Pentiment, a new RPG from Obsidian, surprised many viewers at the 2022 Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase as a smaller-scale title set to release in November 2022. Departing from the typical graphical style that Obsidian Entertainment is known for, Pentiment's art presents unique visuals based on medieval texts. This fits the story's setting, sixteenth-century Bavaria, and narrative following an artist named Andreas Maler. When a close friend of Andreas is blamed for a murder, the university-educated artist sets out to absolve them.
Pentiment's creator, Josh Sawyer, brought his love of history and art to the forefront, blending it with the narrative and dialogue options that Obsidian Entertainment is popularly known for. While the protagonist finds themselves trying to solve a murder, Sawyer has stressed that the game is not purely a detective title. Instead, it's a narrative adventure focusing on the world, the characters, and their motives.
Narrative Choice in Pentiment
One of the critical elements that Sawyer revealed about Pentiment is how its story spans 25 years. How this will play out is still a mystery, though games with this type of mechanic usually involve a time jump. Since the setting is focused on a small community caught between the secular and ecclesiastical, Andreas' education allows him to operate within both realms to progress his investigation. However, Sawyer has indicated that despite Andreas' university education, players can choose which subjects he studied, which dictates who he can or cannot talk to.
Another feature Sawyer has focused on is how the game's narrative will never tell players who the murderer canonically is. As a narrative-driven RPG, Sawyer feels that players' choices as Andreas should lead them to discover who they believe the culprit is. He notes that players can find ways to accuse those they may simply dislike or have opposing world views. Through character interactions, motives, and beliefs, Sawyer hopes players will feel convicted in their choices, regarding of who they accuse.
Consequences in Pentiment
As stated, the game's narrative spans 25 years, during which Andreas will investigate additional crimes and actions. At first glance, this may seem to enhance the detective elements, yet Sawyer assures fans this is not the case. Pivotal to many Obsidian games, the power of choice is prevalent, but the consequences of those choices drive the narrative further. Rather than finding ways to shoehorn Andreas into an investigative role, the players' decisions pull Andreas in deeper.
Sawyer said when players pin the murder, there are consequences for selecting whichever individual as a culprit. As modern-day police procedures have no relevance in sixteenth-century Bavaria, the burden of proof is not high, and characters will remember who Andreas blamed. The fallout from these actions will evolve future crimes that occur over the years. Characters will support or criticize the decision, and their motives and relationships with the accused lead to generationally charged outcomes.
Obsidian's new adventure RPG is sure to be an exciting entry in the studio's list of unique, narrative-driven, and choice-heavy games. Sporting a different art style reminiscent of medieval art and texts, Pentiment will double down on the power of player choices and consequences. Players will weave through a rich web of mysteries and outcomes that span a generation, and with the "correct" answers never given, fans will have to trust their instincts through letters, art, character motives, and more to pin a culprit for murder.
Pentiment launches November 2022 on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.