Masquerada: Songs and Shadows

Masquerada: Songs and Shadow is definitely a RPG game I would recommend to anyone who can get their hands on it. 10 out of 10 in my books.

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In "Masquerada: Songs and Shadows," explore a fantasy world inspired by Venetian architecture, where a conflict over magical masks unfolds. As protagonist Cicero Gavar, uncover a conspiracy while navigating political intrigue and moral dilemmas. Utilize a rich real-time combat system, combining tactical choices with the power of elemental masks to defeat adversaries. Engage in a gripping narrative with voice-acted dialogue, featuring the talents of actors like Matthew Mercer and Jennifer Hale.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

80%

Audience ScoreBased on 508 reviews

story331 positive mentions

grinding11 negative mentions

The game features a beautifully crafted world with rich lore and engaging characters.
The voice acting is top-notch, with a talented cast that brings the characters to life.
The story is compelling and emotional, with well-written dialogue that keeps players invested.

The gameplay is linear and lacks meaningful choices, making it feel more like a visual novel than a traditional RPG.
Combat mechanics can be simplistic and sometimes frustrating, particularly with AI behavior.
There is no manual save option, relying solely on autosaves which can lead to repeated sections if players fail.

story
952 mentions
35 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The story of "Masquerada: Songs and Shadows" is widely praised for its depth, engaging characters, and intricate world-building, drawing players into a narrative rich with political intrigue and emotional arcs. While the game is linear and lacks player choice, many reviewers found the storytelling compelling enough to keep them invested, often highlighting the excellent voice acting and beautiful art that enhance the experience. However, some noted that the pacing can drag at times, and the gameplay mechanics may detract from the overall narrative immersion.
- “Together with an incredible storyline, interesting characters with intriguing different stories, and perfect music, this game has the perfect combination for a thrilling experience.”
- “Honestly, the story kept me going and wanting to see what's going to happen next throughout my whole gameplay. I seldom feel that way and most of the time tune out of the story and just focus on the action; this time it was the reverse for me.”
- “The story is rich and good, and the lore is deep. I adore each of the characters so much.”
- “All the characters are unlikable, except for the carriage twins; the story was so boring I was falling asleep, and the combat was awful.”
- “The story is linear, and some RPG fans may be disappointed that they are given no agency in charting their own course through story or dialogue options.”
- “However, due to the lackluster story, I started skipping every single scene after Act I.”
music
259 mentions
55 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The music in "Masquerada: Songs and Shadows" is widely praised for its haunting beauty and orchestration, effectively enhancing the game's atmosphere and storytelling. Many reviewers highlight the soundtrack's classical influences and vocal elements, noting that it complements the rich lore and artistic visuals of the game. While some find the music occasionally repetitive, the overall consensus is that it significantly contributes to the immersive experience, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “The music is magnificent.”
- “The music is haunting and evokes very well the emotion of each scene.”
- “The soundtrack is astonishing.”
- “I'd recommend turning down the music a lot though; otherwise, everything will sound muffled while a choir blasts your ears.”
- “The music didn't have me humming after closing out of the game, but it adds just the right amount of atmosphere when it's needed.”
- “I turned off the music because I found it distracting, but then turned it on because silence during scenes needing music is even more distracting.”
gameplay
205 mentions
25 % positive mentions
70 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Masquerada: Songs and Shadows" is generally viewed as simplistic and linear, often taking a backseat to the game's rich storytelling, world-building, and artistic presentation. While some players appreciate the engaging combat mechanics and elemental system, many criticize the repetitive nature and lack of depth, suggesting that the game is more akin to a visual novel than a traditional RPG. Overall, the experience is enjoyable for those who prioritize narrative over gameplay complexity.
- “A story that sucked me in and gameplay that was fun and a little challenging at times.”
- “The gameplay is also pretty entertaining, with the interesting elemental tag system and the ability to mix and match abilities.”
- “On top of that, the gameplay is fun - not too complicated, but engaging enough to keep me moving from story beat to story beat.”
- “The gameplay, on the other hand, is severely lacking.”
- “Masquerada: Songs and Shadows doubles down hard on building a world of enlightening lore, but forgets to do the same for the combat and gameplay, giving the game more of a visual novel impression, which will leave a lot of players wanting if not a fan of the mentioned niche genre.”
- “The actual gameplay consists of real-time RPG combat, think Pillars of Eternity or Baldur's Gate, only watered down to a point where you will develop a singular tactic for every single combat encounter regardless of who is in your party.”
graphics
159 mentions
60 % positive mentions
37 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning art style, vibrant colors, and beautiful hand-drawn visuals, which many players describe as high art that enhances the overall experience. While some reviews note that the graphics are decent but not groundbreaking, the unique aesthetic and engaging character designs contribute significantly to the game's charm and storytelling. Overall, the combination of impressive visuals, excellent voice acting, and a captivating soundtrack creates a rich and immersive world that players find visually appealing.
- “The visuals are absolutely gorgeous.”
- “Beautiful game, totally recommend it: the music is breathtaking, the graphics are just gorgeous, and the story is fantastic, set in a complex and imaginative world that I'm eager to continue exploring.”
- “Witching Hour Studios' hard work shines through in the beautiful graphics and the lore crafted in this rich world of culture and politics, with characters that leap off the screen in polished voice-acting, and wonderfully composed music.”
- “The graphics are decent enough, but not particularly outstanding.”
- “Unfortunately, the visuals are let down thanks to a painfully bland dungeon design, the script isn't anywhere near the voice cast's direction, and the actual story opts for a bafflingly generic approach following the intro.”
- “Where there choices to be made throughout the game, had it taken advantage of the medium it was telling its story in, then I could see massive potential for this title, but as it stands it's a solid, inoffensive, good, but not great fantasy story with a unique art style.”
emotional
44 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with players noting its moving narrative, intricate character development, and impactful voice acting that brings the story to life. Many reviewers express deep emotional engagement, highlighting moments that evoke laughter, tears, and empathy, while also appreciating the mature themes woven throughout the plot. Despite some critiques regarding linearity and gameplay mechanics, the overall emotional resonance and character arcs are described as breathtaking and unforgettable.
- “I instantly got sucked into the story this game tells - it's moving, intricate, and emotional.”
- “The narrative pulls no punches and tells a story that became surprisingly dark, propelled by the actions of characters who feel heartbreakingly human.”
- “'Masquerada' is a beautiful, breathtaking, and heartbreaking story with unforgettable, flawed, growing, and alive characters set in a unique and amazingly well-thought-out world.”
character development
24 mentions
42 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted as a standout feature, with strong, relatable arcs that evoke a range of emotions such as rage, doubt, and love. While some characters initially appear generic, they grow significantly throughout the story, leading to a more immersive experience. The combination of exceptional voice acting and thoughtful character design further enhances the depth and richness of the narrative.
- “Incredible voice acting, character development, mature and serious and relatable problems that the characters are facing, and all in all a very immersive experience.”
- “Strong character development, rage, doubt, hate, love, all thrown in together.”
- “The characters are full of life and unique in their own way; the combat isn't anything new or special, but what is the best thing in the game is the story and character development.”
- “Character design really is so very important, and if the protagonist was going to be this ultimate evolutionary form of boring and generic (seriously, I could swear this guy is computer-generated to fulfill the criteria of 'the single-most uninteresting character you'll ever meet anywhere), why not just give us a blank slate and let us make our own custom character?”
- “World building has some plot holes in regards to the fey creation, and in the second part of itself (act 3 and later) the story is paced like a Formula 1 race: revelations and character developments come every scene or so.”
- “Combat mechanics drop off towards the last 80% of the game but for a masterclass in character development and world-building, look no further.”
replayability
18 mentions
17 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The game has limited replayability due to its linear structure and minimal player choices, which restricts the potential for varied experiences in subsequent playthroughs. While there is a New Game Plus mode that introduces additional bosses and deeper story elements, the overall customization and decision-making options are insufficient to significantly enhance replay value. Players seeking a rich, branching narrative experience may find this title lacking in replay incentives.
- “There is some replay value due to the game plus mode having some additional bosses and a deeper understanding of some of the story elements.”
- “[well-written characters, excellent voice acting, imaginative and creative plot, new game plus offers more options and replayability].”
- “I'm not saying it's perfect, the game could've given the player a choice here and there (or maybe unlocked such choices after playing through the normal game so you could see what'd happen if you had chosen differently, which in turn increases replayability or the choices could've given the character some points into various personalities like stoic, emotional, rational, etc. which would shape our main character's personality as we like and in turn could've changed how the scenes played out (definitely the approach with more work but also pretty fun if executed correctly)) but apart from being a very linear game I don't really have any cons, you can choose your characters' skills as you see fit and even pick your main character's main element at the start of the game.”
- “I am recommending this title because in retrospect I enjoyed the story and the world, but it was a close call due to the lack of any real replay value.”
- “The minimal customization and lack of player choice definitely affects the game's replayability, so don't expect to play this for hours upon hours like the Baldur's Gate series or Pillars of Eternity.”
- “There is minimal replayability.”
optimization
14 mentions
57 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is notably lacking, with reports of choppy animations and occasional lock-ups, indicating that it is not well-optimized. Despite these technical issues, players appreciate the rich story, strong worldbuilding, and excellent voice performances that enhance the overall experience.
- “A great tactical RPG with strong worldbuilding, story, and vocal performances.”
- “Great story, rich lore, and amazing performances from the voice actors.”
- “However, the voice actors really carried their performances and made the characters seem earnest.”
- “Animations are sometimes choppy, the game sometimes locks up, and nothing is optimized.”
grinding
13 mentions
15 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
85 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that while the game's progression system is engaging and avoids traditional grinding mechanics, players often find the combat repetitive and tedious, particularly during the latter stages. The pacing suffers due to an overabundance of linear fights and drawn-out narrative elements that detract from the overall experience, leading to a sense of monotony.
- “The storytelling remains brilliant until the ending, where the pacing gets thrown off the rails and we're unfortunately faced with a rather long and tedious crawl through linear trash fights and Cicero's personal drama that, for all intents and purposes, has already been addressed and resolved once, so it looks weird when it comes back as if the guy forgot what he talked about with his friends just the previous evening.”
- “The tedious reading and visual distractions that take you away from the story and gameplay...”
- “[Tedious campaign merely consists of moving from point A to point B, shallow character growth / party setup, unsatisfying and monotonous combat]”
atmosphere
12 mentions
67 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its stunning maps and unique blend of historical elements, moving away from traditional medieval settings. Reviewers highlight the effective use of voice acting and tone, which create an engaging and immersive experience, while the music complements the atmosphere without being overly memorable. Overall, the aesthetic and atmospheric design significantly enhance player immersion.
- “The atmosphere of this world is amazing, the maps are beautiful, and I am always glad to encounter fantasy stories that are not set in a medieval world, but mix in other historical elements.”
- “Time and again, I was fascinated by how tone, wording, and voice blended together to create a humane, engaging atmosphere.”
- “The music didn't have me humming after closing out of the game, but it adds just the right amount of atmosphere when it's needed.”
- “It helps a lot to immerse in the atmosphere.”
stability
8 mentions
25 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The game's stability is mixed; while many users report it runs smoothly and is largely bug-free, there are notable issues such as freezing on exit and some abilities behaving erratically. Overall, the experience can be marred by these inconsistencies, particularly with the game's pacing and certain features.
- “Oh, and everything works, totally bug free.”
- “And while it runs perfectly, it freezes on exit, requiring a force quit.”
- “X is a buggy mess.”
- “Generally it's real-time-with-pause, but it moves a little too fast, and some of the abilities seem buggy.”
humor
6 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as both hilarious and engaging, blending wit with emotional depth. Reviewers appreciate the surprising story that keeps them invested, highlighting its ability to evoke laughter while also pulling at heartstrings. Overall, the humor adds a compelling layer to the gameplay experience.
- “It was funny, it pulled at your heartstrings, witty, serious, all sorts of things.”
- “It's hilarious and engaging, and I found myself wandering back and forth quite often, to make sure I didn't miss anything.”
- “I am so glad I picked this one up - the story is surprising and kept me interested - emotional and funny.”
monetization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game has minimal advertising, with players often discovering it through random recommendations on platforms like Steam.