CAFE 0 ~The Drowned Mermaid~

Первая новелла в которой мне плохие концовки понравились больше хороших. Если счастливые концовки являются просто милой историей, плохие показывают истинные лица окружающих. Хах, забавно что меня сначала смутило отсутствие рута с Суи, но потом поняла что так даже лучше. Ибо здорово что решили оставить его загадочным обслуживающим) Вместо ожидаемой отоме, романтики и прочей вычурной ванильности, получила хорошее и интересное произведение на несколько часов, по скидке. B)

CAFE 0 ~The Drowned Mermaid~, developed by ROSEVERTE MYSTERY and published by ROSEVERTE, is a moody and introspective visual novel that blends supernatural mystery with emotional character drama. Rather than relying on spectacle or complex mechanics, the game focuses on atmosphere, memory, and choice-driven storytelling, presenting an experience that feels quietly unsettling and deeply personal. From its opening moments, the game establishes a dreamlike tone, inviting players into a liminal space where life, death, and unresolved regret intersect. The story begins with Marin Umino awakening in an unfamiliar café, greeted by a calm and enigmatic waiter named Sui. With no memory of who she is or how she arrived there, Marin gradually learns the truth: she has died. Café 0 exists as a space between worlds, offering her one final opportunity to revisit the last seven days of her life. This structure immediately reframes the narrative as a journey through memory rather than a straightforward mystery, encouraging players to reflect on how small decisions and interpersonal dynamics can ripple outward into irreversible outcomes. The café itself becomes a symbolic anchor, a quiet and neutral place that contrasts sharply with the emotional turbulence of the past Marin is about to relive. As Marin revisits her final week, she reconnects with people who played significant roles in her life, including her best friend Ami, her former boyfriend Tooru, and Shou, a doctor tied to her personal history. Each character is written with a sense of ambiguity, and their relationships with Marin shift depending on how the player chooses to interact with them. The narrative does not rush to explain motivations or truths; instead, it allows understanding to emerge slowly through repeated conversations, subtle emotional cues, and the consequences of player choices. This gradual unraveling gives the story a haunting quality, as each revelation feels earned rather than delivered outright. Choice is central to the experience, but not in a simplistic or immediately gratifying way. Decisions often feel morally gray, shaped by incomplete information and emotional context rather than clear right or wrong answers. These choices influence which story paths open up and which endings become available, ranging from bleak and tragic to cautiously hopeful. The game encourages multiple playthroughs, as only by exploring different routes can players piece together the full truth behind Marin’s death and unlock the deeper layers of the narrative. This structure reinforces the theme of perspective, suggesting that understanding a life—or a death—requires more than a single viewpoint. Thematically, CAFE 0 ~The Drowned Mermaid~ is deeply concerned with regret, identity, and the stories people tell themselves about the past. Marin’s lack of memory mirrors the player’s initial detachment, and as fragments of her personality and history surface, the game invites reflection on how self-perception is shaped by relationships and choices. Rather than positioning Marin as a passive victim, the narrative challenges players to confront uncomfortable truths about her actions and emotional distance, making the mystery as much about self-awareness as it is about uncovering external events. Visually, the game embraces a minimalist visual novel presentation, using static backgrounds, character sprites, and occasional CG illustrations to convey mood rather than spectacle. While the art style may appear modest or dated compared to modern visual novels, it serves the story’s tone effectively, emphasizing stillness and emotional tension. Character expressions are subtle but expressive, allowing small shifts in posture or gaze to carry significant narrative weight. The café’s recurring imagery, in particular, reinforces the sense of a quiet, suspended reality that exists outside of time. Sound design and music further enhance the game’s eerie atmosphere. The soundtrack is subdued and melancholic, often fading into the background to allow silence and dialogue to dominate emotionally charged scenes. This restraint amplifies the sense of isolation and introspection, making moments of realization or confrontation feel heavier and more intimate. Optional voice acting in some versions adds an extra layer of immersion, but even without it, the text-driven delivery maintains a strong emotional presence. In terms of pacing, the game is relatively short, but its compact length works in its favor. Each playthrough can be completed in a few hours, yet the branching structure and layered storytelling encourage replay. Rather than padding its runtime, the game trusts players to engage with its themes thoughtfully, rewarding patience and curiosity with deeper narrative insight. Some players may find the pacing slow or the presentation understated, but those who appreciate reflective storytelling will likely find the experience compelling. Overall, CAFE 0 ~The Drowned Mermaid~ stands as a thoughtful and atmospheric visual novel that prioritizes emotional resonance over conventional thrills. It explores death not as an endpoint, but as a lens through which life’s unresolved questions are examined. While it may not appeal to players seeking fast-paced gameplay or dramatic spectacle, it offers a quietly powerful experience for those drawn to introspective mystery and character-driven narratives. For fans of supernatural visual novels that linger on memory, regret, and the weight of choice, this game remains a memorable and haunting journey long after its final scene fades. Rating: 6/10

CAFE 0 The Drowned Mermaid é um jogo de visual novel desenvolvido pela empresa Tycoon Games e lançado em 2011 para PC. Infelizmente, este jogo apresenta várias falhas e problemas que prejudicam a experiência do jogador. Uma das maiores falhas do jogo é a falta de profundidade na história e nos personagens. O enredo é superficial e pouco desenvolvido, o que torna difícil para o jogador se envolver emocionalmente com a trama. Além disso, os personagens são pouco interessantes e não apresentam personalidades marcantes. Outro problema do jogo é a jogabilidade tediosa. O jogo consiste principalmente de ler grandes quantidades de texto e tomar decisões simples, sem muita interação com o ambiente ou outros personagens. Isso torna a experiência do jogador monótona e cansativa. Além disso, a arte do jogo não é impressionante e não apresenta muita variação. As imagens dos personagens são estáticas e pouco animadas, o que pode ser frustrante para aqueles que esperam mais interatividade e animação em um jogo de visual novel. Em geral, CAFE 0 The Drowned Mermaid é um jogo com uma história fraca, jogabilidade monótona e arte pouco impressionante. Infelizmente, este jogo não atende às expectativas de um bom jogo de visual novel e não é recomendado para aqueles que procuram uma experiência de jogo imersiva e emocionante.

Bad

good game

Unfortunately I cannot recommend this, the game is too short (~15 mins) with very little content. Too expensive even on sale. I've played Cafe O - the sleeping beast on ipad and that was a much better game with better graphics, content and longer gameplay.