Masquerade

5 star: (3) 4 star: (16) 3 star: (11) 2 star: (2) 1 star: (0)

Average Rating: Number of Ratings: 32 Write a review

- gattociao, August 31, 2023

SPAG

"Masquerade" is an excellent work of story-based IF in a little-used genre (romance, specifically, Civil-War era romance). It is perhaps the most immersive game I've played yet this year. When I started playing, my mind was still spinning with outside thoughts and residual stress. Soon, I became utterly engrossed in the well-sketched gameworld and all else faded to black.
-- Suzanne Britton

SPAG

It's interesting. I'm not a big romance story fan, but I am a fan of historical romance... perhaps because I'm a big fan of historical -anything-. And this story is set in a period that I find fascinating. So right from the start, I was interested.

But it wouldn't have held if the game wasn't so extremely well constructed....

-- Tina Sikorski

>INVENTORY - Paul O'Brian writes about interactive fiction

[This review is based on the competition release.]

Between the bugs and my inability to get anywhere with the puzzles (or even find them), I didn't enjoy Masquerade nearly as much as I wanted to. If you haven't played it yet, wait for the next release -- the author has always shown a strong commitment to fixing problems, so I've no doubt there will be one. Once the bugs have been fixed and better hints are available, Masquerade will have a great deal to offer fans of genre romance. In this incarnation, though, I'm afraid it was a bit of a disappointment.

This game starts very strightforward involving us in the story. The plot is about money, legacy, love and brutality around a masquerade party.
You have to read carefully becouse you have often to answer some y/n questions that will change your life,
As I often write I can tell that this game is about 2 hours long, replayabe, easy, polished with a medium map, several endings.
You can enjoy if you get involved in the plot.

- Jade.

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- kierlani, April 21, 2020

- Sammel, April 1, 2020

- SchnickelFritz (TX), December 26, 2018

- Laney Berry, September 28, 2018

- Wanderlust, August 3, 2017

- Ayize, March 20, 2017

- Ramona G, February 14, 2017

This game was nominated for an xyzzy award for Best Story when it came out, and I agree that the story is excellent.

You are an independent young woman trying to run a business but running into trouble due to the male-dominated society. You encounter a few suitors while trying to save your business.

The puzzles are fairly light, until the ending. Then it branches into a lot of endings. I found 6 endings and it was hard to tell what made me get them.

Also, the game is pretty short, about 20 to 30 minutes.

Overall, a pleasant game, especially for those interested in romance games.

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- Veraloo, January 20, 2016

- Julia Myer (USA), July 8, 2015

- Thrax, March 12, 2015

- hoopla, February 15, 2015

- Katrisa (Houston), October 30, 2013

- Shadow Fox (Texas), April 17, 2013

- E.K., May 29, 2012

- Sam Kabo Ashwell (Seattle), April 16, 2012

- Iris Wood (Vancouver), May 12, 2011

- Mr. Patient (Saint Paul, Minn.), April 13, 2011

- Guenni (At home), February 19, 2011

I'm not at all an expert on interactive fiction - this was the very first game I have played - but all the same I felt that this was created very well. It was fun to play, and easy too, except for the puzzle at the beginning. I gave up out of frustration the first time I tried, unable to get past Simon at the door at the very beginning. But the second time I tried I got it, and was able to play through the game. The only thing I would critique about the game is that it's not very easy to actually CHOOSE what happens in the end, but I suppose that is because the main character already has a very set personality, which doesn't give in well to some of the player's choices.

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