Pathologic Classic HD

Release Date: October 29, 2015

RPG, FPP, horror, survival, remaster/remake, indie games, experimental/artistic, Surrealism, action adventure, games for impact, singleplayer

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Steam

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A refreshed version of the classic action adventure game that was released in 2005. The new version was prepared by the creators of the original title, Icepick Lodge, as a side project to a complete remake of the game. The plot of Pathologic Classic HD is same as in the original game and it focuses on a mysterious virus that spreads across a small city, causing many casualties.

Plot
Mechanics
Technical aspects

Pathologic Classic HD for PC is a refreshed version of the first-person perspective action-adventure game Pathologic. The original game debuted on personal computers in 2005. The new version is done by the creators of the original title from the Russian studio Ice-pick Lodge, the creators of the unusual game The Void, and of General Arcade, the creators of the re-editions of classic first-person shooters Duke Nukem 3D: Megaton Edition and Shadow Warrior Classic Redux. Pathologic Classic HD was developed as a side project to the full-fledged remake of the game, which after a successful Kickstarter campaign is developed on PCs and eighth generation consoles. A free copy of the re-edition of the original game was one of the rewards for the supporters of Pathologic Remake.

Plot

The story of the game is same as in the original version from 2005. It focuses on a mysterious virus that suddenly spreads through a calm and ordinary city, taking a great toll. When prayers and science prove to be ineffective, the city officials are forced to seek immediate outside help. This makes three independent characters arrive in the area: a detective, a self-taught surgeon and an eccentric girl with paranormal abilities. Each of them uses different methods in their attempts to find a cure for the spreading disease.

Mechanics

As for the gameplay mechanics, Pathologic Classic HD for PC is an action-adventure game in which the events are presented from first-person perspective. Despite the fact that it’s a horror game, there aren’t many action sequences here. The emphasis was placed on the plot and the features typical of adventure games. The story takes place during 12 consecutive days and the player is tasked mostly with exploration and speaking to encountered non-playable characters. The action is slightly different depending on which character is the player controlling. What’s interesting is the fact that the two remaining characters are conducting their own investigations parallel to the player’s, and it happens often that the paths of the three characters meet.

Technical aspects

Pathologic Classic HD for PC focuses mostly on technical aspects and that is where one can see the greatest difference between the re-edition and the original title. The most important feature of this version are refreshed graphics that use high resolution, better quality textures and various graphics effects that weren’t present in the game before. The dialogues were recorded anew since the original ones were among the most frequently criticized aspects of the first Pathologic. In addition to that, the fans of the game were involved in creating various localized versions.

Last updated on October 26, 2016

Videos and Screens

[1:37] Pathologic Classic HD trailer

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