Ment
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Disco Elysium
Indeed, a rather interesting and fun RPG, plus I realized that I generally like these text-based "choose from several answer options", as they aren't too taxing and run perfectly on my laptop without needing to turn on my desktop.
What follows is more a description of my playthrough than a review (I'm not sure what there is to review here). So it's basically full of spoilers.
When starting a new game, I already knew what I wanted from it, so with a swift motion I discarded the suggested builds and created a MADAO.
MADAO is an acronym of many meanings, describing a tragic character who is hopeless at life. Here are some phrases that the acronym stands for:
- Middle Aged Dumb Ass Oldies
- MAtomo ni DAkaretakunai Otoko (men no one wants to date)
- MAjide DAssai Oyaji: (the really uncool old man)
- MAssugu ikite no DAinashi na jinsei na Ojisan
(old man who lives as he wants, but accomplishes nothing)
Well, that's about it. I deliberately didn't level any Rhetoric-Suggestion and other stuff that is supposed to help manage people... I got a true MADAO, who walks around, feels sorry for everyone (himself first and foremost), but can't really do much.
Day 1: Who am I? Where am I? However, I'm not really worried about the memory loss, but about the fact that I can't fix that terrifying face in the mirror with my single point in Intellect; now I'll apparently have to look at it until the end of the game.
I wander around. First, the kids in the yard laughed at me, then my cop buddies (I called the station and tried to ask them who I was), then the fat racist at the newspaper kiosk (?). A typical MADAO day. Oh, and we also failed to get the corpse down from the tree, but at least it has one more hole in it now.
Of everyone in the city, apparently only the little girl at the bookstore thinks I'm a good cop. Not as good as Dick Mullen, but I'm real and he's not — she said so herself... Though I don't really deserve that treatment, I just told her she bites her fingers...
I passed a 3% Conceptualization check and got excited about the idea of painting something on the wall.
Towards the end of the day, I suddenly realized that those circles around my head, of which I had three or maybe even more at certain moments, were not quest markers.
Kim pawned his cool disc covers (not sure what to call them) so I wouldn't have to sleep on the street... Yeah, well.
Day 2: On the second day, I first humiliated myself by answering the racist test of the guy at the gate, and then I was humiliated by the Union boss. I just mumbled something incoherent, took damage from the chair and the humiliation, took his checks, and agreed that yes, the door needs to be opened. But the Union workers helped us get the corpse down from the tree, which delighted the yard kids...
I'm maybe not the most hardcore player, because I allow myself to change clothes before an important check. That's what happened this time too — after putting on some drama clothes, my detective managed to convince the bookstore clerk that Kim and I were paranormal experts. Honestly, I have to say that my game was surprisingly built around these "took a check and pulled it off", which maybe lowered the MADAO factor a bit. Surprisingly, at certain important moments (though not all), MADAO is quite lucky. Earlier, he somehow pulled off a "Visual Calculus" check analyzing sole prints, later he'd pull off the same check on car tire tracks and bullet trajectories...
So, we managed to get a fridge for the corpse this way.
But still, the biggest achievement was that MADAO managed to convince the bookstore clerk (who had softened up after the examination) that her daughter needs a school education. For that, Annette gave me a cool hat.
Finally, I figured out how to use the bag for bottles, and spent the rest of the day collecting them. I also opened the door for the Union boss, snooped around there, but haven't told the boss yet.
It's getting late, time for bed... Except the hotel clerk won't accept checks. And "Fritte" had been closed for a long time. Such authentic slacker behavior could only happen on a first playthrough; I was almost sure I'd be sleeping on the street. But then I remembered I had earlier begged a hair clip from old lady Lena: I pawned it at the (fortunately) 24-hour pawn shop, and now I had enough money.
Day 3: Closed the bridge and went to explore the fishing village. Generally, from this point on, two things happen: first, more and more checks are passed using the "put on some ridiculous clothes, passed" method, which arguably dilutes the playstyle... Sure, there's still inaccessible content, but somehow... And second, I suddenly realize I'm becoming rich. Annette's hat, which boosts Encyclopedia, combined with the thought that gives money for passing Encyclopedia checks, quickly netted me dozens of reál, essentially unlocking all shop content. Another thought — the one about being a "Sorry Cop" — allowed me to not spend much on healing items, because failing red checks (and there are still plenty of those) now gives you health, either physical or morale. No, don't get me wrong, I found all this really interesting... The nuance is that yes, a somewhat less beaten-down-by-life MADAO was emerging.
My MADAO became so brazen that, having resolved the door issue with the Union boss, he declared he wouldn't sign any papers regarding the amusement park. I don't care about your gun, I'm sick of your corrupt schemes, Prince of Baka, I no longer work for you, and I won't take your money anymore, goodbye forever, you scoundrel.
Bought back the hair clip from the pawnbroker and returned it to old lady Lena 😎
Day 4: Still running around checking the cryptid traps set up by Lena's husband. No results.
Living with the old woman in the fishing village, of course, since it's free.
Somehow resolved the quest chain regarding the church; I had to invest in Physical Instrument to find common ground with the programmer. Our company (the programmer, two cops, and four junkie partygoers) found a 2mm crack in the universe, but I'm too dumb to formulate any conclusions from it. Still, common ground was found with everyone. That's good.
Called a random number from a payphone and got through to (apparently) my ex-wife, taking some morale damage. That's sad.
For the second time in the game, I showed principle by stealing speed from Cuno's dad but not giving it to Cuno. You won't wrap me around your finger, kid, yee-haw!
Day 5: Since I managed to get the local Union guys to talk, and even become blood brothers with Titus (yes, using the changing-clothes method to maximize checks), we follow Ruby's trail. We find her. We die.
The detective was found dead of a heart attack
New game
Alright, actually I just slightly under-leveled Endurance and Pain Threshold, even though I planned to. I load up a save and go. This time, I endure the psychomachine's trial, manage to ask all the necessary questions, successfully break the device, and... successfully convince Ruby not to shoot herself in the head! The latter, being a 20% Rhetoric check, was unexpected but pleasant.
Now I'm almost completely sure I'm a good cop. With a brisk stride, Kim and I head to Revachol, my Harry wearing that very hat Annette gave him... Actually, not that very one, but the second one. It turns out if you lose one hat (for example, by giving it to the junkie girl near the church), Annette will give you another one. Life is beautiful... I've blessed everyone and didn't forget myself, and the case is almost solved; I just need to question Klaasje one more time about what she's hiding this time (it's always like this with her).
In Revachol, near the hotel, there are three armed Federation cuirassiers about to kill the Union guys. And I still don't have a weapon?! Uh-oh. Looks like it's time to panic.
Or not? I'm so cool and lucky, what's that, a Rhetoric check? We'll pull it off now and explain everything, it'll be fine...
FAILURE.
INLAND EMPIRE: Tell them you killed the Federation commander, it'll be fine, trust me.
HARRY: Actually, the killer is me.
(It was very funny failing the dodge checks, while your HP bar empties, but you get +1 HP for being a Sorry Cop. In a way, you're unkillable, which unfortunately can't be said for the other participants in the shootout)
Day 7: Wake up with two holes in my body and my self-esteem back in the gutter. Kim finished me off by saying that the wounds weren't actually that bad, partner; you just had a heart attack because of your alcohol problems.
Only three of Hardy's boys are left; the rest were wiped out (not that I didn't warn them). Somehow tried to calm the survivors.
Klaasje left a clue in her room about the actual bullet trajectory... Not that it was unexpected; we just hadn't checked the island yet.
We sail...
The dialogue with the old senile communist is sad, of course, but that's basically the whole game. Yet another surprise pass of a 20% check — and now Kim is taking a photo of me in front of a previously unknown type of giant insectoids. Lena will be happy...
Lay down to rest in the fort before sailing back — and failed the most important check of my life, trying to kiss the only woman in the world I love. And it was over 50%... (((((((( Tell me, why did I need that passed 3% check for the ability to write "MOTHER OF ALL WALLS" on the wall, if now I failed this instead, was it worth it?! I wake up, promising myself to start drinking again after the case is closed.
Sailed back to the mainland and endured yet another humiliation from my colleagues. However, Kim saved me. It seems he's the second person, after Annette, who thinks I'm a good cop, despite all the times I've let him down.
I'm a loser, but not as big a loser as you thought. I wasn't fired (unlike the real MADAO), the case is closed, and life goes on. Somehow.