Pathologic 3 continues the reboot of this psychological horror game that began with Pathologic 2, which is really a reboot of the first game instead of a sequel.
Prior to its release, Pathologic 3 had a worrying development path, with issues and delays that naturally left players like me, who had been looking forward to the game, concerned it might be in trouble before we even had a chance to try it.
These fears appear to have been unfounded. Pathologic 3 has indeed been released, putting you in the role of ‘The Bachelor’ in a game that blends classic horror RPG styles with modern horror elements.
As usual, Pathologic 3 is an oppressive Marmite game that simply isn’t for everyone, but that’s part of what makes the series special. Which, this third installment understands and follows through on with aplomb.
Intentionally Tumultuous Time Travel
Before we dig into the meat of the matter, I want to let potential players know that you can jump into Pathologic 3 without any knowledge of the series. There are parts that might make a bit more sense if you played the second game, or you might find that you have additional context for what’s going on, but you can go in completely blind and not be any more lost than the game intentionally makes you.
The Bachelor is searching for a way to revive the dead, basically looking for a cure for humanity that would allow people to be immortal. As a result, a lot of his perspective is tinted with his scientific knowledge, letting you approach the bizarre with the detached interest of a scientist studying a fascinating new phenomenon.
Naturally, because this is a horror game, the Bachelor ends up being in the wrong place at the wrong time, unable to escape as a mysterious infection begins to spread through the remote town that he believed would provide answers for his research into immortality. Now, he has only 12 days to try and save the town.
Stepping into an Unsettling World
The key to a great horror game is the atmosphere. I find that this is especially true for psychological horror games, and with Pathologic 3 being light on combat for the sake of exploration and searching for answers, the atmosphere becomes an important tool in keeping you on edge and unsettled.
Pathologic 3 captures the soul of story-rich psychological horror games with an expertise that makes me feel as if I’m in a world that is both charming and disturbing.
I love the world of Pathologic 3. When I’m in the unaffected areas, I almost feel like I’m playing one of the Sherlock Holmes games, using my power of intuition to solve a case. Then, I look around at the townsfolk and what they’re doing, and it’s strange enough that I remember that there’s something wrong in this place, even if I don’t know all the details to understand what exactly is wrong at that point.
Then, you also have the infected areas. I find that they properly keep you on edge. You have extremely limited sight with how dense the fog is in these locations. On top of that, you have a limited number of uses for your prototype to keep the miasma away, which keeps you alive in those areas. However, they aren’t designed in a way that makes it too difficult to navigate if you use the concentration mechanic.
Finally, I find that the other core element of atmosphere is the sound and music design. The background music doesn’t demand your attention, so it feels like it accentuates the world instead of detracting from it.
In terms of atmosphere, Pathologic 3 captures the soul of story-rich psychological horror games with an expertise that makes me feel as if I’m in a world that is both charming and disturbing.
The Science of Time Travel and Saving a Town
Overall, the bulk of the game is exploring and investigating, whether that means talking to NPCs or just examining everything you come across. This means that the pace is on the slower side for the most part, but there are sections that feel faster and similar to games like the original Amnesia, where you’re faced with a monster that you can’t exactly defeat.
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While the slower pace and focus on story and environment are suitable for the style of Pathologic 3, it’s not going to be for every player. I love taking my time to go through games, but I did feel like there wasn’t enough for me to actually do outside of talking to NPCs and moving between locations at times. I don’t necessarily want more action, but more interaction.
I think that making the thought mechanics more interactive could’ve been a good choice. It’s like you can just pick any of the thoughts to proceed through sections, such as the runthrough of how to load the prototype when you first get it, and it doesn’t make a difference what you choose.
Additionally, the concentration mechanic makes it incredibly easy to figure out where to go, since you just need to follow the line that appears, and it even highlights objects that you can interact with. I’m torn on my feelings for this mechanic, because I’m sure that I’d die in the infected areas without it, but at the same it detracts from the signature struggle Pathologic is known for.
Adding a Touch of Difficulty
The difficulty is balanced out a bit when you unlock time travel, but there are still features that help you out, such as being able to take items with you between days, or even store items on a certain day that you can pick up again when you return to the day. It’s an interesting feature overall, and the lack of a linear story tricks you into feeling like the time it takes to get through the story is longer than it actually is, but in a good way.
Finally, as far as mechanics go, I’m not a fan of permadeath as a way to add difficulty. Since Pathologic 3 is on the shorter side for length, as in it’s not like a 60-hour game, it’s frustrating to start over. I’d prefer that difficulty be added to the game in other ways, as I can definitely see some players getting frustrated with having to start over and opting not to continue.
One for Narrative Lovers
Not every game is made for every audience. Pathologic 3 is made for players who love the story element of gaming the most, as that’s where the focus is. This suits me perfectly fine, and I found myself sucked into the story for the most part, which meant that not having as much to do actively—in terms of combat or solving puzzles—wasn’t as noticeable as it might’ve been if I wasn’t interested in the story.
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I also believe that this game would be a great choice if you just like eerie atmospheres. The world is beautiful and creepy, depending on the day and location. But if you prefer to be more involved, have fast-paced events, or want more combat, then this might not be the game for you.
In the end, I’m glad that the reboot of Pathologic is doing the series justice. It feels like another part of the renaissance we seem to be in regarding horror games with all the amazing sequels and remakes that are being created over recent years.
I hope this spells good things for Pathologic’s future, a series that has long been overlooked. However, I also hope the next game leans into the mystery-solving elements, ideally with more puzzles I can actively solve.
Either way, this is a solid, short horror experience that focuses on the story, and it leaves the Pathologic reboot on a high note that will hopefully be continued with another game.
"Pathologic 3 continues the series' reboot successfully, crafting a world that's filled with charm and mystery. It's easy to lose track of time in real life as you travel through time to save a town. While it's a strong entry for the series, it can feel too easy and is on the slow side when it comes to pacing."
The Good
- Engaging Story
- Beautiful Atmosphere
- Keeps you Confused in a Good Way
The Bad
- Lack of Challenge
- Permadeath can be Frustrating
