The Inquisitor
- February 8, 2024
- The Dust S.A.
- 2h median play time
The Inquisitor is a grim yet strangely gripping dark fantasy story, memorable if a little rough around the edges.
You are Mordimer Madderdin, an Inquisitor in Gods service.
Reviews
- The game features a compelling and dark storyline that draws players into an intriguing alternate history.
- The atmosphere and world-building are well-crafted, providing an immersive experience reminiscent of classic RPGs.
- The game offers a unique take on morality and choice, with engaging character interactions and a variety of dialogue options.
- The graphics and animations are outdated, often resembling games from the early 2000s, which detracts from the overall experience.
- Combat mechanics are clunky and unresponsive, leading to frustrating gameplay that lacks challenge and depth.
- The game suffers from numerous technical issues, including crashes and performance problems, which can significantly hinder enjoyment.
- story201 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story of "The Inquisitor" is widely praised for its intriguing dark fantasy setting and complex moral dilemmas, drawing comparisons to titles like "The Witcher." Players appreciate the rich narrative and character development, although some criticize the linearity and execution of gameplay elements that detract from the overall experience. Despite its shortcomings, many recommend the game primarily for its compelling storytelling and atmosphere.
“The storyline is rich with moral dilemmas, constantly forcing you to weigh justice against mercy.”
“If you enjoy games with a dark atmosphere and complex storylines, 'The Inquisitor' is definitely worth playing.”
“The story and narrative design are great and I would very much want this game to be the beginning of the next Witcher franchise because it has the potential.”
“The storytelling didn't grab me like it should have; it was all over the place, and even though there was an amazing environment, it still felt very empty with a lack of content.”
“Ultimately, I decided to give it a bad rating, and what prevailed is how, without any hints, following the story in the manner the game world constantly tells you is right, I reached the 'bad' ending of the game.”
“This is extremely poor storytelling, and up to this point, the story was the main strength of the game.”
- graphics84 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that they appear outdated and lack the polish expected in 2024. While some appreciate the detailed environments and art direction, others criticize the poor character animations and facial expressions, which detract from the overall experience. Overall, the visuals are seen as a significant shortcoming, overshadowing the game's narrative strengths and immersive world-building.
“The graphical presentation of 'The Inquisitor' is impressive, with detailed environments that beautifully capture the darkness and oppression of the medieval setting.”
“Immersive world: the detailed graphics and immersive sound effects draw you deep into the world of the Inquisition.”
“Graphically, I think it looks great; not quite as refined as Witcher 3, and the world is zone-based rather than seamlessly open, but still the art direction is pretty sweet.”
“The game is certainly rough around the edges: very bad graphics for 2024 standard, bad animation, bad sounds and average music.”
“It has a rather clunky combat system, and the graphics and animations look like something out of a 2000s game.”
“The graphics are bad, lip syncing is completely off, character animations look janky to the point where the game makes me feel sick.”
- gameplay68 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its focus on storytelling over mechanics, leading to a less engaging experience. While the combination of combat, investigation, and decision-making offers some depth, issues such as clunky combat, poor controls, and overly scripted sequences detract from overall enjoyment. Despite its intriguing narrative and atmosphere, the gameplay is often criticized for being repetitive and lacking polish, leaving players wanting more in terms of mechanics and interactivity.
“Depth in gameplay: the mix of combat, investigation, and decision-making provides a varied gaming experience that challenges both your reflexes and intellect.”
“It offers a deep narrative, challenging gameplay, and a beautifully crafted world that will stay with you long after you've finished playing.”
“Nice atmosphere, engaging story, interesting combat mechanics, and no woke nonsense.”
“Unfortunately, the flaws in the gameplay kill the inquisitor's replayability.”
“I was really looking forward to this game when it came out, and would recommend it on the basis of the story; however, the gameplay severely detracts from what could have otherwise been an interesting game.”
“One of the most fascinating and bold narrative premises ever attempted is held back by absolutely awful performance and gameplay mechanics.”
- atmosphere37 mentions
- 76 % positive mentions
- 16 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is frequently praised for its dark, immersive world and engaging sound design, reminiscent of the original Witcher game. While the moody ambiance and well-developed settings enhance the experience, some players note that dated visuals and limited interactivity detract from full immersion. Overall, the game is recommended for those who appreciate a rich atmosphere and complex storytelling, despite its technical shortcomings.
“The sound design is atmospheric, heightening the tension, with a soundtrack that perfectly complements the game's ominous and sometimes eerie ambiance.”
“If you enjoy games with a dark atmosphere and complex storylines, 'The Inquisitor' is definitely worth playing.”
“But at the same time, it has an interesting detective plot, memorable characters, a well-developed city that can delight you with atmospheric landscapes.”
“You can't talk to anyone, you can't pick up random stuff, you can't open doors you like... people are like walls, and it's just a walking simulator from point A to point B, looking at the fascinating and well-done atmosphere but where you can't interact with anything.”
“Really moody atmosphere.”
“[dated visuals, clunky animations, weightless combat, too much hand-holding, confused plot, forgettable characters, lack of challenge and atmosphere]”
- optimization35 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 34 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting severe performance issues across various platforms, including choppy gameplay even on high-end rigs. While some users noted slight improvements, the overall consensus is that the game feels unpolished, with outdated graphics, poor controls, and numerous bugs detracting from the experience. Despite its intriguing narrative, the technical shortcomings have led many to advise potential buyers to wait for substantial updates before purchasing.
“On my laptop (one-year-old), the game runs smoothly at the highest settings.”
“Performance-wise, I have no major complaints, but I'm playing on a decent machine (i9-12900f/3080ti) and I'm using a 60 fps cap.”
“The game certainly has its issues, especially in regards to performance.”
“This is one of the jankiest, most broken, most unoptimized games I've ever played.”
“One of the most fascinating and bold narrative premises ever attempted is held back by absolutely awful performance and gameplay mechanics.”
“Overpriced, bad controls, bugs, subpar performance even in decent rigs, bad gameplay design (unworld phases are totally unnecessary, repetitive and generally unfun), awful facial animations and voice acting is even worse... 15 years ago this could be an excellent niche game, but nowadays it's just a bad product.”
- music12 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising the atmospheric soundtrack that enhances the game's eerie ambiance and medieval mood, while others find it average. Overall, the soundtrack is often described as awesome and worth the investment, especially in the deluxe edition that includes a downloadable version. However, the game's overall sound design, including music, is noted to be rough around the edges.
“The sound design is atmospheric, heightening the tension, with a soundtrack that perfectly complements the game's ominous and sometimes eerie ambiance.”
“Music is extremely good.”
“But I appreciate its medieval mood and music.”
“The game is certainly rough around the edges: very bad graphics for 2024 standards, bad animation, bad sounds, and average music.”
“The music is quite forgettable and doesn't add much to the overall experience.”
“The soundtrack feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game offers high replayability due to its numerous choices and consequences, allowing players to experience different outcomes with each playthrough. However, some reviewers note that gameplay flaws can detract from this replayability, limiting the overall enjoyment of revisiting the game.
“Every choice you make has consequences, providing a high level of replayability.”
“High replayability: with numerous choices and consequences, you can play the game multiple times and have a different experience each time.”
“Unfortunately, the flaws in the gameplay kill the inquisitor's replayability.”
“Unfortunately, the flaws in the gameplay kill the inquisitor's replayability.”
- stability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game experiences stability issues, including poor optimization, occasional frame drops, and minor glitches that result in split-second freezes. While these hiccups are not frequent or game-breaking, they can disrupt the overall experience. However, the high-quality voice acting helps mitigate some of these concerns.
“The game itself is fun; however, it is poorly optimized, with sudden frame drops and a few glitches.”
“Even so, there are occasional hitches where the game has split-second freezes -- nothing game-breaking or frequent, but there will be a hiccup every few minutes.”
- humor2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mix of grimdark elements, featuring both unintentional and intentional comedic moments. The no-nonsense protagonist adds depth with a believable personality, navigating absurd situations such as visiting an "unworld" and interacting with eccentric masked characters. Overall, the humor balances dark themes with moments of levity.
“The game strikes a perfect balance between grimdark themes and humor, with moments that are unintentionally funny and others that are clearly designed to make you laugh. The no-nonsense protagonist adds depth with a personality that makes you believe in his motivations, like visiting an 'unworld' for clues and chasing down eccentric characters in masks for some bizarre interrogations.”
“The humor in this game is a delightful mix of intentional and unintentional moments, making the dark themes more palatable. The protagonist's unique personality shines through as he navigates absurd situations, like confronting masked individuals with a blend of seriousness and comedic flair.”
“With a protagonist who has a real personality, the game manages to weave humor into its grimdark narrative. The absurdity of chasing down masked characters for both torture and polite inquiries creates a uniquely funny experience that keeps players engaged.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the absence of gear grinding, highlighting the seamless progression of main quests that create a smooth and engaging gameplay experience. This focus on narrative flow over repetitive tasks is seen as a significant positive aspect of the game.
Critic Reviews
The Inquisitor Review | Xbox Series X
You can't hide the truth from the Inquisitor, but it doesn't always mean he's right, either.
50%The Inquisitor review
The Inquisitor is a grim yet strangely gripping dark fantasy story, memorable if a little rough around the edges.
79%The Inquisitor review --- Taking the Lord's name in vain
The Inquisitor fumbles what could have been the premiere mystery game of 2024. Despite the strong setting and cast, the mystery rapidly unravels into nothing but noise, and the gameplay is bereft of difficulty. The never-ending stream of bugs means that whatever joy you can find in the game will most certainly be derailed.
40%