Shadows on the Vatican Act II: Wrath

About

"Shadows on the Vatican Act II: Wrath" is a point-and-click adventure game that continues the story of journalist James Murphy's investigation into a conspiracy in the Vatican. As Murphy, players uncover hidden secrets, solve puzzles, and navigate political intrigue in this immersive and atmospheric game. The sequel introduces new characters, locations, and challenges, and builds on the dramatic and suspenseful narrative of the first act.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Shadows on the Vatican Act II: Wrath screenshot

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 60 reviews

story18 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

The game features an engaging story with well-developed characters, particularly James and Silvia, and offers a thrilling narrative filled with intrigue and historical references.
The switching character mechanic adds depth to the gameplay, making it feel reminiscent of classic adventure games like 'Broken Sword', while the puzzles are creative and enjoyable.
The soundtrack is exceptional, enhancing the overall experience and contributing to the game's immersive atmosphere.

The game is relatively short and episodic, leading to long waits between releases, which may frustrate players eager for the next installment.
Some puzzles can be overly complex or frustrating, often requiring trial and error, which detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.
There are instances of slow loading times and occasional technical issues, such as disappearing inventory, which can disrupt gameplay.

story
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
52%
7%
The story is praised for its engaging and complex narrative, filled with intriguing twists and memorable characters, particularly in the context of a classic point-and-click adventure. While many players appreciate the depth and evolution of the plot, some express concerns about its slow development and pacing, hoping for more excitement in future acts. Overall, the narrative is seen as a labor of love, with a strong desire from both creators and players to see it fully realized.
- “This is a work of love, of passion, of huge investment in time and resources because this story wants to be told, and has to be experienced.”
- “Inspired by the essay 'In Nome di Dio', Shadows on the Vatican is a thrill-filled story full of intrigue, mystery, and some of the most deep and memorable characters I have ever met in a video game.”
- “The plot will capture you and drag you through the two acts, leaving you wanting for more.”
- “The only negative I see is that the story is slowly developing and is somewhat boring to me :( but still entertaining enough to keep me going. I hoped it gets better in Act 2, but it didn't really happen, so I hope for more tension and exotic places in Act 3.”
- “Let’s talk about the story and dialogues.”
- “Story and characters are definitely getting more complicated, deep, and intriguing in this chapter.”
music
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
69%
19%
The music in the game is widely praised as a sublime and jaw-dropping orchestral soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, perfectly matching the mood of each scene. Many players have added the full OST to their playlists, highlighting tracks like "To Silvia" as particularly memorable. The ambient music, especially in locations like the Capena church, further enriches the game's atmosphere.
- “As you load the game and the title screen appears, you are treated to one of the most sublime game soundtracks I have ever heard.”
- “I have the full OST in my playlist and I often listen to it, alongside Hans Zimmer, Dan Gibson, Carmina, and Bach.”
- “The ambient music is awesome, I love the music in the Capena church.”
- “The music in Shadows is simply jaw-dropping.”
- “The orchestral soundtrack matches the mood of each scene.”
graphics
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
63%
25%
The graphics in the game are generally considered outdated and somewhat rigid, with static single-framed visuals that may not demand much from modern hardware. However, many players appreciate the well-designed and detailed backgrounds, suggesting that while the graphics may not be cutting-edge, they do not detract significantly from the overall experience. Some users express hope for future updates to improve the visual quality.
- “+ Great looking pre-rendered background graphics.”
- “The graphics are all static single framed and there should be no burden on your graphics card or CPU based upon the minimum requirements.”
- “Last but not least, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the graphics.”
- “Of course, the graphics are a bit outdated.”
- “The graphics are all static single framed, and there should be no burden on your graphics card or CPU based upon the minimum requirements.”
gameplay
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The gameplay features a welcomed character-switching mechanic that enhances the classic "Broken Sword" feel, alongside traditional puzzles typical of point-and-click adventure games. While the gameplay is enjoyable, it is noted to be relatively short.
- “Good gameplay, but short.”
- “The switching characters mechanic is really welcome; it makes it feel more 'Broken Sword' than it was.”
- “Puzzles and gameplay are classic, as one can expect from a point-and-click adventure game.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by a wealth of easter eggs, amusing achievements, and clever references to both the gaming world and other titles from various developers. Additionally, the cast of characters, including figures like Sylvia, Cardinal Brehmen, Mario, and the fortune-teller, adds a mix of cold, mysterious, and sympathetic humor that enhances the overall comedic experience.
- “There are tons of easter eggs, funny achievements, and references to the world of gaming and other games developed by different software houses.”
- “The game features a cold, mysterious, and complicated cast of characters, including some sympathetic and funny ones like Sylvia, Cardinal Brehmen, Mario, and the fortune-teller.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in the game is highly praised, with players noting the impressive character designs and memorable personalities that contribute to a beautifully told story, all enhanced by a captivating soundtrack.
- “If you do it, you will be rewarded with amazing character designs, a jaw-dropping soundtrack, memorable characters, and a beautifully told story.”