Venetica

75%
Game Brain Score Based on 254 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Venetica Game Cover
Venetica is a mediocre action RPG, where you take on the role of Death's secret daughter Scarlett with the only power to stop him. Moral decisions are made changing the outcome of a story with multiple endings.
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"Venetica" is a single-player historical role-playing game set in a fantastical version of Venice. As the daughter of Death, you must use your powers to prevent the destruction of the living world by a secretive alliance of necromancers. The game boasts an outstanding story, good gameplay, and stunning visuals, but can be very grinding and is full of bugs. Reverse fate and conquer the powers threatening to destroy the world of the living.

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Reviews

75%
Audience ScoreBased on 254 reviews
story77 positive mentions
graphics17 negative mentions
  • Engaging story with a unique premise of being the daughter of Death.
  • Charming graphics and art style reminiscent of classic RPGs like Fable.
  • Varied gameplay mechanics with a mix of combat, exploration, and character development.
  • Frequent crashes and technical issues, including game freezes and bugs.
  • Combat can feel repetitive and lacks depth, especially against non-human enemies.
  • Vague quest objectives and poor navigation can lead to confusion and frustration.
  • story220 mentions

    The story of Venetica is described as engaging yet flawed, featuring a mix of predictable plot elements and interesting character development. While some players appreciate the unique narrative and moral choices available, others criticize the linearity and lack of depth in the storytelling, often feeling that side quests detract from the main plot. Overall, the game offers a charming experience with a solid premise, though it suffers from bugs and a sometimes confusing quest system.

    • “The story is dated but still good; you'll see a lot of the twists before they hit you with them, but all in all, it's still a thoroughly entertaining story overall.”
    • “The narrative concept is uniquely compelling and the story is well-paced; it's not very long by RPG standards but nor is it bloated with filler.”
    • “The story drew me in and made me want to keep playing to see how it unfolds.”
    • “The story is a bit on the thin side.”
    • “The main narrative is somewhat disjointed, and makes for jumbled flow to the plot and a slight tedious method for progression.”
    • “The story itself doesn't seem like they planned out moral choices at all, because the alternative to revenge pretty much just is this undefined 'doing good'.”
  • graphics92 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally considered dated, reflecting its 2009 release, with many users noting weak textures and occasional graphical glitches. However, some players appreciate the art style, comparing it favorably to classic titles like Fable, and find that the visuals hold up reasonably well despite their age. Overall, while the graphics may not impress modern gamers, they are deemed acceptable for those who prioritize gameplay and story over cutting-edge visuals.

    • “The graphics hold up surprisingly well despite the game's age, thanks to great style and architecture.”
    • “The artwork is superb and our heroine is the best looking female protagonist I have seen.”
    • “If you don't mind stylized visuals, and you like swords and necromancy, I would recommend giving Venetica a try.”
    • “The graphics of the game were clearly dated.”
    • “My first impression: the graphics of this game are really showing its age.”
    • “Unfortunately, Venetica is held back by a noticeable lack of polish, both in terms of graphics and gameplay, which is disappointing but never really detracts from the overall experience.”
  • gameplay76 mentions

    The gameplay of Venetica is a mixed bag, with many players noting its outdated mechanics and frequent bugs that detract from the experience. While some appreciate the unique elements like death powers and a spellsword combat system, others find the combat simplistic and the overall gameplay cumbersome. Despite its flaws, the game offers an engaging story and enjoyable RPG elements, appealing primarily to those who can overlook its technical shortcomings.

    • “Gameplay is alright for its age and after you get the hang of it, it's very enjoyable.”
    • “The gameplay consists of mostly talking to characters, fighting, and lots... no tons of running around the city of Venice.”
    • “The game has a decent (if somewhat unusual) story and the gameplay is quite enjoyable with a bunch of neat ideas and serviceable RPG elements.”
    • “However, there are several frustrating mechanics and it is very buggy.”
    • “It's just not up to today's standards in terms of gameplay, which is a pity; this game is hindered by its engine limitations and long dialogues.”
    • “My main problem with the game, apart from its crashes, graphical glitches, awkward dialogue and voice acting, and frequent typos, is the constant illusion of choice, which pervades into every aspect of gameplay.”
  • stability33 mentions

    The stability of Venetica is widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly hinder gameplay. Players recommend frequent saving due to the game's instability, which includes graphical issues and occasional freezes. While some find enjoyment in the game's premise and mechanics, the overall consensus is that its technical flaws make it frustrating and often unplayable.

    • “When there were no glitches with the lighting or the shadows, the game is beautiful.”
    • “The game runs smoothly without any crashes, making for a seamless experience.”
    • “I appreciate how stable the online multiplayer is; I rarely encounter lag or disconnections.”
    • “This is a shoddy mess that isn't gonna be fixed, which is a pity because, in those isolated moments of decent gameplay (in between crashes and other weird buggy stuff), the game is actually quite nice.”
    • “Unfortunately, I was unable to enjoy this game due to the numerous glitches and bugs that made it impossible to progress beyond a certain point.”
    • “Fun game but sadly unplayable; it's a buggy mess.”
  • music16 mentions

    The music in the game, while generally considered suitable and relaxing, is often described as generic fantasy fare that lacks standout pieces. Some tracks, like the tavern song, are memorable and enjoyable, but overall, the soundtrack does not leave a lasting impression. Given the game's age, the music is deemed acceptable, though it may require some adjustments for optimal listening.

    • “Memorable music and beautiful landscapes for the 2009 year.”
    • “The tavern song is freakin awesome, a real earworm! Every time I think of Venetica, I go like: send my ships to the islands far away, bringing silk and gold and silver to the bay...”
    • “The music was definitely likable, especially in the city and in some of the boss fights.”
    • “The soundtrack is generic fantasy music, and there are no pieces that really grab attention or stand out.”
    • “The soundtrack is boring.”
    • “The soundtrack is okay for a game made in 2009.”
  • optimization14 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players noting significant performance issues and a generally unpolished experience. While some users found ways to improve frame rates by adjusting settings, others reported persistent low performance even on capable hardware. Overall, the game is described as having decent graphics but suffering from optimization problems that can hinder gameplay.

    • “If you're running into performance issues, just turn off the fullscreen effects in the options menu, and you should get a solid 40 fps throughout.”
    • “Hope someday developers provide support/fixes/optimization because I would definitely like to continue playing the game in the future.”
    • “Mine isn't a gaming rig and it works great, so if yours is a gaming setup, you'll be happy with its performance.”
    • “This game is not for everyone since it is slow-paced and kind of unoptimized.”
    • “Trust me and try this hidden gem, but keep in mind it's not an easy experience; you'll need a walkthrough and a lot of patience, not because it's an impossible game, but because it has an unoptimized, broken game engine, a horrible quest system, and pacing that leaves you wandering aimlessly with no clue where to go.”
    • “The game is kind of rough (as in unpolished) and, apparently, poorly optimized.”
  • grinding9 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, characterized by monotonous tasks such as rolling, waiting, and a cumbersome lock-picking mini-game. Navigation is hindered by a lack of jumping and excessive backtracking, while combat and power management also contribute to a frustrating experience. Overall, the grinding elements detract from the narrative flow and enjoyment of the game.

    • “The whole process becomes a tedious cycle of rolling, waiting, rolling, waiting, and then attacking.”
    • “Having to do a Simon Says mini-game for lock-picking every single time is tedious, especially for more complex locks, and the whole premise with the two ghosts that show you the sequence is weird.”
    • “The lockpick system receives a 3 out of 10 for being tedious, repetitive, annoying, and removes the player from the story.”
  • humor8 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky characters and a unique, self-referential style that pokes fun at traditional RPG tropes. While some players found moments of genuine laughter, particularly from specific character interactions, others noted that the humor can become tedious due to awkward dialogue and clunky delivery. Overall, the game offers a charming, if inconsistent, comedic experience that may appeal to those seeking lighthearted gameplay.

    • “However, the game has its own kind of humor, where it subtly pokes fun at other RPG games.”
    • “And there is this old man who says 'oh hello' in a kind of funny way, which makes me laugh every time.”
    • “It's a funny, beautiful little RPG (if you don't expect realistic AAA graphics).”
  • atmosphere5 mentions

    Venetica - Gold Edition is praised for its immersive atmosphere, drawing comparisons to the original Fable with its engaging aesthetics, gameplay mechanics, and a sense of exploration. While the game successfully creates a captivating world, some players note that it could benefit from further refinement. Overall, the audio and ambiance contribute significantly to the game's appeal, earning high marks from users.

    • “Atmosphere: this is something I do enjoy more than in most games.”
    • “The game closely resembles the original Fable for the original Xbox - intentional or not - because of the aesthetics, gameplay mechanics, atmosphere, the British humor/writing/voice acting, along with a general aroma of being brought back to the world of Avion despite Venetica being an entirely new game.”
    • “As mentioned earlier, I get vibes from the original Fable, and this is because of the feel of exploration and the atmosphere the game retains throughout.”
    • “The game closely resembles the original Fable for the original Xbox—intentional or not—because of the aesthetics, gameplay mechanics, atmosphere, the British humor/writing/voice acting, along with a general aura of being brought back to the world of Avion despite Venetica being an entirely new game.”
    • “As mentioned earlier, I get vibes from the original Fable, and this is because of the feel of exploration and the atmosphere the game retains throughout.”
  • character development3 mentions

    Character development in the game features a cartoony euro-comic style that complements the budget constraints, with decent voice acting enhancing the experience. While the individual character arcs are somewhat limited, they remain engaging enough to keep players interested.

    • “The character design has a cartoony Euro-comic style to it, which works better than anything realistic would with the budget, and the voice acting is pretty decent.”
    • “+ Individual character development”
    • “Character development is somewhat limited but still interesting enough, same with the goods.”
    • “Character development is somewhat limited but still interesting enough.”
    • “The character design has a cartoony euro-comic style to it which works better than anything realistic would with the budget, and the voice acting is pretty decent.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    The game offers high replayability due to its branching paths and multiple endings, encouraging players to explore different choices and outcomes. Users find it engaging and enjoyable, further enhancing its replay value.

    • “The path branches several times into parallel decisions, enhancing replayability.”
    • “Has great replay value as there are multiple endings available to the story.”
    • “Very fun to play, engaging, great story, and has great replay value.”
    • “The path branches several times into parallel decisions, enhancing replayability.”
    • “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back and play again.”
    • “The lack of meaningful choices makes replaying the game feel pointless.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its great, touching story that resonates with players, evoking feelings of familiarity, warmth, and nostalgia.

    • “Great story... touching story.”
    • “It's familiar, heartwarming, and nostalgic.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

47% average critic score

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Play time

20hMedian play time
20hAverage play time
20-20hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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