Casina: The Forgotten Comedy

About

Casina: The Forgotten Comedy is a single player simulation game with fantasy, comedy and historical themes. It was developed by Neoclassic Games and was released on May 27, 2021. It received positive reviews from players.

"Casina: The Forgotten Comedy" is a game that brings to life Plauto's ancient Roman comedy, known for its humor and wit. The game features professional voice acting, unique character expressions, and multiple endings. Players can choose from different male characters, each with their own approach to winning Casina's heart, while dealing with the schemes of their rivals.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 39 reviews

story11 positive mentions

atmosphere3 negative mentions

The game features charming character art and full voice acting, adding to the comedic and engaging storytelling.
It offers a unique adaptation of a classic play, providing context and insights into ancient Greek culture, which can be educational and entertaining.
The animated sprites and colorful visuals enhance the overall experience, making it visually appealing for players.

The gameplay is quite short, lasting only about 1 to 2 hours, which may leave players wanting more content.
Many choices in the game have little impact on the story, reducing replayability and player agency.
There are several technical issues, including bugs and awkward translations, which can detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.

story
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
71%
6%
The story of the game is a comedic adaptation of an ancient Greek play by Plautus, featuring engaging characters and humorous situations that reflect the culture of the time. While the narrative is entertaining and colorful, some players found it challenging to follow due to its theatrical style and limited impact of player choices on the overall plot. Overall, the game successfully combines humor and emotion, making it a recommended experience for those interested in a unique storytelling approach.
- “The story is funny and at times emotional.”
- “I found the story entertaining, especially since it was based on an authentic piece of ancient literature and also told me a few new things about ancient Greek culture.”
- “The game's story is a digital transcript of a comedy written by Plautus in the year 184 BC, which has a great sense of humor and is full of comedic moments that frequently put a smile on my face.”
- “There are no different paths explored in this story, although it technically has two endings.”
- “However, even though there are multiple choices that the player can make in this game, sadly they only have a minor impact on the story itself apart from the ending.”
- “I also have to say that the story was a little hard to follow for me at times and I also couldn't get into it as well as the voice acting is very theatrical, which just isn't how I expect it and just not my personal cup of tea.”
humor
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a funny plot, engaging character design, and effective dubbing, leading to moments of genuine laughter and emotional resonance. While not overwhelmingly hilarious, it features light-hearted comedic elements, particularly in the husband-wife dynamics and clever dialogue, reminiscent of ancient comedic traditions. Overall, players appreciate the blend of humor with historical context, making for an enjoyable and amusing experience.
- “The story is funny and at times emotional.”
- “I played for 15 minutes but I cannot stop laughing already.”
- “The game's story is a digital transcript of a comedy written by Plautus in 184 BC, which has a great sense of humor and is full of comedic moments that frequently put a smile on my face.”
music
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
23%
23%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising its pleasant and relaxing qualities that complement the atmosphere and theme of the story. While some players found it memorable and fitting for the setting, others felt it was not particularly striking or impactful. Overall, the soundtrack enhances the experience, aligning well with the game's classical era aesthetic and voice acting.
- “The music is beautiful to listen to and it enhances the experience of the story.”
- “The OST of the game is pleasant to hear and it matches the look and feel of the novel.”
- “In the field of the soundtrack, we have relaxing and pleasant music that lives up to the theme of the classical era, also highlighting the four artists who gave their voices to the protagonists of our story, making it so much more interesting and fun.”
- “I can't remember much of the music (for better or worse) and although certainly ambitious that such a short visual novel even has voice acting, I wasn't a big fan of it.”
- “The music is not the most striking but carries the intrigue along well enough.”
- “Something that did not blow my mind was the background music.”
graphics
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
37%
27%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their vibrant artwork and modern anime-inspired style, with well-designed character sprites and backgrounds that meet contemporary visual novel standards. However, some users reported glitches on Linux and noted that certain visual effects could be inconsistent, detracting from the overall experience. Despite these issues, the visuals are described as easy on the eyes and complemented by quality voice acting and a rich array of artwork.
- “The graphics look nice, and while they are as comical as intended, they also respect the characters, who look like human beings and are properly dressed.”
- “The graphical quality of the backgrounds and main character sprites are great and meet the expectations of a modern visual novel.”
- “To start on a positive note, I adored the vivid, colorful visuals.”
- “Also, the graphics (some effects) are glitchy on Linux; not strictly the game's fault, but it doesn't help.”
- “Now to the graphical presentation with which I had most problems.”
- “The more anime-oriented art style and more 'straightforward' dialogues (contemporary word choices) are attempts to give it a more modern spin, yet the text, by keeping its classical structure here and there, feels somewhat convoluted at times as a result.”
gameplay
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The gameplay of the visual novel adaptation of a classic Shakespearean play is described as a linear and relatively short experience, lasting between 20 minutes to an hour. While the game includes helpful features like a glossary for unfamiliar terms, it suffers from bugs and UI errors that detract from enjoyment, particularly during repeated playthroughs. Overall, the focus on retelling the plot is appreciated, despite the gameplay's limitations.
- “Since I have zero knowledge about old classic plays, I really appreciate the game having a small glossary for some terms you find throughout the gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is fun, but also relatively short.”
- “Nevertheless, I am glad that it still focused on retelling the plot rather than adding several gameplay aspects that would prolong it.”
- “I was excited to play this as it's interesting to see a game that is turning a classic Shakespearean play into a visual novel, but with its short length of about 20 minutes to an hour and its buggy gameplay and UI errors, I can't say that I enjoyed this one much.”
- “In terms of gameplay, Casina is a very linear experience.”
- “While skipping during the second gameplay, the choice options did not appear.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers appreciate the character development for its humorous plot, high-quality dubbing, and appealing character design, which collectively enhance the overall gaming experience.
- “The character development is incredibly rich, allowing players to form deep connections with each character.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making their journeys feel authentic and engaging.”
- “The backstories and personal growth of the characters add layers to the gameplay, making every decision feel impactful.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The atmosphere of Casina is likened to a theatrical play, enhanced by fitting music and complete voice lines that bring the characters to life. The inclusion of sweet musical compositions further enriches the overall ambiance of the game.
- “Casina is a short game that unfolds like a theater play, featuring a captivating atmosphere and suitable music while the characters interact with complete voice lines.”
- “There are some sweet compositions that beautifully enhance the atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players.”
- “Despite some interesting visuals, the overall atmosphere fails to evoke any real emotion.”
- “The game’s atmosphere is dull and lifeless, making it hard to stay engaged.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The optimization of the game is generally well-received, with all dialogue being voice-acted and performances deemed decent, though some minor voice direction issues were noted, such as mispronunciations and awkward intonations. Overall, players appreciated the approach and the actors' ability to portray their roles effectively.
- “I liked that approach, and I was pleasantly surprised by their performance, as they did a great job portraying their roles.”
- “All dialogue is voice-acted, and while the speakers deliver a decent performance, the voice direction was lacking. There were 4-5 blunders where the actor mispronounced a word or delivered a line with an intonation that made no sense in the context of the conversation.”
- “[PC specs and performance]”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users highlight that the emotional aspect of the game is multifaceted, blending humor with poignant moments that evoke a range of feelings. Many appreciate the ability of the narrative to transcend genres, offering thought-provoking themes alongside its emotional depth.
- “The story is funny and at times emotional.”
- “I've read many stories in a visual novel form, from silly, weird, and disturbing to deeply emotional, epic sagas and those special ones that transcend genres and bring thought-provoking ideas into a new light; oftentimes all of this at once.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is criticized due to buggy gameplay and user interface errors, which detract from the overall experience. Additionally, its short playtime of 20 minutes to an hour further limits enjoyment.
- “I was excited to play this as it's interesting to see a game that is turning a classic Shakespearean play into a visual novel, but with its short length of about 20 minutes to an hour and its buggy gameplay and UI errors, I can't say that I enjoyed this one much.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers limited replayability, as the second ending can only be accessed through a single decision at the end, leaving little incentive for multiple playthroughs.
- “While there is a second ending, you can achieve it only during your final decision, so it does not offer much replayability.”