Urban Myth Dissolution Center Review – It’s All About Presentation

Urban Myth Dissolution Center Review

Urban Myth Dissolution Center is a game that’s hard to describe. It’s a ghost story about the horrible things people do to each other when they think they’re justified. It’s a psychological thriller where each case takes the form of an urban legend. And, most importantly, it’s completely bonkers in the best ways. Developer Hakababunko has made something really special here that anyone with an interest in narrative-driven games should check out.

Players take on the role of Azami Fukurai, a university student who sees bizarre ‘traces’ everywhere. She goes to the Urban Myth Dissolution Center hoping to get help for her overactive second sight. Instead, she ends up with a pair of power-enhancing glasses, a 10 million yen debt, and a part-time job.

The center director, Ayumu Meguriya, won’t let her get away without paying off her debt. After all, her Clairvoyance could be the key to solving some troublesome supernatural mysteries. And there’s nothing Meguriya loves more than a good mystery being exposed for the world to see.

Both the uncanny Meguriya and his friendly subordinate Jasmine are hiding secrets. And after picking up a prophetic Iluminae Card, Azami is dragged into a much grander conspiracy of terrifying proportions.

Between terrorist bombings, a mysterious stalker, and a website counting down to the supposed Great Reset, she’s in deep trouble. Will her investigative skills, Clairvoyance, and Meguriya’s guidance be enough to see her through?

Faux-Retro Fun

Urban Myth Dissolution Center is an episodic adventure game with heavy visual novel elements. In other words, it’s basically an interactive novel. If you prefer your adventure games to have more actual puzzle-solving and game mechanics, you’ll be disappointed. That said, the psychedelic pixel art and haunting synth soundtrack are delightfully atmospheric.

The primary mechanics are exploration, finding clues, brainstorming hypotheses, and solving the mystery. Azami can poke around different locations for evidence, interview witnesses–and suspects–and research topics online. All of them are easy, if a bit time-consuming.

Piecing together the clues is not hard. And with no penalties for messing up, you can trial and error your way to victory. Each case has a fair amount of content, some of which is optional. You won’t be able to move on to the next area until you’ve found everything needed to advance.

Urban Myth Dissolution Center Takes a Hard Look at Social Inequality, Scapegoating, and Mob Mentality

Urban Myth Dissolution Center’s main appeal is definitely its narrative. Fans of ghost stories, thrillers, and paranormal mysteries are in for a treat. Each episode touches on both common urban legends and the darker side of society. The fear of the unknown is carefully balanced by very real threats like cyberbullying, doxxing, and stalking.

This is a very eerie experience, but it’s primarily a thriller, not a ghost story. There’s some ambiguity at the end of each case. However, much of the mystery is figuring out how everything could be done through mundane means.

The game is also deeply concerned with how the internet has given rise to new ways for people to be cruel to each other. So if you’re expecting a typical ghost story experience, you won’t find it here. What you will find it an absolutely wild delve into the dark parts of the human psyche, society, and the occult.

The characters are eccentric, hilarious, and sometimes scary, especially the main trio. Meguriya’s off-putting mannerisms are very memorable. Jasmine’s apathy toward her scary job is very relatable. And Azami herself is an endearing protagonist, particularly given the terrifying visions she has to put up with. The visuals do a fantastic job of building up tension around them and their decisions.

In the end, whether the supernatural is real or not isn’t really the point. The point is how completely wild the game’s vibes and narrative can get while dragging you toward its final, mind-bending twist. I was on the edge of my seat all through the final episode and I’m still processing the ending.

Delightful 8-bit Horror Story

Urban Myth Dissolution Center is a marvel of presentation. This game makes great use of pixel art and sound design. The music is simple and repetitive, but quite eerie. Wearing Azami’s glasses changes the soundtrack to a creepier one, which is a nice touch.

The art direction is very anime-inspired, with a fun mix of gloomy atmosphere and cute character designs. I love how expressive the characters are. Even the prettiest sprites can still look genuinely terrified.

The high contrast between subdued blue tones and jarring, garish reds creates a really unsettling visual style. Every time a ghost appeared, I jumped in my seat. And the animated cutscenes are lovely. I adore how many of them the game contains and how stylish they are.

However, the subtitles can go by quickly. And with no voice acting, that could be an issue for some players. The game is also quite short. I cleared it in just 11 hours.

If you like psychological horror, thrillers, mysteries, and the atmosphere of ghost stories, you’ll enjoy Urban Myth Dissolution Center. If you prefer your games to have actual gameplay beyond gathering and assembling information, you probably won’t. But please give this title a shot just for the sheer experience of playing it. It’s an unsettling gem.

***Steam code provided by the publisher***