Essentially, it’s a fully realised and more cohesive vision of what was originally conceived. Now, in 2021, the now hugely popular development studio headed by Robert Kurwitz has released Disco Elysium: The Final Cut. It was universally acclaimed as a ground-breaking addition to the genre with its truly literary scope, intuitive mechanics and enchanting presentation. Safe to say, it isn't for everyone's tastes – but for anyone who's open to a heady mix of psychology, philosophy, and political theory, with a dash of alternate world history and even the actual elements of pulp noir thrown in on the side, will have a blast with this most unusual of RPGs.Back in 2019, Estonian debut developers ZA/UM rocked the world and defied all expectations with its smash hit – Disco Elysium. Even if you're playing the detective as a dumb slab of drug-addled meat for maximum comedic effect, you yourself need to pay close attention to the details of the world and dialogue in order to best progress. It's still a text-heavy, combat-free game that demands attention and focus from the player. What The Final Cut doesn't do though is change the core Disco Elysium experience. Given the world of Disco Elysium is, in essence, the greatest character, these quests make for a great addition to anyone who gets drawn into it. Thankfully, they're not essential to the already-twisted main story, but they do add even more detail to the world, explaining more of its history or exploring the quirky inhabitants in greater depth. As these are ideologically locked, you'll only be able to encounter one per playthough. The other is the introduction of Political Vision quests, four optional digressions that open up depending on the political leanings you exhibit during your investigations. Also serving as narrator, Brown's dulcet tones make even the most mundane observations or interactions worth listening to, enriching the world around you. One of the game's quirks is that a significant amount of time is spent with the detective examining, debating, and arguing with his own subconscious, sections that are now far more immersive thanks to the voice work of actor Lenval Brown. ![]() ![]() Developer ZA/UM says that's around one million words that are fully acted now, and the difference it makes is substantial. One is performance – every line and character is now fully voice-acted, with some characters that were voiced originally now re-recorded with new actors to better fit the overall tone of the game. The Final Cut expands on the original in two major ways though. Even seasoned players of more "hardcore" RPGs will find themselves weighing the tradeoffs on which stats to upgrade as they progress. Each contains five distinct talents, such as 'Inland Empire', which governs your sense of self, or 'Esprit de Corps', which gives you a deeper connection to your fellow cops. ![]() Similarly, Physique is how tough your body is, while Motorics is how well your body moves – hand-eye coordination, for instance. Psyche is more related to emotional intelligence, personal insight, and how others respond to you. Intellect, for instance, is centred on skills and observations related to the physical world – spotting clues, or having knowledge. There's a bit of overlap in what each pillar affects here, but the subtle differences prove to be important. These may seem familiar, but they're a far cry from the stat categories Dungeons & Dragons players may be used to. A sharply-written, insightful, and often bitingly funny experience with innovative twists on the traditional RPG experience.
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