Venetica

 PlayStation 3
Metascore
47

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 14
  3. Negative: 7 out of 14
Buy Now
Buy on
  1. XGN
    70
    Venetica's main flaws are the bugs and the graphics. However, the story is interesting and there is much content to enjoy. Despite the flaws, it's an interesting game for the RPG fans.
  2. Meristation
    70
    It's not the best action-RPG out there, but it's fun and enjoyable. It lacks depth and customization, and it has enough bugs to spoil the fun, but overall it's an interesting experience. Recommended especially for newcomers to the genre.
  3. IGN
    Jan 13, 2011
    60
    If you don't expect much from it, you'll have a pretty good time with Venetica. However, without the patience to figure out quests and gameplay elements on your own, you'll end up incredibly frustrated.
  5. InsideGamer.nl
    60
    Venitca's story is ok, but the rest of the game fails. The fighting system is boring, it has a lot of technical flaws and the world feels uninspired.
  6. Vandal
    60
    Although the game has many and evident flaws, especially in its visuals, and it is not revolutionary, nor it differentiates itself from the rest of action and RPG games, it indeed is engaging and makes you keep playing thanks to its freedom.
  7. PSM3 Magazine UK
    Jan 31, 2011
    52
    The concept is imaginative, and not many RPGs are set in Venice, but the ideas are nearly always let down by the execution. [Feb 2011, p.100]
    All this publication's reviews
  8. GameSpot
    Jan 27, 2011
    50
    Venetica has too many flaws in just about every facet to make for an engrossing role-playing experience.
  9. Xbox World 360 Magazine UK
    41
    A mildly entertaining fantasy yarn tragically coded by a team without any 360 experience. [May 2010, p.102]
    All this publication's reviews
  10. Playstation: The Official Magazine (US)
    Feb 10, 2011
    40
    Factor in frequent freezing issues and dialogue-tree selections that don't seem to correspond with the resulting actions and Venetica doesn't stand up to current-day RPG standards. [March 2011, p.82]
    All this publication's reviews
  11. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Feb 3, 2011
    40
    Useless like a paper hammer. [Feb 2011, p.113]
    All this publication's reviews
  12. GamePro
    Feb 1, 2011
    40
    Games shouldn't reach retail in this condition, and while I'd love to give Venetica a higher score, Atari should've never allowed Venetica to reach the market in its current state; if I wasn't required to finish the game for my review, I would've put it back in the box after a few hours because of the save bugs.
  13. Cheat Code Central
    Jan 14, 2011
    40
    Once I had committed a few hours to the game and was deep inside Venice leveling up and completing quests, I was indeed drawn into the game. But the sordid path it took to get me there and the unnecessary complications of the map were beyond frustrating and would turn away most gamers.
  14. Gaming Age
    Jan 25, 2011
    25
    The game is downright ugly. The framerate comes and goes, but the biggest offenders are the generally awful and low key environment textures, the way to similar to every other building design of Venice, and awful collision issues that the character models have. Scarlett will often clip through anything she has to interact with, which becomes even more noticeable in every cutscene that she has to hug her deceased love one in.
  15. GamesRadar+
    Jan 25, 2011
    20
    It's impossible to recommend Venetica to anyone when there are so many other better action-RPGs out there. You might be tempted to pick it up because it's only forty dollars, but don't do it... unless you've already played every other RPG on the market.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 15 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 15
  3. Negative: 1 out of 15
  1. jackphilosophe
    Apr 19, 2011
    8
    Venetica is a bit rough around the edges, but is enjoyable nonetheless. I highly recommend any RPG fans pick it up.

    The story follows a woman    Venetica is a bit rough around the edges, but is enjoyable nonetheless. I highly recommend any RPG fans pick it up.

    The story follows a woman named Scarlett as she obtains a weapon named Moonblade and must defeat Death with it. The story isn't all that interesting, but luckily, you can skip cutscenes and most dialog. The voice acting ranges from good to decent.

    The combat is simple, but enjoyable. Draw your sword with R1, attack with X. You also have special abilities you can use such as the ability to sense secret doorways (a power reminiscent of the the Vale in the newest Wolfenstein game).

    The RPG elements are pretty enjoyable as well. You eat food for health, sleep for health, get clothing trimmed to fit you, get weapons repaired and constructed using ore, and upgrade your general abilities using action points as well as learn new powers through two skills trees: one for physical powers, one for mental powers.

    All in all, the game is cheap fun. I wouldn't buy this for $60, but if you can find it below $30, you should be satisfied. It's got enough content to keep you occupied for awhile. If you like Fable or The Legend of Zelda, this game should scratch your itch.    … Full Review »
  2. Kai82
    Mar 13, 2021
    8
    It has great characters, good ideas and an enjoyable story that kept me engaged. On the other hand I must admit that the gameplay is slightlyIt has great characters, good ideas and an enjoyable story that kept me engaged. On the other hand I must admit that the gameplay is slightly weaker and I would have liked a bigger world to explore atop on more stuff to do. As fair warning I think the game aged not that well as other games have set the bars higher over the years. I will however admit that it has enough appeal to be unique. Lets start with the bug issue first. I saw many people complaining that this game has a lot of bugs. I was surprised that during my full playthrough I never encounter even one serious bug (= No crashes, slowdowns, uncompletable quests, corrupted save files, missing of vital NPCs, stuck in walls etc.). I don't know if I was just lucky or others exaggerate (Maybe a bit of both?). The game itself is an action RPG set for most parts in or around Venice. It has a fantasy setting as supernatural stuff exists that is not that commonly known or widespread. It is the story of Scarlett who lives a normal life in a small town near Venice. The story of the game begins shortly before Scarlet's weeding with her lover Benedict as her hometown is attacked by assassins. After the tragic events Scarlett is told the truth about the attack as she was the target and it is her heritage that makes her so dangerous for the people in power. I am vague her to not spoil anything but will admit that fans of Terry Prachett will see parallels to some characters (Hint: ONE SPEAKS ALWAYS LIKE THIS). The characters are great and the story is engaging. They used the set up and Scarlett's heritage to give us some good related abilities. It was unique and I enjoyed it. The story and (main) character hooked me and I still praise the game for it. As remark: There are multiple endings and your decisions / choices during the game matter. It is up to you if it is a quest for justice or vengeance (or a mixture). Also there is a reputation system that evaluates your actions. Some characters wont interact with you if you are criminal. Gameplay wise it is an action RPG. This means real time battles. You move your character, attack, block and evade attacks. Button mashing alone does not help but there were some cheap exploits you can use sometimes. You have access to 4 kinds of weapon that play differently. As in many RPGs you level up with enough experience. You get attribute points to level your stats (HP, MP, physical attack and magic attack) and skill points which can be used to learn abilities from trainers. Beware that there are some 3 factions in the game and you have to chose 1 of them at a certain point (Also small deviations in the story). It depends on your play style what to chose. There is also a hidden realm you can access and this is done quite nice for gameplay (When your energy meter is full enough). I am divided by the game world. It was truly beautiful and feels like Venice. It was definitely the product of care and research. However my complain is that it is not that big and other games had set better and bigger standards (A Dishonored 2 style world with city districts would be the stuff of legends here but this was possibly not feasible at this time). It is not awful by my standards but especially today also not remarkable enough. The puzzles and riddles were nice and Scarlett’s pool of abilities are well embedded into the gameplay. Another complain is the difficulty. After unlocking a certain ability you hardly ever face serious troubles or a game over (I consider myself nowhere near as top gamer). Graphical the game did look good for me back then but today it is nothing to write home (I was a bit shocked how it looked). This can however not be hold against the game. Soundtrack was awesome and holds up while the synchronization was great (German version). Overall this was a good experience. It is the kind of game you wish that it started a franchise or get a remake. It has its appeal and was unique. If I encountered the same bugs as other told the game has I would lower my rating but I can only judge what I experienced. I say it is a recommendation by me but not without a fair warning that it can be a disappointment too.… Full Review »
  3. FreeRPGer
    Jan 19, 2020
    8
    I don’t see the reasoning for all the negative reviews. I’m truly wondering if any of these so called pro reviewers even played this game thruI don’t see the reasoning for all the negative reviews. I’m truly wondering if any of these so called pro reviewers even played this game thru to the end. I know some may put 5 hours in and call it a day, bashing some games if their 1st impression isn’t a good one. Anyhow…

    Granted, it’s not the highest budget, AAA experience, but this game more than accomplishes what it sets out to do, even in its mid-budget confines. Its beginning hooked me; then kept me interested enough throughout. Some segments of the story aren’t the most original, like revenge for burning down the village in the beginning, but that apparently happened often in the days of yore, so that didn’t bother me one bit (plus there was a twist). On the other hand, this did have a few fresh ideas that piqued my interest. Many tales rehash smaller ideas. It worked well in this.

    Its light RPG mechanics with only 4 stats was enough for me, as well as upgrading armor & such, with several skills to upgrade, so tweaking the-not-so-bad-to-look-at Scarlett kept this an enjoyable experience throughout.

    Yes, it has a few flaws, like a wonky camera in a few narrow spaces, but none that were enough to make me lose interest or rage quit. Fighting in this had tight controls for me, and was enjoyable.
    So I gave my PS4 Pro and other consoles a rest for a bit, & fired up my PS3. I was looking for something a bit different, and this German developed game did just that. Therefore I can easily recommend this to anyone searching for a game with light RPG mechanics, that’s not too picky about every game having to be a AAA experience. Its story & tone kept me interested enough to play and enjoy right to the end, and at the cheap price I purchased this at, I do not feel like my ca$h wasn’t well spent. Over and out.    … Full Review »
See all user reviews »