The Inquisitor is a dark and grim title that twists modern religious beliefs. On top of this, it has similarities to The Witcher. However, fans of that franchise shouldn’t get too excited as many of those similarities are only skin deep. This almost linear title does a lot of great things as you progress across two realms. Additionally, there is a blend of genres that steal key elements to keep you entertained and focused throughout.
This investigative religious game was developed by The Dust SA and published by Kalypso Media. Moreover, there is a smattering of combat, some QTEs, and a fair bit of puzzling to contend with. However, it is the detective elements that sit at the fore. This fine decision will capture your attention and test your logical mindset. Yet, though it combines some fun mechanics, the core gameplay is pretty slow-paced and this takes some getting used to.
The Inquisitor tells a fantastic story.
You know Jesus Christ, the son of God who died for our sins on the cross? Well, forget everything you know as The Inquisitor tells a gory and grim alternative version of events. Instead of dying on the cross, Jesus breaks free and goes on a bloody rampage across the globe. In his wake, a new religion is formed. You are part of this sect as you play the role of Mordimer Madderdin. This gruff gentleman has been sent to Koeningstein to investigate reports of a Vampire. During his search, he must deal with an array of issues whilst flitting between the realm of man and the Unworld!
It was this seamless transition between “reality” and the ungodly realm that was utterly fascinating. Additionally, the blend of stealth and combat was a great decision. When in the realm of man, Mordimer must use his special skills to find clues and uncover the truth. Whether he is eavesdropping a conversation or questioning an individual outright, he gets the job done. On top of this, he can use a special power to track the scent of any interesting item. This weird ability changes the perspective of the action as you follow a red trail. However, this power runs out and the only way to renew it is to pray.
Build up the clues.
In typical investigatory fashion, the action comes to a head when the hero has collected enough clues. Yet, it wouldn’t be a bizarre and twisted title if The Inquisitor didn’t test your resolve. Instead of accusing an individual, the protagonist enters the Unworld. This dangerous and dark plain can kill you. What’s more, a shadowy being known as The Murk wishes to banish you from its realm. As such, you must use stealth, prayer, and light to overcome every obstacle and evade its stare.
If this wasn’t enough, dark wraiths test your patience and your ability with a sword. Yet, these basic combat encounters aren’t as enthralling as I’d have liked. Instead, they act as an exciting filler between the investigatory moments. This was probably The Inquisitor’s Achilles Heel. Had the developers put more effort into this side of the game, I believe it would have appealed to a larger audience.
QTEs and boss battles.
I use the phrase boss battle in the loosest of contexts. As your investigation comes to a head, you will have to encounter a boss of sorts. Each of these moments is broken down into stages of ever-increasing difficulty. Furthermore, you may be expected to fight the pissed-off overlord or complete an array of tasks. Either way, each layer becomes tougher, and your resolve is tested along the way.
Alongside this, there is a smattering of QTEs to deal with. These basic moments will not push you too hard as they are well-considered and work with each scenario. As such, the developer has done a great job of incorporating them into the gameplay.
The Inquisitor has some odd visual moments.
Though the dark and seedy world is fantastic, the visuals look a little dated. Alongside this, there are some glitches and the lip-syncing isn’t that impressive. Yet, these issues aren’t a problem and I laughed more than I was annoyed. What I loved was the grim aesthetic and the varied character models. Furthermore, the juxtaposed nature of reality and the Unworld was fantastic.
The Inquisitor could have done better with its acting. The gruff and monotonous nature of the protagonist made me smile. Yet, I’m not sure if this was intended. Additionally, the accents are occasionally tough to understand and this was problematic. However, the soundtrack was great and the blend of dramatic songs and mournful music was great. The sound effects added to the sense of despair and I loved the OTT nature of each fight and the light atmospheric sounds.
Keep on running!
Mordimer is a busy man. However, his need to jog from point A to B was a little unnerving and unnecessary. This constant fast pace made navigating some of the tight spaces hard, and it was silly to look at. Yet, once you get used to his rushed demeanour, you adjust your movements accordingly. Other than this issue, I was impressed with the excellent UI, the responsive inputs, and the easy-to-learn controls.
The Inquisitor focuses on a semi-linear story. Consequently, there are few plot twists and this impacts replay value and longevity. However, there are collectables to find and plenty of characters to interact with. Therefore, if you love to find every item and deep-dive into every piece of lore, this title will keep you coming back for more.
The Inquisitor was fun to play.
Unlike its peers, The Inquisitor isn’t an instant classic. Instead, this game does enough to make you smile. The blend of mechanics is enjoyable, and the setting is uncomfortable and interesting to explore. Moreover, I liked the seamless transition between realms and the challenging boss encounters. If you then consider the pleasant cinematic and interesting characters, this was a fun game to play. Accordingly, I enjoyed it and I recommend buying it here! Can you solve the Vampire problem? Question the locals, take down the bosses, and survive The Murk.
