Mask of the Plague Doctor

Reviewing (mostly) every game (or DLC) in my library, part 519: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆ (8/10) [i]Mask of the Plague Doctor[/i]—given to me for free by the Choice of Games staff!—is just ("just") a solid title. And I mean that in the most complimentary way. Written by Peter Parrish, it is incredible solid in virtually every facet: nothing flashy or groundbreaking, just confidently good across the board—writing, mechanics, tone, romance, and structure. Everything feels well-built, dependable, and satisfying. In [i]Mask of the Plague Doctor[/i] (henceforth [i]Mask[/i]), you play as a (yep, you guessed it) plague doctor investigating the "Waking Death" in the small town of Thornback Hollow. The world Parrish plays in is not unlike our own: the setting is a medieval time period with broad English inspiration. However, there are also deities, rituals, and cults that may or may not be real. Of course, there are also varying political factions wanting your voice of support, so you are besieged by this tulmotious background as you try to root out the epidemic. [b][h2]Pros:[/h2][/b] ✅ [b][i]Mask[/i] is balanced with its plot.[/b] In many text-based games, the author gets too ambitious with a…

While the writing isn’t bad, I’ve enjoyed this interactive fiction title far less than the other dozen or so similar IF games I’ve played/read. The story was rather boring, featuring uninteresting characters and no real surprises. I suppose the only surprise was how little focus there was on the medical aspects of the story, such as treating patients and curing the plague. The game does have these aspects of course, but I was expecting this to be a core part of the experience given that you’re playing as a plague doctor in a quarantined town. But unfortunately it wasn’t, despite me consistently refusing to get involved in the politics and infighting between the game’s factions, instead maintaining the neutrality of a medical practitioner. I don’t know, maybe this was my issue; I missed all the good content mentioned by other reviewers because I tried to remain an impartial doctor and not take part in the political schemes. Also, I never felt the desperateness of the situation. I had a ton of supplies that I never used, the spread of the infection was never very high, and at no point did I worry that I wouldn’t be able to cure the plague. Basically, the game just felt very unsatisf…

It was okay. Just my opinion, but the story was rather dull and didn't appeal to me significantly. I could see some people enjoying it, the writing is quite nice.

I'm refunding the game. problem number one: I'm a mystique from abroad. in the world exist lots and lots of different deities linked to different customs. So you normally dont know whats normal in a foreign region you travel to. alright in the region the story takes place, dead bodies get buried underground. burning them is against local religious custom. fine. a foreigner cannot know that. so i go - as a doctor - to the local abbot and tell him for medical reasons it might be better to bury the dead. instead of telling me that this is impossible out of religious reasons, his assistant screams heresy and he gets upset. and i cannot even explain myself. like dude, 3 villagers further north they worship a different deity and there they have to burn their dead. just explain to me what its like around here. but sure why not go ballistic over it. just antagonize your only hope (me) to not get slaughtered by the baron if the plaque isnt contained. problem number 2: i have a swordfighter with me. im dealing with an obviously deranged individual that just cut himself. he then wants to show me something. so i move my neck real close to him so he can hold his weapon to my throat. what a stup…

Good story. It need a little more but as it is its good.

One of my favourite games. Don't buy this game if you're not a reader though,