REVIEW – We’ve already visited the happy world of medieval codices in last week’s review of Inkulinati. Now it’s time to look at a slightly darker side of the era. And what better time to do so than with the release of Obsidian Entertainment’s hit adventure game Pentiment on PlayStation 5?

Our hero, Andreas Maler, wanted nothing more than to be able to do his job in peace. It’s the early 16th century in the Holy Roman Empire, Bavaria, to be precise. Andreas, the Nuremberg codex painter – who, I’m not joking, also appeared among the characters of Inkulinati! – arrives at the monastery of the picturesque Alpine town of Tassing with a simple illustrator’s commission. But through an unfortunate (?) confluence of events, the hero, and with him the players, soon find themselves at the centre of a murder mystery play that they could never have imagined. This is how we can sum up the opening of Pentiment.

Medieval adventures

Initially released in 2022, Obsidian Entertainment’s Xbox-exclusive game arrived on PS5 on 22 February this year. To say it has impressed critics back in 2022 is no exaggeration. On paper, there’s not much special about it: it’s a narrative adventure game with role-playing elements, a 2D perspective and a detective story. For those who remember the point-and-click adventure games of the late LucasArts – especially the later 2D, early 3D titles like Monkey Island 3 or Grim Fandango – the implementation will be familiar. Similar themes and styles have been seen recently, for example, in Oxenfree and Night in the Woods.

Anyone expecting fast-paced action will be disappointed. Although the series of murders to be solved gives some reason for excitement, the gameplay is basically focused on conversation and solving small puzzles. The only new element compared to the old adventure games is the tighter time management. We have to be careful with our time and rarely have the luxury of reviewing a single case more than once. (This does have some benefits in terms of replayability. When testing the PS5 version, I had a few “gee, I didn’t know it’s also possible this way!” moments…)

Without venturing into spoiler territory, let’s just say that the plot of Pentiment is a twisty and excellently written story. We get to see events in several timelines and from more than one perspective. The threads are intricately woven, but the final chapter may feel a little forced and convoluted to some. One of the game’s greatest strengths is the exciting and varied conversations. Even though there is a lot of information being thrown at us, they somehow manage not to overload the player. In fact, those who are interested in history, and in the Middle Ages in particular, will get a lot more out of the game than others. Sometimes, it is easy to feel as if you have stepped into an Umberto Eco novel…

A sight that Albrecht Dürer would have envied

In addition to the story and gameplay, Pentiment’s strengths include its unique implementation. The slightly minimalist visual world, reminiscent of late Gothic and early Northern Renaissance paintings such as those by Dürer and Jan van Eyck, draws heavily on codex inspiration and illustrations. Tassing and its surroundings, the castles, forests and even a crypt, are surprisingly brightly coloured. Of particular note are the dialogue panels, the style of which is also unique for almost every character, from the neatly scrolling handwriting of the nobles to the printed Gothic letters of the ecclesiastical characters to the scrawls of the peasants’ oakum.

Nor can one complain about the music and sounds. Obsidian’s distinctive sophistication shines through. As for the quality of the PS5 port, you get pretty much the same as on Xbox. The controls are easy to learn, though it doesn’t feel like they’ve taken advantage of all the Dual Sense options. (True, there aren’t many options in this genre.) I didn’t encounter any serious FPS or optimization issues. Overall, PlayStation players seem to get exactly the same experience as their PC and Xbox counterparts.

Pentiment: the pinnacle of the genre or “just” an outstanding effort?

There’s no question that anyone with even a passing interest in the era portrayed in Pentiment, who loves a good detective story and is willing to use their brain, will find a lot to gain from the 12-15 hours the game takes of their lives. Personally, as a historian, I’m a bit biased because the game gave me a lot. However, even so, one cannot walk away from the game’s flaws, most of which are minor. On the one hand, the plot moves at a snail’s pace at times and at other times with giant steps, which is unsuitable for immersion. Some of the twists and turns in the story, especially in the third and final act, will be a bit doubtful for even the most experienced adventure gamer.

On the other hand, Pentiment is more of a niche game – perhaps even too much so. In principle, it is aimed at a small group of fans of 2D, investigative puzzle-solver adventure games. Added to this is the fact that only those who are either familiar with the world of the late Middle Ages, or who are willing to invest the time and energy to immerse themselves in the era the game presents can enjoy the whole experience the game has to offer. This is understandable, of course – not every game needs to appeal to the entire community of gamers. In a way, it’s sad, though. With so much energy invested, such a well-written story and such a unique visual world, Pentiment deserved to be “accessible” to many more players. Not just in the sense that we can now enjoy it on PS5 – which is great news – but also in the sense that it’s a little easier to immerse yourself in. After all, this is probably the best historical crime adventure game in recent years.

-ROD-

Publisher: Xbox Game Studios

Developer: Obsidian Entertainment

Style: Adventure / RPG

Release date: 22 February 2024 (PS5)