Disco Elysium - The Final Cut

A lot of people seem to complain about the wordiness of the game. Yes, indeed, it is very dialogue heavy and at times this causes dialogue fatigue. But it shouldn't have to be a problem. Just try to play it while you feel sharp and up for following dialogue. After some time, if you feel tired, just get a break or continue another day. And if you encounter someone who talks about something you're completely uninterested in, just skip the dialogue. Most of the dialogue is not needed for main or side quests, but just tries to explain characters, the world etc. The game will be a lot more enjoyable if you don't strive to listen to as much dialogue as possible, but instead try to focus on the stuff that is relevant and interesting to you. Some people will get drawn to some characters and ideas while others will get drawn to others. Don't force yourself to discuss topics you are uninterested in and the problem is gone. For me, the only real problems were these: #1 (big problem) the game is too political. While it seems to make a fair attempt at mocking all ideologies, I just felt like the constant presence of politics diminished the experience. I also thought that some ideologies got more bashed than others and were without good representation. The fascists especially were more or less caricatures. That hurt the believability of a few characters but most of all it hurt the believability of the game and the creators. I was often reminded that this was a game and more than anything, that it was created in the current political climate. For a game like this that is a big failure. #2 (small problem) stats decided by your clothes. A pair of sunglasses could add +1 to charisma but perhaps a -1 to perception. With so many various stats (24 in total) and so many different clothes, switching back and forth for skill checks gets tiring quickly. If at least there was an option to max out a certain stat by a simple click, it would be fine. Overall a 5/5 game if not for politics.

First and most important - there is no fighting in this game. The story. the mystery, action turns, are whats important. Feels more like reading (writing?) a book than plaing a game.

This is a great game, really different than anything else. What might be a little bit confusing is that it is a narrative game at its hearth. I would describe it as visual novel (rally, really well written one with great graphic, deep setting and multifaced characters) disguised as cRPG. You have all RPG elements (stats, checks, choices and so on) but no combat to speak of (in its place „encounters” are dialogue, observations, various inner monologues all are well written). The game has that good novel quality when it is really hard to stop „reading” and You find Yourself not being able to stop playing because You need to meet next character or resolve inner conflict. Stats are secondary (You can Min/Max if You want to, but that misses the point). Instead think of them as preconfiguring the novel that You are about to read. Your stats will change dialogues, scenes and so on, but no matter what that will still be a great read, so do not worry about those stats. I know that I was paralyzed at the beginning because game has 24 stats and all of them are different than in any other game, and on top pf that they are vaguely described. At first, I thought that Devs put they „artistic visions” in front of player centric design but now I think that it was done on purpose so that You concentrate on experiencing the narrative instead on „character building” (meaning concentrating in stats and mechanics). So, Yea, this i s mostly visual novel that You largely configure by Your stat choices (it will be fascinating no matter what) with dash of adventure game and cRPG elements as a tool rather than essence. The narrative can be „on the nose” sometimes. It creates that weird dissonance when simplistic choices and world views are „hidden” behind great, dense, and heavy prose. Hence 4 stars

I want to state that this is one of the best rpgs I have ever played. Dialogue is enough to keep you enthralled. You can play your detective numerous ways. Simple conversations and decisions can come back to hit you with an emotional sledgehammer. The art is stunning. The voice acting it on another level for the most part. Exploration is rewarding and I have given this game enough praise. Changing clothes for skill checks is dumb. There are bugs galore, seriously the more you play the more it feels like the whole thing is falling apart. SPOILER: Kim left for the day, but I knock on his door and he is in his room. He is gone when I find a new place to stay, and he is just magically at my door the next day. I climb a ladder to get in a building and he tells me to let him in, but when I get in he there next to me, but oh I still have to let him in because he is not there. Sound constantly crackles and pops. The side quests in the second half are not interesting. Too many exposition dumps about geography and history that you don't and won't actually remember. Quests that can't be completed without specific skills. It's alot that detracts from a great game and made something I couldn't put down, hard to finish.

I don't like writing reviews but I would feel bad if I did not support the authors after such an incredible experience. I wish the game had never ended. If you like books, adventure games and complex characters, just get it.