Pathologic:T he Marble Nest
DEMO Here’s a hefty teaser for the upcoming remake
You probably didn’t play the original Pathologic, but if you did, you’ve almost certainly spent the last ten years barking at your most discerning friends to do the same. It was an unwelcoming, intelligent and surreal Russian adventure about... OK, so I’ll tell you what it was about when I’ve finished psychoanalysing every last polygon.
That might be unnecessary, as a remake/reinvention is forthcoming that will hopefully realize Pathologic’s immense potential. Developer Ice-Pick Lodge released a two-hour playable demo TheMarbleNest back in December, exclusive to backers. You may now bring that demo hurtling down your ethernet cable, however, as it was recently made available to all. It’s Pathologic all right: a two-hour slice of life and death offering a gloomy and destitute world to explore, only this time with modern facial animation, better lighting and textures, reworked mechanics and, somehow, an even creepier atmosphere. You’ll talk, trade, scavenge, and investigate an ominous town that’s gradually dying as the result of a terrible plague. TheMarbleNest might use assets from Pathologic, but it’s a self-contained “mood piece” or short story that shouldn’t spoil anything about the main game. (In fact, it will probably enrich it, so if you’re planning to get that, play this first.) Some bits are unfinished or placeholders, and you won’t be able to save your game, but this is well worth playing if you value originality, strong writing, and setting.