A tactical role-playing game (RPG) with an old-school isometric style, Masquerada: Songs And Shadows stands out from other local games with its high production values.

This is evident from the quality of its cutscenes and the calibre of its voice actors, which include well-known names like Jennifer Hale, who voiced the lead in popular video gaming franchise Mass Effect.

Combat is a start-stop affair as you often have to pause the game to issue commands to your characters. The basic AI system can manage easy fights, but expect a fair amount of micro-management for tougher enemies.

I found the plot to be linear and RPG elements like experience points and loot are not present.

However, the characters and their backstories are enthralling enough that I would recommend RPG lovers to give it a spin.

Vincent Chang