PlayWay has announced a new title, The Pope: Power & Sin, which puts players in the shoes of Pope Alexander VI, otherwise known as Rodrigo de Borja. The game is being developed by Forestlight Games. PlayWay is known for publishing a number of simulation titles, as well as more unusual games, like I Am Jesus Christ, another strange religious game that lets players control Jesus as he performs a number of miracles. That title, which was announced in December last year, is still listed as "Coming soon" on Steam.
In The Pope: Power & Sin, players control one of the most controversial Popes in the history of the church, and Forestlight Games doesn't seem inclined to shy away from the seedier aspects of Alexander VI's rule. The trailer opens with an assassination, and showcases Alexander VI engaged in a number of other illicit activities, such as poisoning a cardinal (something that the real pope was alleged to have done but which was never proven) and visiting a harem of naked women (the real Alexander did acknowledge keeping several mistresses, some of whom he fathered children with).
In addition to perpetrating the aforementioned scandals, players must manage alliances, strengthen the power and influence of the Catholic church, and eliminate heretics. The game's Steam page (via Twinfinite) assures you that "you have God on your side, so any decision can be right." The gameplay seems like an odd mix of third-person exploration and menu-based strategy, with choice-driven dialogue also showcased as the Pope speaks to an informant in a confessional. The Pope: Power & Sin looks like a very odd title indeed, and players should get a chance to explore it for themselves when it releases later this year.
From the game's Steam page: The Pope: Power & Sin is a game inspired by the life of Rodrigo de Borja, who served as the pope in 1492-1503, as Alexander VI. Take on the role of the Pope, strengthen the authority of the Church State, fight for spiritual and political independence from pagans and the renewal of administrative church structures. The rule of Alexander VI is a torrent of numerous scandals, excesses and signs of moral corruption in the highest authorities of the Church.
Source: Steam (via Twinfinite)