Every memory has weight and depth. Every moment that we share is carried by the people involved in different capacities. What may have been a fleeting moment of enjoyment for you is a cornerstone of what it meant to be happy for me. I’m glad you can remember that brief glint of joy; I don’t begrudge that you don’t recall me in the scenario. I was there, and that was enough. May it continue to echo with tinges of warmth in the halls of your mind. I’ll be there, the note you cannot place but would notice if it didn’t play. We were both here, and nothing can change that. Carry this memory from here to eternity: I’ll do the same, and God can decide which weighs more. With those words in mind, let us dive into Be Missed and Remembered: The Letter from Mayoiga.

That’s right, it’s another emotional ride, so buckle up.

At the core, this story centers not around people, but a place. Mayoiga shine is an ancient and, in some cases, forgotten temple that exists in the center of a lake, far away in a sleepy countryside town. Every few years, the water level drops and the heat dries the lake enough that the temple is fully visible and accessible. Once, long ago, this temple was known and visited by many, with a single person in charge, the temple master. The master must be an unwed woman, so the maidens were always teenagers, around 14 years old. Mayoiga is a wondrous place, where those who go inside want for nothing. They don’t get hungry or thirsty, they don’t get sick or hurt. And, most importantly, they cannot die. So the maidens become immortal, watching over Mayoiga even as the rain returns, plunging the temple underwater for years at a time.

Set in the 1970s and moving forward and backwards in time, The Letter from Mayoiga primarily centers around three figures; Naofuyu, Risa and Susu. Naofuyu and Risa are brother and sister, living in Tokyo alone while their parents work around the world. One summer, they come back to their grandparents’ village to get away from the city, only to be warned about Susu, a demonic creature who wanders the night and can curse those who look upon it. In short order, Naofuyu decides to go into the woods at night, discovers Torii gates placed in succession leading to the lake, and, eventually, discovers Mayoiga, which has risen for this summer. He meets Susu inside, and, gradually, learns her story and the shocking truth: this is not their first meeting. Susu and Naofuyu met years ago, and she has patiently waited for his return.

The same excuse I kept giving my teacher on why I was constantly failing geometry.

The story of The Letter from Mayoiga is a fragmented one, told from multiple perspectives over literally hundreds of years. The crucial concept of what it means to remember and the importance of memory sits heavy at the center, as we see Susu touch the lives of many, only for them to almost immediately forget as soon as they are outside her proximity. Naofuyu and Risa develop their own methodology to try and retain their memories of Susu after an unfortunate encounter, and they push to try and create a sense of normalcy and future for their friendship and relationships. Mixing in equal parts melancholy, humor and earnest emotion, we watch as trial and error, laughs and tears, truth and belief all become intermingled in a quest for permanence and belonging that aches in the center of our souls.

It should be noted that Be Missed and Remembered is a static visual novel, with no choices or branches that come out from the main storyline. The director, Tomo Kataoka (creator of the beloved Narcissu visual novel) has a tale to tell, and wants fans to enjoy it and experience it in the most tactile way possible. Being able to follow along the path as it’s given allows players to take on the gravity of what comes from every scene, no matter how minor it could be. Starting from very stereotypical spots of summertime adventures and discoveries and moving into time-bending flashes to the 19th century, all the player needs to do is hold on and read/listen, giving this an even more “novel” feeling than the average title. While it’s still quite enjoyable and special, players should know what they’re getting into.

My mom says I’m a catch…I’m never last picked….I got a cheerleading chick…

The pacing of Be Missed and Remembered is one that I had a bit of difficulty latching onto. Initially, in the setup chapters, things move very smoothly as we have a touch and go development between Naofuyu and Susu. There is nothing romantic here, not in the traditional sense of the words. The connection the two develop is innocent and sweet, like a friendship born out of mutual adoration and support. I quite enjoyed seeing them work together to establish some sense of permanence to maintain their world, and getting Risa into the mix only gave it even more dimension. Once the three of them are off and running with various experiments, ideas and activities, it’s a perfectly encapsulated world, one with harsh time limits but endless possibilities. I could have followed just the three of them around for the duration of the game.

However, in an attempt to give more of a history to Mayoiga, we go back in time to learn about those who came before Susu, and it gets rather convoluted and strange after a bit. Without spoiling anything, it feels like the story runs into two tropes that throw off the cadence. The first is putting a hat on a hat, trying to delve even deeper into the past and reasoning behind why Mayoiga exists and its powers, but not in any way that really feels satisfying. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes mysticism is explanation enough unto itself, but it doesn’t hit home in the way it should. Instead, we just get a spiritual catchall that, while it “covers” the main basis, it doesn’t do so to my satisfaction. It’s like that old Simpsons joke regarding Xena: “A wizard did it.”

Wait, did you think there were times when the gods weren’t watching? Aren’t you…a priestess??

Also, there’s another character who gets a raw deal. In showing how Susu came into Mayoiga, we bring in a different shrine maiden who has her own storyline that runs in halting parallel to the primary. This character feels like it should have just been its own story, a separate tract that you could optionally follow after a cursory introduction. Instead, we get…most of the details? It’s something that gets rushed in there, touched upon, gives credence to why the villagers think of Susu as a demon, and then just dropped. There is an “ending” to this character’s story, and it even has its own epilogue (be sure to check all the chapters after finishing!), but it needed more and it could have been in its own lane.

Having said that, this was a genuinely sweet and sincere game. Be Missed and Remembered hits upon some really strong points about memory, affection and the importance of change versus permanence without mixing in aspects that are too dark like other titles might do. It’s got moments of sweet sadness, but it never does so in a heavy handed way that leaves you feeling empty or bleak. If you absolutely desire to have a “bad ending,” then just stop playing after the credits roll for the first time. Kataoka has made it very clear “I won’t allow anything but a happy ending!,” so keep on moving forward to see how everything works out for the best for everyone. After all, why not? Why not have a world where we can have moments of sadness and helplessness, but still land on our feet in the sunshine? Would that really be so bad?

OH MY GOD DON’T MAKE US SAY IT, YOU’RE ADORABLE AND WE LOVE YOU, THERE!

Also, as the game is primarily set in the 70s and early 80s, the soundtrack, though short, is right on point. The ambience floats through with a much older aesthetic to it, and the title track even feels like the oldschool Tokyo City Pop that we all love and enjoy. The voice acting is, naturally, top notch, and I have to give a lot of credit to Mirai Hiroe, voice actress for Risa, who managed to capture the nuance of her aging throughout the various eras. Susu doesn’t age and Naofuyu is already older when the game is introduced, but having Risa go from a very fearful child to a confident teen was a grand performance. Hell, everyone did an excellent job, and that audio painting made the quest together that much more exciting.

Be Missed and Remembered: The Letter from Mayoiga is a beautiful tale of memory, longing and endurance. It reminds us of our own humanity, of the long reach of the past and what it means to the presence. It’s rather short in comparison to some mammoth titles of the day, but it’s incredibly cozy and enjoyable in a sad, sweet way. Fans of Narcissu should absolutely give this a try, and those looking for just a glimmer of hope in their world can find some comfort here. It’s well done, it’s nostalgic, and it made me smile. Sometimes, that’s enough, and now my memory can be decorated with another beautiful moment.

Be Missed and Remembered: The Letter from Mayoiga is available now on Steam.

Reviewed on PC.

A copy of Be Missed and Remembered: The Letter from Mayoiga was provided by the publisher.