Play Out A Medieval Murder Mystery In ‘Pentiment’
Image Source: True Achievements
Pentiment is the newest game to release on day one on Xbox Game Pass. A simple yet inquisitive story-driven game that does not require much from the player besides reading. It consists of three acts and takes about 15-20 hours to complete. The Studio Design Director of Obsidian Entertainment, Josh Sawyer, has said that the game would not exist if not for Xbox Game Pass. He considers it a niche game, and with the traditional gaming model, it would’ve been hard to get picked up and published. Luckily, Xbox Game Pass decided to host the incredible game, so fans can’t miss out on it.
Gameplay
The gameplay is similar to a side scroller in that you have to follow the paths and can’t go anywhere the path doesn’t. You can click through dialogue to make it go faster and select your choices, but make sure you still read it, as it’s essential to the game. You also use the bumpers to cycle through your journal to help you out. While it’s a dialogue-heavy game, there is no voice acting. Instead, there is a change in font depending on the character speaking, keeping with the storybook aesthetic. There is also a glossary for players to help with characters and quests. Sometimes words in dialogue will be underlined, and you can click the word to find out what it means, which is a cool feature. The game also features a day/night cycle, and the people in the game will move around and interact differently depending on the day.
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Graphics
Image Source: New Game Network
If you’re familiar with art history, you’ll recognize that the art style is similar to that of medieval paintings. It fits perfectly with the game’s theme and the storybook feel.
Story
The game consists of three acts and takes about 15-20 hours to complete. You play Andreas Maler, a traveling artist who spends his time in Tassing, a fictional village in the countryside of the Holy Roman Empire. He is currently employed by the local abbey as an illuminator and works on his masterpiece in his free time. While in town, he gets caught up in the murders that occur. He volunteers to find the culprits within a limited timeframe. Andreas can be customized early in the game with different backgrounds that can help him with various dialogue options and finding evidence.
Pros And Cons
This is a story-heavy game that involves a lot of reading. Players who skip over dialogue may want to think twice before playing this game. The game does not require much, making it easy for anyone to play. While the map is vast, you are not able to go everywhere. Sometimes the pacing could be faster when something is going on. While everything is important to the overall story, if you’re not actively trying to solve a murder, the dialogue can be a little longer when nothing is happening. No music plays in the background, instead, it’s just the sound of people talking or the quill scratching during conversations. The third act is much slower than the previous two, but it all pays off at the end of the game. As someone who likes a definitive answer, you never get that in this game. You must accuse someone after you have gathered evidence (whether it’s enough or not), and that person will face the consequences. You never actually find out, however, if the person you accused did that crime or not, which could be frustrating for some players.
Verdict
Image Source: Gamepressure
This new game is a breath of fresh air and a must for anyone with an Xbox Game Pass. Overall, the game is wonderful, and it shouldn’t be one you pass up the next time you see it on Steam, the Xbox Store, or Game Pass. It takes all of the elements of a murder mystery novel, with added Medieval flair and Christianity, and wraps it up into a short and sweet game that fans will think of for years to come.
Rating: 9/10
Obsidian Entertainment; Xbox Game Studios; Single Player; November 15, 2022, Rating Pending; $19.99 and available on PC and Xbox GamePass
Review played on Xbox Series X.
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Source(s): VGChartz, Game Informer
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