Pytho's Mask

by Emily Short profile

Romance
2001

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Reviews and Ratings

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Number of Ratings: 66
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- Artran (Taipei, Taiwan), February 10, 2024

- aluminumoxynitride, October 12, 2023

- Ms. Woods, July 26, 2023

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
Romantic and beautiful, January 3, 2023
by Lance Cirone (Backwater, Vermont)

Pytho's Mask is graceful and sophisticated. Everything from the theming to the characters has such a high-class charm and works to make you feel like a part of the world. The romance elements make it such an exhilarating and exciting story; I felt so blessed, assessing each intelligent and proper party guest as a potential partner.

You play as Soteria, a noblewoman who's been invited to a royal celebration, and you don't have a clue what it's about. Talking to the kingdom's rulers, you learn that it's to commemorate the Night of the Comet -- a chaotic event happening every 100 years, that can mysteriously change peoples' motivations and mindsets. Plus, the King is sick, and someone is out to get him... but who?

Pytho's Mask is a conversation game with light puzzles. A majority of this game is spent talking to people, working out their motivations, and piecing together who did it. It's a fantasy story with romance elements -- the Prince seems to have taken a liking to you (even though he admits he could do better), but others will tell you he's not the most faithful. It's up to you to decide whether to go with it, turn him away, or even go for someone else.

The game is good at giving you opportunities to understand its lore-heavy backstory. If you have a question about what something is, go ahead and ask someone who's knowledgeable about it. If you don't know where they are, just strike up a conversation with whoever's nearby and ask them. If you idle in a crowded area, you'll overhear some gossip that hints at where you can go or what you should do next. It's very much possible to figure this game out on your own, since the focus is more on the story, but the puzzles are a nice addition.

The game's writing is simply amazing. These characters all have their own memorable personalities -- I was especially a fan of Avril, who's disrespected by the other attendees for his emphasis on fashion and tendency to judge people based on it, but turns out to be one of the most sensible and likeable people in the game. We shared a mutual hatred of Valkir, how could I not love him? Each character has something unique to say about a given topic. It lets you draw your own conclusions as to who you like and who you don't, and there's a lot to play around with.

Pytho's Mask is an absolute gem, and ranks among my favorite interactive fiction pieces, period.

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- Laney Berry, September 24, 2020

Girl Game Review

TLDR:
Pytho’s Mask is a fantastic intrigue flavored with romance and a little action. It has its share of hiccups, but nothing so debilitating that you can’t finish the game. “HELP” is your friend, and will save you from much woe. On the whole, it’s worth checking out.

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- Aryore, July 23, 2017

- Audiart (Davis, CA), March 1, 2017

- NinaS, July 3, 2016

- leanbh, June 22, 2016

- Sorrel, May 23, 2016

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
Excellent mid-length conversation game. Shakespearean plot in modern terms, February 3, 2016

This is one of Emily Short's best plots, which is saying a lot. You are a daring member of a secret group infiltrating a party, with a vibe like the Scarlet Pimpernel and plot with pleasant similarities to Shakespeare (masked figures, cross dressing women, court intrigue, etc.)

The game features a menu-driven conversation system where you can change the topic using 'TOPIC [SOMETHING]'.

I found the many characters interesting and intriguing. It took me a while to warm up to Short's typical character types in her games, but it's hard not to be a fan when you play so many very-high-quality games by the author.

Everyone mentioned some hiccups. I had to peek at a walkthrough once to get through a confusing area. But I find that highly polished, perfect games are often less enjoyable than the raw games where an author pushed boundaries (like this game) or poured out their heart (like Worlds Apart). Not that these aren't polished, but they contain some flaws. Great literature is similar; the long, boring setup in an Agatha Christie novel is what sets up the great conclusion, and often the boring part is where the best conversations and set pieces are.

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- Veraloo, January 20, 2016

- dutchmule, September 29, 2015

- Thrax, March 11, 2015

- cabalia (Ohio), March 7, 2015

Delightful romp through the Court of the Sun King, January 19, 2015

Pytho's Mask succeeds effortlessly in painting a picture of a Court of an 18th Century that never was. A place of intrigue and courtiers, of Ministers prone to idle musings. A heroine with wit and resolve who seeks to strike at the heart of the malaise afflicting the kingdom. A Man in Black. Comets, androgynes, a grotto…

It's all done quite delightfully. The plot is strong and the conversational system is cleverly put together. I was able to get stuck at one point, but that was a one-off. The underlying mechanics are well implemented.

If you succeed, the ending is as it should be. If you fail, the unfortunate results are encapsulated pithily. A model example of romantic IF in a strong game setting.

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- Sobol (Russia), November 25, 2014

- Katrisa (Houston), October 1, 2014

- shornet (Bucharest), April 9, 2014

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
Great short game, December 1, 2013
by streever (America)

This is a great short game set in a different world.

You are a capable fighter and swordswoman who belongs to a secret order pledged to protect the King. A mysterious man has invited you to a ball celebrating the once a year passage of a comet that brings great upheaval and change to the Kingdom.

Intrigue abounds, and there are no real puzzles. The conversation is a hybrid topical system, with a few conversations being unlocked by giving/showing items.

This is an excellent romantic fantasy. The romance aspect is downplayed in favor of the intrigue and mystery.

As usual, a few bits of prose here and there create a more fully realized world. There is some over-done descriptive phrasing, but mercifully little. It is slightly more verbose than some of Short's work, but still wonderfully written.

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- Satupeka, June 24, 2013

- Agnishom, May 14, 2013

- DJ (Olalla, Washington), May 9, 2013

- DAzebras, April 22, 2013


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