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The best role-playing game you’ve never played

28 listopada 2024 by CJO_ANS

Disco Elysium is a game I have never expected to call one of my favorites, a non-traditional role-playing game featuring very little combat – sounds a little boring, but how wrong I was. Among the games filled with epic adventures, wonderful spells and dangerous monsters, Disco Elysium is an anomaly. A game where instead of exploring mystical landscapes and fighting freakish monsters, you explore the decaying city of Revachol, a place as battered as the protagonist, and instead of fighting hostile creatures, you fight with yourself.

“I DON’T WANT TO BE THIS KIND OF ANIMAL ANYMORE”

Disco Elysium, fot. Wiktor Wysocki

The first thing you see after starting the game is a destroyed room, and in the middle lays a half-naked man – that’s you. This is where your story begins. You don’t remember anything – what happened, what is this place or even your own name. By talking with many of the unforgettable characters scattered around the city you quickly learn that you woke up in a seaside district of Revachol, that apparently you are a detective and the reason you are here is a dead body that’s been hanging on a tree for days. Disco Elysium plunges you into the role of a detective on the brink of collapse – both personally and professionally, it’s your job to find the killer. The story is nonlinear and heavily influenced by the things you do. The game refuses to hold your hand, instead thrusting you into a richly layered world that demands attention and rewards curiosity.

“HUMAN CAN OPENER”

Disco Elysium, fot. Wiktor Wysocki

YOU – „Is that true, Kim? Am I a can-opener?”

KIM KITSURAGI – „You are… insistent.” He nods.

Unlike traditional RPGs, Disco Elysium features no combat in the conventional sense. Instead it’s a game of words and choices, with outcomes determined by your character’s statistics and a roll of the dice.

The game features 24 skills which you can improve during the duration of the game, but they are more than just numbers; they are personified voices in your head, from Drama whispering manipulative suggestions, Electrochemistry urging you toward hedonistic indulgences or Volition telling you to be the good guy and help you resist temptations of the self-destructive type. This makes every interaction in the game unique and deeply personal, depending on your choices.

The protagonist of Disco Elysium is deeply flawed. He’s not a traditional hero; he’s a mess of self-destruction, addiction, and regret. This vulnerability makes him very human, and you are given huge freedom to shape his personality.

This is achieved through the Thought Cabinet – a mechanic that allows you to „equip” different thoughts, influencing your detective’s beliefs and abilities. Want to embrace communism, nihilism, or moralism? Become a suicidal fascist? The choice is yours to make.

“DETECTIVE. ARRIVING. ON THE SCENE.”

“I am a fragment of the world spirit, the genius loci of Revachol. My heart is the wind corridor. The bottom of my air is red. I have a hundred thousand luminous arms. Come morning, I carry industrial dust and let it settle on tree leaves. I shake the dust from those leaves and onto your coat. I’ve seen you, I’ve seen you! I’ve seen you with her – and I’ve seen you without her. I’ve seen you on the crescent of the hill.”

Revachol, the city where Disco Elysium takes place, is as much a character as any person in the game. It’s a melting pot of history, culture, and political tension, with every corner offering glimpses into its troubled past and uncertain future. The game’s isometric perspective reveals a hand-painted world full of intricate details. Every street corner, building, and object tells a story, inviting players to explore not just for the sake of solving the case, but to immerse themselves in Revachol’s history.

The atmosphere of Disco Elysium is elevated by its exceptional art and sound design. British Sea Power’s haunting soundtrack perfectly captures the melancholic beauty of Revachol, while the game’s oil painting inspired visuals lend an ethereal quality to the cityscape.

fot. Steam

A GAME THAT I WON’T FORGET

Disco Elysium is a rare gem that transcends traditional gaming. It’s a narrative masterpiece that encourages empathy, and critical thinking. With its stunning art style, evocative soundtrack, and unparalleled storytelling, it stands as one of the greatest achievements in interactive media.

Whether you’re a fan of RPGs, storytelling, or just curious about what video games can achieve as a medium, Disco Elysium deserves your attention. It’s not just a game – it’s an experience that will linger in your thoughts long after the credits roll, and that’s why it has a special place in my heart.

Sources: LINK 1, LINK 2