The Shell Part II: Purgatorio

About

The Shell Part II: Purgatorio is a single player simulation game with horror, romance, drama, mystery and others themes. It was developed by Innocent Grey and was released on April 18, 2024. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"The Shell Part II: Purgatorio" is a historical detective visual-novel set in Japan's pre-war and post-war eras, following a decades-spanning mystery. With full Japanese voice acting, players will delve into a 5+ hour story with multiple endings, as they step in to sever the cycle of a curse's return and solve a murder from the past. The game features new HD assets in its remastered version.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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98%

Audience ScoreBased on 86 reviews

story17 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The game features a gripping and intricate storyline that masterfully intertwines psychological horror and murder mystery elements, keeping players engaged until the end.
The art and music are top-tier, enhancing the immersive experience with beautifully detailed visuals and a haunting soundtrack.
The character development and multiple perspectives add depth to the narrative, making it a standout sequel that improves upon its predecessor.

The pacing can be slow, especially in the first half, which may deter some players from fully engaging with the story.
Certain explicit scenes, particularly those involving sensitive themes, feel unnecessary and detract from the overall experience.
The game requires a patch to access full content, and some players may find the branching choices and routes confusing without a guide.

story
84 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
76%
4%
The story of this game is a complex and engaging narrative that intertwines themes of obsession, mystery, and tragedy, set against a backdrop of psychological horror and intricate character dynamics. While some players found the pacing slow at times and the plot occasionally overwhelming, many praised its depth, emotional weight, and the skillful weaving of past and present events. Overall, it is regarded as a significant improvement over its predecessor, offering a rich and dark storyline that captivates players from start to finish.
- “The story of obsession and how they weave ourselves is an amazing sequel. I'm genuinely so shocked that ending was so gut-wrenching; I don't know how I'm supposed to recover from that.”
- “A massive story with so many characters, events, and rapid changes in perspective that is so cleverly woven together like the most gorgeous wicker basket you've ever seen is seriously hard to come by.”
- “The story is captivating from start to finish, though there is a bit of a slog in the second chapter; it's ultimately worth it.”
- “I'm truly baffled how this game manages to top literally everything the first one did in terms of mystery, story engagement, and dare I say art and presentation, only to kill my enjoyment quite so severely.”
- “The story is a bit meh... I honestly feel like the whole series is style over substance.”
- “The story can get pretty slow, and it sometimes feels like nothing is happening.”
music
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
31%
19%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its haunting quality and atmospheric contribution to the overall experience, while others feel it doesn't quite match the standout soundtrack of the first installment. Many users highlight the evocative compositions by Manyo, which enhance the emotional depth of the narrative, though some note that certain tracks feel less impactful compared to previous entries. Overall, the music is described as a strong element that complements the game's art and storytelling, creating an immersive atmosphere.
- “ [b]Stunning art and music:[/b] Sugina Miki’s evocative character designs and the haunting soundtrack by Manyo elevate the atmosphere, creating an immersive experience that lingers long after.”
- “Sugina Miki’s exceptional artwork, combined with Manyo’s haunting soundtrack, creates a captivating atmosphere that perfectly complements the dark and emotional storyline.”
- “The music is also phenomenal, and I'd buy the soundtrack on vinyl if it was available.”
- “I don't see what all the fuss is about... the artwork is okay, the music is okay.”
- “In terms of being a murder mystery, for me this game definitely has a weaker and less ambitious plot than its prequel; the new characters Yukiko and Kohane can't compare to Touko and Tsuzuriko, and the music isn't as good either.”
- “A lot of the songs from the first game are redone, but in a way that makes them feel fresh instead of just changing one or two notes.”
graphics
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
15%
21%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the top-tier visuals and breathtaking artwork by Sugina Miki, which effectively capture the dark and atmospheric tone of the narrative. While some users find the art style to be merely "okay," others highlight its intricate details and immersive quality that enhance the storytelling experience. Overall, the visuals are considered a significant strength, contributing to the game's appeal, especially for fans of dark visual novels.
- “Top-tier visuals with beautifully detailed CGs by Sugina Miki, capturing the game's dark and atmospheric tone.”
- “Sugina Miki’s exceptional artwork, combined with Manyo’s haunting soundtrack, creates a captivating atmosphere that perfectly complements the dark and emotional storyline.”
- “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.”
- “I don't see what all the fuss is about. The artwork is okay, the music is okay.”
- “The backgrounds and character artwork are the only real step up the sequel has over the original. The muted color palette and harsh linework on characters create an almost ethereal feel to the game that works quite well in its favor, given the story it is trying to tell.”
- “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 development of the story focuses mainly on the investigation of a murder case with a very peculiar modus operandi and certain graphic elements, making the game feel more realistic and detailed.”
gameplay
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
22%
22%
The gameplay has seen significant improvements from the first installment, offering immersive investigative mechanics that challenge players to analyze evidence and make impactful decisions. The seamless integration of gameplay with rich character interactions and layered storytelling creates an engaging experience, while the simplified mechanics enhance accessibility without sacrificing depth. Overall, players appreciate the longer gameplay duration and replayability, making it a must-play for fans of the genre.
- “Great story and a big improvement from the first part, gameplay and story-wise. I really enjoyed my time with it.”
- “️ [b]Immersive gameplay:[/b] Investigative mechanics challenge players to analyze evidence, connect clues, and make critical decisions that shape the outcome.”
- “✒️ [b]Seamless narrative flow:[/b] The balance between gameplay, rich character interactions, and layered storytelling ensures an engaging and emotionally charged journey from start to finish.”
- “The gameplay mechanics are less annoying, with most investigations requiring you to just simply click on everything once, and there are far fewer map selection sequences.”
- “In this game, I think the gameplay is simpler than in part 1, but the story has a more significant impact on my feelings, although I saw the true ending in 2019.”
emotional
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to evoke deep feelings, with players noting moments that are profoundly moving and tear-jerking. The narrative weaves together mature themes, complex relationships, and tragic events, creating a rich and impactful experience that resonates throughout the gameplay. Coupled with exceptional artwork and a haunting soundtrack, the game delivers a compelling emotional journey that is both engaging and thought-provoking.
- “With moments that made me cry harder than most nakige, this game is no joke, and I beg you to try it.”
- “The narrative is a masterclass in suspense, balancing profound emotional themes with visceral depictions of obsession and tragedy.”
- “Sugina Miki’s exceptional artwork, combined with Manyo’s haunting soundtrack, creates a captivating atmosphere that perfectly complements the dark and emotional storyline.”
atmosphere
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
78%
11%
11%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unmatched quality, featuring haunting music, detailed visuals, and immersive world-building that captures a post-war Japan. The combination of Sugina Miki's evocative character designs and Manyo's atmospheric soundtrack creates a captivating and emotionally resonant experience, making it a comfort game for many players. While some feel it doesn't quite reach the heights of its predecessor's soundtrack, the overall presentation effectively enhances the game's dark and mature themes.
- “With mature themes, branching paths, multiple endings, and a hauntingly immersive atmosphere, this sequel delivers a gripping experience that builds on the legacy of its predecessor.”
- “Sugina Miki’s exceptional artwork, combined with Manyo’s haunting soundtrack, creates a captivating atmosphere that perfectly complements the dark and emotional storyline.”
- “ [b]Atmospheric world-building:[/b] immerse yourself in a hauntingly detailed rendition of post-war Japan, where every setting adds to the foreboding mood.”
- “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.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
33%
50%
The game boasts significant replayability, featuring 11 unique endings and over 260 collectible graphics, encouraging players to explore every narrative path. This depth, combined with a long gameplay duration, enhances the overall replay value for dedicated players.
- “The long gameplay duration combined with the replayability option makes this game a worthwhile experience.”
- “With 11 unique endings and over 260 CGs, the game offers substantial replayability for players aiming to uncover every narrative path.”
- “With 11 unique endings and over 260 CGs, the game provides substantial replay value for dedicated players.”
- “Long gameplay duration with a replayability option.”
character development
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
Character development in the game is enhanced by evocative designs and a haunting soundtrack, creating an immersive atmosphere. The pacing effectively balances character growth with a complex plot, and the integration of eroge elements serves to deepen character arcs rather than detract from them. Overall, the sequel improves upon its predecessor by offering a richer narrative and more engaging character interactions.
- “When not mired in lengthy flashbacks, the pacing is decently fast, balancing character development with the buildup of numerous mysteries, as the plot is quite complex this time.”
- “The eroge elements are less gratuitous this time; even the few plot-required h-scenes contribute better to character development.”
- “In comparison to Inferno (Part I), Purgatorio (Part II) is better in terms of story, soundtrack, narrative/storytelling, character design, and 'things-to-do'.”
- “The pacing is decently fast, balancing character development with the buildup of numerous mysteries, but when not mired in lengthy flashbacks, it can feel disjointed.”
- “The eroge elements are less gratuitous this time; however, the few plot-required h-scenes still struggle to contribute meaningfully to character development.”
- “In comparison to Inferno (Part I), Purgatorio (Part II) offers a better story and character design, but the character development feels lacking and underexplored.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a blend of dark and situational humor, with strong character chemistry enhancing the comedic moments. Players note that the narrative is engaging, making the humor more impactful, and the addition of the johren patch introduces absurdly humorous scenes that add to the overall experience.
- “It also has a lot of dark humor and some funny situational humor.”
- “Some of the new (and returning) characters such as Masaki, Touji, or Yaginuma have excellent chemistry with the MC Reiji. The narrative feels tighter and is told in a more interesting way, and the humorous bits hit a lot more as well.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its smooth performance, enhanced by voice patches and remastered assets that significantly elevate the overall experience.
- “The game runs smoothly; voice patches and remastered assets elevate the experience.”
- “The optimization is impressive, allowing for seamless gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
- “I appreciate how the developers focused on performance, ensuring that frame rates remain stable throughout.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is set against a melancholic backdrop of winter in Japan during the economic boom, with additional layers provided by flashbacks to a pre-war farming community. This setting enhances the overall experience, though the specific mechanics of grinding were not detailed in the provided text.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The Shell Part II: Purgatorio is a simulation game with horror, romance, drama, mystery and others themes.

The Shell Part II: Purgatorio is available on PC and Windows.

The Shell Part II: Purgatorio was released on April 18, 2024.

The Shell Part II: Purgatorio was developed by Innocent Grey.

The Shell Part II: Purgatorio has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its replayability.

The Shell Part II: Purgatorio is a single player game.

Similar games include The House in Fata Morgana, Kathy Rain 2: Soothsayer, Syberia: The World Before, The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles, STEINS;GATE 0 and others.

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