Mediterranea Inferno
- August 24, 2023
- Lorenzo Redaelli
Mediterranea Inferno is outrageously weird, intensely homoerotic, and absolutely wonderful, and I never wanted it to end.
Get on Steam"Mediterranea Inferno" is a visual novel that follows three young men on a summer retreat in Italy, as they cope with the aftermath of the pandemic and confront their deepest fears and desires. Players decide their activities, leading to revelations about the trio's bond and the supernatural forces around them. The game explores themes of friendship, grief, and revenge, offering a sensual and mythological journey.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features stunning visuals and a unique art style that enhances the storytelling experience.
- It offers a deep exploration of queer themes and the psychological impact of the pandemic on young adults, making it relatable for many players.
- The gameplay mechanics, particularly the 'Mirage' system, provide meaningful choices that affect character development and narrative outcomes.
- The narrative can be confusing and lacks coherence at times, which may detract from the overall experience.
- There is no voice acting for the main characters, which some players feel would have enhanced immersion.
- The game may not appeal to a broader audience due to its niche themes and explicit content, potentially limiting its reach.
- story27 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The story of the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its unique themes and character depth, while others criticize it for being weak or confusing. Many players appreciate the engaging visual storytelling and artistic direction, particularly its blend of Renaissance aesthetics with contemporary narratives. Overall, while the writing quality varies, the emotional resonance and replayability of the story are highlighted as significant strengths.
“That said, I was pleasantly surprised by both how easy the overall story was to follow and by the unflinching but surprisingly sympathetic portrayal of the leads' inner turmoil.”
“Wonderful writing by Lorenzo Redaelli; I was very impressed with the line of the story and how the events escalated and differed at the same time. Another wonderful thing is the artistic direction of the game, which is amazing how the game’s art was designed in the manner of the age of Renaissance and combined with story events of today.”
“After experiencing this story to its fullest, each character made a lasting impression on me, and I was sympathizing with all of them.”
“The story takes place in Italy as the three protagonists are somewhat famous.”
“After Andrea murders his two friends, the story ends with just text of him being arrested the next day.”
“I read somewhere that when you finish a single storyline, you’ve seen about 60% of the content in the game.”
- graphics26 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising its unique art style, vibrant colors, and cinematic direction that effectively convey the themes of alienation and anxiety. However, some players found the visual presentation to be polarizing, with certain aspects, like character proportions and the clarity of the game world during psychedelic sequences, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, while the visuals are striking and well-executed, opinions vary on their effectiveness in supporting the narrative.
“I'm still obsessed with the artistic (almost cinematographic) direction and saturated colors, especially when in mirages.”
“The visuals are breathtaking, with a wonderful mix of real-world associations and dreamy sceneries!”
“More than that, it's a visually striking, aesthetically confident exploration of Italian gay culture and post-lockdown trauma.”
“I will commend the game for its unique graphical style, but I’ll say as far as a game world goes, it fails to impress - it can oftentimes be challenging to understand what the world is supposed to be, especially during the 'mirage' parts, which go completely drug-induced bonkers.”
“Every unique thing it brings to the visual novel space (art style, mirage) has clear disadvantages that make me dislike it.”
“While the game definitely delivers on art style and music, it's almost like those areas had more effort put into them instead of writing an engaging story.”
- music13 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and emotional impact, often described as the standout feature alongside the art style. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as both engaging and memorable, enhancing the overall narrative experience, while some note that the focus on music and visuals may overshadow the storytelling. Overall, the audio design contributes significantly to the game's artistic expression and emotional depth.
“The art/music/sound design is incredible, the characters feel like real people, and the symbolism and social/political commentary make it a prime example of games as serious literature.”
“With a big LGBT vibe, very good visuals and music, this visual novel will do everything to convey as many emotions as possible.”
“Not to mention, the OST is an absolute banger and I can't help but listen to it again and again.”
“While the game definitely delivers on art style and music, it's almost like those areas had more effort put into them instead of writing an engaging story.”
“The music is alright too, but I don't quite agree with what a review site, especially Eurogamer, has to say.”
“Mediterranea Inferno is such a stunning piece of art, from its visuals to its soundtrack, to its tale and everything in between.”
- gameplay10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The gameplay is centered around a unique "mirage" mechanic that allows players to choose which characters receive items, impacting their confidence and mental stability. This player choice adds a distinctive twist to the visual novel genre, reminiscent of other popular titles, and is complemented by effective visuals and engaging mechanics that enhance the overall experience. However, some reviewers noted that the gameplay could feel average, rating it around 5/10.
“As the player, you choose who you want to give these mirage items to, which results in the mirage seemingly giving the chosen character more confidence while the others become more mentally unstable.”
“So overall, I’ll say that of the visual novels I’ve played, the mirage mechanic seems like a unique spin on a normal visual novel play.”
“The core mechanic of choosing who gets fruit, and thus who is left behind, reminded me a lot of my favorite visual novel: We Know the Devil.”
“The core mechanic (choosing who gets fruit, and, thus, who is left behind) reminded me a lot of my favorite visual novel: We Know the Devil.”
“Mechanics: the main unique mechanic that the game has in the guise of player choice is the mirage mechanic.”
“So overall, I’ll say that of the visual novels I’ve played, the mirage mechanic seems like a unique spin on normal visual novel gameplay.”
- emotional5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its daring presentation and sincere storytelling, which resonates deeply with players. Many reviewers express a strong connection to the characters, reflecting their own struggles and evoking feelings of empathy, particularly during poignant scenes that capture themes of loneliness and vulnerability.
“An absolutely daring presentation and heart-breakingly sincere.”
“I saw my own struggles in the three main characters, and even if I don't have much in common with these queens of the Italian nightlife, I have never felt more strongly connected to a cast of characters on an emotional level.”
“Andrea's nightmare really made me feel something; the isolated loneliness attacked me at my core.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a blend of smart, funny dialogue and raunchy elements, providing a mix of lightheartedness and darker themes. While some moments may feel out of place, the overall experience is characterized by its confident exploration of relationships and identity, often eliciting laughter amidst its more serious undertones. The game's visual style and soundtrack further enhance its comedic and emotional impact.
“Incredible visual novel with smart and funny dialogue, killer art direction and a very confident exploration of queerness, relationships and identity.”
“Regardless of my personal bias regarding how much I can relate to the characters, this is an excellent narrative adventure game with some dark themes, exciting twists, raunchy humor and compelling structure, all tied up with a great soundtrack and overflowing visual style.”
“An unflinching examination of post-covid society that is in turns, hilarious, painful, gorgeous and unsettling.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, users report no significant performance issues when playing on desktop PCs, indicating a stable optimization. However, there are mixed feelings about the graphics quality and user interface, with some ratings reflecting a lack of polish in these areas.
“Performance: no issues with performance, played on my desktop PC.”
“Performance: no issues with performance, played on my desktop PC.”
“Beneath the performance, each of them is hiding pain rooted in something complex and human.”
“[h1] [b] Graphics (Quality/UI/Performance) – [6/10] [/b] [/h1]”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised, with users highlighting its fantastically immersive qualities that enhance the overall experience.
“Fantastically atmospheric.”
“I noticed it being quite atmospheric.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game offers good replayability through its visual novel format, featuring branching choices that encourage players to explore multiple short "routes." This design promotes a cycle of replaying to experience different story outcomes.
“It’s a visual novel with branching choices aiming for a replayable cycle of short 'routes'.”
“Mi has some good replay value.”
“It's a visual novel with branching choices aiming for a replayable cycle of short routes.”
“Once you've seen all the endings, there's little incentive to go back and replay.”
“The lack of significant changes in subsequent playthroughs makes it feel tedious.”
Critic Reviews
Mediterranea Inferno Review
While the plot and characters in Mediterranea Inferno are interesting, the lack of any real gameplay makes this a difficult game to recommend. If you want an interesting journey but don’t want much involvement, then this could be one for you.
50%Mediterranea Inferno review
Mediterranea Inferno is outrageously weird, intensely homoerotic, and absolutely wonderful, and I never wanted it to end.
85%Mediterranea Inferno Review
85%
