SPYxANYA: Operation Memories Review | PC

The anime Spy x Family took the world by storm when it aired in Spring 2022. Its wholesome premise brought on the interest of non-anime fans and anime fans alike. As someone who has kept up with the Spy x Family manga long before it got its anime adaptation, I am glad the video game adaptation SPYxANYA: Operation Memories was made—and especially happy to find out it was published by none other than Bandai Namco Entertainment.

In the story, Loid Forger is a spy tasked with a mission to take down a certain political figure to save the world, but the only way to contact him is through his son who goes to a prestigious school. Being an unmarried man, Loid decides to visit a local orphanage to adopt a child and ends up picking Anya, an Esper.
 

 

They eventually find out Anya needs to have a mother to be eligible to enroll at the prestigious school. One thing leads to another, and Loid ends up running into Yor Briar, who is secretly an assassin their goals coincide for them to agree to a fake marriage, but none of them know each other’s true identity, except Anya who can read their minds. The story has plenty of comedic and chaotic moments, but it eventually boils down to this mockup family finding real love for one another as they do normal familial things to keep up appearances.

Anya quickly became a fan favorite because her adorable voice, expressions, and childlike behavior were able to find their way into our hearts. She could read minds, yes, but she was only a child and this was portrayed very accurately in the show. She has known Loid’s mission from the very beginning and mentions saving the world many times throughout the show.

In SPYxANYA: Operation Memories, none of the complex plot or stressful moments come into play. In fact, when you start the game, none of the plot of the anime is explained. Here, you take the role of Anya in this family and live out her daily life. You go to school and do school activities, come home, and go on family outings. You also get to interact with beloved characters from the anime in original moments that still keep the same vibe we are familiar with.

At school, Anya is tasked with writing in her diary which she plans to make a “super-duper awesome diary”, and when she returns home, she thinks carefully about what to write in her diary, and as a family, the Forgers decide they will go on outings and take pictures to fill out Anya’s diary and this is the premise of the game.
 

 

Right away, one of the first things I noticed when I played SPYxANYA: Operation Memories is that all the dialogue—and eventually found out even little pieces of dialogue that could be skipped is voiced by the original voice cast of the anime. This was a nice surprise, and I was happy to see an excellent performance put in every single delivery I had come across.

So, to fill out Anya’s diary you must go on outings as a family and take pictures of the silly moments that occur with Anya when she does an activity. In each location, there are three activities that can be accessed by having the correct “Super Cool!” items bought from the store, three more that are unique to the location you are visiting, and finally, a bonus special picture that only unlocks after taking the first six. This makes a total of seven pictures in each unique location. You can take a total of 2 pictures each day, and you earn Eureka points for doing so.

Now, taking a picture isn’t as straightforward as it sounds in SPYxANYA: Operation Memories. It’s kind of similar to Pokemon Snap, except the only Pokemon we are interested in is Anya. When you are prompted to take a picture, you can see the activity take place. Within a limited time, you can focus the shot, pick a clear angle, and take it right when Anya does something cute or funny. You can take multiple pictures in the same activity, and if you are unhappy with what you have, you can replay the activity a total of three times to get that perfect picture!

This sounds complicated, but you are not penalized for taking a picture that does not fit the criteria. You can just do your own thing. This is a relief as this game is clearly intended for a younger audience.
 

 

After the outing, you and your family return home and you write in your diary. Remember the Eureka points we accumulated before? Here, while writing in your diary you can play little minigames. There are over 17 in SPYxANYA: Operation Memories and they can range from playing dodgeball at school, doing a mission as Loid Forger, performing an assassination mission as Yor Forger, etc.

The little mini-games themselves are easy to play. The controls are explained clearly and they are simple but fun. My favorites are the Yor minigames—the one where she chops vegetables to cook and the other where you fight a bunch of targets as part of her mission.

When you complete these minigames, as long as you have enough Eureka points, you will be rewarded with PP, a currency you can buy “Super Cool!” items or accessories and clothes for your family to dress up. If you don’t have enough Eureka points, you can still play the minigames, but the game will inform you that it will count as practice and that you won’t receive any PP for completing them.

When doing minigames in SPYxANYA: Operation Memories, you can also check side missions, which you can complete to get more rewards, but these are completely optional as just completing the minigames rewards you with ample currency to buy the items you want from the store.

After you are done for the day, you go to sleep and move on to the next day. You can go on an outing once every two days, but after reaching a certain point, you will have the option to skip school. You will also unlock more minigames as you unlock new areas. That is the gameplay loop of SPYxANYA: Operation Memories. A nice and simple rewarding experience. You will come across story elements as you progress. For example, Yuri and Fiona visit your home eventually.

 

One of the highlights of this game is the special interactions you can take part in by interacting with the characters in the game. If you see a red icon above a character, speaking to them will progress a meter over their head. Once filled, you will see a special cutscene with them that can last 5-10 minutes. They are very wholesome, and they include some beautiful hand-drawn moments as well.

Visually, the characters from the show were transformed into the game rather well. The expressions and animations appear both detailed and cute. One thing’s for sure, SPYxANYA: Operation Memories knows how to be cute. I have always been a fan of cel-shaded graphics, so I think the visuals in this game look great, especially on the switch. In the sound department, the music is cozy, though I wish there were some more varied tracks. Some sound effects, like the sound of Eureka points going up, can appear disproportionately loud at times.

Now, I acknowledge that reviewing a game geared for a younger audience as an adult can be difficult. It’s tough to see things from the simple perspective of a child, so I sought out the opinion of an expert—my 9-year-old cousin who is familiar with Spy x Family.

I gifted SPYxANYA: Operation Memories to her on the Switch and she seemed to enjoy it. She enjoyed talking to the characters of the show, laughed at Anya’s expressions, and we had a fun time with the 2P mode of the minigames, where P2 becomes one of the characters to play alongside P1. I did notice, though, that she was skipping some of the dialogue as she did not feel like reading and didn’t understand Japanese. This is actually a great outcome, considering my little cousin is easily distracted. I think she genuinely enjoyed her time with it.

 

For fans of the Spy x Family series, SPYxANYA: Operation Memories is an absolute treat. The game provides a delightful opportunity to step into Anya's shoes and experience her daily life, complete with all the lovable quirks and heartwarming interactions that made the anime a global sensation. The inclusion of the original voice cast and the faithful adaptation of the characters' personalities make it an authentic experience that fans will adore.

SPYxANYA: Operation Memories's simple yet fun mechanics, such as capturing perfect moments for Anya's diary and participating in charming mini-games, offer a relaxing and enjoyable gameplay loop. With its emphasis on family, love, and the everyday adventures of the Forger family, this game is a heartfelt recommendation for anyone looking for a cozy little game that is simple, good, and fun.
 

Ahnaf Tajwar
Editor, NoobFeed