The Council

The main pros of the game

• Engaging Narrative and Choices: Many players praised the game's intriguing story, which involves political intrigue and historical figures. The choices made by players have significant consequences, impacting the storyline and character interactions.
• Unique Gameplay Mechanics: The RPG elements, including a skill/class system that influences dialogue options and interactions, were well-received. This adds depth to the gameplay, allowing players to tailor their characters and approaches to challenges.
• Interesting Characters: The characters are seen as well-written and complex, contributing to the game's immersive experience. Players felt a connection to these characters and enjoyed uncovering their secrets.
• Atmospheric Setting: The game's setting in a lavish 18th-century mansion, combined with its artistic design and sound, creates an engaging atmosphere that many players found captivating.
• Replayability: The multitude of choices and potential endings encourages players to replay the game to explore different outcomes and character interactions.

The main cons of the game

• Technical Issues: Many users reported performance problems, particularly with frame rates capped at 30 FPS, which detracted from the overall experience. Some players found the animations, particularly facial expressions, to be stiff and unconvincing.
• Pacing and Story Execution: Several reviews noted that while the early episodes were strong, the latter episodes (especially the fourth and fifth) felt rushed or poorly executed, leading to a decline in narrative quality. Some players felt that the story became convoluted and lost coherence as it progressed.
• Puzzle Difficulty: While some puzzles were appreciated, others were deemed overly complex or frustrating, leading players to rely on guides. This was especially true for certain puzzles that felt disconnected from the narrative flow.
• Repetitive Gameplay: Some players mentioned that the gameplay could become monotonous, especially due to the need to revisit the same locations multiple times, which led to a sense of tedium.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

• Better Optimization: Users expressed a desire for improved optimization to enhance performance and frame rates, particularly given the game's release date.
• More Dynamic Character Interactions: While the game had interesting characters, some users wished for deeper relationship-building mechanics that would allow for more nuanced interactions.
• Map and Navigation Aids: Players noted the absence of a map or better navigation tools, which made it difficult to locate characters and objectives in the sprawling mansion.
• Skip Dialogue Options: Some users wanted the ability to skip or fast-forward through dialogues, especially when replaying sections of the game.

Summary

• Overall, "The Council" is recognized for its compelling narrative and unique gameplay mechanics, but it also faces criticism for technical shortcomings and pacing issues, particularly in later episodes.

Summary generated on: November 18, 2025