Are CRPGs coming back into fashion? We probably wouldn’t have asked this question if it weren’t for a certain fantasy game that came out last August, but since then we’ve had a few more entries in this subgenre, the latest of which is Fool Theory’s The Thaumaturge.
In the thaumaturge we embody Viktor Szulski, who, unsurprisingly, is a thaumaturge. What is a Thaumaturge? The best way to describe them is that they’re part Pokémon trainer, part witch, and part Sherlock Holmes. They practice an ancient magical technique called Thaumaturgy, which allows them to see and tame otherworldly creatures called Thaumaturgy Salutatorsinfluencing other people’s minds and seeing other things that the human mind cannot, such as associating a person’s anger with their fur.
The existence of thaumaturgy is not the only difference between this world and ours. In the game scenario it is Warsaw 1905 Alternatively, we see a completely different Polish capital. The citizens, divided into different factions, are oppressed and strive for their former freedoms. It’s an interesting setting, especially for 20th-century history buffs who want to explore a different Warsaw.
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As Wiktor, the city opens up before us as we try to uncover the mystery surrounding our father’s death. In terms of gameplay, The Thaumaturge is divided into two main elements. Exploration gives you the top-down view you probably associate with isometric RPGs, and that Battle Switches to third-person perspective where you and your salutors fight against a group of enemies and carry out your actions alternately.
The Thaumaturge’s combat is one of the game’s strengths. Exploration is less important, but let’s look at the positives first. In turn-based combat, you have two actions: one for Wiktor and one for the Salutor, which is at your disposal. You can carry a large number of Salutors with you at the same time, and each of them has their own unique abilities. Bukavacfor example, serves to reduce the opponent’s health bars by dealing damage over a longer period of time before delivering the fatal blow while you use it VelesDo you really hope that the RNG gods look favorably on you since it has the chance to do more damage, interrupt enemy actions and more, but these effects are not guaranteed.
From the Salutors you choose to the passive skills you equip attacks with, there’s a lot of variety in combat and many different build options depending on how you want to play. The only downside I could find to the combat system is that it seems pretty pointless to use slower actions. Yes, they may do more damage, but once you hit them, faster actions will have similar, if not better, effects.
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Outside of combat, the experience largely boils down to right-clicking to let thaumaturgy guide you to the next objective. A red dust line flows to where you need to be for a given mission, and while you can see things along the way in Warsaw, most of the things you’ll discover are things you have to do file. There’s a lot to read in The Thaumaturge, and it goes beyond the things you pick up in the open world. If you want to read every description and every conclusion that Wiktor comes to after searching for evidence, you will be reading for hours. Whether you like it or not is a personal thing, but it’s pretty rare to find an interactive element on the map that isn’t just something to read. This makes the world feel much less alive than it should in a busy city, and you often feel like you’re just trying to get to your next destination rather than seeing what Warsaw has to offer.
The plot has its strengths and is a lot of fun, but is marred by outdated character models and less-than-stellar voice acting. Apart from Wiktor, Rasputin (yes, Rasputin) and a select few, most of the other characters look pretty mediocre – even with the graphics turned up to maximum. Most faces are reused except for those of key characters, and it’s difficult to connect with the characters when their lips don’t match what they’re saying. Aside from the characters, the game looks pretty decent, especially when it comes to the Salutors. I loved it Soul, with his creepy, friendly bug eyes staring back at me. The graphics aren’t mind-blowing, but that’s not what you expect from an isometric RPG.
Overall, I had a good time with The Thaumaturge. Some of that fun was intentional, as combat is still one of the most engaging parts of the game, but another part was laughing at the end when the dialogue didn’t match the subtitles or the characters moved and spoke in absurd ways. during the scenes. Without a doubt, it is a journey that will remain in my memory, even if the game in general is not outstanding in many aspects.
Another advantage of The Thaumaturge is that it costs 30 pounds or 34.99 dollars for the standard version and you get a lot of content for that price. A lot of it may seem monotonous, but almost every piece of paper on the floor can lead you somewhere new if you’re willing to continue exploring Warsaw’s mostly lifeless streets. The Thaumaturge is full of ideas that sound great on paper, but the end result may have covered more than he lets on, as many of his concepts seem underdeveloped without fulfilling his grandiose goals.
