Despite visuals that would turn many players away, a complete lack of presence on Metacritic, a Game Rankings score of only 66%, and a generally pervasive feeling of being unplayable, Pathologic by Ice-Pick Lodge has received a lot of praise in some circles. I've already discussed it on HG101's own blog, Gamasutra has championed its eccentricities alongside Deadly Premonition, and Rock Paper Shotgun ran an exhaustive three part feature on it. In fact, the RPS feature is what motivated me to buy the game in the first place, leading to the HG101 blog coverage. Not to mention all the awards and GOTY recommendations it received in its native Russia. Even so, it's still a comparatively obscure Windows based game, and one that's likely to grow increasingly so as the Windows OS makes older software obsolete. Furthermore, most places that cover Pathologic tend to give away massive spoilers, notably the RPS feature. This is why I'm not providing any links.

If you've not yet had the pleasure of experiencing Patholigic, try to avoid anything which details the surprises it holds. Also, don't be put off by exaggerated claims of it being obtusely difficult, unbearably archaic, or having a translation which makes it unintelligible. It has flaws, undeniably, but in a similar situation to Deadly Premonition, many of its bizarre quirks are what make it so wonderful. It's also not particularly difficult, if you stay calm and think. Ultimately, the game let's you correct any mistakes you've made via a rather ingenious system, so even if you fail some tasks it's still possible to see the best ending. Persevere and you will be rewarded with a genuinely unique gaming experience.

Set in a remote cattle farming town on the Russian Steppe, accessible from only one direction via train, the game takes place over 12 days at some point in the early 1900s. A precise date is never mentioned, but given the presence of an enormous Soviet railway gun at one point, it obviously occurs between the two great wars. One military character even mentions being pulled away from the front, implying perhaps one of the conflicts Russia was involved with just prior to World War II. Regardless, the entire town is gripped by the "sand plague", which threatens to become a country ravaging epidemic if not dealt with. Players take on the role of either the Bachelor, a doctor from the capitol; the Haruspicus, a returning folk healer; or the Devotress, a mysterious young woman thought to have magic powers and feared by the townsfolk. The main challenge, whoever you choose, is simply to survive for 12 days - actually stopping the plague, and dealing with various characters subplots, is secondary. It's also easier said than done.

Pathologic is a "survival game" in its purest and most intense form. You need to eat, sleep, avoid injury and, most importantly, avoid infection by the sand plague. It's actually fairly easy to avoid infection, especially if you abuse the quick save/load options, but getting infected adds an incredible new dimension to proceedings - the regular need to medicate yourself. This entire system meanwhile is facilitated by a constantly fluctuating economy, based around currency and bartering. At first medicine, food, and clothing will be plentiful, but as panic sets in prices will rise, money becomes worthless, and the authorities will start imposing draconian measures to maintain order. You may well find yourself trading in your only handgun for some bread and antibiotics, while outside the store arsonists set fire to anyone they think has the disease.

The beleaguered town is split into a number of named areas (Bridge Square, Tanners, Damp District, etc), divided into three main sections adjacent the Gorkhon River (the river doesn't actually exist, though is named similarly to the Orkhon River). In the West of the town is the Polyhedron tower, an unnatural almost Luvcraftian structure, floating above the ground and seemingly constructed from the paper upon which its plans were drawn. To the South is swampland and the closed train station. To the East is the enormous Abattoir and Apiary which houses the workers, both locked to prevent spread of the disease. Amidst this hell are 27 key characters known as Adherents, who are distinct from regular NPCs, each with their own agenda. You must deal with all of them in order to survive and bring about a conclusion - though be careful, since in an apocalyptic situation such as this, you can't really trust anyone. The town is ruled by three opposing dynasties, a triumvirate which balances itself: the Kain family, acting as spiritual leaders; the Subarov family, who deal with law and order; and the Olgimskiy family, who are the financial providers.

It's a nightmarish story about the struggle between religious beliefs and scientific advancement, between technological progress and ancient traditions. While a plague turns the blood to a consistency like cottage cheese, the devout turn to their gods while the godless turn to experimentation. As the supernatural visage of the demon Shabnak-adyr looms out of the mist, desperate men resort to the trusted technology of gunpowder and lead. The world and its characters exude an aura distinctly East European, surrounded by grim overcast skies, foreboding plains, and cold rust. The indigenous religion of bull worshipping and sacrifice, of rivers of blood kept warm beneath the earth, permeate everything.

Player Characters

Daniel Dankovskiy The Bachelor. A dandy from the capital, in a snakeskin jacket and with a bag of strange scientific contraptions. Seeking to discover immortality, the authorities condemn his experiments - he visits the town both on their order and after receiving a letter claiming his hypothesis is correct. This is a chance for redemption, but the superstitious townsfolk don't trust him. Daniel is the easiest character, but also the least interesting since, unlike Artemy, he can't harvest organs or create serums. His special ability is a looking glass which reveals the disease, but it's totally useless. Artemy Burakh The Haruspicus. A "hierophant" and heir to the legacy of his father, Isidor Burakh, the town's highly respected mystic healer, especially among believers in the steppe rituals. He's been studying in the capital, but is called back by a letter from his father, who dies shortly before his arrival. As a hierophant for the local "Bull and Earth" cult, Artemy is entitled by lineage to dissect human bodies. Local folklore believes that cutting along the "sacred lines" allows clairvoyance, while the letting of blood onto the Earth nourishes the spirit within it. Klara The Devotress. A mysterious third character who only becomes playable after finishing the game. She's also the most difficult to play as, since the townsfolk are actively frightened of her, believing her to be an evil witch. This results in a constant loss of reputation which means shopkeepers and NPCs are uncooperative. She can't use weapons, but is able to harm or heal people using just her hands; healing people increases reputation. Klara starts the game waking up in an open grave, with little memory of how she got there. Catherina Saburova believes she is a prophet.

Kain Family

George Kain Brother of the recently deceased Simon Kain, and now eldest of the Kain family, one of the three ruling families in town. Brother also to Victor; Maria is his niece. At first he believes his brother was murdered, and requests that Daniel investigate the matter. At odds with the rival Subarov family, he has a liking for Vlad the Elder, since he's easier to manipulate than the son. "A bud that is about to blossom out into a beautiful flower. A sun that has already shown the edge of its dazzling crown. We are now waiting for the sunrise." Victor Kain Brother of George and Simon, and father of Maria. He was married to the late Nina Kain, one of the town's Mistresses, alongside Catherina Saburova and Victoria Olgimskiy. He detests the Inquisitor, who was sister to Nina, believing that she bears a grudge against his dead wife and family. He also has a son, Khan, who has barricaded himself inside the Polyhedron. "It's easier to show wisdom in someone other's affairs, than in your own." Maria Kain Daughter of the late Nina Kain; heir to her mother's legacy as town Mistress. Apart from being extremely attractive, she also has mystical and spiritual powers of clairvoyance, similar to Catherina Saburova, Kapella Olgimskiy, and Mishka the orphan. She is well aware of the importance of the Adherents, and the need for their survival if the town is to be reborn. "Within each of these people dozes a certain power which, if discovered, would allow them to break the routines of human existence and become something more than human. I don't know, I'm not a Mistress yet. The future is vague." Khan Son of Victor Kain, he has locked himself and many of the healthy children of the town inside the Polyhedron. He's also in charge of the Doghead gang, whose members wear creepy stitched masks that given them a canine appearance. Khan doesn't play much of a direct role in Artemy's scenario, but Daniel will deal with him a lot, even gaining access to the Polyhedron, if he's willing to collect army rifles for his gang. "Our salvation is in calmness and in silence. To be still, as someone who has teased a nest of poisonous snakes."

Olgimskiy Family

Vladislav Olgimskiy the Elder Cattle Baron of the town, and head of one of the three ruling families. Was married to the late Victoria, one of the town Mistresses. He owns the Apiary and Abattoir in town, and is in charge of all the butchers. Is often in conflict with the local religious Order. Vlad is a tricky man to work out, since in both the Bachelor and Haruspicus scenarios he appears to be on your side, but when you play the alternative scenario it becomes clear that he's playing them against each other. His son is also called Vlad (The Younger), though they don't get along, while his daughter is Victoria Olgimskiy, also known as Kapella. "For what am I punished by such children? The girl is good, but the boy - the boy is intolerable! Swines! No, their whims should never have been indulged." Vladislav Olgimskiy the Younger The unruly and always questioning son of Vlad the Older. Despite researching the Steppe people and their strange customs, he cares little for their superstitions, instead believing in science and logic like the Bachelor. Despite local folklore forbidding the digging of wells, he digs one anyway in a secret location. This leads to no end of trouble, with strange noises, a disturbing vision of the Rat Prophet, and trouble with bandits. Not a bad guy, just not someone who willingly plays by others rules. He will happily hire the player to perform arduous tasks for extremely handsome rewards. "The Apiary is a huge doss-house, within which live... No, rather - nest the workers of the Bull Project. You could call it primordial." Kapella Olgimskiy First name Victoria, like her late mother, and future Mistress of the town. She is wise far beyond her years, and plays a key role in both the Haruspicus and Bachelor's scenarios. She is often at odds with Klara, the Devotress. Mainly Kapella acts as a surrogate mother to the many orphans in town, helping them out or, more often, arranging for the player to help them out. She has some very strange spiritual beliefs. "If not for this pestilence, I would spread a pagan cult among the children, and then, the parents would live forever!"



Subarov Family

Alexander Saburov Head of the Subarov family, one of the three ruling families in the town. At first appearing cooperative and helpful, he soon reveals himself to be power hungry and slightly insane, enacting harsh laws when the plague starts to spread. After a time characters learn that to get anything out of the Saburovs it's much wiser to go through his wife, Catherina. Curiously, she lives in her own separate annex of the family home, with the two sides having no connecting doorway at all. "I wanted to return the power and dignity to our country. If I wasn't for this pestilence, I would probably become governor." Catherina Saburova One of the town Mistresses with magical powers and a morphine addict, she's just as unhinged as her husband. She is, however, much more amicable and, if you handle the conversations delicately, open to manipulation. Her powers aren't as strong as the other Mistresses though, and she's prone to being terrified of the smallest things. She offers Artemy insight into his destiny, and is quite taken with Klara, regarding her as a saintly prophet. "I need morphine! Is it true that my eyes are like buttons? I feel gripes inside my belly, as if I am filled with straw."

Other characters