Review for Pathway. Game for Linux, PC and Mac, the video game was released on 31/12/2018
The world of independent development is a continuous ferment of novelties, bizarre ideas and re-enactments of the glories of antiquity. Among the many genres that overcrowd our virtual shelves, that of roguelikes is one of the most stocked and valid in the entire industry. Pathway is fully part of this sector, although limiting it to the aforementioned genre only means being blind to the specific characteristics of the game.
But let's go in order!
Pathway is a strategic Roguelike set in a historical context that is that of the Second World War, which, in addition to the classic characteristics of the sector, will also offer a decent role-playing sector. In the game, which from the very beginning will appear as a sort of homage to the Indiana Jones universe, we will be called to face a series of different campaigns, each of which will have a different narrative premise, a different setting and a specific difficulty level. .
It should be noted that the locations / campaigns available on day one will be only five, consistent with the five levels of difficulty. At the beginning of each adventure, we will be asked to choose two characters from a rather colorful and vast roster of hypothetical protagonists. Each character will have strengths and weaknesses, preferring a different set of skills, statistics and usable tools.
Once we have chosen our adventurers we will enter the game map, which will be procedurally generated at each attempt. As is now "dogma" in the sector, the entire game stage will be sprinkled with points of interest connected to each other, which we will be able to explore freely and in which we will face mini-events that will force us to make "definitive" decisions, in a roguelike style. We will stumble upon ruins to explore, fields full of Nazis but also zombies and other supernatural amenities.
Among the various points of interest, we will also come across a sort of oasis where we can trade, rest and recharge the life points and armor of our alter egos. In the game, we will obviously also be called to wisely manage the resources in our possession: for example, moving around the game map, we will have to look after the fuel of our jeep, as well as the life and maintenance of objects. The only drawback of the structure, a procedure that is not particularly calibrated especially at the higher difficulty levels, where it will not be difficult to run into very distant oases and / or cities or in excessively difficult and complicated random encounters.
Procedurality that, at the same time, also lacks a certain repetition of the more strictly narrative events, making the Pathway story a substantial déjà vu after a handful of hours of play. Like any self-respecting roguelike, defeat will be our constant travel companion. In the event that we fail, we will be asked to choose another duo to send into battle: the feature will force us to evaluate the most rational way to use the loot obtained. In fact, all the objects that we will get during an adventure, including weapons, relics and other resalable items, can be used directly or stored in a stash that will inflate our initial funds in a subsequent adventure.
The basic idea, in addition to the classic replayability that is a bit distinctive feature of the sector, is to force a planning “outside” the game itself: better to spend everything now or to keep for a more difficult future adventure? Obviously, during the adventures, we will be called to face the enemies with weapons and tools: in the combat phases, Pathway it turns into a turn-based strategy with a classic grid that limits movement and action area, in full X-Com style.
At the beginning of the fight, we will place our characters in a green area that will usually be distant from the enemies, who often will not be immediately visible. The best strategy is obviously inextricably linked to the choice of initial characters: for example, a balanced party consisting of a doctor and a soldier with a good balance between attack and defense, will often prove to be a wise and versatile choice. Each of them, as we continue with the game, will accumulate experience and level up, allowing us to customize and evolve their style of play as we like. Although the addition is obviously significant, it should be noted that the RPG sector will be substantially basic and will not allow us to maneuver who knows how free and extended.
Technically speaking, Pathway is a little retro gem. The old school art style is a joy to behold and will be well detailed and crafted. The environments will be dark and atmospheric at the right point, thanks also to a wise use of lights and related effects. Another sure plus will be the abundance of details with which the stages will be decorated, rich in details with which an indirect interaction will also be possible. The game will then be filled with small touches of class, such as the jeep that moves from one node to another, or the passage of time that in the oasis coherently modifies shadows and lights. Technically speaking, the game showed a valuable sector, without major bugs and with an excellent general fluidity. A praise also to the music, rather original and apt with the themes covered by the game.
Pathway is a good representative of the roguelike strategic sector that combines in a wise and homogeneous blend characteristics taken both from the Faster Than Light sector, and from the realm closer to X-Com. In addition, the game will also offer a not particularly thick but acceptable role-playing component and a rather varied cast of characters, always making each adventure different. Some small flaws, including a procedural system to be fixed, do not allow him to reach Olympus on day one.
► Pathway is an Adventure-Turn Based-Indie-RPG-Strategy game developed and published by Chucklefish for Linux, PC and Mac, the game was released on 31/12/2018
