Today, Singapore-based developer Witching Hour Studios that its tactical RPG, Masquerada: Songs and Shadows is poised to release on August 8th on PS4 and Xbox One.

For those that don't know: Masquerada: Songs and Shadows hit PC and Mac last September where it garnered a "Very Positive" Steam User Review rating and a 64 score on Metacritic.

The console versions are set to ship with New Game+ mode, extended dialogue scenes, and all-new boss fights; all features that will be added to the PC and Mac versions on the same day via a free update.

As mentioned above, Masquerada is a single-player tactical RPG that is set in a Renaissance-inspired city of magic and where real-time combat can be paused to set up elemental combos and to strategize your next move.  The following overview of the game is provided via its Steam listing for those of you who want more of an in-depth pitch of the game:

In the turmoil-ridden Citte della Ombre, religion holds no sway. Only the songs sung of one’s deeds will carry an Ombrian’s legacy beyond death. Those who hold even the smallest morsel of power will make every effort to ensure their songs live on. Enter the Mascherines - masks that grant their wielders the power to channel the elements and cast destructive magic.

The Mascherines have perpetuated a culture of inequality between the power-hungry guildsmen known as the Masquerada and the impoverished lower classes, the Contadani. A prolonged civil war, ignited by Contadani rebels who steal Mascherines from the Masquerada, has only drawn scars of mistrust across the Citte since.

One of Ombre’s finest sleuths, Cicero Gavar, was exiled for a crime against the state five years ago, but he is now summoned back to Ombre to solve the mysterious kidnapping of the diplomat Razitof Azrus. As other members of the Masquerada join his investigation, all having their doubts about one another within this culture of deception, their faith will be pushed to the limit as a deeper conspiracy lurks in the shadows of Ombre.

FEATURES:

  • Your Fight, Your Pace: Use the tactical pause to control the rush of combat, position your party and plan their attacks by the second.

  • A Game of Tag: Lay elemental magic tags upon your enemies, and activate the tags with another element for crowd-controlling status effects!

  • Vivid Comicbook Art: Feast your eyes on dreamy colours and environmental linework inspired by French comic artists, blended with stylized 3D characters for a timeless aesthetic.

  • A Fully Voiced Tale: The drama at the heart of Ombre unfolds over 12 hours of narrative, fully voiced by VO heavyweights like Matthew Mercer and Jennifer Hale.

Masquerada: Songs and Shadows will cost $24.99 USD when it launches. At the moment of writing this, the game can purchased on Steam for the same price or for $32.98 USD if you want the game and its soundtrack (which I hear is really good). Below, you can check out a new trailer which accompanied today's release date announcement.