Table of Contents
amazon Masquerada Songs and Shadows reviews
Story and Setting
At the heart of “Masquerada: Songs and Shadows” lies its intricate narrative, set in the vibrant and politically charged city of Ombre. The world-building is deeply inspired by Renaissance Venice, with its rich culture, elaborate architecture, and complex social hierarchies. The city is divided between various factions, each vying for power and influence, and this tension serves as the backdrop for the game’s story.
The protagonist, Cicero Gavar, returns from exile to unravel the mystery behind the disappearance of a friend, which quickly escalates into a much larger conspiracy involving the Mascherines. These masks, central to the game’s lore, are ancient artifacts that grant their wearers magical abilities. The masks are not just tools of power but symbols of status, further deepening the social divide in Ombre.
The game’s story is linear but deeply immersive, with richly developed characters and a world that feels alive with history and conflict. The narrative is delivered through a combination of dialogue, in-game events, and beautifully illustrated cutscenes. The writing is sharp, with each character having a distinct voice and personality. Cicero, the reluctant hero, is particularly well-written, balancing his cynicism and sense of duty in a way that makes him a compelling lead.
The world of “Masquerada” is also filled with lore that players can explore through conversations, books, and environmental details. The depth of the world-building is impressive, with a history that feels both ancient and alive, filled with secrets waiting to be uncovered. This attention to detail makes the city of Ombre more than just a backdrop—it becomes a character in its own right, with its own motivations, fears, and ambitions.
Characters and Voice Acting
The characters in “Masquerada: Songs and Shadows” are one of the game’s strongest aspects. Cicero is joined by a diverse cast of companions, each with their own backstory, motivations, and arcs that intertwine with the main narrative. These companions include characters like Kalden, a diplomat with a tragic past; Amadea, a fierce warrior with a mysterious agenda; and Tiziana, a scholar obsessed with the secrets of the Mascherines.
Each character is fully voiced, and the voice acting is top-notch, bringing the dialogue and personalities to life. The cast features some well-known voice actors, including Matthew Mercer (of Critical Role fame) as Cicero, who delivers a nuanced and compelling performance. The voice acting helps to deepen the emotional impact of the story, making the relationships between characters feel more real and the stakes of the narrative more immediate.
Character development is handled with care, as each companion has their own personal story arc that unfolds as you progress through the game. These arcs are not just side stories but integral to the main plot, adding layers of complexity and moral ambiguity to the narrative. The game doesn’t shy away from difficult topics, exploring themes of loss, betrayal, and the search for identity in a world where power and privilege are often at odds with justice and truth.
Gameplay and Combat Mechanics
“Masquerada: Songs and Shadows” combines traditional RPG elements with tactical combat that emphasizes positioning, timing, and the smart use of abilities. The combat system is real-time with pause, allowing players to stop the action at any time to issue commands to their party members. This system strikes a balance between the fast-paced action of real-time combat and the strategic depth of turn-based systems.
The game’s combat revolves around the use of Mascherines, which grant each character unique abilities tied to one of four elemental types: Fire, Water, Air, and Earth. Each element has its own strengths and weaknesses, and part of the strategy involves exploiting these elemental affinities to gain an advantage in battle. For example, Fire abilities are typically offensive, dealing damage over time, while Water abilities might focus on healing or crowd control.
Combat encounters are designed to be challenging but fair, requiring players to think carefully about their approach. Positioning is key, as many abilities have area-of-effect (AoE) components that can hit multiple enemies if placed correctly. Additionally, the game introduces a system called “Tagging,” where using abilities in a certain sequence can trigger powerful effects, such as stuns or extra damage. This adds another layer of strategy, encouraging players to experiment with different ability combinations.
The real-time with pause system also allows for more flexibility in combat, as players can adapt their strategies on the fly. This is particularly important in boss battles, which often require quick thinking and precise execution to overcome. The game’s difficulty can be adjusted, making it accessible to both casual players and those looking for a more challenging experience.
Outside of combat, the game features exploration and puzzle-solving elements. While the exploration is fairly linear, the environments are richly detailed, and there are plenty of hidden secrets and lore to discover. The puzzles, while not overly complex, provide a nice break from the combat and help to reinforce the game’s emphasis on using your wits to overcome obstacles.
Masquerada: Songs and Shadows – So far, strategy games have always been a favorite genre of many players because of the depth of gameplay and unique balance.
This type of game is divided into many different styles: real-time strategy, turn-based strategy, 4x (explore – expand – exploit – exterminate), management grand strategy, and tower defense.
The common feature of all strategy games is that it requires players to calculate their moves carefully in every action.
An old saying that “sacrifice is like a mountain falling” in battle indicates that a wrong decision will lead to irreversible consequences.
We can “dim” see the strategy in it, not only purely tactical games, but almost every other game form from role-playing, action, or puzzle; we can “dim” see its strategy.
A game where strategy is greatly appreciated when the player has to manage a small group of units and manipulate them skillfully.
They can be purely real-time like Warhammer 40k: Dawn of War II, Commandos, or feature “tactical pauses” like Dragon Age, Aarklash: Legacy.
Although this type of game does not “torment” gamers with hundreds of units, they are difficult to play in other aspects.
From Witching Hour Studios, Masquerada: Songs and Shadows is a new representative of this exciting series.
The plot in Masquerada: Songs and Shadows take place in a strange kingdom called Citte Della Ombre – where the power of religion has no right to reign at all.
The legend of someone will be perpetuated with songs of glory – and so all the inhabitants of Ombre find ways to make their songs resound forever.
And then, mystical masks called Mascherines appeared. They grant the user boundless power to manipulate the elements and cast the most destructive spells.
The Ombre aristocracy – the Masquerades, owned these Machines, and they were always the subject of disputes and civil war with the lowly serfs – the Contadani.
To secure their interests, the Contadani are always looking for ways to steal the Mascherines from Masquerada – and since then, countless mysteries befall the kingdom.
Starting with the kidnapping case, the young members of Masquerada embark on an investigation and discover more and more shocking secrets – enough to make their unwavering faith in the institution. The “steel” of the kingdom of Ombre was shaken and on the verge of collapse.
Many games conquer players thanks to the “dress” of ornate graphics – and of course, according to today’s trend, “everything in 3D is beautiful”.
It seems that people forget that the most beautiful and captivating pictures are paintings… 2D.
It is the blend of colors and lines that create visual effects that vibrate to the deepest depths of the human soul.
And so, Masquerada: Songs and Shadows approaches players with an impeccable graphic style.
Although they are only 2D images, the ingenious use of colors and the unique character design style of the game make players feel like they are immersed in a picture that is both surreal and abstract.
Although it is a bit “contradictory,” the opening film of Masquerada: Songs and Shadows are made with 3D tricks – and it can be said that the writer is extremely impressed because the boundaries of 2D and 3D can be blurred.
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The footage is so elaborately and meticulously invested that we seem to think that if Witching Hour Studios wanted to, they could still produce a perfect 3D version of Masquerada: Songs and Shadows.
Another highlight, in addition to the graphics, is the character voice acting in the game.
It’s hard to believe that an indie game company has the “heart” and “force” to invest in such a skilled voice actor.
Players seem to feel each character’s inner self, feel the anxiety and concern in each frown, feel the extreme indignation just by closing their eyes and listening to the voices. The lines are both poetic and elaborately resounding in the ears.
The writer doesn’t want to mention the negative aspects of Masquerada: Songs and Shadows – an epic with a compelling plot, artistic graphics, and magical sound like this.
However, the game’s flaws are too big to ignore and give readers a dishonest review.
First of all, a little bit about the core gameplay of Masquerada: Songs and Shadows.
Battles in the game occur in real-time, and the player must control a group of characters to participate in the competition.
Players can press the Spacebar to pause the game at any time to issue orders to the whole team.
The problem will not be – if the AI of the machine teammates is too “stupid.”
When you give a chain of commands, they only do it right the first one and then “like the thing to do it.”
With such gameplay and such an AI system, if you want to have a successful match, the player must continuously microphone EVERY character.
And this is not much easier when the 2D graphic style proves it to be as beautiful as a picture but equally annoying when it becomes a game.
It is the “flat” in the layout that makes the matches extremely confusing but difficult to distinguish the enemy – me, and having to stop clicking on this person, choosing a skill, choosing a target, and then doing the same thing again. The other characters are annoying.
After all, it’s Masquerada: Songs and Shadows with no physical save mechanics at all.
The game will automatically save at times that it deems appropriate, whether the player wants it or not.
The increasing difficulty (which is mainly due to the “stupid” AI). It is quite normal to have to cheat a match more than a dozen times – and note that Masquerada: Songs and Shadows are quite linear, so there will be no going back somewhere to level up and get stronger!
Conclusion
“Masquerada: Songs and Shadows” is a unique and compelling RPG that stands out for its richly crafted world, deep narrative, and strategic combat. The game’s Venetian-inspired setting, combined with its mature storytelling and well-developed characters, creates an experience that is both immersive and emotionally resonant. The hand-drawn art style and evocative soundtrack further enhance the game’s atmosphere, making it a visual and auditory delight.
While the game’s linearity and pacing may not appeal to everyone, and the combat can occasionally become repetitive, these issues are minor in comparison to the overall quality of the experience. For players who appreciate a strong narrative, well-written characters, and a richly detailed world, “Masquerada: Songs and Shadows” is a must-play.
The game’s exploration of themes such as power, identity, and the masks people wear in society adds a layer of depth that elevates it above many of its peers. It is a game that invites players to think, to question, and to become fully immersed in its world. Despite its flaws, “Masquerada: Songs and Shadows” is a standout title that offers a memorable and rewarding journey through a world of magic, mystery, and moral complexity. Whether you’re a fan of tactical RPGs, narrative-driven games, or simply looking for something different, “Masquerada: Songs and Shadows” is well worth your time.