Pathologic 3

Pathologic is a combination of an action-adventure game and an RPG, shown in first-person perspective (FPP). It has been re-released several times in a refreshed format since its debut in 2005. Pathologic 3 can be called a second remake of the original, focused on a different playable character than Pathologic 2 (out of the three available in the original). We also received a foretaste of this adventure in the Pathologic 2: Marble Nest expansion. "The third installment", just like all previous projects from this series, was created by the Russian studio Ice-Pick Lodge.

Plot

At the heart of all Pathology games lies the philosophical story of an epidemic that reaps a deadly harvest in the city on the Gorkon River. It is a town situated in the middle of an endless steppe, where technology from the early 20th century meets fantasy elements, evoking associations with the folklore of the tribes inhabiting Asia Minor and Central.

The main character of Pathologic 3 is Daniil Dankovsky – a respected doctor who came from a large city to the Gorkon River at the invitation of the local doctor Isidor Burakh (his son was the protagonist in Pathologic 2). Upon arrival it turns out that the host is dead, so Daniil has to figure out the situation in the town on his own - and then guide its inhabitants in the fight against the disease.

Gameplay

The gameplay in Pathologic 3 is closer to adventure games than action games. The basis is the exploration of a not very extensive open world, collecting items and conducting conversations with NPCs. Thanks to this we learn about the local culture and social structure.

The story lasts twelve virtual days – that's how much time we have to find a cure for the plague before the city is lost. Day by day the situation becomes more and more difficult, and the gameplay gradually becomes more like survival games.

Obtaining food and raw materials for creating medicines (by studying pathogens using a microscope) is crucial - we can buy them in stores, exchange them for other items with residents, take them out of trash cans or steal them from other people's homes. We need to monitor the health of key citizens and treat their ailments, while also looking for a way to finally end the epidemic, as well as satisfy the hero's basic needs (like hunger).

The game features a combat system (using fists or a revolver), which we can rely on when we are attacked by thugs or sick people from quarantined areas (we decide on the location of the latter ourselves, we can also send out patrols - all in order to stop the spread of the disease). The hero is not battle-hardened, so escaping hostiles usually turns out to be a better option than fighting them.

The story has a very non-linear course, and its ending depends on whether we managed to overcome the epidemic and how many lives we saved along the way (including our own). The main novelty in Pathologic 3 is time travel, thanks to which we can change the course of key events to our advantage.

Last updated on 08 October 2024