The Shell Part II: Purgatorio (2024)
Innocent Grey, Shiravune
Detective Reiji Tokisaka is back to face down a mystery that spans decades if not centuries. With the aftermath of his last case weighing on his soul and a long-silent cult resurgent, can he solve the crime—or will it become his curse?
About the story
In the years before Japan went to war and the world went to hell, amidst the deep snows of the mountainous north, there was a small hamlet known as Hitogata where by ancient custom the residents were prone to worship clay dolls. One night, during their festival, a woman was murdered, and the people came to speak of this as their god's curse—divine retribution for trying to take the power of their god into their own hands. December 1957. It's been nearly two years since Toko Kuchiki was kidnapped from her hospital room. Reiji Tokisaka's little sister Yukari saves a man from suicide—but that man is a victim of the curse's return... Reiji steps in to sever a cycle of obsession that has persisted since before the war—but still struggles with his own obsession with Toko. Meanwhile, a cult rises from the ashes after six years of silence—but what are they planning? Curses may be the devices of the gods, but it's always human hands that carry their knives.
Platforms
PCGenres
Adventure Point-and-click Simulator Visual NovelThemes
Drama Horror Mystery ThrillerLanguages: English and 3 more
| Interface | Audio | Subtitles | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | |||
| English | |||
| Chinese (Simplified) | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) |
Critic Reviews
By Daniel Joseph
It’s no surprise to you I’m sure, after you have sat through my gushing praise, that I wholeheartedly recommend The Shell Part II: Purgatorio. In the forty-ish hours I spent reading, I found only one unfortunate reservation, amidst an ocean of qualities worthy of recommendation. The Shell Part II is a testament to the narrative potential of visual novels. I simply will never forget this story. My recommendation is of course contingent on you being ready for the rather oppressive overtones of hopelessness and misery. The Shell Part II is a beautifully written tragedy. It is the emotional equivalent of being skinned alive, and it is the best visual novel I’ve ever read. There is nothing else that has been able to draw such genuine emotion from me, except perhaps Clannad. Though where Clannad draws sadness from the ephemeral joys of life, The Shell Part II draws from a darker place. The sadness I’m left with after The Shell Part II is more akin to the quiet despair of a child understanding for the first time that one day their mother will die. Again, I do mean that as praise. I love this game and wholeheartedly recommend it, I promise.
- 19 Apr, 2024
