defeat various urban legends using the powers of investigation, deduction, and really stylish ghost-sight-aiding glasses.
Urban Myth Dissolution Center is a slick, modern paranormal thriller developed by Hakaba-bunko and published by Shueisha Games. Part visual novel, part mystery, the game is episodic, with each chapter focusing on a different myth, legend, ghost, curse, or other bizarre oddity that the Center’s employees are investigating. Gameplay consists of investigating to gather clues, noting down said clues in Azami’s journal, sometimes researching the origin or history of the urban legend in question, and then figuring out the truth via a The Case of the Golden Idol–style deduction panel where you have to choose the correct words and phrases to solve the case.
I love visual novels, I love mysteries, and I love deduction, so Urban Myth Dissolution Center was one of those games I could not wait to get my hands on. And I was not disappointed – I LOVED this game. The mysteries are well thought out, the urban legends are interesting and unique, and the deduction segments are reminiscent of the Golden Idol games, which are some of my absolute favorites, so I am thrilled. The game’s episodic nature also makes it really good to just pick up and play a chapter every so often when you have a bit of free time. There is an overarching narrative that gradually comes together as you play, but most chapters can stand on their own. Play it bit by bit or as one big marathon, it’s an excellent experience either way!
Speaking of characters, this game has some pretty great ones. Azami is a fun protagonist – she’s spunky, in over her head at first but willing to learn, a really nice “relatable everyman” type. But my far and away favorite was, of course, Ayumu Meguriya. Weird and sinister but (mostly) well-intentioned, he’s the “eccentric detective” type in the vein of Sherlock Holmes (and Ace Attorney’s Herlock Sholmes). Add to that an encyclopedic knowledge of the paranormal, a “trickster” personality, and sometimes inscrutable motivations, and you have the recipe for a really fun character. And it’s always nice to see more disabled characters in games – Ayumu may be wheelchair-bound, but that doesn’t stop him from being a really cool and powerful character. He’s also psychic, because could he BE any cooler?
Each chapter stands on its own while dropping subtle (and a few not-so-subtle) hints about the overarching narrative and what’s really going on. There are plenty of twists – a few could be guessed ahead of time, but there’s at least one that most players definitely won’t see coming. The interactions between the characters are also quite fun, especially as Azami gradually becomes more settled into her role at the Dissolution Center. The game’s ending is open enough that I could easily see a sequel covering the further adventures of the Urban Myth Dissolution Center – and I definitely do hope that such a game comes to pass!
Overall, Urban Myth Dissolution Center leans a bit more towards the visual novel side of things – the puzzles are never allowed to get too tricky, and none of the clues are really missable. But the deduction elements are still really fun, and it’s satisfying to put things together at the end of each case. I like the variety of research types you have to do to solve the various cases – sometimes you’re physically looking for clues in a room, other times you’re scouring social media or talking to people to pick up gossip.
The visual novel sections are also really well-written, with the characters feeling relatable and human and the ghouls, ghosts, and curses feeling otherworldly and dangerous. Urban Myth Dissolution Center is not a horror game, but there are definitely a few creepy moments – without spoiling anything, there was one urban legend that definitely sent shivers down my spine when it appeared. That’s one creepy face I won’t be forgetting anytime soon!
I can’t end this review without acknowledging just how cool the art in Urban Myth Dissolution Center is. The game uses a classic pixel art style that really makes the ghosts and monsters “pop” when they appear. The game’s color palette is fairly dark, with a navy blue reminiscent of the nighttime sky serving as the predominant color. This makes other colors really stand out when they appear – the yellow flash of a light, the white of Ayumu’s clothing, the red of ambient ghosts (or a certain creepy figure’s distinctive outfit). I am absolutely in love with the art style of this game.
Overall, Urban Myth Dissolution Center is an absolutely fantastic game that does a great job combining the visual novel and mystery/deduction genres. It’s got a gripping story, fun characters, a cool art style, and just a pinch of horror. The episodic nature of the game makes it perfect for busy gamers to play a chapter or two whenever they have the time. I would recommend this game to anyone who likes spooky games, mysteries, visual novels, puzzles, or the supernatural. I think the world of Urban Myth Dissolution Center is a rich one that is ripe for sequels or spinoffs, and I hope to see more games in this world from the developer in the future!
Kate played Urban Myth Dissolution Center on Nintendo Switch using a provided review code.
