History VideoGame / MermaidSwamp

''Mermaid Swamp'' (人魚沼 ''Ningyou Numa'') is a horror adventure game, made in UsefulNotes/WolfRPGEditor by Creator/{{Uri}}, the creator of ''VideoGame/{{Paranoiac}}'' and the ''VideoGame/StrangeMenSeries''. It was originally made in 2013 in Japanese; an English translation by vgperson can be found [[http://vgperson.com/games/mermaidswamp.htm here]]. A remake of the game has been released in July 2018 with new [=CG=]s, puzzles, and voice acting.

* SpiritualSuccessor: To ''VideoGame/{{Paranoiac}}''. The house of this game even shares similar rooms, shape, and structure to the one seen in that game.

But the old man goes on a trip of his own, and during that time strange things begin happening as the characters are trapped inside. There is a legend of a mermaid who resides in the swamp outside the mansion, and it looks more and more like this mermaid is [[BigBad the one responsible]] for their predicament...

* AndNowForSomeoneCompletelyDifferent: There are two instances where you end up playing as Seitaro. If Rin [[spoiler:suffers a HeroicBSOD upon finding Yuka dead]], you have to play as Seitaro to check on Yuuta. And no matter what story path you're on, when Rin [[spoiler:goes into the mountains and gets lost,]] you have to play as Seitaro again.

* ClosedCircle: The protagonists' car breaks down in the mountains. They seek shelter in a nearby house, but they're stuck in the area because the power has gone out, meaning the landlines are useless and cellphones can't be charged, the [[OminousFog fog-covered]] woods are nearly impossible to navigate and the old man helping them has disappeared.

* GuideDangIt: On several occasions. Followed Rin's prompting to light a fire for Yuka? [[spoiler:Her illness kills her and the pressure of gas buildup inside her makes her explode. A possessed and crazy Yuuta kills himself under the influence and when he's bleeding out, he wonders why his neck hurts.]] Backed into a corner by [[spoiler:a possessed Seitaro]] and forced to pick one of two options? [[spoiler:How was the player to know that 'don't dodge' equalled 'beat the curse out of him'?]]

** [[ShootTheShaggyDog Secrets]]: [[spoiler:Only Seitaro dies, and this sends Rin across the DespairEventHorizon. The place where the mermaids are is locked so she cannot enter. She returns to the old house and has hallucinations of Seitaro calling her from the swamp, which cause her to commit suicide by throwing herself in the swamp. A distressed Yuuta tries to save her to no avail, only to be shot to death (presumably by the old man). Only Yuka survives, and her condition has not improved.]]

* OurMermaidsAreDifferent: The mermaids are based upon the ones found in Japanese folklore, drawing inspiration from many different folktales and legends. According to the legend of Mermaid Swamp, mermaids ''really'' don't do well in swamp water. It's also said that eating a mermaid's flesh can make you immortal. Oh, and they can apparently come back as hideous ghosts who kidnap local girls and curse outsiders. [[spoiler:It turns out that the 'mermaids' aren't truly mermaids, either; they're the ghosts of ordinary women were kidnapped, kept in water and treated like mermaids.]]

* KillEmAll: The ending "Forever Deep". [[spoiler:Yuka dies from her illness, Yuuta stabs himself, and Seitaro and Rin commit double suicide after they find they can't escape the house.]]