When a detective wakes up in the middle of empty bottles in a broken hotel room, detective novel has made us fill the gaps with all sorts of issues – drug abuse, egoism, heartbreak. Since Disco Elysium contains some of these common elements, it has led me astray to believe that I am in a familiar narrative environment. I was not. Over the course of hours, this investigative role-playing game surprised and inspired me almost at every turn with its complex world, fantastic dialogue, and the ability to engage in a constant struggle with the martial facets of one’s own mind.
Both as a man and as a detective, Disco Elysium’s leading man is a disaster – but it’s up to him to decide what kind of disaster is at the heart of this intriguing, story-driven crime thriller. Is he an alcoholic garbage fire? A delusional prophet of the Apocalypse? The answer comes slowly as you search for clues in the fictional city of Revachol and make decisions during the conversation and exploration that give you a clearer picture of the wretched person you’ve become. You may want to refer to yourself as a “superstar cop” with a grimace that you can not suppress. You may stop crying while telling a young woman to wear a hat. Maybe you’ll mess up a sad karaoke song despite your best efforts. Sharp writing in file sharing exchanges like this made me laugh, and the game does a great job of remembering and referring to your past deeds – even things that seem unimportant – giving you a sense of reactivity Creates consistency that only a few games can match.
Even more impressive is how much nuance is communicated internally through the thoughts of your character. This is made possible by the culmination of Disco Elysium: 24 different personality aspects that represent your mind and your body. Each of these aspects can be incorporated at any time in dialogue exchanges that encourage, guide or encourage folly. Although they are part of you, these aspects also feel like different characters fighting for control, with different goals and ways of speaking. Physical instrument is always violent, authority wants to assert dominance, and drama always calls you “father.” Depending on how you want to play, you can trust the interjections of certain aspects over others, and their frequent interventions create the compelling feeling that your character is always on the verge of reason.
Since Disco Elysium does not have combat mechanics, the successes and failures of your investigation are determined by die-casting checks associated with each personality aspect, which are more likely to fit if you have invested skill points in that area. The concept is neat, but it feels a bit too arbitrary in practice. With 24 different aspects available and no way of knowing which ones might be of use to you in the future, the process of redeeming your skill points is blurred at best. For example, neglecting the serenity of the early hours of the morning will likely result in your first approach to the body of the victim and the inability to continue. You can try the exam again after entering some points in Composure. However, collecting these points takes time, and you still can not guarantee success. While the game may seem to involve the “play as you like” philosophy, important and outstanding moments are not taken into account if you do not invest points in a specific way – or repeatedly save and reload to force certain exams – which is disappointing ,
Even with some backstage issues, the unique world in front of you in Magic Disco Elysium feels magical. Although the Revachol Sliver you research is small, its history feels as big as an extended epic fantasy. People tell you about wars, paranormal phenomena and fraudulent numbers. The attention to detail creates a fantastic backdrop that still feels grounded. A melancholy thread runs through everything, but the city is cold and bleak, and the people in it reflect this beautifully. I have to especially Lt. Praise Kim Kitsuragi, who is a great companion and the perfect foil for the spiraling jumble of protagonist impulses.
A few moments of frustration are not enough to dampen the surreal glow of Disco Elysium. Trying to stem the glorious catastrophe of a “hero” can be both amusing and terrifying, even before you even consider the events of the surrounding case. I’m not going to ruin any of the big story beats, but the central puzzle has a flawless pace, with new levels and complications coming in just the right moment. In addition, the payout is satisfactory and surprising. The team of the developer ZA / UM only lets you spend a handful of in-game days as part of the Disco Elysium world, but now that the case is over, I hope to get back to the service in the future.
