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Pathologic 3 - narrative first-person RPG from Ice-Pick Lodge

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Pathologic 3 - narrative first-person RPG from Ice-Pick Lodge

Post by Yankee Zulu »

Not sure if this is an RPG but it says so on the steam page so it must be.


Save a town from a mysterious plague in this in narrative first-person RPG. Learn the stories of its unusual inhabitants. Shape their lives with your decrees. Diagnose patients. Face the Plague. Connect the dots. Find out who killed the immortal man. Correct your mistakes in the past.

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Post by Tweed »

The greasy dude in the dress with the five o'clock shadow you're dating says he's a woman so he must be too.
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Post by Orvas Dren »

Yankee Zulu wrote: October 8th, 2024, 07:31
Not sure if this is an RPG but it says so on the steam page so it must be.


Save a town from a mysterious plague in this in narrative first-person RPG. Learn the stories of its unusual inhabitants. Shape their lives with your decrees. Diagnose patients. Face the Plague. Connect the dots. Find out who killed the immortal man. Correct your mistakes in the past.

reminds me, I need to replay 2

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Post by wndrbr »

Love Pathologic 2, not sure about this one.

Seems like IPL have decided to completely ditch the original 'open world survival game' formula, and turn the game into some kind of time-travelling adventure? Does Dybowski hate money? "Our previous game that utilized a relatively mainstream gameplay formula has bombed in sales, therefore we're gonna try to reinvent the sequel into an even more obscure thing".
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Post by Unhelpful Contrarian »

wndrbr wrote: October 8th, 2024, 08:58
Love Pathologic 2, not sure about this one.

Seems like IPL have decided to completely ditch the original 'open world survival game' formula, and turn the game into some kind of time-travelling adventure? Does Dybowski hate money? "Our previous game that utilized a relatively mainstream gameplay formula has bombed in sales, therefore we're gonna try to reinvent the sequel into an even more obscure thing".
Didn’t Pathologic 2 end up being a surprise hit?
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Post by wndrbr »

Unhelpful Contrarian wrote: October 8th, 2024, 09:52
wndrbr wrote: October 8th, 2024, 08:58
Love Pathologic 2, not sure about this one.

Seems like IPL have decided to completely ditch the original 'open world survival game' formula, and turn the game into some kind of time-travelling adventure? Does Dybowski hate money? "Our previous game that utilized a relatively mainstream gameplay formula has bombed in sales, therefore we're gonna try to reinvent the sequel into an even more obscure thing".
Didn’t Pathologic 2 end up being a surprise hit?
no it bombed pretty hard and the devs were forced to downsize. This is why Bachelor's campaign was turned into Pathologic 3 instead of being an expansion pack.
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Post by Unhelpful Contrarian »

I surprised It didn’t sell at least moderately well or just break even given the positive coverage and word of mouth I seen on YouTube by multiple people.
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Post by Element »

Just make a sequel to Void with even more naked women. Guaranteed money printer.
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Post by Vergil »

No clue how this series has gotten another sequel. Awful ganeplay propped up only by a story that's just deliberately esoteric 2deep4u drivel. It's only value is being fodder for MandaloreGaming videos.
I'm just stating the facts.
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Post by wndrbr »

This free game just got announced. Seems like it's gonna be something like 'the marble nest' from the previous game, i.e. a short free game that serves as a demo and a teaser.

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Post by Zothique »

Pathologic 2 is one of those games that I adored, but holy **** the execution of it was so bad I couldn't remotely finish it.

Easily one of the most tragic games ever created, imo.
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Post by Konjad »

I loved Pathologic (and The Void) to the point I completed them multiple times and with all characters, but I couldn’t bring myself to finish Pathologic 2 because it’d be the same campaign again... probably the same with 3. I wish they came up with new stories instead. It would be an instant purchase for me, but as they do rehashes only I will probably skip.
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Post by Valter »

God bless Pathologic 2, but I wonder how feasible it is to tell the same story again and again... even if it is from a different perspective.
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Post by Element »

There were posts of some fantasy space like game in the vein of Void they were working on at some point, but I'd wager that's dead in the water, which is a shame. This is all just a rehash.
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Post by wndrbr »

https://store.steampowered.com/news/app ... 3945968462


The development of Pathologic 3 continues, and so does our conversation. Today, we’ll talk about a mechanic that is unique to Bachelor’s story — something you’ve never seen in the series before.

Finding himself in a city ravaged by the Sand Plague, Daniil, as a true scientist, notices something strange. Some patients don’t die within five hours as they’re supposed to. Could it be that… the Sand Plague is weakened by other diseases? If that’s the case, then by studying infected patients and uncovering the cause of this anomaly, one could develop a vaccine. An imperfect, temporary solution… but what if it’s the first step towards salvation?

And so, from doctor and researcher, Dankovsky is forced to become a detective. You enter a hospital hastily set up in the town’s theater. Examine a patient’s medical file. Talk to them. Observe them. But something doesn’t add up. A misdiagnosis? Symptoms misinterpreted? Or… Are the patients simply lying?

Not every complaint should be taken at face value. A hand wound could be the result of a street fight, or it could be an early sign of ulceration. A patient may blame their headache on the flu, but you’ll notice symptoms of Steppe Fever. And when you come across darkened eyes, changes in pupil shape, and other anomalies, even common sense won’t be enough. You’ll need to learn to read symptoms and search for clues beyond hospital walls.

A patient’s neighbors, or a forgotten item left at home, might reveal what’s been happening to them in recent days, helping you make the right diagnosis, save a life, and get one step closer to a vaccine. Staying in the makeshift hospital won’t be enough — you’ll have to search for the truth. Luckily, Dankovsky is a keen observer with a sharp analytical mind. He has always played the role of a detective in his battle against death. He has everything he needs to uncover the truth.

Of course, there’s a simpler approach: collect samples, use a microscope, and get a clear answer. You’ll see which organ groups are affected, this will be reflected in the patient’s file, and the mystery will become much easier to solve. But… Where will you get the necessary reagents in a city ravaged by disease? Even if your research helps rule out several incorrect diagnoses… The reagents will be depleted, and the next patient might not be so lucky.

Every day, new patients will come to you. If you manage to save them all today, you’ll be one step closer to developing a vaccine for the Sand Plague. But the disease mutates, and a new vaccine is needed every day. If the city is to survive until the 12th day, you’ll have to work hard.

But… Put yourself in the shoes of an ordinary townsperson. Would you agree to be injected with an untested vaccine during an epidemic? And that’s assuming you even understand what a vaccine is — an uneducated factory worker might not. And if people are subjected to unexplained injections every day, they will start forming conspiracy theories and even riot.

Be careful when issuing city-wide mandates and enforcing quarantine measures. Frightened citizens won’t accept overly strict rules — if you push too hard, they will come for you and kill you before you can save the town. Unfortunately, a doctor from the Capital must fight not only the plague and death itself but also his own patients. Bachelor may risk his life to save them, yet still be seen as a tyrant, a tormentor, a madman.

Sometimes, exhausted Dankovsky closes his eyes and thinks: if only death could simply be killed. The locals believe the plague is brought by a Steppe golem — Shabnak, a monster from legend. If it were real, if he could shoot it with his fancy Capital-made Prototype gadget, he would take the risk, no matter how impossible it seemed. Anything would be better than fighting people who resist their own salvation…
Open world House M.D. where you can shoot your patients and dissect their corpses.
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Post by Element »

wndrbr wrote: February 8th, 2025, 02:12
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app ... 3945968462


The development of Pathologic 3 continues, and so does our conversation. Today, we’ll talk about a mechanic that is unique to Bachelor’s story — something you’ve never seen in the series before.

Finding himself in a city ravaged by the Sand Plague, Daniil, as a true scientist, notices something strange. Some patients don’t die within five hours as they’re supposed to. Could it be that… the Sand Plague is weakened by other diseases? If that’s the case, then by studying infected patients and uncovering the cause of this anomaly, one could develop a vaccine. An imperfect, temporary solution… but what if it’s the first step towards salvation?

And so, from doctor and researcher, Dankovsky is forced to become a detective. You enter a hospital hastily set up in the town’s theater. Examine a patient’s medical file. Talk to them. Observe them. But something doesn’t add up. A misdiagnosis? Symptoms misinterpreted? Or… Are the patients simply lying?

Not every complaint should be taken at face value. A hand wound could be the result of a street fight, or it could be an early sign of ulceration. A patient may blame their headache on the flu, but you’ll notice symptoms of Steppe Fever. And when you come across darkened eyes, changes in pupil shape, and other anomalies, even common sense won’t be enough. You’ll need to learn to read symptoms and search for clues beyond hospital walls.

A patient’s neighbors, or a forgotten item left at home, might reveal what’s been happening to them in recent days, helping you make the right diagnosis, save a life, and get one step closer to a vaccine. Staying in the makeshift hospital won’t be enough — you’ll have to search for the truth. Luckily, Dankovsky is a keen observer with a sharp analytical mind. He has always played the role of a detective in his battle against death. He has everything he needs to uncover the truth.

Of course, there’s a simpler approach: collect samples, use a microscope, and get a clear answer. You’ll see which organ groups are affected, this will be reflected in the patient’s file, and the mystery will become much easier to solve. But… Where will you get the necessary reagents in a city ravaged by disease? Even if your research helps rule out several incorrect diagnoses… The reagents will be depleted, and the next patient might not be so lucky.

Every day, new patients will come to you. If you manage to save them all today, you’ll be one step closer to developing a vaccine for the Sand Plague. But the disease mutates, and a new vaccine is needed every day. If the city is to survive until the 12th day, you’ll have to work hard.

But… Put yourself in the shoes of an ordinary townsperson. Would you agree to be injected with an untested vaccine during an epidemic? And that’s assuming you even understand what a vaccine is — an uneducated factory worker might not. And if people are subjected to unexplained injections every day, they will start forming conspiracy theories and even riot.

Be careful when issuing city-wide mandates and enforcing quarantine measures. Frightened citizens won’t accept overly strict rules — if you push too hard, they will come for you and kill you before you can save the town. Unfortunately, a doctor from the Capital must fight not only the plague and death itself but also his own patients. Bachelor may risk his life to save them, yet still be seen as a tyrant, a tormentor, a madman.

Sometimes, exhausted Dankovsky closes his eyes and thinks: if only death could simply be killed. The locals believe the plague is brought by a Steppe golem — Shabnak, a monster from legend. If it were real, if he could shoot it with his fancy Capital-made Prototype gadget, he would take the risk, no matter how impossible it seemed. Anything would be better than fighting people who resist their own salvation…
Open world House M.D. where you can shoot your patients and dissect their corpses.
Make the Void. Blur everything 17 years later. Ghey!
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Post by krokodil »

Zothique wrote: December 20th, 2024, 17:33
Pathologic 2 is one of those games that I adored, but holy **** the execution of it was so bad I couldn't remotely finish it.

Easily one of the most tragic games ever created, imo.
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Post by wndrbr »

aww crap, they got rid of the grid inventory

Image

this is how inventory used to look in the previous game
► Show Spoiler
Last edited by wndrbr on March 12th, 2025, 11:10, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by Tadeusz »

I guess inventory management won't be much of an issue in this new installment so they simplified it. It looks like it's more similar to the inventory from the first Pathologic.
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Post by wndrbr »

Yeah by all accounts this seems to be more of a casual storyfag game than a survival-focused P2.
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Post by Tadeusz »

"Life is Strange meets Papers Please" they said so not surprising.
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Post by wndrbr »

Pathologic's fanbase is dominated by perverted women who post slash fanart all the time. I hope this game won't repeat KCD2's fate and turn Bachelor and Haruspex into some gay couple.
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Post by Finarfin »

Jesus Christ, you can't be serious. Which libtard ****** infiltrated them to make that kind of combination?
Also I'm fine with the new Inventory look but they could've kept the way the Inventory works. One slot of one item is too simplistic. I haven't played any Pathologic games yet but I sure like inventories that have you move the items around so stuff fits.

@wndrbr Oh, just you wait. It will be just as you said.
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Post by wndrbr »

Finarfin wrote: March 12th, 2025, 11:29
Jesus Christ, you can't be serious. Which libtard ****** infiltrated them to make that kind of combination?
OG Pathologic had three main campaigns, which were all very similar to each other. They had different plotlines and quests, but utilized the same basic gameplay loop.

When developing the remake, Ice Pick Lodge were planning to do the same thing (i.e. have three campaigns that took place in the same town and utilized the same basic mechanics, with minor differences like "bachelor can use microscope", "haruspex can brew potions", etc). However, due to the 2014 annexation of Crimea and the subsequent wave of sanctions, the foreign investor who was bankrolling the development decided to cancel the deal, and the devs ran out of money. After that the decision was made to polish up and release the most complete campaign (Haruspex' one), hoping that it would sell well enough for them to continue existing and maybe finishing the other two in the future. Unfortunately, Haruspex' campaign bombed in sales.

After shedding most of the members of the team, the leadership have decided to turn the next campaign (Bachelor's one) into a standalone game. However, the boss didn't want the new game to still feel like some glorified expansion pack that retreads and rehashes Pathologic 2's material, so they had to invent a completely new gameplay formula. That's basically the main reason it took them six years to develop the new game (well, second main reason, after them being broke) - they had no idea how to create something that would be entirely new, while still feeling like Pathologic. They probably spent a lot of time creating demos / vertical slices, playing them, realizing that it's not good, ditching them and going back to the drawing board.

"Life is Strange" comparison doesn't mean that the game is going to be gay and libtarded. It only describes the new core mechanic of doing something, seeing all the unforeseen consequences of your actions, then going back in time to try something different.
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Post by Tadeusz »

Finarfin wrote: March 12th, 2025, 11:29
Jesus Christ, you can't be serious. Which libtard ****** infiltrated them to make that kind of combination?
This is a quote from a leaked content. Here is some context:
Last edited by Tadeusz on March 12th, 2025, 12:07, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by rusty_shackleford »

(it will be gay and libtarded)
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Post by Tadeusz »

To the topic of gameplay, here is their new trailer:
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Post by Demonic Fate »

I liked the design concepts of Pathologic 1 and The Void, but unfortunately hunger management is my single least favourite mechanic in gaming. E.g. when I play roguelikes, I always look for classes or items that can obviate the hunger meter, even if they're otherwise mechanically weaker.

When I saw that Pathologic 2 had doubled down on the hunger mechanic, I didn't even bother installing it.

But for P3, neither the description nor the Steam screenshots show any hunger meter - there is still resource management, but it seems to be about the patients rather than yourself. Here's hoping.
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Post by Finarfin »

@Demonic Fate can't you just cheat the hunger to stay at max or mod it?
Also should I just play Pathologic 2 or first play Pathologic Classic HD?
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Post by Tadeusz »

Finarfin wrote: March 12th, 2025, 19:11
Also should I just play Pathologic 2 or first play Pathologic Classic HD?
Classic HD may seem tedious now because it's mostly a story-driven game with a lot of walking and written dialogues. Story is good there though and has all three routes. Pathologic 2 has an improved gameplay and an overhauled story and characters (they are similar in some way to the original but also have their significant differences). I'd say if you are interested in a story, play Classic HD first, otherwise you can skip it.
Last edited by Tadeusz on March 12th, 2025, 19:39, edited 1 time in total.