Pathologic 3

Pathologic is a representative of the RPG genre offering a first-person perspective (FPP), which since its debut in 2005 has seen several refreshes. Pathologic 3 can be called a second remake and it is focused on a different playable character than Pathologic 2 (out of the three available in the original). It is worth mentioning that we got a taste of this character's adventures 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.

Story

At the heart of all Pathologic games lies a philosophy-tinged story of an epidemic that reaps a deadly harvest in the city on the Gorkhon River - a town located in the middle of the vast steppe, where early 20th century technology meets fantasy elements, evoking associations with the folklore of tribes inhabiting Asia Minor and Central Asia.

The main character of Pathologic 3 is Daniil Dankovsky - a scholar who came from a big city to the Gorkhon 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 is closer to adventure games than action titles. The basis is the exploration of a not very extensive open world, collecting items and conducting conversations with independent characters, in which 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. From day to day, the situation is becoming increasingly difficult.

Pathologic 3 puts less emphasis on survival aspects than the "second game" (like searching for food). Instead, it emphasizes goals such as gathering evidence, formulating scientific theories, or creating medicines by studying pathogens using a microscope. Furthermore, as a leader in efforts to combat the plague, we control the city, designating quarantine zones or dispatching patrols of soldiers who are ordered to prevent the infected from spreading the disease.

The story has a strongly non-linear course, and its ending depends on whether we managed to contain the epidemic and how many lives we saved along the way. Another significant novelty in Pathologic 3 is time travel, which allows us to change the course of key events to our advantage.

Pathologic 3: Quarantine

Before the premiere of Pathologic 3, a free prologue (a kind of demo version) was released. It was titled Pathologic 3: Quarantine. This product gives the players a taste of the mechanics present in the full version of the game, showing what prompted the main character to leave the Capital and embark on a journey to the city on the Gorkhon river.