Info about The Thaumaturge:

Official game description:
 
**A hero with a flaw**
Wiktor Szulski is a thaumaturge, a master of mystical arts, who can peer into the hearts and minds of others, uncovering their deepest emotions, desires, and secrets. However, his powers also feed into his flaw of pride, which can present him with various opportunities or lead to negative consequences.
**Untold mysteries waiting to be revealed**
No secret or intrigue is safe when the thaumaturge is around. Your unique abilities will give you a great edge in solving detective investigations, becoming a savvy socialite or even dealing with the criminal underground. Explore the world using Wiktor’s perception, seeking personal secrets hidden in objects, that provide different perspectives on events that may seem obvious at first glance.
**Taming mythical creatures**
As a thaumaturge, you draw your power from the ability to summon salutors – mystical, folklore-inspired demons that inhabit the ethereal realm. Use their powers to manipulate your foes, sway the minds of allies, and fight opponents in turn-based tactical combat.
**Unique turn-based combat**
Engage in deep, tactical combat against various opponents – some physical, others more elusive. Wiktor's thaumaturgical abilities let you bend the rules of reality, summoning demons to unleash powerful attacks or gain strategic advantages.
**A rich gallery of characters**
The early 20th-century Warsaw is a multicultural metropolis with inhabitants from all walks of life. Among them, you’ll meet historical figures like the monk Rasputin or Tsar Nicholas II. The story also introduces you to a gallery of characters connected to Wiktor’s troubled past such as his well-versed sister Ligia or Abaurcy, a childhood friend who turned to a life of crime.
**Features:**
·       Play an isometric RPG in which your choices will shape the final outcome of the story.
·       Use your unique skills to influence and manipulate other characters.
·       Tame the power of folklore-inspired demons called the salutors to gain an advantage when exploring the world and bringing adversaries to their knees.
·       Experience unique turn-based combat and defeat your foes using both the physical attacks and skills of the tamed salutors.
·       Meet a rich gallery of characters from the early 20th-century Warsaw.

Release date: 4 Mar, 2024

Categories: RPG, Turn-based Combat, Tactical Combat, Investigative Gameplay, Single-player Story, Choice-based Narrative, Monster Collecting, Exploration


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Immersive, detailed Warsaw setting (weight 0.75): The game is set in a meticulously detailed and immersive recreation of Warsaw in 1905, under Russian rule.  It captures the city's atmosphere, architecture, and socio-political tensions, blending historical realism with fantasy elements. The setting is a major draw, offering a unique and refreshing backdrop compared to other RPGs.
- Visually appealing, detailed environments (weight 0.37): The game features gorgeous visuals and a detailed world, creating an immersive experience. The isometric perspective enhances the detail and hides potential issues. The environments are lovely and well-designed, with each level being distinct yet compatible with the city, creating an authentic and alive feel.
- Excellent writing, sharp dialogue (weight 0.33): The game features remarkable writing, with well-developed characters and sharp dialogue. The writing style is well-balanced, avoiding excessive length or brevity, and uses elegant language without being overly verbose. The dialogues are wonderful and feel realistic.
- Meaningful choices, significant consequences (weight 0.3): The game features a complex, decision-oriented system where choices have significant consequences, impacting the world, quest outcomes, and characters. The protagonist's flaw, pride, plays a significant role, influencing dialogue options and the role-playing experience. The game explores themes of guilt, pride, and destiny, adding depth to the gameplay.
- Generally enjoyable, interesting experience (weight 0.23): The game is generally enjoyable and interesting, with a good story and historical references. The reviewer found the combat engaging enough to maintain interest. The game is easy to play and focuses on enjoyment without requiring excessive effort.
- Engaging, well-integrated side quests (weight 0.19): Side quests enrich the experience, offering a keener understanding of Wiktor’s world. Side quests are varied and interesting, enriching the experience and allowing players to delve deeper into the universe. Side quests are well-integrated and feel like part of the main story.
- Unique, atmospheric soundtrack (weight 0.17): The game features an original and unique soundtrack that complements the atmosphere well. The music is splendid and enhances the game's atmosphere. The game has an intriguing plot and great visuals.
- Excellent world-building, unique magic (weight 0.14): The game features excellent world-building, integrating thaumaturges, magic, and mythologies into a real-world setting. The game explores conflicts between magic users and ordinary people. The inclusion of the Jewish community and Kabbalah as a secret school of Thaumaturgy is a unique and appreciated element.
- Detective gameplay, noir atmosphere (weight 0.14): The game combines investigation and turn-based tactical combat, creating an interesting gameplay loop. The game's detective system is reminiscent of Banishers, where you gather clues and draw conclusions. The game successfully establishes a noir vibe.
- Unique Salutors, strategic combat (weight 0.14): Monsters (Salutors) assist in combat and are tied to the player's character flaws, influencing dialogue choices and gameplay. The designs of the salutors are well-liked. The Salutors are beautifully designed with great animations.
- Intriguing, unpredictable story twists (weight 0.13): The story has unexpected turns, particularly in its closing chapters. The game features an engaging and intricate plot with surprising developments and conclusions. The story is original, interesting, and unpredictable.
- Detailed graphics, visual fidelity (weight 0.11): The game features great art direction choices in the character designs and effects. The characters are well-made and the environments are detailed. The developers added details like snow deformation under the character's feet, showing a focus on visual fidelity.
- Compelling story, interesting characters (weight 0.09): The story and characters are the biggest pro-argument and are worth it alone. The game features interesting characters. The plot is good.
- Mystical, captivating atmosphere (weight 0.07): The tension and secrets in the game captivate you in front of the PC. The game creates a sense of peeking into someone's life, feeling like a guest catching a glimpse of someone's soul, creating a mystical atmosphere.
- Fun, immersive details (weight 0.06): The reviewer loves the little collectibles and details. The reviewer found the game fun when it was working without crashing. Characters, environments, and collectibles feel real and authentic.

Common complaints:
- Repetitive, shallow combat system (weight 0.96): The turn-based combat is frequently criticized for being repetitive, shallow, and easy, even on higher difficulties. Many reviewers noted a lack of enemy variety, limited tactical options, and the overuse of the same strategies. This leads to player fatigue and a desire to avoid combat encounters.
- Poor animations and voice acting (weight 0.53): Many reviewers noted that character animations, especially facial animations, appear stiff, unnatural, and outdated. Voice acting quality is inconsistent, with some jarring accents and emotionless deliveries. These issues detract from immersion and make it difficult to connect with the characters.
- Automated, linear investigations (weight 0.33): The game's detective mechanics are criticized for being too automated and linear, with the player simply clicking on highlighted objects and the protagonist drawing conclusions without meaningful player input. This removes player agency and makes the investigation process feel like a chore.
- World lacks interactivity, depth (weight 0.3): The game world feels empty and lacks interactivity, with limited exploration opportunities and generic NPCs. Many reviewers noted a lack of meaningful choices and consequences, making the story feel linear and the RPG elements underdeveloped.
- Uninspired, linear skill progression (weight 0.14): The skill tree and character progression system are criticized for being uninspired, linear, and lacking meaningful customization options. Many reviewers noted that the game is too easy, making build variety irrelevant, and that there are not enough skill points to fully develop all aspects of the character.
- Underdeveloped thaumaturgy, weak ending (weight 0.13): The game's thaumaturgy system and story ending are criticized for being underdeveloped and unsatisfying. Many reviewers noted a lack of meaningful choices, a rushed conclusion, and a failure to fully utilize the potential of the setting and characters.
- Tedious fetch quests, backtracking (weight 0.13): The game's length is artificially padded with repetitive tasks, such as fetch quests and backtracking, which become tedious and unengaging. The absence of fast travel exacerbates this issue, making exploration feel like a chore.
- Inconsistent, confusing story (weight 0.12): The story is criticized for being inconsistent in quality, poorly translated, and difficult to follow. Many reviewers noted that the pacing is uneven, with a slow start and a rushed ending, and that the plot lacks focus and emotional impact.
- Limited dialogue, Salutor impact (weight 0.1): The game's dialogue choices often lack meaningful consequences, and the Salutor system is underutilized. Many reviewers noted that options to avoid combat through dialogue are ineffective, and that the game forces the player down a predetermined path regardless of their choices.
- Glitches and bugs present (weight 0.09): The game suffers from various glitches and bugs, including characters getting stuck, pathfinding issues, and graphical errors. While some of these issues are minor, others can be game-breaking and require restarting the game.
- Unbalanced, repetitive boss fights (weight 0.09): Boss battles, especially the final boss, are criticized for being unbalanced and poorly designed. Many reviewers noted a significant difficulty spike, repetitive enemy waves, and a lack of visual variety.
- Game feels unfinished, unpolished (weight 0.08): Many reviewers felt that the game was unfinished, unpolished, and lacking in depth. This sentiment is often expressed through vague statements and general impressions, rather than specific examples.
- Dialogue, translation issues (weight 0.08): The game suffers from translation errors, mismatched dialogue, and scripting issues. These problems can make conversations nonsensical and break immersion.
- Uninteresting characters, voice acting (weight 0.08): The game's characters are often described as boring, underdeveloped, and lacking in motivation. Voice acting is also criticized for being poor and unconvincing, with jarring accents and emotionless deliveries.
- Setting, plot lack depth (weight 0.07): The game's setting and plot are criticized for lacking urgency, historical accuracy, and depth. Many reviewers noted that Warsaw feels lifeless and that the game fails to fully utilize the potential of its setting and characters.
- Weak, boring story (weight 0.06): The story is described as weak, boring, and predictable. Many reviewers noted that the pacing is slow and that the plot lacks depth and emotional impact.
- Forced actions, 'Pride' flaw (weight 0.06): The game forces actions based on the character's 'Pride' flaw, diminishing role-playing opportunities. The game's initial screen included a justification for why the game is not 'woke', which the reviewer found off-putting.
- Weak main quest, uninspired design (weight 0.05): The main quest has a weak narrative, and the quest design is uninspired and tedious. Many secondary quests feel empty, indicating a lack of budget.

Gameplay feedback:
- Strategic, turn-based combat system (weight 0.43): The game features a turn-based combat system with a timeline-based initiative system. Players strategically manage character abilities, buffs, debuffs, and status effects to exploit enemy weaknesses. The combat system is a core gameplay element, with some reviewers drawing comparisons to Persona and Shin Megami Tensei.
- Supernatural detective work and investigation (weight 0.29): Players take on the role of a Thaumaturge, a supernatural detective, who investigates mysteries using special senses to perceive emotions and hidden clues tied to objects and people. This involves gathering evidence, making deductions, and influencing characters through dialogue choices. The protagonist, Wiktor, can also tame and utilize Salutors (demons) in both combat and investigations.
- Story-driven adventure with light RPG (weight 0.17): The game leans towards a dialogue-driven adventure with limited RPG elements such as loot, character upgrades, or complex choices. The game world is divided into smaller, explorable zones rather than being a fully open world. The focus is more on the story and exploration than strategic gameplay or character progression.
- Strategic use of Salutors (weight 0.11): Salutors are mystical beings with unique abilities that can be strategically used in combat to exploit enemy vulnerabilities and remove buffs. Players can acquire and develop Salutors, each representing different flaws, to enhance their combat techniques and unlock new abilities. The Salutor system adds depth and customization to the combat experience.
- Linear and simplistic detective work (weight 0.1): The detective work often involves following a simplistic 'red thread' or clicking on highlighted items, with the protagonist automatically making deductions. Some reviewers found the detective component well-designed and engaging, while others felt it was too linear and lacked player involvement. The game is more of a detective simulator than a true detective game.
- Unnecessary backtracking and collectibles (weight 0.05): The game features seemingly pointless backtracking for collectibles and a collection aspect that feels unnecessary and implemented to extend playtime. Some reviewers found the pacing uneven and the clue collecting unengaging. The game lacks a new game plus design, requiring players to redo mundane collection side quests to fully level up talents.
- Exploration rewards experience and lore (weight 0.05): Exploration of the city allows players to uncover sidequests and gather experience points from the environment by finding newspapers, letters, and posters. Leveling and progression are primarily achieved through engaging with the world by reading text and analyzing surroundings. The game also features a time system that affects when certain city secrets can be discovered.

Performance notes:
- Performance and stability issues (weight 0.3): Numerous reviews report significant performance and stability issues, including stuttering, lag, frame rate drops, crashes, freezes, and graphical glitches. These issues occur across a range of hardware configurations, even high-end systems, suggesting poor optimization. Some users have found temporary solutions by adjusting graphics settings or verifying game files, but the problems persist for many.
- Inconsistent, demanding graphics (weight 0.21): The game exhibits inconsistent graphics quality, with some textures appearing blurry or low-resolution, even on high settings. Some users report that lowering graphics settings doesn't significantly impact visual quality, suggesting a lack of optimization. Additionally, the game can be demanding on hardware despite not being visually impressive.
- Overheating and hardware strain (weight 0.21): Some reviewers report that the game causes their graphics cards to overheat and fans to run at high speeds, even on low settings. This indicates that the game is putting excessive strain on hardware, potentially leading to system instability or damage. Some users have experienced crashes and other issues that they did not encounter with other demanding games.
- Poor character models/animations (weight 0.06): Several reviews criticize the game's character models and animations, particularly facial animations, which are described as stiff, outdated, or unsettling. Some reviewers note that character faces lack detail and expressiveness, detracting from the overall visual quality. The game also suffers from screen shaking and head-jerking animations during cutscenes.
- Inconsistent Steam Deck experience (weight 0.05): The game's performance and compatibility on Steam Deck are mixed. Some users report smooth performance, while others experience graphical glitches, blurriness due to resolution limitations, or the game defaulting to Polish language settings. This suggests that the Steam Deck experience is inconsistent and may require user adjustments.
- Sound disappearing/cutting out (weight 0.03): Several reviews mention sound-related bugs, such as music cutting out, dialogue sound disappearing, and sound issues affecting other applications. These issues often require restarting the game or the entire PC to resolve, disrupting the player's experience.
- Unresponsive mouse/keyboard controls (weight 0.01): Some players find the mouse and keyboard controls frustrating due to unresponsive character movement when clicking. Additionally, animations can appear jerky when skipping dialogue lines, further impacting the user experience.
- Low resolution limit (weight 0.01): The game's maximum resolution is limited to 720p or 768p, which some reviewers find illogical. This limitation can affect the clarity and detail of the visuals, especially on larger displays.
- Lacking sound design (weight 0.01): One reviewer notes a lack of fullness in the sound design, especially during combat, and desires more impactful audio feedback for hits. This suggests that the game's audio lacks polish and could be improved to enhance the player's immersion.
- Generic praise/system specs (weight 0): These clusters contain generic and contradictory statements, including praise for graphics and stability, mentions of system specs, the game engine used, and port quality. Due to the lack of specific details and actionable feedback, these points are not summarized.

Recommendations:
- Compelling narrative and immersive story (weight 0.95): The game is praised for its engaging narrative, intriguing mysteries, and well-developed characters. Many reviewers recommend it to players who enjoy story-rich experiences, detective elements, and immersive worlds, often highlighting the game's ability to draw players in despite its flaws. The story is the main reason to play the game.
- Recommend purchasing on sale (weight 0.72): Many reviewers suggest waiting for a sale before purchasing the game, citing that while the game has its merits, it may not be worth the full price due to its flaws or the availability of other options. The game is often considered a worthwhile experience at a discounted price. Some reviewers suggest trying the game within the refund window.
- Unfulfilled potential (weight 0.64): Some reviewers express mixed feelings, acknowledging the game's potential but noting that it ultimately falls short due to various flaws. They feel the game could have been much better with more polish or a larger budget. This point reflects a sense of unfulfilled promise.
- Disappointing ending(s) (weight 0.43): Some reviewers express disappointment with the ending or endings of the game, with some feeling that they are not satisfying or worth replaying the game to experience different variations. This suggests that the conclusion of the story may not live up to the expectations set by the rest of the game. This point is important, but the constructiveness is low.
- Unique setting and cultural elements (weight 0.43): Reviewers recommend the game to those interested in the unique setting of early 20th-century Warsaw under Russian occupation, its blend of history and occultism, and its Polish cultural elements. Playing with the original Polish voice acting and English subtitles is frequently suggested for a more authentic experience. The game offers a distinctive cultural and historical experience.
- Desire for a sequel (weight 0.13): Many reviewers express a desire for a sequel, indicating they enjoyed the game and want to see the world and characters expanded upon. They are interested in seeing how the story continues and how choices made in the first game might impact future events. This shows a strong positive impression and investment in the game's universe.
- Weak or repetitive combat (weight 0.04): Some reviewers suggest that the combat is a weak point, with some recommending to minimize or even skip combat encounters to focus on the story. They suggest that the game is better approached as a narrative adventure or visual novel rather than a combat-heavy RPG. This point highlights a significant division in player experience.
- Frequent crashes and instability (weight 0.04): Numerous reviewers report experiencing crashes and technical issues that significantly hinder their ability to play the game. Some reviewers recommend avoiding the game until these issues are resolved, as they make the game unstable and frustrating. This point is important, but the constructiveness is low.
- Doesn't meet Disco Elysium comparisons (weight 0.03): Some reviewers express disappointment that the game does not live up to comparisons with Disco Elysium, a highly regarded RPG known for its deep narrative and unique gameplay. They feel that the game fails to capture the same level of quality or innovation. This point is important, but the constructiveness is low.
- Game of the Year contender (weight 0.02): Some reviewers consider the game to be a standout title, potentially a game of the year contender, and praise its story and artistic qualities. This indicates a strong positive impression and a belief that the game is a significant achievement. This point is important, but the constructiveness is low.
- General positive sentiment (weight 0): These points are too general to be useful. They express positive sentiment without providing specific feedback or details about what makes the game enjoyable. Therefore, they are not included in the summary.
- General positive sentiment (weight 0): These points are too general to be useful. They express positive sentiment without providing specific feedback or details about what makes the game enjoyable. Therefore, they are not included in the summary.

Other player notes:
- Unique, detailed historical setting (weight 0.24): The game is set in early 1900s Warsaw under Russian occupation, a unique and detailed setting rarely explored in games. It blends historical events, political tensions, and cultural nuances with Slavic folklore and occult elements, creating an immersive experience. The game incorporates real historical figures and references, encouraging players to learn more about Polish history.
- Interesting Thaumaturge/Salutor lore (weight 0.05): Thaumaturges are individuals who can perceive and manipulate emotions by summoning and controlling mystical beings called Salutors. This concept is central to the game's lore and gameplay, allowing players to influence thoughts, read imprints from objects, and engage in combat using Salutors' abilities. The Thaumaturge universe is very interesting.
- Rasputin as supporting character (weight 0.04): Rasputin is a character in the game who assists the protagonist and becomes involved in the story. His portrayal and interactions add a unique element to the game's narrative. The game earns points for including Rasputin.
- Quirky mood, artistic direction (weight 0.04): The game has a quirky mood and a smaller studio charm. It attempts to make statements and has an artistic direction. The writing style is delicate and emotional, reminiscent of Disco Elysium.
- Average story, average length (weight 0.04): The game's story is considered average in quality and length. Some reviewers found the story to be good, while others felt it was like a bad TV show with a disastrous ending.
- Wiktor Szulski: Thaumaturge protagonist (weight 0.03): Wiktor Szulski is the protagonist, a thaumaturge who returns to Warsaw after his father's death and inherits the ability to control Salutors. He becomes entangled in the city's secrets and conflicts. His journey and abilities are central to the game's narrative.
- CRPG with Slavic folklore (weight 0.03): The game is a CRPG with a focus on narrative and investigation, drawing inspiration from historical and mystic folklore. It incorporates Slavic mythology and feels similar to The Witcher series but has an original story.
- Polished, mature, well-priced (weight 0.02): The game is polished, well-presented, and cinematic, with mature themes and a lot of voice acting. It is perfectly priced for what you can expect.
- Oppression themes, Russophobia claims (weight 0.02): The game's story involves resistance against various forms of oppression. Some reviewers noted hints of Russophobia, while others stated that there is no Russophobia in the game.
- Railroady, narrative falls apart (weight 0.01): The first part of the game is very railroady. The narrative and quest lines become odd and break apart further into the end.
- Great vision, limited execution (weight 0.01): The game's vision is great, ambitious, and unique, but also reveals limitations in the development team's experience and capabilities.
- Fitting, enjoyable soundtrack (weight 0.01): The music is subtle and fitting for the time period, with gramophones adding to the atmosphere. The soundtrack is fitting and enjoyable.

Emotions:
No emotions}