Pathologic Classic HD

 PC
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. CD-Action
    Feb 4, 2016
    95
    Amazing story. Amazing experience. It’s amazing what games can become if we let them. Pathologic’s execution is very, very bad, but it is still one of the best games I have ever played. [01/2016, p.56]
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  2. God is a Geek
    Nov 10, 2015
    90
    Everything a great horror game should be, with a fantastic story and a beautifully bleak world to explore.
  3. LevelUp
    Nov 30, 2015
    80
    A powerful Russian existential classic, Pathologic returns in the first good official translation to ever appear in the West. Despite its outdated gameplay, graphics and some other annoyances, the game retains its power to amaze us and make us think. Recommended for connoisseurs and expert players.
  5. Brash Games
    Nov 23, 2015
    80
    This is one of the best games I’ve played in years, it seems to have been made to the specifications of my exact sensibilities. But I’d be remiss to not mention how essentially damaged the finer points are.
  6. Pelit (Finland)
    Mar 3, 2016
    75
    A twisted masterpiece of sickness that is as ambitious as it is flawed. If you can endure the slow, repetitive gameplay and clumsy translation, you will reap unparalleled rewards in narrative and atmosphere. [Feb 2016]
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User Reviews

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User Score
8.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 111 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 97 out of 111
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 111
  3. Negative: 7 out of 111
  1. Lunrun
    Nov 30, 2015
    7
    Pathologic is an amazing piece of storytelling wrapped up in a clunky, infuriating package. It inspires both absolute hatred and thePathologic is an amazing piece of storytelling wrapped up in a clunky, infuriating package. It inspires both absolute hatred and the insatiable desire to know what will happen next.

    First, it gets a 9/10 for story and atmosphere. The environments are chilling, and it does a lot with a really old game engine. The plagued areas are absolutely chilling, and the atmospere feels ominous and tense. Plus, some of the stranger areas/fixtures properly invoke wonder and curiosity.

    Gameplay leaves much to be desired. I realize that this is an indie game, and it comes from an era where "scrappy mechanics" were common. However, Pathologic managed to collect ALL of them to make one of the hardest games I've ever played. Let's list some:
    -Fetch quests. It's made of them. They make a nice setting feel tiring over time.
    -Fast, sloppy combat-- and your attack animations are both random and inconsistently-timed. No weapon-switching.
    -Feels like a guide is required, often. The game often leaves you hanging.
    -Remember fetch quests? Have another.
    -The plague strikes randomly and unavoidably, like a plague.
    -There is no sprinting, and you walk super slow.
    -Fetch quests seem repetitive yet? Have another. Also, you have to walk all the way across town. Twice.
    -Do not start as the haruspex if you aren't ready for punishment; it's harder and skips the tutorial. The game doesn't warn you, either.

    These are simply the punishments you will endure if you become enthralled with this game's plot. Is it worth it? I'm not sure; what is certain is that you will need to be really, really patient to through the tasty, tasty story. You may want to look for a Let's Play instead.    … Full Review »
  2. Purod1st
    Jan 11, 2016
    10
    Igra prosto parajaet svoey atmosferoy, zastavlayetsa zadumaysa i peresmotret vzglyadi na jizn!
    Pishu translitom, ibo eto veselo.
    Kupil igru    Igra prosto parajaet svoey atmosferoy, zastavlayetsa zadumaysa i peresmotret vzglyadi na jizn!
    Pishu translitom, ibo eto veselo.
    Kupil igru v steam i blagopoluchno v neyo poigral. Teper jdu pereizdanie igri, chtobi uznat igru v drugom svete. V svete novih tehnologiy i tehnicheskih osobennostei!
    Nado budet kstati ehe poigrat v "Knock-knock"...
    Ladno, dorogie moi zadroti, priyatnoy igri!    … Full Review »
  3. kirbdaman
    Feb 1, 2022
    4
    I had heard a lot of stellar reviews, so I was surprised when I actually played the game:
    The dialogue is strange and confusing, and feels    I had heard a lot of stellar reviews, so I was surprised when I actually played the game:
    The dialogue is strange and confusing, and feels poorly translated, even despite claims that the english translations are fixed in the classic HD version. A good portion of the english dialogue in the game just doesn't really make sense (and yes, I played the Classic HD version.)
    I agree with the review that complains about 'fetch quests', good LORD get ready to spend literally 50% of your playtime holding W (not exaggerating).
    The gameplay itself is quite boring. The combat gets stale very quickly and there is little to no character progression, other than obtaining new weapons.
    I also found the story lackluster, (the main disappointment, as the story is what people generally seem to praise about this game) and worsened by the "better than the original" yet still poor dialogue translations.
    I will likely suffer through the Bachelor and Changeling campaigns at some point, and update my review if it changes my mind. But as of now, to sum it up in a word: mehhhhh    … Full Review »
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