Will Ice Pick Lodge Ever Complete Pathologic 2?
In 2005, Buka Entertainment published Ice Pick Lodge’s Pathologic, a game that was strongly praised in its native Russia. The success and critical acclaim of the title led to Pathologic receiving a localized English release in 2006, although the quality of the translation was heavily criticized. This was finally rectified with the release of Pathologic Classic HD in 2015.
However, Ice Pick Lodge had bigger plans for its magnum opus, which by now had garnered a cult following across the world and a reputation as an incredibly challenging but unique gaming experience. In 2019, fans were finally able to play the game as it was originally envisaged in the form of Pathologic 2, a complete remake built using the Unity engine. However, Pathologic 2 remains unfinished, and fans are unsure whether Ice Pick Lodge will ever complete its bizarre and unsettling title.
Why Pathologic and Pathologic 2 are Undiscovered Masterpieces
Pathologic 2 and its predecessor are, at their dark and twisted hearts, psychological horror survival games. Set entirely in a single location, specifically an unnamed town on the river Gorkhon, the game tells the story of a trio of characters all brought there by different events, days before the town is overwhelmed by a deadly plague. The game charts their experiences over a 12-day period as they struggle to survive. The three characters try to treat the townsfolk as the body count rises and famine takes hold, while also trying to unravel the mystery of the plague and its connections with the otherworldly town and its enigmatic inhabitants.
Described by one of its creators as a “pain simulator”, Pathologic 2 is both brutally difficult and relentlessly bleak. Early in the game, via careful play, it is possible to amass enough money to purchase a revolver from a dockside weapons dealer. Players might think that acquiring such a powerful weapon will enhance their chances of success, but instead find that the gun is unreliable and ammunition is so scarce it is almost impossible to use. By the time panic engulfs the town and hyperinflation sets in, they will be forced to trade the firearm for a crust of bread just to stay alive.
This is the sort of intense experience that only Pathologic 2 can offer, as players juggle the management of thirst, hunger, infection and exhaustion meters while attempting to make inroads into the inscrutable and complex storyline. This punishing gameplay is contrasted with dream-like dialogue and surrealist developments that give the game an almost Lynchian feel.
Why Pathologic 2 Might Never be Completed
The original game grants the player a choice between three playable characters: the Haruspex (which literally means an ancient Roman official who interpreted omens by inspecting the entrails of animals, but in this case means a sort of local surgeon whose practices involve elements of the arcane), the Bachelor (a scientist, outsider and sceptic) and the Changeling (a mysterious young girl who may not be entirely of this world).
However, Pathologic 2 only allows the player to follow the Haruspex’s adventure, although a small prequel DLC adventure does enable them to briefly control the Bachelor. Ice Pick Lodge always intended to develop and release the other two intersecting stories later, but the poor commercial performance of Pathologic 2 means it is now uncertain whether the creators will ever return to the game.
Furthermore, Ice Pick Lodge is now developing other titles such as Know By Heart, an upcoming game about childhood friends reuniting in an old Russian town. This change of focus makes it even less likely that Pathologic 2 will receive a significant investment of time in the coming months.
Despite its status as an unfinished masterpiece, Pathologic 2 is an enormous game even with only one third of its content present, taking around 25 hours to complete and making it one of the longest horror games of its generation. The title received plaudits for its disconcerting, melancholy atmosphere, its originality, and for the quality of its script. Although its grim tone and pitiless difficulty isn’t for everyone, Pathologic 2 continues to appeal to fans of both challenging gameplay and psychological horror.
Pathologic 2 is available now for the PC, PS4 and Xbox One.
Will Ice Pick Lodge Ever Complete Pathologic 2?
Source: Pinay Diaries PH
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