Exploring the Depths of The Mermaid of Zennor Visual Novel
Perhaps you’ve heard of The Mermaid of Zennor before, for it’s the name of a story from Cornish folklore. The tale is about a mermaid who ventured onto land to attend a church in Zennor and became enamoured by a man in the choir with a brilliant singing voice. The idea of a human being in a relationship with a mermaid was forbidden, and so the two ran away together, into the night, never to be seen again.
That’s not the story of the visual novel The Mermaid of Zennor however, with it merely inspiring the goings on here, while occasionally referencing it. It’s developed by ebi-hime, who has quite a varied collection of VNs available on the Xbox, including the slightly creepy romance The Language of Love and the bizarre, yet cute, Strawberry Vinegar which features a rather greedy demon.
Forbidden Love and Family Drama
So what’s the theme this time?
It’s forbidden love, of course. That between a thirteen-year-old girl and her university-age brother (well, half-brother, to be exact). Now, if like me, you’re wincing at the sheer thought, worry not because I can assure you that The Mermaid of Zennor isn’t obscene and the love element is quite innocent. In fact, there’s much more going on in this girl’s life that it almost becomes a side issue as you delve into serious, possibly relatable, problems.
Lilac, the main character, lives in the quaint village of Zennor, in Cornwall, with her mum and dad, Her older half-brother Jesse has gone off to University, leaving Lilac feeling quite alone as she’s very attached to him – to the point where she’s in love with him. Her parents constantly pick out her flaws, school life is plagued by bullies, and the one person who is nice to her might have ulterior motives. The only solace she really has is during regular counselling sessions, which are mandatory since a violent incident with another student.
Exploring Themes of Autism, Anxiety, and Depression
Everything is either told through narration by Lilac’s innermost thoughts or the conversations she’s having with the people surrounding her. Initially, the writing seems very straightforward, occasionally repetitive, and perhaps too childish, even for a thirteen-year-old. But then the reader is informed of the character’s recent diagnosis of autism. Not only does this account for the writing style, it also brings together some of the otherwise atypical characteristics Lilac displays.
Examples of this include taking everything literally, obsessive behaviour, being unable to deal with the emotions of oneself or others, and overreacting to the little things. There’s just a real nuance to how scenes play out and the way Lilac thinks. When you also throw anxiety and depression into the mix, it’s clear that this young girl’s mind is a boiling point and you’re expecting an eruption to occur at any point. Developer ebi-hime has done extraordinarily well to ensure almost every situation is captivating and to make Lilac endearing as a result.
Visuals, Sound, and Story Routes
In contrast to the excellent job of creating the main character, the rest of the cast are a little less convincing and it’s hard to take an isolated interest in any of them. That said, the mother is crucial to one particular section involving a family meal and the post-meal gathering around the TV. It’s a quintessential British scenario for so many reasons and it’s rather amusing how spot on certain bits are.
By the very nature of a visual novel, don’t expect much interaction in The Mermaid of Zennor, with pressing a button to advance the story being as taxing as it gets. That is except for one decision-making juncture, dictating which of the two endings you will experience. You could either end up with an incredibly bleak and depressing conclusion, or, well, a slightly less depressing ending with a sprinkling of optimism. I wholeheartedly recommend trying both routes, as they kind of complement each other as the better outcome is enhanced by knowing the alternative.
On the visual front, the backgrounds and character designs are fine, without a noteworthy standout. Even the CGs aren’t overly memorable, but there’s nothing about them to criticise to be honest. The sound however, is a whole different matter as the tracks often don’t fit the scene in the slightest and whether it’s done intentionally, it’s pretty darn annoying. Nobody will blame you for muting it, as it’s not essential in order to enjoy the rest of what’s offered here.
A Powerful and Emotional Visual Novel Worth Experiencing
Ultimately, spending a few hours with The Mermaid of Zennor is not for the faint of heart, but it’s worth sticking with for a multitude of reasons. As long as you’re able to handle the dark themes and are prepared to see the world through the eyes of a very troubled young girl, then this is a visual novel you should be reading.
The Links You Need
The Cornish folk tales of The Mermaid of Zennor play out on Xbox and PlayStation – https://www.thexboxhub.com/the-cornish-folk-tales-of-the-mermaid-of-zennor-play-out-on-xbox-and-playstation/
Buy The Mermaid of Zennor on Xbox – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/the-mermaid-of-zennor/9NVJQ9XMSQ3Q
