Reviews - #2 - Pentiment
Pentiment
Release: November 15, 2022
Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
Original Systems: Xbox One, Xbox Series Consoles, PC
“Churches can be rebuilt more easily than faith”
The quote you see start this review is one that cut deep into my soul. It comes right at the end of Pentiment and can hit you even deeper if you are a Christian, as I am, or religious/spiritual in any way. But, even if you are not, these words alone can still be powerful to explain the controversial actions of a person that has pulled the strings since the moment you booted this game up.
There are two ways to judge Pentiment. There is the story, which is filled with twists and turns that all lead to what I felt was a very powerful message that will even conflict you on whether to agree with the actions of the culprit of so many bad deeds. Then there is the gameplay, which is one part well done and another part (at least for me) kind of frustrating. But, what you have in the end is a well-crafted game that shows the power of storytelling that can be done in this interactive medium we love so much.
Pentiment’s gameplay is at its heart a point and click game. You can play laying back on your chair or couch and be fine. The quick decisions you’ll be making are based on the answers you give to characters, rather than mowing down enemies. Because of that, it does have a bit of a slow start. But… once Baron Lorenz Rothvogel shows up dead and you are thrust into a murder mystery, that’s when the real game begins.
One issue that was constant when playing came down to the way the game didn’t give you the freedom of decision making I thought it would. Sure, you make some big decisions; to the point that when you do your investigation to find a murderer, there are several suspects and its up to you to make your mind up on who did it. And you’ll never really know if you were 100% right. There are also characters that will make some decisions based on how you treat them or the people they care of. But it was lacking in other areas. The game gives you an option to either be a world class a-hole, somewhere in the middle, a forward thinker, or a deep follower of the church and God. I myself was a forward thinker, but stayed closed to my spiritually when the time came. And yet this doesn’t really change anything. You can even have a brief fling with a nun (yes, it’s possible), but that’s all. There are no romance options or any consequences for that potential fling. It just made it feel to me like outside of the actual murder investigation, consequences and decision making wasn’t a thing.
But its the story, told in three acts, that kept me fully engaged with Pentiment. Its 1518 and you play as Andreas Maler, who is in an apprenticeship as an illuminator at Keirsau Abbey. After meeting the polarizing Baron Lorenz Rothvogel, he winds up found dead. They blame Piero, an old monk that is found with the body, but you believe couldn’t have done it. But it’s the main themes that surround the story that gets you thinking. There are deep Christian themes that will make believers think about the real history of Christianity and its ties to Paganism. There’s the subtle undertones of the oppression to women, common folk, and anyone that doesn’t think the way the church wants them to. And what I especially liked, is that no matter what you believe or think, everyone gets a fair shake. Sometimes as a Christian I see people go to the nasty and unfortunately loud part that has dominated most of our airwaves when writing Christian characters or themes. But here, they do a great job balancing it out, reminding you that at its heart are good people, and the same for the people who think differently from it.
Now, there is one issue I had with the story which comes at the end of the second act. Like I said, there are three acts that separate the story. No spoilers so don’t worry. But, in the second act they end it with a ballsy decision that opens up a surprise in the third act. However, the third act was easily the weakest of the three. It’s not terrible, it’s just a different pace of the detective using skills from the first two. But the end of the act saves it with the incredible reveal on who has been pulling the strings of the events you’ve been dealing with. And that is when those words I started with are uttered. And for me, the mix of excuses and motive from this person, cut deep. You can see where they are coming from, but also despise the actions they took. It’s an incredibly well written conclusion to a VERY well written game.
Pentiment was written by well-known video game writer Josh Sawyer. And I have to give it up to him on his writing on this one. He creates a cast of characters that come together and make you explore themes that make you think. A thrilling and shocking conclusion that opens your mind and even in some ways your soul to questions, especially if you are a Christian. Despite its weak third act and some gameplay issues I had; this is a game to RECOMMEND. This is one of those games I’ll remember and shows you what video games can do to explore important themes and story.
FINAL SCORE - 4 / 5