The Shell Part II: Purgatorio

About

"The Shell Part II: Purgatorio" is a historical detective visual-novel set in Japan's pre-war and post-war eras. This sequel to "The Shell Part I: Inferno" features a decades-spanning mystery, with multiple endings and full Japanese voice acting. The story revolves around Reiji Tokisaka and his sister Yukari, as they uncover the truth behind a curse and its connection to Toko Kuchiki's disappearance.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

The Shell Part II: Purgatorio screenshot

100%

Audience ScoreBased on 84 reviews

story6 positive mentions

character development3 negative mentions

The story is captivating and emotional, with a well-executed conclusion that keeps players invested from start to finish.
The game features attractive anime-style graphics and excellent voice acting, enhancing the overall immersive experience.
Improvements over the first installment include a more cohesive narrative, interesting character development, and a variety of choices that add depth to the gameplay.

The pacing can be slow, particularly in the first half, which may deter some players from fully engaging with the story.
Some players found the mystery elements less ambitious and easier to figure out compared to the first game.
The game requires external patching for explicit content, and achieving 100% completion can be challenging without guides.

story
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
83%
6%
The story is generally praised for its captivating and intense narrative, with many players feeling deeply invested from start to finish. While some found the pacing slow, particularly in the second chapter, the overall plot is described as rich and complex, featuring a dark and tragic murder mystery set in post-war Japan. However, opinions vary on the character development and the shift from horror elements to a more standard detective story, with some feeling that the new characters do not compare favorably to those from the previous installment.
- “Absolutely phenomenal story.”
- “I was hyper-invested into this game from start to finish and I can't wait to see how the third entry concludes the story.”
- “The story of this installment takes place 10 years after the events of the previous game, but still keeps certain characters seen in the last installment, the owner of the bar, the detective's companions, among others, while also adding a host of new characters. The development of the story focuses mainly on the investigation of a murder case with a very peculiar modus operandi, featuring a variety of flashbacks and backdates to achieve a more realistic and detailed investigation.”
- “Missing a lot of the 'horror' from the first title, replacing it with a more standard detective story.”
- “I was not especially interested in one of the central plot lines/characters.”
- “For some reason, I feel like I missed something regarding the plot even though I played the first game.”
music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
17%
17%
The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, with some reviewers expressing a desire to purchase the soundtrack. While some comparisons to the prequel suggest a slight decline in musical quality, the voice acting and background music are noted for their excellence and contribution to character depth and scene immersion. Overall, the sound design is considered a standout aspect of the game.
- “The music is also phenomenal and I'd buy the soundtrack on vinyl if it was available.”
- “On the other hand, the sound aspect of the game certainly deserves all possible praise. It has full voice acting for all the dialogues of the characters (male and female), and the quality of this voice acting is excellent, giving them personality and making them seem like real people. The selection of background music for each scene also fits perfectly and enriches the scenes at all times.”
- “In comparison to Inferno (Part I), Purgatorio (Part II) is better in terms of story, soundtrack, narrative/storytelling, character design, and things to do.”
- “In terms of being a murder mystery, for me this game definitely has a weaker and less ambitious plot than its prequel, the new girls Yukiko and Kohane can't compare to Touko and Tsuzuriko, the music isn't as good as well.”
- “In comparison to Inferno (Part I), Purgatorio (Part II) is better in terms of story, soundtrack, narrative/storytelling, character design and 'things-to-do'.”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
The game's graphics are praised for their attractive anime style and beautiful artwork by popular artists, maintaining a characteristic cold and depressing atmosphere that immerses players in the story. Character designs are stylized and realistic without being sexualized, although some users noted the need for external patching to access explicit material. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's engaging narrative and aesthetic appeal.
- “Tremendously cute and beautiful artwork by popular artists.”
- “Graphically, the game is quite attractive; it maintains that characteristic depressing style of the artist from the other games and that cold atmosphere that immerses you fully in the game world. The character design is quite stylized, with realistic bodies that never try to be sexualized.”
- “Attractive anime-style graphics.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Character development in "Purgatorio" (part ii) is notably improved over "Inferno" (part i), featuring a more engaging story and enhanced character design that emphasizes realism without sexualization. The game's stylized graphics and atmospheric elements contribute to a deeper immersion in the narrative, enriching the overall experience.
- “Graphically, the game is quite attractive; it maintains that characteristic depressing style of the artist from the other games and that cold atmosphere that immerses you fully in the game world. The character design is quite stylized, featuring realistic bodies that never try to be sexualized.”
- “In comparison to Inferno (Part I), Purgatorio (Part II) is better in terms of story, soundtrack, narrative/storytelling, character design, and things to do.”
- “Graphically, the game is quite attractive; it maintains that characteristic depressing style of the artist from the other games and that cold atmosphere that immerses you fully in the game world. However, the character development feels lacking and does not engage the player as much as expected.”
- “The character design is quite stylized, with realistic bodies that never try to be sexualized, but the depth of character development is disappointing and leaves much to be desired.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is enhanced by the strong chemistry between characters like Masaki, Touji, and Yaginuma with the main character, Reiji, resulting in a tighter and more engaging narrative. Players also appreciate the inclusion of unexpected and humorous elements, particularly through the Johren patch, which adds comically out-of-place sex scenes. Overall, the comedic aspects are well-received and contribute positively to the game's experience.
- “Some of the new (and returning) characters such as Masaki, Touji, or Yaginuma have excellent chemistry with the main character Reiji. The narrative feels tighter and is told in a more interesting way, and the humorous bits hit a lot more as well.”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The gameplay is considered simpler compared to the first installment, but it offers a longer duration and replayability, enhancing the overall experience. Players also find the story to be more impactful, contributing to their emotional engagement.
- “The gameplay is simpler than in the first part, but the story has a more significant impact on my feelings.”
- “The game features a long gameplay duration with replayability options.”
- “In this game, I think the gameplay is simpler than in part 1, but the story has a more significant impact on my feelings, even though I saw the true ending in 2019.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its emotional depth and well-crafted narrative, often eliciting strong feelings and tears from players.
- “It was both emotional and tear-jerking, well written!”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's atmosphere is marked by a visually appealing yet depressing style that immerses players in its cold, evocative world. The character design is stylized and realistic, avoiding sexualization, which contributes to the overall tone and depth of the experience.
- “Graphically, the game is quite attractive. It maintains that characteristic depressing style of the artist from the other games and that cold atmosphere that immerses you fully in the game world. The character design is quite stylized, featuring realistic bodies that never try to be sexualized.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users highlight the game's long gameplay duration and the inclusion of replayability options, suggesting that players can enjoy multiple playthroughs without losing interest.
- “The game offers a long gameplay duration with excellent replayability options.”
- “The replayability factor is impressive, allowing for multiple playthroughs with different outcomes.”