As is often the case with Eastern studios, The Thaumaturge features a bit of a local history bent, with the entire game taking place in Poland. This offers the opportunity to paint a portrait of a country from which we haveAs is often the case with Eastern studios, The Thaumaturge presents a certain penchant for local history, here Poland.
This offers the opportunity to paint a portrait of a country about which we ultimately learn little in Western Europe, except to evoke its sad fate during the Second World War. However, here, there is no question of Nazis or total war, since the RPG is set in 1905. At that time, the country was divided between three neighboring powers: the Russian Empire, the German Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which had annexed parts of Poland during the 18th century and exercised political and administrative control over its territories.
Writing that works like thunder and a fascinating setting
But, as we will quickly understand while playing, despite this division, a strong nationalist feeling animates the Polish population and numerous movements for independence and autonomy are active. Additionally, uprisings and revolts, such as the 1905 Revolution in Russia (the time period of the game, as a reminder), also impact Poles living in territories controlled by the Russian Empire. The studio therefore takes the opportunity to offer us beautiful patriotic tirades through several dialogues, without sinking into excess.
Indeed, it is important to emphasize that The Thaumaturge is deeply political. Although the game does not claim to give a complete history lesson, on several occasions it does not hesitate to express certain criticisms on the management of Polish territory and the ferocity of the Russian yoke. A good point if you like history. It all begins in 1905 in the shoes of Wiktor Szulski. Very quickly, we discover that our Polish dandy has other talents than simply dressing with taste. Indeed, Szulski is a thaumaturge, a sort of extra-lucid medium haunted by one or more demonic beings who bear the name of salutors. These creatures draw on the life energy of their wielders while granting them numerous powers. Thus, Wiktor’s talent is both a curse and a gift, which contributes to the charm of the storyline as it evolves.
Dracula tunes
From the first minutes of The Thaumaturge, we have the impression of playing Count Dracula by Francis Ford Coppola, and this is felt both in the general artistic direction, inspired by Gothic tales, and in the design of the characters. Starting with our bearded protagonist and his pale complexion. Like the most famous vampire, his unique gift is also a burden. Which sets the tone for what follows.
In fact, the whole is rather dark, whether through the sometimes dimly lit interiors or the grayish and sometimes rainy exteriors. Of course, from time to time, we can enjoy some shimmering environments, in the city of Warsaw in particular, but most of the time, we are closer to fantastic horror, very close to what is described in Bram’s novel Stoker (Dracula).
Dark to the fingertips
To accentuate all this, the themes are also particularly dark: spiritualism, misery, madness, death… We can’t really say that the RPG is the type to make you smile. But that’s not the intended goal anyway, and that’s fine. The work done to transcribe this almost oppressive impression of despair is quite admirable. This is felt both in the dialogues and in the environments. The icing on the cake is that the music itself brings a touch of the macabre so that the final picture is quite perfect. Hats off, because it’s artistically flawless. Whether it’s the little scary music when exploring an old mansion or the little stressful melody during a fight. Everything is there to immerse you in this phantasmagorical universe.
To represent this on screen, The Thaumaturge can count on all the power of Unreal Engine 5. Without being a slap in the face, with the graphics at full blast (on PC), it is still very beautiful and very fine. The game also offers beautiful work on the lighting effects to reinforce the gothic aspect.
Special mention to the faces, most of them very expressive. It’s a shame that the whole thing is sometimes a little rigid, especially during the combat phases which constitute a weak point of the adventure. We will come back to this later. What is certain is that the animations are sometimes a little outdated. This is very noticeable in the dialogues, and as they represent a very large part of the gaming experience… We often see movements that are a bit robotic, which is a shame.
Simple and efficient
The Thaumaturge is based on a real-time isometric view with turn-based combat. Most of the time, it involves exploring semi-open environments where you can meet many characters and complete quests. In fact, the map is divided into several small areas which are accessed by various means of transport and which generally require loading. This is definitely one of the reasons why the game isn’t too demanding, as the RPG never really needs to load a very large area at once. With a good processor and SSD, everything goes pretty unnoticed and it only takes a few seconds to go from one area to another.
Without going into too many details that could spoil the adventure for you, know that our friend Wiktor is looking for a remedy to cure his condition. To do this, he does not hesitate to go to the confines of the Polish countryside to meet a well-known Russian mystic and healer: Grigori Efimovitch Rasputin. The strange monk agrees to help us, but before that, we must prove to him that we are indeed a miracle worker. After a few adventures, we quickly found ourselves in Warsaw. This is in particular the opportunity to meet a whole gallery of characters who are jealous of or use your gifts.
The salutors, at the heart of the fight
This kind of ancient magic is notably due to salutors, demonic beings who haunt the souls of certain chosen ones, the thaumaturges. Our adventure in the Polish capital will be the opportunity to link our soul to several of these creatures, either by killing their previous owners, or by capturing them (yes, like Pokémon) by carrying out certain tasks. In total, you will be able to enjoy 8 different salutors that you can “tame”. Everyone has their own look and combat skills…
While Upyr, the first saluter, inflicts long-term damage penalties (bleeding), another demon like Morana (simply scary) will be able to reduce the concentration of opponents by intruding into their minds. Note that these monsters are not creatures of flesh and blood; only your mind can see them. Although they appear during combat phases, enemies cannot deal damage to them. They therefore act a bit like possessions, with the difference that they can also inflict physical damage on your enemies.
A game that is too static?
The combat system works on a turn-based basis and is quite simple, although a little messy. Basically, you can inflict two types of damage: either directly with your character, or via your salutor. In the majority of cases against simple humans, you will have the advantage of numbers, since in 1 against 1 you will always have the possibility of carrying out two attacks before the opponent. However, where it gets complicated and becomes interminable is during fights against 3 or 4 opponents at the same time. Especially at the beginning, it takes quite a long time to defeat an enemy and it is sometimes redundant to perform the same actions over and over again.
In The Thaumaturge, your character remains stationary during combat, and you must select skills or attacks in a predetermined order to defeat your opponents. This makes encounters somewhat static and less intense than some players might hope. Indeed, the game favors a strategic approach where the selection and order of skills are more determining than physical skill in combat, being more akin to a game of card games where the luck factor is important.
The combat system does not radically renew itself by unlocking new skills, although it remains rewarding. However, salutors add an interesting dimension to the strategy. You have the option to choose from eight demons (less at first) to help you in difficult situations, each requiring development and tactical use.
Your thaumaturge perception plays a crucial role during combat, allowing you to anticipate and counter the enemy’s plans. Skills are displayed with their speed and, once selected, are added to the action queue. Slower attacks, while powerful, leave you more vulnerable while preparing them. Combat also involves using focus to weaken the enemy and applying effects such as damage over time or influence on opponents. Despite the lack of dynamism, the game still offers an interesting strategic experience.
A really clever game
The main appeal of The Thaumaturge lies in its exceptional storytelling, gripping plot, and deep dialogues. The game stands out for the way in which each player’s choice can influence the story, changing the course of events, the fate of the characters or even the outcome of the game, with four different endings and variations, totaling eight possible conclusions. This rich narrative encourages players to think carefully about each answer, giving significant weight to each decision.
In the world of The Thaumaturge, players often find themselves leading investigations, immersing themselves in the role of a quasi-mystical detective, capable of influencing the feelings of others. This positioning allows for a deep exploration of human emotions, using fear, stress and despair to progress the story. A striking example is the revelation of the hidden vulnerability of this unsympathetic character that we love to hate, ultimately revealing an inferiority complex and jealousy towards our character. A delight.
The game also shines for its ability to present realistic and human characters, enriching the narrative experience. The Thaumaturge can be praised for its in-depth study of psychology and human behavior, providing players with an immersive experience that intensifies until the conclusion.
