TechRaptor has reviewed Masquerada Songs and Shadows:

Masquerada Songs and Shadows Review

Sometimes through public professionalism, we grin and bear annoyance, or put on a brave face in times of extreme stress. Sometimes, we steel ourselves to from personal embarrassment or for selfish goals. That façade is like a mask in some ways; we wear them daily but often subconsciously; hiding our true feelings or ideals from the world. This isn’t because of malicious intent but rather self-preservation of our image. Our failings or annoyances, whatever they may be, can be easily sheltered to others if we decide to not let them in.

In a way, that mask is an important part of our growth as well. Eventually, we shed those facades, becoming more honest with ourselves and those around us. This is often a testament to the growth of personal character. While we don such masks on occasion, they don’t become us, a lesson that many learn in the long run of our lives. I bring this up mostly through the self-reflection of a new game, Masquerada: Songs and Shadows, a new indie RPG by Singaporean developer Witching Hour Studios. It is a game that, while flawed, has some things to offer to role-playing enthusiasts and casual RPG players alike.

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Summary

For a freshman effort by an indie developer, there is just enough to really get your attention in Masquerada, and I look forward to seeing what Witching Hour Studios does next. For behind the mask of this game is a studio with a lot of heart behind it, and while their first outing is ultimately flawed, their heart is sometimes all you need to make your mark in the gaming world.

Score: 6.5/10 - Good

Pros

• Excellent Narrative...
• Strong Voiceover and Themes...

Cons

• ...with Some Minor Narrative Flaws.
• ...Extremely Simple, Linear Gameplay.
• Limited Combat Mechanics.

Masquerada: Songs and Shadows has received a major update giving it a new game plus mode. This coincides with a price drop of 20% on GOG.

v1.20 with New Game+ and European languages now live!

New game features in Patch v1.20!

In this patch, we have added the New Game Plus mode that is only accessible after players have completed the game once. Features of NG+ mode include:

• Multiple conversations throughout the game have additional lines of dialogue that add more colour to our cast of characters.
• Cicero now has mastery over all 4 elements, greatly expanding his skill tree and flexibility in combat.
• Players are now able to respec skills at any time within the Skills Menu while out of combat.
• 5 more skill points are awarded at the start of the game.
• 12 brand new masks to be found throughout the party's adventure.
• 2 new secret bosses have been added. Search for them where Maskrunners hide!
• 1 new boss fight added to Seimora's Throne.
• We have also added text localizations for German, French, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese and Turkish languages!

v1.20 Patch Notes (8th August 2017)

Gameplay changes

• New Game Plus mode has been added.
• Added localizations for German, French, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese and Turkish languages.
• Chapter Select (at the Main Menu) now has a chapter description and preview image for each chapter.
• 5 more skill points are now awarded between receiving your first mask in the Hall of Bearings and the end of the Quiet Order. This change has a retroactive effect on existing save games. This is separate (and additional to) the 5 additional skill points available in NG+ mode.
• Added "Already Obtained" notifications for when the player obtains Masks, Inks, Engravings and Codex entries that they have already collected.
• Updated controller scheme for navigating the options, skills and behaviour menus.
• Updated PS4 controller button icons. Updated tutorial texts and images when using a controller to play.
• Added subtitles when Cicero replays certain past dialogues in his head.
• Added controller shortcuts to open some menus. The same shortcuts can be used on toast notifications.

Farflame spotted a Masquerada: Songs and Shadows review on COG:

Masquerada: Songs and Shadows Review

Masquerada: Songs and Shadows is a linear RPG that impresses with its strong narrative. While it lacks major customization or exploration, the voice acting lends a level of authenticity that helps make you care and become invested in the Citte della Ombre and its inhabitants. You play as Cicero Gavar, an exile returning from whence he came, and you’ve been tasked with investigating a kidnapping. Of course, the plot thickens quickly as more beneath the surface comes to light.
[...]
That being said, there is very little to no replay value. Masquerada costs a bit less than half the price of a AAA title, and you’ll certainly get a fair amount of play hours, but once you’re done, you’re done. A good story is a good story, but this book felt like it could remain shut once it was finished. For the price, this is absolutely worth your time if you’re a big RPG fan or really dig the art style. If linear gameplay and combat that’s decent at best don’t sound like your idea of a good time, look elsewhere. Masquerada: Songs and Shadows tends to fit a niche that is a classic staple of video games.

The Good

• Beautiful art style
• Great voice acting
• Intriguing story

The Bad

• Linear
• Mediocre combat
• No replayability

Score: 7.5

BoukenJima reviews Masquerada and finds it an interesting game with some notable flaws such as the control scheme.

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A Renaissance-themed fantasy RPG? Okay, sure, why not? Let's give this a try, shall we.

GWW has reviewed the Adventure-RPG Masquerada: Songs and Shadows:

Magic and Mystery-Masquerada: Songs and Shadows Review

Even from sitting at the menu screen of Masquerada: Song and Shadow, you know you’re in for a rich experience. The operatic chanting beautifully accents the detailed hand drawn background. The level of artistic presentation continues throughout the 10-12 hour journey Masquerada takes you on, and is the highlight of the game.  Witching Hour Studios, the developers, have crafted a consistent and detailed world brimming with lore and backstories. It can be disorienting at first, but through the course of the game you’ll grasp the depth and significance of events or characters. Gamers that want to go deeper can read up on the game’s extensive lore entries. The world building is pretty impressive and gives the player the impression that the world of Masquerada  has existed long before the players was introduced to it. All the characters within the game are fully voiced with professional voice actors which definitely enhances the game as well.

[...]

Score: 7.5/10 - Decent

Compelling story driven adventure with a unique lore held back by it's gameplay. Put it on "Story mode", open a bottle of wine, and enjoy the beautiful sights and sounds.

The RPG Masquerada: Songs and Shadows has been released on Steam and GOG:

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Navigate the masked deceptions and deadly magic of a vividly Venetian city in this fully voiced pause-for-tactics RPG.

In the turmoil-ridden Citte della Ombre, religion holds no sway. Only the songs sung of one’s deeds will carry an Ombrian’s legacy beyond death. Those who hold even the smallest morsel of power will make every effort to ensure their songs live on. Enter the Mascherines - masks that grant their wielders the power to channel the elements and cast destructive magic.

The Mascherines have perpetuated a culture of inequality between the power-hungry guildsmen known as the Masquerada and the impoverished lower classes, the Contadani. A prolonged civil war, ignited by Contadani rebels who steal Mascherines from the Masquerada, has only drawn scars of mistrust across the Citte since.

One of Ombre’s finest sleuths, Cicero Gavar, was exiled for a crime against the state five years ago, but he is now summoned back to Ombre to solve the mysterious kidnapping of the diplomat Razitof Azrus. As other members of the Masquerada join his investigation, all having their doubts about one another within this culture of deception, their faith will be pushed to the limit as a deeper conspiracy lurks in the shadows of Ombre.

FEATURES:

• Your Fight, Your Pace: Use the tactical pause to control the rush of combat, position your party and plan their attacks by the second.
• A Game of Tag: Lay elemental magic tags upon your enemies, and activate the tags with another element for crowd-controlling status effects!
• Vivid Comicbook Art: Feast your eyes on dreamy colours and environmental linework inspired by French comic artists, blended with stylized 3D characters for a timeless aesthetic.
• A Fully Voiced Tale: The drama at the heart of Ombre unfolds over 12 hours of narrative, fully voiced by VO heavyweights like Matthew Mercer and Jennifer Hale.

Masquerada: Songs and Shadows now has a release date of September 30th and a release trailer to go with it.

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COMING TO WINDOWS AND MAC VIA STEAM, GOG & HUMBLE STORE ON SEPT. 30TH!

Navigate the masked deceptions and deadly magic of a vividly Venetian city in this fully voiced pause-for-tactics RPG.

In the turmoil-ridden Citte della Ombre, religion holds no sway. Only the songs sung of one’s deeds will carry an Ombrian’s legacy beyond death. Those who hold even the smallest morsel of power will make every effort to ensure their songs live on. Enter the Mascherines - masks that grant their wielders the power to channel the elements and cast destructive magic.

RPGamer checked out Masquerada: Songs and Shadows at Pax West. The game will be released on September 30:

Witching Hour Studios' Masquerada: Song and Shadows is inspired by cRPG classics and set in a world where magical power is bestowed by mystical masks. Anna Marie Privitere got the chance to check the game out at last weekend's PAX West event.

Not being a big fan of WRPGs, I walked into Masquerada: Song and Shadows with a bit of trepidation. Hailed as an action RPG inspired by games such as Dragon Age and Baldur's Gate, yet streamlined, I jumped in and ended up having a really good time.

[...]

There’s no experience, no levels, and no inventory. Instead, skill points determine how you build your character; in addition, weapons can be customized with inks and engravings for a streamlined character progression experience. Combat is also fairly streamlined, players have four skills that can be activated with number keys on the keyboard (controller support is also available); other characters auto-attack when not being directly controlled. Combat looked hectic and at first I panicked, until realizing that I could pause the combat at any time with the space bar, look around the battlefield, and decide what attacks to run next.

[...]

The Kickstarter campaign for Masquerade: Songs and Shadows has almost reached its GBP 45K goal and with still two days to go, it looks like they will make it.

In case you are still in doubt on whether or not to help fund this game, there are loads of updates available that add more information.

And here is the cinematic trailer (for which the original animatics can be found here).

Masquerada: Songs and Shadows is on Kickstarter and with 13 days to go, still could use some more funds. The Kickstarter funds will be used to finalize this tactical action RPG, which features pausable real-time combat.

Masquerada: Songs and Shadows is a colorfully grim song of masked deception, set amid a Venetian-inspired city haunted by the shadows of civil war, misplaced faith and fey manifestations. 

What is a mask? A craftsman would say it beautifies the sight of the human face. A criminal desires the mask for what it conceals: identity, intention, capability. But a mask is more than what we wear. We put up masks around our hearts so none may see what capabilities and intentions - for honour, for faith, for betrayal - lie within. 

In the world of Masquerada, masks are all that, and much more. The masks, now powerful artifacts which are known as Mascherines, bring out the innate destructive capabilities of man into reality. With a Mascherine, the everyman can channel nature’s elements into deadly magic.

Now, magic isn’t just a game for spellcasters. Every battle in Masquerada will be a dance of steel and spells, where players set the pace. Feel the need to pause combat every few ticks and exert granular control over your party members’ positioning? Sure. Or think you’ve got the skills to dive in a la Diablo and set up crowd control in real time? Have it your way.

Our myriad inspirations for Masquerada are owed to superlative, genre-defining titles like Baldur’s Gate, Dragon Age, Transistor, and much more.

Thanks Goblin.

Press Any Key Games Podcast has interviewed Ian Gregory of Masquerada.

Thanks Couch!

The stylish RPG Masquerada: Songs and Shadows has its own website now:

-> Masqerada Website

Gary Alexander (Words About Games) has interviewed developer Ian Gregory from Witching Hour Studios about the upcoming game Masquerada:

Masquerada: Songs and Shadows Developer Interview

While at EGX last month I had the chance to play a game I had never heard of; Masquerada: Songs and Shadows. As I mentioned in my hands-on impressions of the game, I was surprised that I had never heard of it because what I played was fantastic. I recently conducted an e-mail interview with Ian Gregory, Creative Director at Masquerada developer Witching Hour Studios, where we talked a bit about the upcoming RPG. He was also kind enough to give me some exclusive concept art and screenshots, which you can find at the bottom of this post.

Tell me a little about Masquerada: Songs and Shadows.

“Masquerada is a 2.5D role playing game along the same veins as Baldur’s Gate, Neverwinter Nights and Dragon Age. You follow Cicero Gavar, as he returns from exile to solve a mystery that could shake the very foundations of the city. Leading a party of three, he’s going to have to deal with the various guilds of the city, rebel maskrunners and the enigmatic fey creatures of city’s ruins. It’s a city of intrigue and grey morals, of opulence and beauty

Combat features a tactical pause system, allowing players to decide on the pace they’d like to enjoy combat. We also have an ability system that branches, so players with the same ability would have a starkly different experience.

It’s basically a game made by people who loved rpgs as kids.”

So it’s almost like a love letter to classic RPG’s like Baldur’s Gate and Neverwinter Nights?

“Very much so! We try to distill what we loved in those games while updating it to a contemporary audience. From intuitive controls familiar to MOBA players to removing parts that clearly doesn’t add to the experience – like inventory Tetris.”

Inventory Tetris is the worst! Can you go into a bit more detail about the MOBA-style controls?

“We have right-click movement and number keys for ability use. Having four abilities and an ultimate (mask) ability per character bar gives the player options in combat without overwhelming them with choice. The telegraphs we’re using should also be familiar as ground markers show the area affected by allied or enemy characters.

We’re looking at the feel of the interaction between the controls and the mechanics.

Also, characters have about six to eight abilities to pick from, and each has an upgrade tree such that even if we both had the same ability on our bar, it would function quite differently. The example I tend to use is Zephyr. A teleport ability, it could be specced to be offensive and spawn a tornado where you teleport to, or, if you’d prefer something defensive, you could slow enemies with a wind chill when you teleport away from them.”

[...]

Ade Putra (GameAxis) has previewed Masquerada: Songs and Shadows:

Preview: Masquerada Songs and Shadows (PC)

It takes less than an hour to complete the preview build of Masquerada: Songs and Shadows, the up-and-coming PC debut for local developers Witching Hour Studios. Its brevity is a conscious decision to suit gaming conventions, but that was all the time it needed to spirit players away into a world of masks, mystery, and magic; little wonder that I’m left yearning for more.

Masquerada, as its name implies, involves plenty of fancy masks and for good reason: they’re a conduit for power, allowing our characters Cicero, Kalden, and Tiziana to unleash elemental magic. The demo doesn’t expand on this but from what I understand, they’re a recent discovery and those who own one belong to the aristocracy. Masks also happen to be great at conjuring mental imagery of danger and intrigue, of which Masquerada promises to have plenty.

[...]

I’ll admit that a major portion of my excitement stems from the world Witching Hour has built. Their passion in creating cities, histories and people, as well as their indulgence in writing, is documented in the codex of mobile tactical game Ravenmark: Mercenaries. Getting to explore that passion in the form of a full-blown fantasy RPG, with Venetian themes and social philosophizing, is going to be exciting to say the least.

[...]

Gameplay Trailer:

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LLStoolJ checked out an early alpha version of Masquerada Songs and Shadows:

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Masquerada: Songs and Shadows is a 2.5D isometric RPG, built in the vein of Baldur’s Gate and Dragon Age where you can pause combat to plan tactics for your party.
Set in the Venetian-inspired fantasy city of Ombre where rare masks are the key to casting magic, Masquerada is dressed in the colours and style of French comic books and vivid games like Bastion.
Players follow the Inspettore, Cicero Gavar as he returns from exile to solve a kidnapping that will shake up the foundations of the city.

Some news about Masquerada: Songs and Shadows, a 2.5D isometric RPG with pausable combat.

VG27/7:

RPG Masquerada is light, fresh and, thankfully, entirely orc-free

Masquerada: Songs and Shadows may claim to follow in the footsteps of some of the RPG genre’s greatest greats, but Pat finds something completely new in an early build.

RPGs always disappoint me. There I am, keyed up to play, full of the preview promise of immersion and plot, only to be left eye-rolled by a reality of tedious bloat. Yes please, says my imagination. Being a fantasy dude in a thrilling, hundred-hour thing is something I absolutely want to do. No thanks, says my shooter-fried peanut brain after I’ve watched the eighth pretend orc, dripping in triple-A sweat, prattle on for half an hour while I fall asleep to the groan of stuffed hard drive. Take me back to the pew-pew.

But maybe, finally, I’m about to find an entry point. Masquerada: Songs and Shadows, developed by Singaporean studio Witching Hour, bills itself as following the tradition of Dragon Age and Baldur’s Gate (I’m afraid I’m going to have to assume that as truth. I tried to play Baldur’s Gate once. All I remember is a large amount of little words on the screen before I pressed “off”), but, thankfully, this is different. There’s nary a goblin in sight, and the story’s delivered in bites small enough to maintain balance between compulsion and boredom. The combat’s instantly accessible (right-click to attack, press numbers for skills, execute them with left-click) but is undercut by the ability to pause the action and assign attacks, movements and buffs to individual party members. Tactics a-go-go. Masquerada doesn’t require RPG master status to play, but it isn’t lightweight. That suits me fine. [...]

Indie Game Mag:

IGM at EGX 2015 – Masquerada: Songs and Shadows

In the madness that is EGX, a free leaflet and badge cut through the noise. The shiny new badge meant one thing: I was at the booth of Witching Hour Studios, showing off its 2.5-D isometric RPG by the name of Masquerada: Songs and Shadows.

Masquerada is set in a “Venetian-inspired fantasy city” called Ombre, where magic can be cast by those that have access to rare masks. The game’s unique style is apparently motivated by French comic books and games such as Bastion. Gamers will play as – among others – Cicero Gavar, an Inspettore (inspector), as he returns from “exile to solve a kidnapping that will shake up the foundations of the city.” This already had me interested, but before I sat down to try the game out for myself, I wanted a little bit of insight into what makes the studio tick.
Masquerada was inspired by the developer’s initial love of Dungeons & Dragons, which led the way for development on a title that has also been said to be heavily influenced by Baldur’s Gate, Diablo, and Dragon Age. This definitely showed each time I eagerly glanced over at the demo being played, and I couldn’t wait any longer. [...]

Words about Games:

EGX 2015 | Masquerada: Songs and Shadows Hands-On Impressions

I was wandering the Rezzed section of EGX towards the end of my final day at the show when I overheard someone say two words that always make me stop in my tracks. Those words were “Baldur’s Gate.” My curiosity instantly piqued, I turned to see that the man who said it was a developer, and he was talking to someone as they were playing a game called Masquerada: Songs and Shadows. Naturally I paused to watch someone playing through the final boss fight of the demo, and wait for a PC to become free so I could have a turn.

While I was waiting I got a chance to speak to one of the games developers. He went on to tell me that Masquerada: Songs and Shadows is a 2.5D isometric action RPG in which you control multiple members of your party, and can pause combat at any time to plan your tactics, taking inspiration from Baldur’s Gate and Dragon Age: Origins. Before I had a chance to shout “SOLD” in his face he continued on (which was probably for the best).

The game also features a narrative experience that takes its inspiration from games such as Mass Effect, with fully voiced dialogue from the likes of Matthew Mercer, Jennifer Hale and Dave Fennoy. The game follows the Inspettore, Cicero Gavar, a Sherlock Holmes-esque character who has returned from exile in an attempt to solve a kidnapping. [...]

Zero1gaming interview with Creative Director Ian Gregory Tan:

Witching Hour have released a gameplay trailer of Masquerada: Songs and Shadows and invite you to visit them at PAX.

Come to PAX Prime - Booth 6708 - and play the new alpha demo of Masquerada, the isometric RPG that promises to be a tour de force of pauseable tactical combat and narrative intrigue!

In the Venetian-inspired fantasy city of Ombre, masks unearthed from the ancient world give destructive magical powers to an elite few. As civil war rages between the elitist Masquerada and the working-class Contadani, fey creatures start to spread mysteriously throughout the city, paving the way to a darker conspiracy...

A gripping narrative, fully voiced by the likes of Matthew Mercer (Fire Emblem: Awakening), Jennifer Hale (Mass Effect series), Dave Fennoy (The Walking Dead) and more incredible talents, awaits those who delve into the troubled hearts of the Masquerada and the politics which burden them so.

Masquerada: Songs and Shadows is intended for release on PC, Mac and consoles (TBC) in spring 2016.

Aubrielle has an early waltz with Masquerada: Songs and Shadows, and hopes the composers strike the right chords later on. Here is a quote from the preview.

It always seemed like all the other kids liked Disney cartoons more than me.  I hated them. The singing always seemed so silly, the plotlines were predictable, and the sad songs always seemed so pointless.  They'd show them in grade school and it was like a bad broadway musical that would never end.  I was never sure if I preferred schoolwork or not.  And I hated schoolwork. But when I played the press build of Masquerada: Songs and Shadows, I thought back to those movies with a slightly different take.

Robyn Miller of Side Questing published a preview of Masquerada: Songs and Shadows. Don't forget to read our new interview for the game that was published yesterday.

Masquerada’s gameplay mechanics and aesthetics may be a priority, but story will be getting its due attention as well. I was told during my demo that the current script for Masquerada is nearly 500 pages long. I only caught a glimpse of the story during my time with it, but what little I did see piqued my interest.

For a game in early Alpha, Masquerada already shows polish and solid mechanics. It is slated for release sometime during early 2016. While it will certainly be launched on PC and Mac, it hasn’t been revealed whether it will also be released on consoles.

We had the chance to talk with Ian Gregory, the Creative Director of Witching Hour Studios for our next interview about his new RPG Masquerada: Songs and Shadows.

I hope you enjoy the interview.

Couchpotato: Welcome to RPGWatch! Can you give a brief introduction about yourself and your company Witching Hour Studios?

Ian: Heya! Thank you! I’m Ian Gregory, the Creative Director here at Witching Hour Studios. We’re a small setup in sunny Singapore. And yes, we know Singapore isn’t quite known for game development. =)

We’re about five years old and we’re known for our line of turn-based strategy games, The Ravenmark Saga on mobile. We’re making a big change though, moving into PC and Console with our new title, Masquerada. A philosophy we try to adhere to speaks of two pillars: story and mechanics. Design choices are always weighed against those scales.

Siliconera published a new intrview for Masquerada: Songs And Shadows.

Witching Hour Studios sent out information about their new RRG game called Masquerada: Songs and Shadows. As usual here is the game trailer, and short game description.