izigame.me

“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.”
One might feel I could have easily found the time to write a review of this game much earlier, considering that I played it for over 100 hours... but no, sorry. I was too busy failing and trying again!
Now that I am close to completing all of the achievements and have played the patch as extensively as the first release, however, I feel ready to share my thoughts. Hope that it helps!

WHAT TO (AND NOT TO) EXPECT
Mask of the Rose is a visual novel with elements of a dating sim. Its main plot revolves around the investigation of a murder... however, it's also SO much more than that, for it serves as an introduction to a vast and intricate universe that rivals long-established cults like Lord of the Rings, Star Trek, Star Wars, and Dune. As a result, it is likely to cater to the needs and desires of nerds and RPG tabletop players, especially those with a taste for old-school gamebooks and adventure games like Indiana Jones and Monkey Island.
Nonetheless, the game's developers have wisely ensured that previous knowledge of the game's setting is not necessary, since the tale of what happened to London is part of the narrative, and the player is provided with all the necessary information in bite-sized chunks. At the same time, loyal fans will be certain to catch frequent references to previously known details, events, and characters.
Since the gameplay focuses on the narrative, there obviosuly isn't a great deal of animation or special effects. However, the character portraits and the sheer number of explorable locations are beautifully painted. Also, the characters' facial expressions and poses change from scene to scene, matching the mood of the current events and conversations as well as their relationships with your alter ego.
Realistically speaking, the music may feel repetitive after a couple of games, but it never annoyed me to the point of needing to turn it off or switch to something else. Other people's feelings may differ, but I find that offering a more varied soundtrack would have been beyond the scope of this game. After all, it is perfectly normal for readers to choose their own soundtrack, and this game is primarily presented as a visual novel.

FIRST STEPS
At the very beginning of each game, the player is warned about possible failure and invited to replay in order to fully explore the available content. (More on this later.) Then, they are prompted to customize their character's name, upbringing, looks, pronouns, and desires with total freedom and fluidity. These initial interactions help shape their alter ego's personality traits and unlock different choices during conversations. The choice of upbringing, in particular, can significantly impact the first stages of the game, since the character's clothing influences both their conversation choices and how NPCs react based on their perceived social standing.
However, this limitation is only temporary. During the game, players are offered different means to acquire all available wardrobe items, which allows them to overcome any prejudices they may have previously encountered, reinventing themselves and shaping new relationships according to their hearts' desires.
As a tip, make sure to pay attention to the STORYCRAFTING feature as soon as it's unlocked! Experimenting with it and coming up with feasible theories is the only way to continue several storylines.

GAMEPLAY / INTERFACE
If you've read other reviews or plan to, you'll know that the pacing of the game has been a controversial topic when it was first released. However, the developers took swift action to adjust it based on the community's feedback, resolving the issue.
Now to be honest, based on the initial game disclaimer, the very clear daily countdown/in-game calendar warnings, AND the quote that names the Indie game studio, when my first run through the game obviously resulted in failure, I just felt compelled to trying again, and firmly believed the tight timeline was meant to be a feature rather than a bug.
HOWEVER, I also understood that this may not have been everyone's cup of tea, and such awareness gave me another reason to hold off on a review. After all, while I quickly approached solving the murder, I was already familiar with the game's setting and could likely guess some of the characters' motives. The storyline, however, was meant to be accessible to newcomers, and there are just so many options and tales to be discovered! If other players or avid fans took the time to explore and understand the scenario, they would have inevitably faced more frustration than me by repeatedly failing. Thus, I ultimately agree that the current game length is much more appropriate.
Said that, the speed of the text is not always easy to control. Despite of all the available settings, it often feels either too fast or too slow, and attempting to skip what you already read may easily result in missing something new. Fortunately, you can scroll back or open the log to check if you feel unsure.
One thing that eventually became slightly annoying was the constant wardrobe reminder. However, it does make sense in a game where clothing plays a crucial role and progress on the current storyline is automatically saved. Luckily, in the later stages of the game, most characters will have already formed an opinion of your alter ego, so the choice of clothing becomes less important.

ROMANCE / DATING
In case you were wondering, this game allows you to romance all of the NPCs. However, it does not contain explicit drawings, and the romance is portrayed through enticing text and fade-to-black scenes.
Initially, my runs through the game focused solely on the murder investigations and were very chaste. Once I solved the mystery, I felt the desire and had the time to explore more possibilities, and found the tales and interactions to be tastefully handled.
True, there is a constant questioning of one's alter ego's intentions which may detract a bit from immersion. However, it also ensures that players can gradually delve into something new without the risk of being misunderstood. If you are looking for graphical descriptions, they are indeed available, but it's still worth noting that Mask of the Rose is more of an adventure game with extra romance than a conventional dating simulator. It balances dark and hilarious vibes, and romance is entirely optional - in fact, you can perfectly enjoy the game by just befriending everyone - even the monsters!
Or, you can matchmake them with each other and then ask about their own experiences...

TL;DR
In my personal experience, Mask of the Rose offered great value for money.
If you are the sort of gamer who loves to read and immerse themselves in unique, intricately detailed lore, and also specifically appreciate Lovecraftian and Victorian tales, this game was made for you.
Likewise, if you might enjoy playing as a genderfluid character who is perceived solely based on their choices, this game will also cater to your needs.
In fact, while the lack of a manual save feature can be painful, and there may be occasional technical annoyances, the Fallen London universe is so vast and enjoyable to make these little flaws totally worth coping with!
Dive in with an open mind, and I guarantee you will enjoy your trip.

BONUS SOUNDTRACK!
While writing this review, I've been listening to the Stupendium's Mask of the Rose musical on YouTube. If you're not familiar with the Fallen London universe and are still wondering if you might appreciate the game's scenario, make sure to check it out here!