Info about Pathologic 2:

Official game description:
  
Pathologic 2 is a narrative-driven dramatic thriller about fighting a deadly outbreak in a secluded rural town. The town is dying. Face the realities of a collapsing society as you make difficult choices in seemingly lose-lose situations. The plague isn’t just a disease. You can’t save everyone.  
The plague is devouring the town. The chief local healer is dead, and you are now to take his place. You’ll have to look for unexpected allies. The local kids are hiding something. Try playing by their rules.  
You only have 12 days.  
*   12 days in an odd town ravaged by a deadly disease.  
*   Time is of the essence: if you don’t manage it carefully, it’ll simply run out. You’ll have to choose how to spend the priceless minutes you have.  
*   Survival thriller. You’ll have to manage your bodily functions, offsetting hunger, thirst, exhaustion, and so on. It doesn’t boil down to scavenging resources. Surviving on your own is hard; you’ll have to win over allies.  
*   An uphill battle. Managing your bodily parameters may seem bearable at first, and as time goes by, it becomes harder and harder. Your own body is only waiting for an opportunity to give up and betray you. Things are changing from bad to worse and the odds are stacked against you.  
*   A duel with an enemy you can’t kill. Your main foe is the plague itself, an incorporeal and malevolent entity that you have to defeat… without having the means to. It’s more powerful and more treacherous than you can imagine.  
*   Loot, murder, mug, steal, barter, beg… or don’t. You need resources to survive, and it’s up to you how to obtain them.  
*   The fights are short, ungraceful, and vicious. They’re not always lethal though. Many people—yourself included—would prefer to exchange their wallet for their life.

Release date: May 23, 2019

Categories: Survival, Narrative Adventure, Choice-based Narrative, Resource Management, Time-based Mechanics, Psychological Horror, Atmospheric Horror, Moral Decision-Making

Feature scans:
- Wiki: score 50; verdict: Needs Improvement in Instructional Data; summary: The primary user complaints revolve around the game's complex mechanics, which are poorly explained in-game, leading to significant frustration. Additionally, users feel burdened by the need to manage their inventory and character stats meticulously, which detracts from the overall gaming experience. There is also a notable lack of information on certain game aspects, forcing users to rely on external sources.
- Steam Deck: score 50; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The analysis of user feedback for Pathologic 2 on the Steam Deck reveals several key issues. The most significant problem is the lack of proper controller support, which severely impacts the user experience. Additionally, the game's design intentionally creates discomfort and a sense of lack of control, which can be frustrating for players. While some users report that the game plays well with minor graphics adjustments, this still indicates that some level of tinkering is required. Overall, the game has notable barriers to a seamless experience on the Steam Deck.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $15.00 - $25.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence suggests a mixed sentiment regarding the game's value. Some users explicitly state that the game is overpriced or not worth the full price, indicating that the current price of $34.99 is too high. Others mention that the game is worth it, but this is often tied to experiencing the game on sale or enduring its difficulties. The repeated mentions of the game being worth it only in specific contexts (like sales) imply that the fair price range perceived by the community is lower than the current price.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 30.0h
  - Story completion: 25.0h
  - Session length: 3.0h
  - Endgame: 10.0h
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides several direct and indirect references to playtime metrics. The first quote mentions a player's experience with multiple playthroughs and switching games, indicating significant investment in game completion and story completion. The second quote explicitly states a playtime range of 25-30 hours for completing the game, which aligns with the game completion metric. The third quote mentions 42 hours of gameplay, which can be interpreted as an extensive playtime for a dedicated player, likely encompassing the full experience including endgame content. The fourth quote suggests that 35 hours of gameplay felt much shorter, indicating an immersive experience that could span multiple sessions and significant progress through the game.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game starts with a confusing and tedious tutorial, but once players overcome the initial learning curve, it opens up to a rewarding and immersive experience.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: The entire world opens up
  - Time to anchor: 1h 0m
  - Friction: Confusing tutorial; Steep learning curve; Tedious initial gameplay
  - Unlock drivers: Understanding game mechanics; Mods that enhance gameplay; Story immersion
  - Conditions: Patience to overcome initial confusion; Willingness to invest time in learning the game; Appreciation for dense storytelling
- Player Archetypes:
  - Novelty Seeker (sale)
    - Motivation: Exploration and novelty
    - Playstyle: Exploratory and strategic, enjoying the challenge and uniqueness of the game.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: noob; newcomer
    - Reference games: Pathologic 3
  - Challenge Embracer (buy)
    - Motivation: Story and unique challenge
    - Playstyle: Strategic and immersive, focusing on survival and story.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: hardcore gamer; veteran
    - Reference games: Disco Elysium; Darkwood; We Happy Few
  - Story-Driven Veteran (buy)
    - Motivation: Narrative and challenge
    - Playstyle: Story-focused and strategic, enjoying the narrative and gameplay challenges.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: story enthusiast; veteran
    - Reference games: Pathologic 3
  - Achievement Hunter (buy)
    - Motivation: Unique challenge and achievement
    - Playstyle: Goal-oriented and persistent, focusing on completing the game's most difficult challenges.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: achievement hunter; hardcore gamer
    - Reference games: Dark Souls


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:
- Unique and memorable experience (weight 0.29): The game offers a unique and memorable experience that is emotionally engaging, immersive, and unlike any other. Players find it profound, impactful, and thought-provoking.
- Challenging and rewarding gameplay (weight 0.27): The gameplay is noted for being challenging, stressful, yet rewarding and engaging. Players find it deep, addictive, and enjoyable despite its difficulty.
- Deep and complex characters (weight 0.2): The game features characters with depth, personality, and complexity. The storytelling includes emotional depth, moral and psychological intricacies, and well-written narratives.
- Complex and engaging narrative (weight 0.19): The game's narrative is complex, engaging, and well-developed. It features intricate storytelling, deep narratives, and unique approaches to storytelling.
- Atmospheric and thought-provoking (weight 0.15): The game is atmospheric and thought-provoking, featuring stylish graphics and a deep, immersive storyline. It offers a unique concept and awe-inspiring experiences.
- Unique atmosphere and world (weight 0.13): The game offers a unique atmosphere and world with immersive and odd settings. It features fantastic atmosphere and unique creative visions.
- Engaging and well-written dialogues (weight 0.12): The dialogues are engaging, attention-grabbing, and well-written. They are intense, interesting, and sometimes funny, adding to the overall experience.
- Meaningful and difficult choices (weight 0.12): The game features difficult choices and consequences that are meaningful and realistic. Players must make valuable choices and sacrifices that impact the story.
- Deep and philosophical themes (weight 0.12): The game explores deep and philosophical themes with intriguing dialogues and narratives. It offers a dense and thought-provoking experience.
- Excellent soundtrack and sound design (weight 0.11): The game features a great soundtrack, perfect sound design, and excellent voice acting. The music is memorable and enhances the overall experience.
- High replayability (weight 0.11): The game offers high replayability with addictive and open-ended gameplay. Players find it infinitely restartable and fresh with each playthrough.
- Enjoyable overall experience (weight 0.11): Players enjoy the overall experience, finding it consuming, enjoyable, and good. It provides perspective and a satisfying gameplay experience.
- Realistic consequences for actions (weight 0.1): The game features realistic consequences for actions, with high stakes and meaningful decision-making. Players' choices have actual impacts on the story.
- Believable character interactions (weight 0.08): The game offers unique and believable interactions between characters with interesting dynamics and relationships.
- Emotionally impactful story (weight 0.08): The story is emotionally touching and impactful, offering a hauntingly beautiful and personal narrative.
- Psychologically challenging gameplay (weight 0.08): The gameplay is unpredictable, super challenging, and psychologically engaging. It is highly recommended for those who enjoy a challenge.
- High tension and stress (weight 0.08): The game features a high tension and stressful atmosphere with constant fear and suspense.
- One of the best games (weight 0.07): Players consider this game one of the best and most interesting they have ever played, highlighting its special qualities.

Common complaints:
- High difficulty and frustration (weight 0.33): The game is noted for its high difficulty level, which many players find frustrating and overwhelming. This includes a steep learning curve and unforgiving gameplay mechanics.
- Poor combat mechanics (weight 0.23): The combat system is widely criticized for being difficult, buggy, and poorly designed. Players find it awkward, disappointing, and a downgrade from previous versions.
- Frustrating gameplay elements (weight 0.16): Various aspects of the game, including its complexity and certain mechanics, are found to be frustrating and confusing. Some elements may be overwhelming or intimidating.
- Resource management issues (weight 0.13): The game's resource management system is criticized for being cumbersome and frustrating. Players often face a lack of resources, which adds to the difficulty.
- Boring and tedious gameplay (weight 0.1): Players find the gameplay to be boring, uninteresting, and tedious, with slow walking speeds and repetitive tasks.
- Not suitable for everyone (weight 0.09): The game's high difficulty and certain content may not be suitable for all players, particularly those who are sensitive or prefer less challenging games.
- Save system problems (weight 0.07): The game's save system is poorly designed, with issues such as the inability to manually save and problems with save files.
- Disappointing ending (weight 0.07): The game's ending is widely criticized as unsatisfying and bad, leaving players disappointed with the conclusion.
- Repetitive and uninteresting dialogue (weight 0.07): The dialogue in the game is often repetitive, uninteresting, and long, detracting from the overall experience.
- Harsh death penalties (weight 0.06): The game imposes significant penalties for death, which can be frustrating and punishing for players.
- Quest-breaking bugs (weight 0.06): There are issues with quests in the game, including bugs that can break quests and prevent progress.
- Outdated graphics (weight 0.05): The graphics in the game are criticized for being outdated and mediocre, appearing to be from previous generations.
- Unclear objectives (weight 0.05): The game is criticized for having unclear objectives and expectations, making it difficult for players to know what to do.

Gameplay feedback:
- Resource and time management (weight 0.28): Players need to manage resources and time effectively. This includes inventory management, resource scavenging, and optimizing time constraints to survive and progress.
- Story-driven and atmospheric gameplay (weight 0.26): The game offers a rich narrative and atmospheric experience. It includes environmental storytelling, character interactions, and a focus on plot and storytelling.
- Challenging and unique gameplay (weight 0.25): The game is known for its difficult and unique gameplay mechanics. Players face hard and punishing mechanics, with difficulty being a core feature.
- Comprehensive survival mechanics (weight 0.23): The game features extensive survival mechanics, including hunger, thirst, exhaustion, health, and immunity management. Players must also navigate death mechanics and strategic survival elements.
- Consequences for actions (weight 0.2): Actions in the game have real and permanent consequences. Players must make decisions carefully, as these can lead to unpredictable outcomes.
- Time-limited and stressful gameplay (weight 0.09): The game features time-limited tasks and a stressful atmosphere, with a time limit of 12 days adding pressure to the gameplay.
- Role-playing as a doctor (weight 0.09): Players take on the role of a doctor, diagnosing illnesses, prescribing treatments, and performing surgeries. This adds a unique role-playing element to the gameplay.
- Organ harvesting mechanics (weight 0.07): The game includes mechanics for harvesting and selling human organs, adding a dark and complex layer to the gameplay.
- Meaningful choices and moral decisions (weight 0.06): Players must make meaningful choices and moral decisions that significantly impact the game's outcome and narrative.

Performance notes:
- FPS drops and stuttering issues (weight 0.15): Players report frequent FPS drops and stuttering, particularly indoors and in certain areas of the open world. This issue is widespread and affects gameplay smoothness.
- Crashes and technical difficulties (weight 0.09): The game experiences frequent crashes, especially upon exiting, and various technical problems that hinder the gaming experience.
- Graphics and rendering problems (weight 0.09): There are various graphical issues reported, including problems with lighting, objects, and NPC animations. Some players also mention texture pop-in delays.
- Mixed performance on different hardware (weight 0.06): Performance varies significantly across different hardware setups. Some players report smooth gameplay on high-end laptops, while others experience drops to lower FPS during intense scenes.
- Specific graphical and technical fixes (weight 0.05): Certain settings like borderless window mode can improve FPS, while issues like shadow distance and fullscreen mode affect performance.
- Minor bugs and issues (weight 0.05): There are reports of minor bugs, including issues with NPC dialogues and save file problems, which, while not game-breaking, can be annoying.
- Animation and loading issues (weight 0.05): Some players have noted ungainly animations and specific loading issues when entering buildings, which can detract from the overall experience.
- Loading times and freezes (weight 0.04): Long loading times and initial freezes when opening menus are noted by players. This affects the overall smoothness of the gaming experience.
- Platform-specific performance (weight 0.02): The PC version is reported to have better optimization and fewer bugs compared to other platforms, indicating a disparity in performance across different versions of the game.

Recommendations:
- Interactive work of art (weight 0.08): The game is highly recommended as an interactive work of art. It is seen as a must-play for those who appreciate artistic and narrative depth in games.
- Story and atmosphere (weight 0.05): The game is recommended for its compelling story and unique atmosphere. It provides a deep and immersive narrative experience.
- Just get the game (weight 0.02): The game is highly recommended with a strong endorsement to just get it. This reflects a high level of enthusiasm and satisfaction among players.
- Recommended to everyone (weight 0.02): The game is recommended to everyone, highlighting its broad appeal and high quality. It is seen as a game that everyone should try.
- Worth playing despite tedium (weight 0.02): The game is considered worth playing despite some tedious aspects. This highlights that the overall experience outweighs any repetitive or boring elements.
- Start with Pathologic 3 (weight 0.02): For those new to the series, it is recommended to start with Pathologic 3. This suggestion aims to provide a better entry point for newcomers.
- Fans of Majora's Mask (weight 0.02): The game is recommended for fans of Majora's Mask and those looking for a game to play when sick. It offers a similar atmospheric and challenging experience.
- Play on easy difficulty (weight 0.02): It is suggested to play the game on easy difficulty. This recommendation aims to make the game more accessible to a wider audience.
- Play honestly on first try (weight 0.02): It is recommended to play the first playthrough honestly. This suggestion aims to enhance the initial experience and immersion.
- Use mods for difficulty (weight 0.02): It is recommended to use mods for difficulty adjustment. This suggestion aims to tailor the game's challenge to individual preferences.
- Refer to guides for survival (weight 0.02): Players are advised to refer to guides for survival strategies. This recommendation aims to help players navigate the game's challenges more effectively.
- Game is very niche (weight 0.02): The game is described as very niche, indicating that it may appeal to a specific subset of players rather than a broad audience.
- Play on highest difficulty (weight 0.02): It is recommended to play the game on the highest difficulty for better immersion. This suggestion aims to enhance the overall experience and challenge.
- For survival game fans (weight 0.02): The game is only recommended to survival game fans, indicating that it has specific mechanics and challenges that appeal to this group.
- Recommended game (weight 0.02): The game is generally recommended, highlighting its positive reception and overall quality.
- Quality narrative projects (weight 0.02): The game is recommended for those who appreciate quality narrative projects, highlighting its strong storytelling and narrative depth.
- Not for casual players (weight 0.02): The game is not recommended for casual players, indicating that it requires a significant time commitment and may not be suitable for those looking for a more relaxed experience.
- Psychological and atmospheric games (weight 0.02): The game is recommended for fans of psychological and atmospheric games, suggesting that it offers a deep and immersive psychological experience.
- For experienced players (weight 0.02): The game is recommended for experienced players, indicating that it offers challenges and mechanics that may be more suited to those with gaming experience.
- Not for short sessions (weight 0.02): The game is not ideal for short play sessions, suggesting that it requires a significant time investment to fully appreciate and enjoy.
- Avoid spoilers (weight 0.02): It is recommended not to watch or read anything before playing the game, emphasizing the importance of going into the experience blind for maximum impact.
- Manage reputation carefully (weight 0.02): Players are advised to manage their reputation carefully, indicating that reputation mechanics play a significant role in the game.
- Gather resources efficiently (weight 0.02): It is recommended to gather resources efficiently, suggesting that resource management is a key aspect of the gameplay.
- Trade effectively (weight 0.02): Players are advised to trade effectively, indicating that trading mechanics are important for progression and success in the game.
- Trust the game's design (weight 0.02): It is recommended to trust the game's design, suggesting that the game's mechanics and systems are well-crafted and should be relied upon.
- Use Thoughts tab (weight 0.02): Players are advised to use the Thoughts tab for valuable information, indicating that this feature provides important insights and guidance.
- Hope for Chinese translation (weight 0.02): There is a hope for an official Chinese translation of the game. This indicates a desire for the game to be more accessible to Chinese-speaking players.
- For true masochists (weight 0.02): The game is recommended for true masochists, suggesting that it offers a particularly challenging and potentially frustrating experience.
- Disco Elysium for failure themes (weight 0.02): The game is compared to Disco Elysium for its themes of failure, indicating that it explores similar narrative and thematic elements.
- Download Spanish version (weight 0.02): It is recommended to download the Spanish version of the game, suggesting that this version may offer a better or more accessible experience for Spanish-speaking players.

Other player notes:
- Need for game patches (weight 0.03): Players are emphasizing the importance of releasing patches to fix bugs and improve gameplay.
- Add Portuguese translation (weight 0.03): There is a demand for the installation of a Portuguese translation to make the game accessible to Portuguese-speaking players.
- Spanish translation available (weight 0.03): Players are noting that a complete Spanish translation is already available, which is beneficial for Spanish-speaking users.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.23): Players are frustrated primarily due to the game's high difficulty and punitive mechanics, including constant resource management, unexpected deaths, and technical issues. The complex combat system, convoluted writing, and lack of clear objectives further exacerbate this frustration, making the game feel more like work than an enjoyable experience.
- Excitement (weight 0.08): Players are excited by the game's unique and engaging gameplay mechanics, which include challenging survival elements and moral dilemmas. The immersive atmosphere, rich story, and high replayability also contribute to this excitement, making the game a thrilling and addicting experience.
- Admiration (weight 0.07): Players admire the game's unique story, deep narrative, and philosophical themes, which are complemented by its strong atmosphere and character development. The game's originality, artistic qualities, and the emotional impact it evokes are also highly praised.
- Stress (weight 0.06): The game's challenging mechanics, high stakes, and constant time pressure create a stressful experience for players. The survival mechanics, psychological impact, and the overwhelming number of tasks contribute to this stress, making the game feel anxiety-inducing.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.05): Players enjoy the game's unique gameplay mechanics, engaging atmosphere, and overall immersive experience. The freedom to make choices, the charming townsfolk, and the ability to learn valuable life lessons add to the enjoyment.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.05): Players feel satisfied with the game's story, characters, and the sense of achievement from overcoming its challenges. The unique atmosphere, rewarding storytelling, and the ability to make meaningful decisions contribute to this satisfaction.
- Disappointment (weight 0.04): Players are disappointed with the game's technical issues, poor design choices, and the feeling that their choices do not matter. The unsatisfying ending, numerous bugs, and the game's challenging and unpleasant experience also contribute to this disappointment.
- Love (weight 0.04): Despite its difficulties, players love the game for its unique experience, engaging story, and overall positive experience. The themes of love and death, along with the deep emotional impact, make the game a favorite for many.
- Joy (weight 0.04): Players experience joy from the game's engaging story, immersive atmosphere, and moments of success. The emotional attachment to characters, the ability to help others, and the overall positive experience contribute to this joy.
- Engagement (weight 0.03): Players are engaged by the game's challenging and immersive gameplay, unique storytelling, and complex narrative. The moral decisions, interesting plot, and characters keep players deeply involved in the game.
- Appreciation (weight 0.03): Players appreciate the game's unique and beautiful aspects, including its detailed environment, story, and voice-acting. The game's improvements over the original and its deeper lore are also highly valued.
- Fascination (weight 0.02): Players are fascinated by the game's unique and immersive atmosphere, deep narrative, and surreal experience. The folklore, mesmerizing music, and unique gameplay experience contribute to this fascination.
- Anxiety (weight 0.02): The game's psychological stress, time management, and punishing mechanics create a sense of anxiety for players. The challenging and nerve-wracking gameplay contributes to this feeling of anxiety.
- Confusion (weight 0.02): Players feel confused due to the game's complexity, lack of guidance, and confusing plot. The riddles in dialogue and unclear objectives add to this confusion, making it difficult for players to understand the game fully.
- Fear (weight 0.02): Players experience fear due to the game's intense and suspenseful moments, eerie atmosphere, and the responsibility for characters' lives. The disturbing atmosphere and consequences of death contribute to this fear.
- Awe (weight 0.01): Players are in awe of the game's deep emotional impact, visual beauty, and thought-provoking nature. The immersive world-building, unique qualities, and profound themes contribute to this sense of awe.
- Immersion (weight 0.01): Players feel immersed in the game's narrative, atmosphere, and dark, atmospheric setting. The adaptive narrative, exploration, and excellent dramatic gameplay enhance this immersion.
- Curiosity (weight 0.01): Players are curious about the game's unique and experimental gameplay, deep narrative, and unpredictable nature. The intriguing atmosphere and thought-provoking storylines piques their curiosity.
- Anticipation (weight 0.01): Players feel anticipation for the game's upcoming sequel and the excitement to try different difficulty levels. The game's challenging nature and the desire to experience more contribute to this anticipation.}