Pentiment

One of the main things I respect about Pentiment is that your choices are permanent. The game does not let you save scum, or save at all really. Time moves forward, there is no looking back. It made me think about how small actions can have large consequences on others. Where most games have a good and a bad way of doing things, Pentiment does not allow its choices to be so binary. This might make you feel uncomfortable at times, especially with no way to revert regrettable actions, but it is how things are. We find meaning in those around us, and our collective actions define who we are. Not everything is in your control. There is little in the form of actual gameplay, it is more like an interactive book. I did not mind though, it easily keeps your attention with the engaging plot and attention to (historical) detail. The art, which when I first saw this game did not click for me, is actually incredible. The style and consistency with which this game pulls off its ideas are what is most engaging about it. Finally, the story is really well written. I won't say too much about it, but every character feels like somebody to remember. The third act is a little less interesting in the beginning than the other two, but at the end it ramps up again and closes with a great finale. You might say this review is not very critical of this game and you would be right. Pentiment is incredible and I am glad I finally got around to playing it.

아직 게임을 해보지 않은 분들을 위해, 가능한 한 스포일러를 배제하고 작성하겠습니다. 디스코 엘리시움 이후로 정말 오랜만에 소름이 돋았습니다. 이 게임은 분명히 스토리 중심인 게임이고, 액션 요소는 완전히 배제되어 있습니다. 그런 것을 바라는 분들께는 추천하지 않습니다. 이 게임이 스토리 중심이기 때문에, 이 게임을 논하려면 그 스토리가 얼마나 치밀하게 짜여 있고, 그로 인해 얻을 수 있는 감동에 대해 논해야 제대로 이 게임의 가치를 논할 수 있을 것입니다. 펜티먼트는 마르틴 루터가 교회 개혁 운동을 시작하던 시절부터를 배경으로 합니다. 이 게임은 평범한 중세 사람들이 종교과 함께 살아가는 과정에서 겪는 갈등과 고통, 희망, 그리고 진실에 대한 태도를 다룹니다. 이 게임은 선한 사람들과 악한 사람들, 혹은 스스로 선하다고 생각하는 방식을 고집하여 문제를 일으키는 사람들을 따뜻한 시선으로 묘사하고 있고, 그 과정에서 종교가 때로는 선한 영향을 미치기도 하고 그 반대의 영향을 미치기도 하는 모습을 다양하게 묘사합니다. 또한, 주인공을 통해 자신의 행동이 다른 사람들에게 미치는 영향에 대해 진지하게 고민하고 반성해볼 기회를 제공합니다. 이 게임은 플레이어가 스스로의 선택을 의심할 수 있게끔 스토리를 설계했습니다. 하지만, 그 스트레스가 바로 이 게임만의 매력과 가치를 만들어줍니다. 게임적인 요소를 생각하면 분명한 단점이 있습니다. 이 게임은 스토리 중심 게임임에도 불구하고, 엔딩이 다양하다고 볼 수는 없습니다. 하지만 저는 이 게임이 직선적인 스토리 진행이 아쉽게 느껴지지 않도록 플레이어를 충분히 납득시키는데 성공했다고 생각합니다. 결론적으로 말하자면 저는 이 게임에 매우 만족했고, 오랜만에 크게 감동했습니다.

The gameplay is kind of boring, with only a few puzzles beyond the original gameplay, but the plot is amazing.

Best game of the genre. The amount of care and historical references is mind-blowing, and the game is definitely worth playing for more than one playthrough. The art is gorgeously good, the prose and atmosphere well-crafted. Definitely a project the dev team has poured their heart into.

An occurrence in many great RPGs is the moment when you sit and consider what the best thing to say or do is, genuinely weighing the consequences. This only occurs when 1. You are sufficiently invested in the world and characters to care what happens to them and 2. The game has actually convinced you that your actions have consequences and actually affect the characters and world. Pentiment is thoroughly saturated with such occurrences. Its aesthetic and atmosphere are fantastic and the manuscript style fits the game and world so wonderfully. I am also thoroughly entertained by the fact that this game cares enough about this setting to have a bibliography at the end of its credits. While the gameplay is virtually nonexistent, as this game is partially Point And Click Adventure Game and Visual Novel, that isn't an issue. The gameplay is essentially just talking, but that's the point. You aren't challenged by a difficult boss, rather, a tricky situation or a moral conundrum. The story itself works splendidly and I was satisfied by it as a whole, as well as the ending. I will not be assigning a number score of any kind. If you like Point And Click Adventures, Visual Novels, you'll probably like this a great deal. If you need action in a game or engaging gameplay, maybe consider whether this game is for you before buying it and spending between 15 to 20 hours on it. Either way, I am so happy that a game so dedicated to art was able to be made into such a great work of art.

This has to be one of my favorite narrative games in recent years. It kind of reminds me of Disco Elysium, but at the same time it's completely different, even less pure-mechanics-focused. I never considered myself a history nerd, but oh boy, this game pushed me hard in that direction. It bought me with its mystery, believable characters and lots and lots of discussions about philosophy, theology and art. Running around is sometimes a little annoying, and at first I didn't understand how time works, and what's the best way to optimally spend it and now miss an important conversation (game is very open in that way). I was afraid I would miss something, and I wasn't sure when and how it can happen. I don't consider myself a completionist, so I guess it also speaks volumes about how much I cared about the story. I also appreciate the option to have a bit of Polish background, it's a nice detail. The amount of research that seems to have been done for this game is so impressive, that it can be seen and smelled from miles away. I just love, LOVE this game.

「艺术来源于死亡」 伟大的艺术品。 Andreas，你已经成为了塔兴的一份子。塔兴的人民会永远记得你。若天使带他下来做见证，那天兵一定会因此而泣。你说的对，真相不会消失，它一直都在，就在我们脚下。 迷宫的圣母啊，我们在其中前进，并不为了找到中心，而是为了在曲折中维持方向。 走出迷宫，我们遇见了真正的自己。