The Note (video game)

The Note (公開されなかった手記, Koukai Sarena Katta Shuki: The Note) is a first-person survival horror[1] adventure game developed by Team Bughouse and published by SunSoft for the Sony PlayStation. It was released in Japan on January 17, 1997; and in Europe on October 1 of the same year. The game did not see a North American release. It is perhaps one of the least known games on the platform, as a result of its limited release.

The Note
公開されなかった手記
Developer(s)NK System Co., Ltd.
Publisher(s)Team Bughouse
SunSoft
Composer(s)Ken Kojima
Platform(s)PlayStation
Release
  • JP: January 17, 1997
  • EU: October 1, 1997
Genre(s)First-person Adventure
Survival horror
Mode(s)Single player

Story

The game is set in January, 1997. Akira, a freelance occult journalist, is visited by a woman, whose daughter had left on a trip with her friends and never returned. He agrees to look for the woman's daughter, after being given the last things the woman received from her; including a photo of an old run-down mansion somewhere in Europe, and what seem to be unearthly spirits. Two weeks after this meeting, Akira and his partner Angela, find themselves in a remote European village in front of the very mansion shown in the photos. This is where the game begins.

Characters
  • Akira: (Age: 23) A freelance occult journalist for the past three years, Akira is yet to write an article based on an actual paranormal experience. His work so far has been selling faked ghost photos and fabricated articles to specialist magazines.
  • Angela: (Age: 21) As Akira's partner, Angela accompanies him to Europe to help him find the missing teenagers.
  • Linda, Toshi, Dave: (Ages: 18, 17, 18) The missing senior high school students who Akira and Angela have been tasked with locating.
  • Paulo: (Age: 26) Akira and Angela first meet Paulo in the mansion, and he appears to be extremely knowledgeable about the occult and the mansion in particular. He may hold the key to finding the missing teenagers, though his actions are shrouded in mystery.

Gameplay

The gameplay is considered unique by some, with mechanics such as opening curtains to bring more light into a room in order to solve a puzzle or defeat an enemy. Aiming weapons is difficult, as there are no crosshairs or weapons on screen. The player must get enemies to center of their screen and fire. They also have the option of assigning and initiating 4 specific commands or actions to the shoulder buttons (R1, R2, L1, L2).

Most time in-game is spent wandering around searching and uncovering what action to initiate. The game doesn't give a large number of hints where to go and what action to perform.

Reception
Review score
PublicationScore
PSM2/10[2]

References
  1. Travis Fahs (October 30, 2009). "IGN Presents the History of Survival Horror". IGN. p. 5. Retrieved 2011-01-26.
  2. The Note game review, Official UK PlayStation Magazine, Future Publishing issue 29
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