If you, like me, have been struggling to play RPGs after the magnificence that was Baldur’s Gate 3, finding them all old-fashioned and downright dull in the wake of such a choice-driven narrative, then fear not! I have the game for you.
The Thaumaturge has everything a good RPG should: compelling characters, the seeds of revolution, turn-based battles, and Rasputin. No, that wasn’t a typo, Rasputin plays a fairly major part in The Thaumaturge. It makes sense, given the game’s early 20th century Polish setting, but his inclusion isn’t just for memes or internet points.
The figure of Russian legend has always been surrounded with mystique and an aura of magic. He reportedly came back from the dead on numerous occasions, so it’s only natural. He reportedly came somewhere else, too, but that’s between him and the Queen.
What Makes The Thaumaturge So Great?
The Thaumaturge takes those mysticisms and translates them into a fantasy realisation of the historical period that Rasputin & co. inhabited. In this version of central Europe, demons are very real and thaumaturges are sent to deal with them. That’s you. You’re the thaumaturge. Like the name.
This gives you a distinct advantage when it comes to your detective work. You have innate abilities as a thaumaturge, such as being able to detect emotions and memories surrounding certain objects. An early mission sees you try to work out what happened in the lead up to a large fire in a remote village. Do you detect pure fear from those that perished, or anger, suggesting that it was arson? And what does Rasputin make of it all? He reckons it’s a demonic entity known as a salutor. Of course.
These salutors can be harnessed and bent to your will, from which point they will come to your aid if you, I don’t know, sow the seeds of political dissent or punch a Russian soldier in the face. While the choices aren’t as open-ended as Baldur’s Gate 3 (what game’s are?), the combat is far better.
It’s all turn-based, like BG3, but the turn order can change depending on what you choose to do. Fast attacks deal less damage, heavy attacks take longer to enact as you tune up the band. But chaining combos with your salutor is nearly always the best approach, especially when you’re outnumbered by opposing troops. But what use is a rifle against the power of magic?
The Thaumaturge Is Perfect For Console
While The Thaumaturge occasionally verges on the cRPG label as a reading-heavy adventure, its combat and exploration are perfect for console. So long as there are options to increase the text size, I can’t wait to see my salutor skewer a royalist through the back with its rusted glaive when it drops on Xbox and PlayStation on December 4.
There’s plenty more depth that I haven’t gone into for fear of writing too technically, but none of it translates to boredom when realised in the game. The skill tree feels perfectly in keeping with the game’s world, the roleplaying opportunities are varied and engaging, and
If you’re sick of games that don’t let you be mean (looking at you, Dragon Age: The Veilguard), if you want games that will let you be a brutal enforcer of the Czarist regime or a revolutionary looking to overthrow it and will offer endings accordingly, then The Thaumaturge will scratch that itch. Plus, it’s only about 20 hours long, in my eyes the perfect length for an indie RPG (looking at you, Metaphor). Whether you’re only just hearing of this game, or you’re looking for an excuse to replay it, the console launch is the perfect opportunity for either.
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The Thaumaturge Has Made Me Realise Just How Much I Miss Loading Screens
I’ve never wished my game loaded slower before.