Forget what you know about being a detective. That’s right, leave your trench coat and magnifying glass behind. We want you to invent your own sleuth in Disco Elysium – The Final Cut and have the chance to access the character creation screen. The game will launch on PS5 and PS4 on March 30.
There are four attributes to consider here:
- Intellect: brain power
- Psyche: emotional intelligence
- Physical: Brute force
- Engine: agility
Should you prioritize being smart? Or is it better to be physically tough? Perhaps both at the expense of social conscience? It’s not an easy decision to make, especially in a game like ours that cuts out some options and opens up others based on your skill levels.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, we’ve provided three builds so you don’t have to create a character from scratch. Each archetype offers a unique journey through Disco Elysium, so it’s just a matter of which one you prefer.
Thinker
The defining attribute of the Thinker is having a high Intellect. This means that you might be good at linking evidence, coming up with original ideas, and making arguments. If you are planning on being a good little Sherlock this is the best bet to go.
If you want to focus on solving the case, increasing the Visual Calculus skill will help you draw conclusions from evidence in your environment. You can see it in action right from the start of the game in the inn room you wake up in.
Interact with the broken window in your bedroom and you will be able to use Visual Calculus to determine how the damage was caused. A neat graphic shows you that the shards came out to the outside, which means the damage came from inside the room. You might be the one who broke it, so … Either way, you should be able to see how it will help you solve other mysteries.
Sensitive
The psyche is the main attribute of the sentient type. You can read people’s emotions, impose your authority on them, and have gut feelings and hunches. This will also expose you to the paranatural side of Disco Elysium, so every Twin Peaks fan should go for this one.
This archetype will help you connect with the citizens of Martinaise at all levels. Improve the Empathy skill and you will be able to learn more about their background and understand what they choose not to tell you. Likewise, the Esprit de Corps skill will put you in tune with the cop so that you can better understand your partner. It will help you.
You’ll also benefit from a high suggestion skill early on when you get information from Joyce Messier about the Hangman you’re investigating. Sadly, she insists on seeing your badge before imparting her wisdom, but you probably don’t have it. Using the suggestion will allow you to get a good deal with her instead – get her some information about the local drug trade and she will share what she knows.
Physical
You will be the Physics champion if you go for the physical archetype. You can make your way through buildings, connect with the Urban Body to hear its secrets, and even shake off cardiac arrest. If you prefer to act first and think later, this will be the best choice for you.
You will benefit from it early on simply by being able to avoid death in some common places. For example, a lot of people die trying to remove the ceiling fan tether at the start of the game. But with high Physics you get more health and should be able to survive, no problem.
You can also make your way inside the Doomed Shopping Area early with high physics. Go to the bookstore opposite the entrance to the Whirling-in-Rags and you’ll see a curtain blocking your way. Ignore the petrified screams of the store owner and pull back the curtain to find a closed door. With your high physical instrument skill, you can bring this door down with minimal damage and enjoy exploring the area behind it.
Hopefully, this makes it easier to decide which type of Detective to play when Disco Elysium -The Final Cut arrives with a 20% launch discount on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on March 30, 2021.
