Pentiment

Even more than being a good game, which it is, Pentiment is a work of art. Visually beautiful, compelling characters, and a mystery that has you wanting to explore every nook and cranny not just to see where the story goes but to take in as much of the world that has been crafted here as possible.

Played this almost two years ago and I still think about it. The mystery is fine enough as a hook: what sticks with me the most about Pentiment is a kind of nostalgia I feel now for an entirely fictional village somewhere in the Alps.

Despite the 2.2 hours, I was gifted this on my Nintendo Switch, and played through the game in its entirety on that system. This game was such a delight. It's a narrative driven historical RPG with puzzle elements. I do not want to discuss the story too much as I believe going into this game as blind as possible will make for a more enjoyable experience. However, there are a few caveats to this recommendation. The story spans a few decades during the 16th century in Medieval Bavaria, and the game takes the accuracy of its setting very seriously, with realistic characters driven by real ideals and beliefs that you would have encountered of the people who actually lived during this time. If this appeals to you, then great. If it doesn't, this might not be your game, but you should know that the accuracy of the game does not limit its characters. The social restrictions of this time period are not lauded, they're deliberately questioned, and presented in a manner that brings history t...

Pentiment is a masterfully crafted narrative adventure developed by Obsidian Entertainment, a studio renowned for deep storytelling and character-driven RPGs. With Pentiment, they take a bold creative leap, trading combat and traditional RPG systems for a historically rich, story-centric experience steeped in 16th-century European culture. Set in the fictional Bavarian town of Tassing and its surrounding abbey, the game places players in the role of Andreas Maler, a journeyman artist caught up in a series of murders, social upheaval, and personal dilemmas over the course of twenty-five years. What unfolds is not just a murder mystery, but an intricate, human tale of faith, politics, and the passage of time. The first thing that sets Pentiment apart is its stunning visual presentation. The game’s art style is inspired by illuminated manuscripts, woodcuts, and early printed books, with every scene looking like a living page from a medieval codex. The animation is minimalist but expres...

Wonderful game in principle but got progressively worse. SPOILERS START IN THE THIRD PARAGRAPH THAT FOLLOWS. This review will mostly focus on negative aspects of the game. It was a very good try at a good idea and I really wanted to like it, but ultimately this is a time-waster with nothing to show for it. For those who enjoy the historical aspects of the game's story, which is not all that historically accurate, I encourage you to read a book or two. Books feature quite a bit in this game's "historical" narrative. Games are great and all, but if you are interested in history READ A FREAKING HISTORY BOOK. First element of awful game design: tying everything to the hours/clock. The game constantly tells you, "You should go do X now!", when what it means is "Do absolutely everything else instead of X, because when you do that time will continue and you will miss out on anything you did not explore." This is horrendous game design from the start. I didn't really mind restarting t...

This game feels like such a passion project (in the BEST way). Very niche given it's heavy emphasis on history and religion- but it tackles all the subjects presented in an incredible fashion and elegance. The game also does such a great job at portraying a sense of community which I don't think I've ever seen another game do? (maybe Stardew Valley or Animal Crossing?) And not a single character felt like two-dimensional or anything, and the result was me committing to memorize all their names and understand their relationships with one another, and the setting itself. Just a truly unique, and excellently executed passion project. For some it may be just a 2D scrolling visual novel, but the decisions made throughout the story actually carry weight so the game never felt like I was under the "illusion of choice". Highly recommend it for people into philosophy, history theology.

Pentiment creates a world you don't want to leave. The central mysteries are compelling, the art direction is divine, the historical details are rich, and the atmosphere is subtle yet powerful. Although the game can feel stressful at first, with the amount of options presented and the limited time in which to complete your goals, it soon becomes clear that this is intentional: the core themes of the game are the decisions we make and the inescapable, everlasting doubt over whether we made the right choice, or indeed whether there ever was a right choice. For this reason, going in blind is a must. It won't be for everyone. This game is about basking in its atmosphere, taking in the little details, and discovering the secrets in the lives of the characters beyond what the narrative lays out for you on the surface. If you are looking for action or a traditional point-and-click puzzle adventure, this isn't it. It is gently paced, the "puzzles" are the moral dilemmas you face, and the corr...

Unique artstyle and great replayability.

I truly want to live in the 1400s