Mask of the Rose Review (WitherCat)
I was looking forward to this game for years, and I so desperately DESPERATELY wish I could give it it a positive review, while the characters are wonderfully charming, and the world the fallen london I adore. There is no time to do anything at all! I assumed the first time I played through I was stopped from doing more because I failed to solve the mystery as I was too busy trying to do multiple things. So I did a second run through quickly speeding through the break out route, only to learn that no, the game is in fact just that short. There is no time for anything, and the fact my character will spend so much time doing literally nothing within the time skips is rather frustrating. There's so much to explore and so many timeskips make it impossible to actually learn much. I really did like the parts of the game I got to actually visit, like getting to baptize a rat! That was really funny! There is a really really good game in here, but it needs more space. I barely have time to get to know any of these people before the game ends! Let alone romance or match make them! When it does happen, it feels less like an active choice and more just like something I accidentally stumbled into. I want to know these characters, but I really truly don't. There just straight up is not enough time to actually figure things out. Such a pacing problem is a HUGE PROBLEM for trying to solve a mystery. If they can somehow fix the pacing problem I would have no hesitation recommending this game to everyone, but until then, it's fun, but not fun enough to make up for the horrendous pacing. You spend about one hundred days in the neath, but only can experience 16 of those days, while I'm glad I got the game, I really wish it was better then just 'okay.' The game desperately needs more time to breathe, and to better explore the themes of protecting people, rebellion, law, murder, loyalty, and justice while still giving me time to actually meet every romanceable character in a single run let alone have a chance to talk to and match them up. I don't mind it being made to be replayed, that fits Fallen London, but you can do that without making the game have a pacing that feels like whiplash. It's trying to do too much with only about an hour of time per run. The fact you can't save to retry things is also super frustrating, and super goes against the attempt to make a game meant to be replayed and dissected.