Reviews

This game received a lot of backlash for multiple reasons, none of which I think are truly justified. I think most people disliked this game for it not being a 'true Dragon Age game'. Well I have news for you, there has only been one true Dragon Age and that was Origins. All three previous games were different. DAO was very old school CRPG but with KOTOR type gameplay. DA2 was more action heavy and DAI was a mix but added in Ubisoft open world design. There is definitely something to be said about how the lore was handled in this entry but I'm not sure how the fanbase expects much else when almost all those team members have moved on from Bioware. That is just the reality we live in now. What we got was a game set in that world, after the events of DAI, that takes a more action RPG gameplay approach while trying to tie up loss ends. It's a mixed bag story-wise but I think it's mostly positive. Early on I wasn't impressed by the story or the characters but as you get deeper it gets a lot better and some of the characters end up having some pretty good personal stories. The gameplay also starts out rough. You are very squishy and the enemies are spongy but once you get better gear and abilities it feels a lot smoother. I think the game runs a little long but I honestly expect that from RPGs anymore. There are things about the story I didn't like, the Elven gods stuff and how they handled the blight was kind of lame and wasn't a fan of how they redesigned enemies and everything they changed with the demons. There are parts of the game that just feel like others were writing it and not everyone was on the same pages, at other times it's very good. The entire ending segment, the point of no return to the credits, was very well done. It was well executed and paced out to make if feel climactic like it should be. Overly this was an enjoyable game but it just sucks that you might have to stick with it dragging for a few hours to see it get better.

Pathologic 3 left me with mixed feelings. On one hand, it fully captures the series’ signature psychological survival horror. The plague-ridden town, constant moral dilemmas, and the relentless pressure of the 12-day structure create a uniquely oppressive atmosphere. Ice-Pick Lodge still excels at building discomfort, and the Pathologic universe remains deeply fascinating. On the other hand, technical shortcomings significantly undermine the experience. Dialogue often feels stiff, facial animations are lifeless, and the complete absence of French localization (even subtitles) is a major barrier for many players. The game’s ambition clearly exceeds its means — the 3D visuals aim high but fall short, lacking polish and consistency. At times, it feels like the project would have benefited from a different artistic direction. A stylized pixel-art approach could have reduced costs, allowed for tighter writing and mechanics, and given the game a stronger visual identity. Instead, Pathologic 3 tries to stand alongside much larger productions without the budget to fully support that vision. The slow, repetitive gameplay loop doesn’t help either, often replacing urgency with frustration. At 27.99 € on sale (34.99 € full price), Pathologic 3 is hard to recommend without caveats. Fans of experimental, atmospheric, and deeply unconventional games — especially those comfortable with English — may still find value here. For everyone else, the flaws are hard to ignore. A game full of potential, but one that needed either more time or a more restrained scope to truly shine. Full French review: https://rogueh24.fr/test-du-jeu-pathologic-3/