Summary
- Release Year: 2015
- Genres: Adventure, Indie, Role-playing game (RPG)
- Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows)
- Developers: General Arcade, Ice-Pick Lodge
- Publishers: Good Shepherd Entertainment
Pathologic Classic HD: A Deeper Look into the Bleak and Brutal
Introduction
Pathologic Classic HD is an extensive remaster of the original Pathologic game, released in 2005. The game is set in a remote town built upon old tanneries and butcheries just as a mysterious and deadly disease breaks out. Players take on the role of one of three characters – the Haruspex, the Bachelor, or the Changeling – each with their own unique abilities and storylines.
Gameplay
Pathologic Classic HD is a survival horror game with a strong emphasis on exploration and dialogue. Players must scavenge for supplies, heal the sick, and make difficult choices that will affect the outcome of the game. The game features a day-night cycle and a dynamic weather system that affects gameplay.
One of the most unique aspects of Pathologic Classic HD is its dialogue system. Players can engage in conversations with a variety of characters, each with their own unique stories and perspectives. The dialogue is often complex and branching, and players’ choices can have a significant impact on the game world.
Characters
There are three playable characters in Pathologic Classic HD:
- The Haruspex: A surgeon with the ability to heal the sick and commune with the dead.
- The Bachelor: A scholar with a deep understanding of the town’s history and culture.
- The Changeling: A mysterious outsider with the ability to shapeshift.
Each character has their own unique strengths and weaknesses, and players must choose carefully which character they want to play as.
Setting
Pathologic Classic HD is set in the town of Gorkhon, a remote and isolated town built upon old tanneries and butcheries. The town is home to a variety of strange and unsettling characters, and the atmosphere is one of constant dread and paranoia.
As the game progresses, the town is ravaged by a mysterious and deadly disease. The player must investigate the outbreak and try to find a way to stop it.
Themes
Pathologic Classic HD explores a variety of dark and disturbing themes, including death, disease, and the fragility of human life. The game also examines the nature of good and evil, and the choices that people make in the face of adversity.
Remaster
Pathologic Classic HD is a significant improvement over the original game. The graphics have been updated, the English script has been completely redone, and new voice-overs have been recorded. The game also includes a number of new features, such as a new tutorial and a new difficulty setting.
Conclusion
Pathologic Classic HD is a challenging and rewarding game that offers a unique and unforgettable experience. The game’s dark and disturbing themes, its complex characters, and its unique gameplay make it a must-play for fans of survival horror games.
Review
Pathologic Classic HD is a masterpiece of survival horror. The game’s dark and disturbing atmosphere, its complex characters, and its unique gameplay make it a must-play for fans of the genre. The remaster has significantly improved the game’s graphics and sound, and the new features make it more accessible to new players.
Score: 9/10
Pros:
- Dark and disturbing atmosphere
- Complex and well-developed characters
- Unique and challenging gameplay
- Extensive remaster with improved graphics and sound
Cons:
- Can be difficult and frustrating at times
- Some of the dialogue can be difficult to understand
- The game’s ending is somewhat ambiguous
Review Score
8/10
Art
Cover Art
Screenshots
