A review of The Thaumaturge from the creators of The Witcher remake – how to use narrative to add weight to simple mechanics

Contents:

• Narrative Tricks
• How It Works

The Thaumaturge, created by the creators of The Witcher remake, is a small and modest game. Core mechanics include point-to-point movement, limited nonlinear dialogue, and a card-based combat system. However, the developers masterfully concealed its simplicity behind attractive art design and a compelling narrative. These elements give The Thaumaturge its uniqueness and add depth to it beyond what might initially appear.

Narrative Tricks

Jakub Rokosz, formerly the lead quest designer at CD Projekt RED, where he worked on the second and third installments of The Witcher, now leads the studio Fool's Theory. His team is currently developing a remake of the first Witcher. Fool's Theory also creates original games based on their intellectual property, among which The Thaumaturge stands out. This project promises to interest fans of the genre thanks to its unique concept and deep immersion in the gameplay.

Warsaw, 1905. An alternative history reflecting the realities of that time. Poland is divided, and Warsaw is under the control of the Russian Empire, where power is effectively concentrated in the hands of Nicholas II. The city's residents are dissatisfied with this state of affairs, leading to a rise in socialist sentiment. This period is characterized by a desire for freedom and justice, reflected in social movements and protests against the Tsarist regime. Warsaw becomes a center of the struggle for rights and independence, where every voice counts in the pursuit of change.

The game's protagonist is the charismatic Viktor Shulsky, a thaumaturge and demonologist who controls salutors, which are demons. At the beginning of the game, Viktor has only one salutor—the Ghoul, a fur-clad skeleton with a cane, who appeared in his childhood. As the game progresses, Viktor will be able to catch new salutors and control them, like Pokémon. He is assisted in this by Grigori Rasputin, who fled to Poland after a scandal in St. Petersburg, adding elements of historical fantasy and magic to the game. The variety of fireworks and interactions with them create unique game mechanics and a captivating storyline.

The game's plot centers on the theme of homecoming: Victor returns to his hometown to say goodbye to his deceased father. Despite the fact that their relationship was far from ideal and there was no sense of love between them, Victor feels the need to close this chapter of his life. The city he returns to has changed, and the changes affect more than just the new faces in uniform. Outwardly, everything remains the same, but the atmosphere and feeling are no longer the same. This theme is close to many who have ever left their hometowns for various reasons, and it provokes deep reflection on the changes that occur both in places and within ourselves.

Returning home invariably evokes a feeling of nostalgia and light sadness, which is actively exploited by narrative designers. At family gatherings, they masterfully reveal the character of each person present, demonstrating it through the division of inheritance and condolences. Victor immediately evokes sympathy; His image is filled with conflict and trauma from the past, which makes him a deeper and more layered character.

Shulsky has a serious flaw—pride, which is why the Ghoul chose him as a victim. Normal humans cannot see the salutors, but they feel their influence, which manifests itself in the fact that these entities target the character weaknesses of their victims. Cunning or cowardice are examples of flaws that salutors prey on. Unlike normal humans, thaumaturges are able not only to see the salutors but also to use them to their advantage. They can take a flaw from a person, effectively ridding them of a negative trait, and control a monster that feeds on this trait. Thus, Shulsky is engaged in collecting salutors throughout the game, which becomes a central element of his interactions with the world.

Pride manifests in dialogues, accumulating with each choice. The more often you choose the path of pride, the more flaw points you gain, which can lead to conflicts. If your pride level is low, some response options will become unavailable. If your pride level is high, other options will also be blocked. Thus, dialogue choices affect the available options and the course of events, which emphasizes the importance of balancing pride in the process of communication.

Pride points are one of many narrative devices that obscure the linear structure of the story. Forks leading to different endings appear only in the final part of the story and are independent of the characters' pride. It is worth noting that pride is not a characteristic of villains. Most often, it manifests itself in taunts or disrespectful remarks towards the interlocutor. Although pride does not affect the main plot, it brings interesting diversity to the dialogue system thanks to its unique concept. This gives character interactions additional depth and engagement, making the gameplay more intense.

Four hero development paths offer unique opportunities: heart, mind, deed, and word. Each of these paths has special skills that will prove useful in battle. Each path has its own salutors, which enhance the hero's abilities. For example, a ghoul is associated with the heart, while Veles, received from a cunning bohemian schemer, represents the word. These elements make the leveling process more engaging and strategically significant.

Character stats influence combat tactics, dialogue choices, and the ability to discover clues, which becomes especially noticeable in Shulsky's short-lived investigations. Despite the lack of innovation in the leveling system itself, all mechanics are harmoniously linked by a single narrative concept, which allows players to perceive them as a holistic interaction.

The game's concept is truly captivating, creating the feeling that the player is interacting with a branching role-playing system similar to The Council. The setting also evokes associations with this game. Although the dialogue choice mechanics include opening and closing options that do not always significantly affect the plot, the design and originality of the presentation of these elements make the gameplay engaging. This allows the player to deeply immerse themselves in the atmosphere and experience unique moments in each interaction.

Creating an engaging game experience is a credit to the narrative designers. Instead of simply choosing the path of a hero or villain using a scale, as in Knights of the Old Republic, they could have focused solely on the combat system. An alternative would have been to simplify the mechanics, allowing players to develop characters like Pokémon. However, it is the thoughtful approach to narrative that makes the game deeper and more engaging for its audience. The effective combination of storylines and leveling mechanics creates a unique experience that holds players' attention and allows them to immerse themselves in the game world.

The developers have created a unified concept that influences all aspects of the game—from combat mechanics to dialogue and investigative elements. While each of these mechanics may seem simple, their interaction and complementarity give the game depth and cohesion. Thanks to well-thought-out narrative decisions, the game becomes not just a set of mechanics, but a harmonious work in which each element supports the overall idea.

An example is a soiree—a bohemian party—attended by Shulsky in search of his late father's grimoire. During his search, he encounters a mysterious salutor named Veles, who often finds himself embroiled in intrigue. After conducting his own investigation, Shulsky finds Veles's victim—a schemer possessed by a cunning trait that attracted the salutor's attention.

Having retrieved Veles and rid the lady of her flaws, Shulsky activates his "Word" skill. This not only increases the number of skills available to him and the new salutor in combat encounters but also opens up new possibilities in dialogue and investigations. Improving the "Word" skill allows for deeper interactions with characters and the discovery of important clues, which in turn contributes to a more effective progression through the game.

How it works

An important aspect of the game is the search for clues, which Shulsky uses to form observations and conclusions. The basic mechanics of this process are quite simple: to get the desired dialogue lines, you need to examine various objects, usually located nearby. This approach creates an atmosphere of intrigue and draws the player into a deep exploration of the game world.

Victor, as a thaumaturge, has a unique ability to see more than most people. For him, ordinary objects carry hidden meanings and create deep connections. This process of searching for clues might seem monotonous if not for the key aspects of human life: heart, mind, action, and word. Each of these elements adds depth and significance, turning the ordinary into something special.

Each clue is presented with a vivid description, reflecting a certain branch of the plot development. Although it does not directly affect the main event, such details significantly deepen the context of the story and add new layers of meaning. The descriptions are written from multiple perspectives and possess a literary sophistication, making them engaging for the reader and enhancing the overall narrative experience.

In reality, these are just a few objects that require careful searching. However, thanks to the unified concept of diverse fireworks and their evolving branches in the works of Viktor Shulsky, as well as the high level of writing (in the Russian version – high-quality localization), the text is attractive and easy to read.

Navigation is a common problem typical of modern games with user-friendly controls. Shulsky's character has a "witcher sense," allowing him to easily find the right places to complete quests. This means the player will not have to wander around Warsaw unless they decide to take on city quests, which, as a rule, offer nothing new or interesting.

Using a navigator makes travel quick and convenient, but it also limits the player's ability to express their ingenuity and curiosity. By following a predetermined route, you risk missing out on unique opportunities and unexpected discoveries that can enrich your gaming experience. Breaking away from the established path opens up new horizons, allowing you to explore the world and find unexpected solutions. It's important to find a balance between ease of navigation and the desire to explore in order to fully enjoy the game and develop your skills.

The game's combat system strives to create a unique narrative by combining elements of a card game and a JRPG. Players face multiple opponents, including waves of enemies, each with their own unique characteristics and abilities. This variety makes combat strategy more interesting and challenging, allowing each battle to be unique.

The main character is often joined by additional characters, but in most cases, he fights alongside his salutors. The turn-based battles can seem a bit comical, but players quickly adapt to this gameplay. This creates a unique atmosphere where tactical decisions and interaction with allies become important aspects of victory.

The battle consists of Rounds are played, and each move requires a different preparation time. You can quickly deliver a light punch to the face or pause for a more powerful strike. There are negative states in combat, as well as the need to maintain concentration. If concentration is depleted, an ultimate move can be activated. Opponents have unique characteristics that can only be eliminated with certain moves or combinations. Salutors can be modified during combat, allowing them to adapt to different situations. Each salutor has unique characteristics and uses. Some effectively break concentration and eliminate negative states, while others use these negative states to their advantage. There are also salutors that specialize in healing, while others simply deliver powerful strikes. This diverse approach allows for the most effective use of the salutors' abilities, depending on combat tactics.

A variety of salutors give the combat system the necessary depth, which makes battles exciting and varied. Battles are harmoniously integrated into the overall concept of the game. By upgrading your Heart, Mind, Deed, and Word, you unlock new ways to upgrade your Combat Tactics cards. This creates a wide range of options for hero builds, allowing players to tailor their strategies and approaches to each battle.

The Thaumaturge is a shining example of how strong narrative can significantly enhance a game's experience and make it unforgettable. A good story isn't limited to mere writing; it incorporates deep character development and worldbuilding, creating a cohesive and unique work. In both literature and games, a central idea plays a key role, enriching the player's experience and creating memorable moments.

The Thaumaturge certainly faces its share of challenges, including some bugs and a somewhat rushed ending. However, these shortcomings don't obscure the central idea that permeates the entire game and touches every element. It's this concept that gives The Thaumaturge a cohesive feel, maintaining its structure and depth.

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