Walkthrough of the game Mor Utopia Bachelor. Pestilence
Game description
Mor.Utopia the first project of the Russian studio Ice-Pick Lodge. Long before its release, from the very first gameplay screenshots, it was positioned as something completely beyond the usual computer game. Lots of promises, all that almost a classic of the genre. When the game came out, it received a very mixed reception. Some almost erected monuments to the project, while others poured pure Russian three-story buildings. Of all the promises, the developers certainly fulfilled one thing - the game actually became very ambiguous. “Emergency survival simulator” says the manual. Let's see if it really is so.
The gameplay in the game is very complicated. After the player chooses one of two or three characters under the auspices, he is placed in game world where to survive is the main goal. No friendly nudges in the back, no obvious clues; the player has to figure everything out on his own. Does not work? There will be difficulties with survival.
What is your survival? The main character needs food, rest, coffee, and maintaining immunity; starting from a certain point in the game, he may also get sick, as a result of which he will have to think about medicine. In addition, the action takes place in real time; only a pause can stop it. Time in the game is the only resource that is always in short supply. Proper use of time is the key to successful survival. It sounds good? But in reality, not everything turns out so rosy. The notorious arcade nature spoils the impression of the game. Here's a small example: drinking coffee harms your health, but using a first aid kit restores it. The same applies to treating the consequences of antibiotic abuse. For a game that is positioned as being rigged for real conditions, this is unforgivable! What prevented the creators from making several health bars, for the heart, for other internal organs, for the skin? The arcade feel would, of course, remain, but at least it wouldn’t be so noticeable. The sanity system from Call of Cthulhu in Mor.Utopia would look great, but alas, there is only an embryo of it in the game, represented by periodic dizziness and clouding of the main character’s mind in case of illness.
The graphics in the game are very inconsistent:
In some screenshots she looks good
...on others downright terrible
The city looks good. It’s a little dull due to the fact that the hero doesn’t run very fast, but overall it’s very atmospheric. The contaminated areas look especially cool and are scary to even approach. Houses from the inside in these contaminated areas deserve special mention. If you are scared on the street or in the house, then it is better for you not to meddle at all.
What is done extremely poorly is the character models. And one more thing: the city is populated entirely by “copy-paste” victims. The developers were a little greedy with the models of random residents; there are only about a dozen of them in the game. It's terrible to see the same people with the same phrases on the street. I understand that if the developers began to tinker with each individual character, the game would have been released in the previous year, but the impression from this still does not become better. Well, okay, this is a small thing.
Unfortunately, the soundtrack was not released separately, so we have to be content with tracks from the game resources. I would like to note the track from the main menu - it is gorgeous, and, moreover, is great to listen to outside the game itself. In general, the musical background is quite gloomy and homogeneous, which is why it almost never turns attention to itself. Unfortunately, there are practically no memorable tracks. Just as they were background in the game, they remain background during out-of-game listening. Only at Grif's warehouse does something truly catchy sound and, perhaps, in Stamatin's tavern.
The plot - yes, that's the only reason the game is worth playing. It's quite massive for a computer game. There are three main characters, only two are available for the first playthrough, which gives several points forward to its replayability. But the choice made by the player does not exclude other characters; in the game they will become NPCs and, in combination, competitors of the main character. The gameplay features and ways to overcome the plot are also different for different characters.
There are no completely negative or completely positive characters in the game. Likewise, there are no completely good and completely bad quests in the game. The game forces the player to act as he would have done in the place of the hero he has chosen. The plot is presented in large portions of unvoiced text, so lovers of everything modern and simplified will most likely faint. Yes, you will have to read a lot, read and understand the meaning. Without this, Mor.Utopia doesn’t even make sense; everything good about it is tied to the plot.
There are bugs. Therefore, install the official patch from the developers, located on the game’s website, and all kinds of bugs will bypass you.
Instead of the result: you can love and hate the game at the same time. This is a whole bunch of shortcomings, mixed with advantages into such a crazy soup, for everyone.
System requirements
- Operating system: Windows 98/2000/ME/XP
- CPU: Pentium III 1 GHz
- RAM: 256 MB
- Video: DirectX-compatible video card with 32 MB memory
- Free disk space: 2 GB
- Sound: DirectX compatible sound card
- CD-ROM: 4x-speed
- Additional software: DirectX 9.0c
- Control: keyboard, mouse
Part 2. BACHELOR
Nordic character. Attractive, trustworthy, but suspicious. He doesn’t part with his bag even when he’s looking through a microscope. Starting capital 1430 coins. A supply warehouse can be arranged on the second floor of Eve's house. Saburov’s bedside table is active on the second floor and Rubin’s is in the autopsy room. Regarding Eva and Rubin, everything is fine there. I haven’t checked Saburova, perhaps hiding places can be set up there too.
To complete main or additional tasks, you will need certain items in a certain quantity. In order to avoid unpleasant surprises, I warn you (and he who is forewarned is forearmed) what you need to stock up on in advance, so as not to run around the city biting your elbows later.
To complete the MAIN tasks you need: Day 5: 10000; Day 9: 5 carabiners; Day 10: 5 bottles of twirin.
To complete ADDITIONAL tasks you need: 1 day: 2000 coins; Day 2: 3 breads, 3 hams, 3 smoked fish; Day 5: 60,000 money.
BACHELOR. THE FIRST DAY
You arrived and settled with Eva Yang. The area is good, there is always a varied selection of trash cans. And you don’t have to run to hell like the Haruspex - everything is at hand.
MAIN: Eva Yang (Behind the pond in Eva’s yard, a worker and a Worm are warming themselves by the fire. You can just talk to them, you can enter into conflict. After the murder, you will have cartridges and some other small things. By the way, walk on the fire, the sound is like this echoing, as if there is something under the fire.) → Georgy Cain → Victor Cain → Maria Kaina → Eva Yan → Isidore's house (talk to the guard) → Alexander Saburov → Yulia Lyuricheva → Vlad Olgimsky (senior) (he will say that to the younger Vlad Worms are visiting. When you leave the elder one, you will see a running Worm. If you follow him, he will lead you to the house of the younger Vlad. Be careful: Worms are hot-tempered people, they can beat you) → Olgimsky (junior) → Victor Kain (talk to Stakh Rubin) → Georgy Cain.
ADDITIONAL 1: Yulia Lyuricheva → Anna Angel → either Victor Cain (hand over Anna and this is where the task ends) or go to Laski’s guardhouse (- 2000, if you, of course, decided to help Anna) → Anna Angel (+1000, + decorations).
ADDITIONAL 2: Lara Ravel → Eva Yang → house by the bridge on the left (+ powder, + contents of the cabinets) → Lara Ravel (- powder; +1000).
EXTRA 3: Junior Vlad → Ospina. (And before installing the patch, Eva Yang sent you to this task and she rewarded you for completing it with decorations).
Visit the Bone Pillar Wasteland on this day, see the burning of a girl, there are two corpses of guards near the fire. Search them and get hold of a revolver (100%) and five cartridges for it. In the second task, decide for yourself what you need more: 1000 or priceless powder. By the way, if you really need money, then you can drive it for much more than 1000.
BACHELOR. SECOND DAY
After talking with a teenage girl, you can find out that somewhere there is a shop where they sell bread for 350 coins (everywhere for 1650). I went to all the grocery stores in the city, everything is expensive everywhere. Conclusion: the girl deceived us. Shouldn't we beat her?
MAIN: Alexander Saburov (after 7-00) → Anna Angel → Chapel → Match → Isidore's house (+ KEY) → Alexander Saburov (- key) → Georgy Kain, Olgimsky (senior) → Alexander Saburov (+ revolver with 30% strength) .
ADDITIONAL 1: Eva Yan → Andrey Stamatin (after 7-00) → Petr Stamatin → Andrey Stamatin → Eva Yan → Maria Kaina → Petr Stamatin → Andrey Stamatin (+1000) → Grif (+ revolver with 30% strength, + 15 rounds for him) → Andrey Stamatin → station (there are three guards there, you can disperse peacefully, or you can kill them and rob them, but your reputation will be seriously damaged) → Andrey Stamatin.
ADDITIONAL 2: Lara Ravel (after 7-00) → Maria Kaina (+2000), Victor Kain (+5000), Vlad Olgimsky (junior) (+4000), Yulia Lyuricheva (+3000) → buy 3 bread, 3 smoked fish , 3 hams → Lara Ravel → “House of the Living” → Lara Ravel (- 3 bread, - 3 fish, - 3 hams; + nuts, + promise to provide you with shelter and board).
If you make a fuss on the first day and buy/steal provisions for the shelter, then you can simply put 14,000 in your pocket. Having taken the key from Isidore's house, tick like a fly towards the exit, otherwise you risk catching an infection. The same applies to the “House of the Living”: talk to the Executor, and go away.
BACHELOR. DAY THREE
MAIN: Rubin (dissection room) → Alexander Saburov → Ospina → Olgimsky (senior) → Georgy Cain → Ospina → Infected area (there are three Butchers in the area, all three were caught and killed by the Guards, your task is to find and talk with the Guards, you need the one who will send you to the cemetery. I indicate the location of all three. The first is at Isidor’s house, where there is a cart and a barrel. The second is in the “loop” of houses closest to Spichka’s house, on the left, one turn from Lodyr. The third is on the vacant lot of the Bone Pillar, on the left) → Cemetery (different issues arise here too. The first time, the Guard and I agreed peacefully for 10,000. Another time, the Guards attacked me and took me to Saburov. One way or another, your task is to leave the cemetery with infectious blood) → Ruby (+ glass) .
ADDITIONAL 1: Capella → "Loop" at the Matches house, on the left is the Quirk boy (+ powder, half get infected) → Capella.
ADDITIONAL 2: Georgiy Cain → Victor Cain → Junior Vlad → Victor Cain → Polyhedron (Khan) → Junior Olgimsky → House indicated by Vlad (kill 2 butchers in the house, examine the body, + contents of the cabinets) → Georgiy Cain (+4000).
In addition to tasks, you can also make money this way: go to Lara Ravel and pretend to be sick and hungry (+ bread and milk). Go to Laska (+ powder). Visit Andrey Stamatin (+twirin). I don’t know if this is a glitch in the game, but I managed to very cleverly trick Stamatin into a bunch of twirin, choosing the following sequence of conversation:
- Difficulties with inspection...
- What are you hinting at?
-Haven’t you ever had the opportunity?..
- Did you kill a person?
- Thank you. I'll take it with me.
The first line never disappeared from the list, and I grabbed about 30 bottles of the little one.
BACHELOR. DAY FOUR
In the morning, go to Rubin - he will give you a blue vaccine.
MAIN: Olgimsky (senior; after 7-00) → Lara Ravel → Olgimsky (junior) → Olgimsky (senior) → Theater (performer on the porch) → Tragedian (triangular ruins, behind them, visible from the gate of Yulia Lyuricheva; + KEY to the Theater , take him out of the infected area: + TWIRIN) → Cathedral (girl on the porch) → Girl’s cousin (alley, opposite Anna Angel’s house, by the barrel; + KEY to the Cathedral, take him out: + TWIRIN) → Olgimsky (senior; - KEYS) .
ADDITIONAL 1: Olgimsky (junior) → Lara Ravel (+ ANALGESICS), Eva Yan, Yulia Lyuricheva (+ ANTIBIOTICS), Anna Angel (+ IMMUNES) → House near the Park of Culture and Rest (stay there for an hour, + junk from the house, + property cured, + powder from the Contractor at the exit).
ADDITIONAL 2: Victor Cain → post-plague area (fomka) → Victor Cain.
ADDITIONAL 3: Alexander Saburov (+ 6 revolver cartridges) → Grif → Braga (in warehouses) (7 bandits there) → Grif (+10000) → Saburov (+5000).
According to the third additional: Saburov will promise 30 thousand for completing the task, but will pay only 5. Goat! It’s better to enter Braga’s warehouse with a revolver - without reloading you can kill 3 bandits, before entering, increase your health to maximum
BACHELOR. DAY FIFTH
MAIN: Rubin → Olgimsky (senior) → Alexander Saburov → Katerina Saburova → Lara Ravel → Factories (building 3) → Grif (-10000) → Factories (building 3, two guards will be killed by thugs, one will remain for you; reputation reduction for killing him ; + KEY) → Haruspex (unlock, talk) → at Isidore’s house (after 21-00; where the cart and barrel are, the dancer’s body + INFECTED HEART) → Ruby.
ADDITIONAL 1: Olgimsky (junior) → Uprava (door on the left) → Olgimsky (junior) (+20000) → Victor Kain (+25000) → Uprava (-60000).
ADDITIONAL 2: Vulture → Anna Angel → Hunchback (+10000, + furniture contents) → Anna Angel → Vera (after 21-00; Stamatin's tavern) → Hunchback.
As you understand, the first additional one does not have to be completed to the end. You can collect money and calm down.
BACHELOR. DAY SIX
In the morning, go to Rubin - you will become the owner of a white vaccine and glass.
MAIN: Victor Kain → Olgimsky (senior) (suspects Ospina and Anna Angel) → Alexander Saburov (suspects Yulia Lyuricheva and Lara Ravel) → bypassing the designated girls with the mandatory removal of the suspect’s blood until one of them blames Clara for what happened (the first time this there was Ospina, the second was Angel) → Alexander Saburov → Katerina Saburova (Clara) → Weasel → Clara (either the Rotten Field (where you killed the Albino, if you killed him) or the house of Eva Yang) (+ her blood) → Microscope ( or in Rubin’s autopsy room or Eva’s house) → Clara (in the same place as the first time).
EXTRA 1: Chapel → Olgimsky (junior) → Olgimsky (senior) → Termite Mound area (kill Hunchback and 5 arsonists, + ALL THEIR PROPERTY) → Olgimsky (junior) (+10000).
EXTRA 2: Match → Rotten Field (start of line with bags, kill Albino, don't get close, shoot from afar) → Match.
See for yourself whether the second additional task is worth completing. By completing it you gain nothing except a circle to the Rotten Field. If you ignore the note and the match’s story, then the Imposter can be found at your (Eve’s) home. Although, if you remember the saying about a mad dog, for which a hundred miles is not a detour, then, of course, yes...
BACHELOR. DAY SEVEN
Regarding the second additional task: it is unclear why you are collecting all this stuff, because then it is impossible to find the Haruspex and give it all to him.
MAIN: Aglaya (Cathedral, after 7-00) → 3 performers (+ 3 reports; the first - at the sandbox near the Hunchback’s house; the second - behind the theater; the third - if you go from Ospina’s house: the first turn to the left, and then immediately to the right, about carts) → Aglaya (Cathedral) → Performer behind the theater (Tell him: “You are a traitor”, “Will you come with me”) → Aglaya (Cathedral).
ADDITIONAL 1: Eva's House, instead of Eva Girl (after 7-00) → Stamatin's Tavern (men, + carbine, + 10 rounds) → At the Worm's in the swamp (kill 5 enemies + 5 twirin infusions; Andrey Stamatin).
ADDITIONAL 2: Letter from the Haruspex (after 10-00) → Theater (Mark the Immortelle) → Burial near Ospina's house (+ robe) → Alexander Saburov → Peter Stamatin → Aglaya (Cathedral) → Peter Stamatin (+ mask, + glass).
ADDITIONAL 3: Aglaya (Cathedral) (this will happen if you complete 2 additional and came to ask Aglaya to intercede for Peter) → Maria Caina → Victor Cain → Aglaya (Cathedral) → Peter Stamatin (Maria, Peter, Aglaya. Aglaya will offer a choice of either sawn-off shotgun and 5 cartridges for it, or antibiotics (1 ferromycin and 2 neomycin), or a vaccine).
BACHELOR. DAY EIGHT
MAIN: Aglaya (Cathedral) → Junior Vlad → Ospina → Junior Vlad → Taya Tychik (Termite Mound, 3rd floor, where the torches are burning) → Olgimskie (Chapella, Senior and Junior Vlads, send one of the Vlads to deal with Taya) → Taya Tychik ( Termite Mound) → Main entrance to the Slaughterhouses (after 11 p.m.).
ADDITIONAL 1: Junior Vlad → Termite Mound (2nd floor, go straight, there are 3 Worms, don’t quarrel with them, otherwise it’s difficult to fight three at once) → Junior Vlad → Mark Bessmertnik (we find out what Yulia Lyuricheva, Lara Ravel and Anna Angel have there is a panacea).
ADDITIONAL 2: Burakh (Termite Mound, back room to the right of the front door) → microscope (in Eva’s house or Rubin’s in the autopsy room, we study the resulting blood sample) → Burakh (Termite Mound) (+ panacea).
ADDITIONAL 3: Letter from the Handmaid (after 12-00) → Double-minded (in the house of Eva Yang) → Capella (+ 2 ferromycin) → Taya Tychik (Termite Hill) (- 1 ferromycin; increase in reputation).
BACHELOR. DAY NINE
The day starts at 14:00 at the City Hall.
BASIC: Victor Cain → Polyhedron (Casper Cain, aka Khan) → Block (+ carbine, + 10 carbine rounds) → get 5 carbines → Khan (Polyhedron) (- 5 carbines) → Aglaya (Cathedral) (+5000).
EXTRA 1: Lara Ravel → Anna Angel (+ gun) → Lara Ravel (- gun, + panacea).
EXTRA 2: Aglaya (Cathedral) → Burakh (Termite Mound, short building, 2nd floor, room directly from the stairs where the Worms set up a laboratory) → Aglaya (Cathedral) (+ 7000).
ADDITIONAL 3: Yulia Lyuricheva → Blok (Administration) → Yulia Lyuricheva (her house is guarded by 5 soldiers, killing them you will receive crackers and 3 carbines; from Yulia + panacea)
EXTRA 4: Anna Angel (+ gun) → Lara Ravel (- gun) → Anna Angel (+ panacea).
BACHELOR. DAY TEN
MAIN: Aglaya (Cathedral) → Peter Stamatin's house (soldiers) → Peter Stamatin in the Executor's clothes (Triangular ruins, area of Yulia Lyuricheva's house) (- 5 tvirin, + drawings) → Aglaya (Cathedral) (- drawings).
ADDITIONAL 1: Mark the Immortelle → Bone Pillar Wasteland (talk to the butcher in the center) → Mark the Immortelle (Theater) → Block (City Office).
ADDITIONAL 2: Katerina Saburova → Stakh Rubin (dissection room) → Maria Kaina → Victor Kain (+5000) → Georgy Kain → Aglaya (Cathedral) (+7000).
BACHELOR. DAY ELEVEN
When completing the main task, before going to the Dead End Branch, leave all your property in a safe place, otherwise you risk losing everything you have acquired through back-breaking labor.
MAIN: Aglaya (Cathedral) → Dancer (A. Stamatin's tavern) → Dead-end branch (key phrase "I want to smoke before I die") → Cemetery (as soon as you come to your senses, immediately run, without looking back at the guardhouse to Laska, otherwise you will be killed by 3 dogs) → Weasel (+ knife, + tourniquet, + bandage) → Andrey Stamatin (tavern) (+ drawings) → Aglaya (Cathedral) (- drawings).
ADDITIONAL 1: Children (Uprava, right door; after 7-00) → Place of execution (between the cemetery and the water pump, kill 4 soldiers (from afar), increase reputation, + money and property of the killed) → Children (Uprava) (+ 6 revolver cartridges , + powder).
ADDITIONAL 2: Aglaya (+ panacea) → Khan (Polyhedron) → Junior Vlad.
ADDITIONAL 3: Victor Cain → Chapel (+ beads) → Clara (Council (+ silver ring) → Girl on the porch of the House of Mary → Maria (Crypt of the Cains).
If you sent the Elder Vlad to Taya on day 8, then when completing the 2nd Additional task at the house of the Younger Vlad you will run into an ambush (4 people will be very happy to punch you in the face, if not more).
BACHELOR. DAY TWELVE.
The Haruspex sits at the Factories in workshop 3. Clara - in the Termitary, entrance on the left. Meet with everyone. Everyone will ask for their Close Ones. First of all, make sure that your closest ones are healthy. Then you can help others close to you. Depending on this, appear at the council either in splendid isolation, or in the company of a Haruspex, or in the company of an Impostor, or both. There is no one on the streets. Therefore, you need a supply of master keys for this day in case you need food or decide to exchange powders. When you receive the letter, go to the Polyhedron. You will be allowed into the theater to watch the cartoon, provided that ALL those close to you are alive and well. At 19:00, appear at the Council and decide the fate of the city. At the council, meet with Maria, Aglaya and Blok (+ Two comrades in misfortune).
We party until 12 at night, watch the final movie, cry with happiness, and are proud of ourselves.
Day three, in which the Bachelor will be asked to begin hunting an elusive enemy and assess the prospects for necrosis.
Time: 7:00 am.
Morning has come.
Infected over the past 24 hours: 41 people.
Died over the past 24 hours: 34 people.
Missing: 14 people.
Number of deaths currently: 102 people.
Number of cases: 53 people.
Less than ten days left until the end.
Among those close to him, Petr Stamatin will be in danger
Here you go! Another letter. This time from the Cain family under the title "Disturbing news from George Cain." Go to George immediately. However, a visit to George will activate a secondary task. To receive the main task you will have to wait until 12:00. At lunchtime you will receive a “Letter from Rubin”, in which he will ask you to visit him as soon as possible.
Task of the day: Elusive enemy.
Main objective: Study of the Sand Ulcer.
Implementation: To combat the epidemic, first of all, information about the infection is needed. To do this, Stanislav Rubin, whom you can find in the autopsy room at the thieves' warehouses, will advise you to open the body of the person who died from Sand Mud. But first you need to enlist the support of Alexander Saburov. Visit the commandant, and he will tell you that only butchers who escaped from the Termite Mound can help you with the autopsy. Presumably, Ospina may be hiding them in her house. You should pay her a visit.
On the way to Ospina’s house, be sure to stop by Ekaterina Saburova, since the Impostor just paid a visit to her. It will be very interesting to talk with her. It’s also worth visiting Andrei Stamatin and getting some money on Tvirin. The fact is that the game has a bug with which you can collect a large amount of Tvirin for free! Just go up to the owner of the tavern and talk to him. Then click on the questions in the following order: 1, 2, 1, 1, 2. At the end of each such dialogue, a free bottle of Tvirin will appear in your pocket, which you can use for medicinal purposes, or exchange with the Patrolmen for food or ammunition. But don’t get carried away too much, as playing will not be very interesting with a large bank account.
Let's get back to business. So. Ospina's house. Ask her to place three butchers at her disposal who are hiding in her house. Since the business for which you need butchers is very dangerous, Ospina will ask you to perform a counter service, namely, to persuade Big Vlad to stop pursuing the fugitive butchers. Go to Olgimsky. He will not agree to just leave the fugitives alone and will also ask you to fulfill a counter request. However, you have the opportunity to reduce this conversation to a general agreement. You don’t tell Cain about what’s going on in the Termitary, and he, in turn, stops the persecution. Everything is extremely clear, fair and cunning. Vlad, cursing you for such ingenuity, will nevertheless agree to stop pursuing fugitive workers. With good news, return to Ospina. She will take your word for it and send three butchers to the infected quarter. Now you need to find them.
Before heading into a cordoned off area, you need to be properly equipped. Gloves, drapery and repellent boots will save you from infection. There are a few things to be wary of during your Tanners tour:
Infected trying to grab you;
Rats whose bites pose a risk of infection;
Gray fog spreading Sand Plague;
Enclosed spaces, inside of which it will not be easy to hide from the fog;
Mad dogs whose saliva contains a pathogenic virus.
Also, don’t beat up the Infected, which will lead to a deterioration in your reputation, and certainly don’t try to cut them with a scalpel in front of the Patrolmen.
So, the survival instructions have been read. It's time to hit the road. The butcher you need, or rather his corpse, is located in an alley located northeast of Isidore’s house and southeast of Spichka’s house. The body won't be visible from afar, so look for the Patrolman standing next to it. Approach him and he will explain that the butcher was caught red-handed and killed on the spot. The corpse he mocked was sent to the cemetery and is in the care of Laski. In this regard, go to the cemetery, but before approaching the Patrolmen guarding the body, go to the guardhouse. During a conversation with Laska, you have the opportunity to persuade her to give you the powder that she has kept since the first epidemic. Now go to the Patrolmen. You have a choice between two ways to obtain the required blood sample from an infected corpse:
1. Talk to one of the Patrolmen and pay 10,000. In this case, you will easily receive the sample Rubin needs.
2. The second option, although it does not require any costs, is more problematic. Approaching the guards, take out a knife (scalpel, revolver, etc.) and kill two of them. And only now talk to the last surviving Patrolman. If you refuse to pay, he will attack you. After killing him, you will see a loading screen and find yourself in the Saburovs' house. Alexander will immediately speak to you and say that he hid from the townspeople the true name of the thug who killed the Patrolmen in the cemetery and sent three butchers to mock the bodies of the dead in the infected Tanners quarter. In order to save you from the revenge of a bloodthirsty crowd, the noble Saburov committed a crime. Such a kind deed towards you deserves respect. He will also hint that he will send the next squad of guards to the cemetery only ten minutes after you leave. Urgently go to the cemetery without wasting a minute, since you have a ten-minute head start. Having arrived at the place, take a flask of blood from the corpse and return to Stanislav in the autopsy room.
Arriving at Rubin, use his microscope and examine a sample of infected blood. Then report the results of the study to your doctor. During the conversation, the doctor will come to the conclusion that the disease can be fought and the first samples of serum will be ready by the morning of the fourth day.
The task is completed. By the end of this day, not one of the Close Ones will die. It's time to start completing tasks of secondary importance.
Secondary task: Body of an immortal.
Main objective: Search for the body of Simon Cain.
Location: Gorny.
Customer: Georgy Kain.
Reward: 4000 or 5000.
Execution: Yes...! Not everything is calm in the Danish kingdom. The body of the city ruler disappeared, and Stanislav Rubin disappeared with him. Georgy is at a loss and doesn’t have the slightest idea about who needed the infected body and why there is no news from Rubin. He will advise you to contact his brother Victor, since he knows where to start the search. Junior Cain will tell you about what Stanislav and Younger Vlad there were some joint affairs. It is likely that Olgimsky may know where Rubin took Simon’s body. It’s also worth asking him about the Termitary and the connection between the epidemic and the workers’ revolt. Vlad, in turn, before disclosing Rubin's possible whereabouts, wants you to fulfill his counter-demand. The fact is that Victor constantly insists on inspecting the Termitary, which does not coincide with the interests of the Olgimskys. Vlad insists that the termite mound should never be opened for the safety of the workers. It is excluded that the Sand Plague is raging in the Termitary, since it was sealed the day before the appearance of Isidore Burakh in the city and the death of Simon Cain. He will also hint that the Polyhedron, under the rule of the Cain family, was closed already during the epidemic. This will give you a reason to ask Victor to carry out inspection work in the Tower.
Now return to Victor and explain the situation to him. He will suspiciously quickly agree to withdraw all claims, giving you a reason to insist on inspecting the Polyhedron. Victor will not mind, since he doubts that you will be able to get there, since his son Kaspar does not allow adults there, even his father. Now it's time to pay a visit to Maria, only she can persuade her brother to let you in. After talking with her, go to the river bank and climb the stairs to Polyhedron Peak. The Dog Head will be waiting for you there. Tell him that you are a friend of the Cain family and Khan is expecting your visit. Kaspar, in turn, will convince you that there are no signs of the Sand Plague in the Tower, and will ask you to take his word for it, since you simply physically cannot enter the Tower. As a result, your Alter Ego will come to the conclusion that Younger Vlad may be right and will temporarily exclude the Polyhedron and Termite Mound from the sphere of his interests.
After all claims are removed, you can demand from Junior Vlad information about the location of Simon's body. He will tell you about the fugitive butchers who stole the body and indicate the house in which they are hiding. He will also give you a license to kill them, since body snatchers are illegal.
Entering the house, you can find two butchers on the second floor. Shoot them and examine the body. After the examination, you will have a new entry in your diary. Then return to George. You again have two options:
1. Tell Cain that the body was stolen by butchers and indicate the house where you found the mutilated body. For this information you will receive 4000.
2. Report to Georgy that the body was not stolen by anyone and is still under the supervision of Stanislav Rubin. Cain will be unpleasantly surprised by this turn of events and will order Aesculapius to immediately come to him before the end of the day with an explanation. You will receive 5000 as a reward.
Secondary task: The boy went out to fight.
Main task: Take away dangerous powder from the baby.
Location: Clot.
Client: Olgimskaya Chapel.
Fulfillment: Big Vlad's daughter will tell you about baby powders and ask you to find a baby who has one copy with him. Presumably it is located not far from the Silent House of Isidor Burakh, since it was from there that the epidemic began. Travel to the Tanners area and go to the center. The Quirk is hiding in an alley located northeast of Isidore's house and southeast of Spichka's house. Approach the boy and demand that he give you the powder. The Loafer will warn you that in the place where you stand, a gray fog is bursting out of the ground, which infects anyone caught in its path. Indeed, after talking with him, the fog will infect you, and you will have to test the powder on yourself. The main thing is that you have a good supply of health, otherwise you risk getting poisoned. The powder will indeed help get rid of the infection, but will cause enormous damage to health. Tell Capella about the results of using the powder on yourself, thereby completing the mission.
The series has ended, but everyone is still discussing what really happened there. If at first they were getting over the shock and criticizing the last season, now it’s time for analysis. I’ll try to formulate point by point what makes this series of books and TV series so successful.
First modern and adult fantasy films
Before this, only old classic stories or very teenage and children's books were filmed. But in modern science fiction over these decades, many cool stories have appeared, and here is one of them.
Inverted classic fantasy scheme
Previously, in fantasy, the plot was built the other way around: there was a magical and wonderful world, and now magic is leaving it. In the song “Ice and Fire” everything happens the other way around; the unknown and incomprehensible comes into the established boring world of people.
The fragmentation of the world of the Middle Ages
The modern viewer understands the feelings of the inhabitants of the fictional Middle Ages. The world is fragmented into pieces, there is confusion in power. There are religions that have magic, but no moral teachings. Prophecies come true, but people make them. We have to get used to this feeling of “growing up” - the fate of people depends only on their personal actions.
Feeling the magic coming
Could you imagine ten years ago that cars would drive themselves, you could pay with virtual currency, and neural networks would draw? It’s unlikely, but you are a modern person. And we are subconsciously afraid of all these new things that are coming, which previously seemed like a fairy tale to us. The same thing happens in Game of Thrones, season after season there are more and more amazing things: dragons, resurrection, walkers. This is a correlation of the mood of the book with the world's subconscious.
Multi-linearity
Tolstoy also sinned with many of the central characters, so here everything returns to its place. People were a little tired of simple heroes; they wanted variety and complexity. The series was one of the first to give the viewer multi-linearity and diversity.
Blood, sex and complex dialogues
There's an HBO adult sass to it all. The cable channel does not hesitate to show interesting scenes more than necessary. Now the series about the maniac "Dexter" seems completely children's, although it was also filmed for an adult audience. But the main thing is complex dialogues, where every word has subtext and consequences, like the TV series “The Wire”.
Historical analogies
All characters, events and locations in the book have historical analogues in our world, because Martin is a historian. For ordinary people, such turns of events will be a revelation, and for a history buff - an interesting reference. Even myself English language in the books it is stylized as the Middle Ages.
Elaborated and deep world
There is a “network of logic” behind every, even minor event. This all turns out thanks to the meticulous work of the author, who writes out the logic of events, even those that are only briefly shown to us. Therefore, the world feels very alive and deep.
The main thing: Social-logical type of narration
The logic of what is happening to the characters does not come from what we want or the author needs it for the plot. Everything happens to the heroes because of local social norms, laws and political institutions. The world around us dictates the development of the plot, and not the “plot wishes of the writers,” as in the final season of the series.
The series turned the expected into the unexpected
The series didn't show all the details, so it was able to rework expected plot twists into effective scenes. At the same time, the “unexpected” turns were always logically justified (at the beginning of the series) and the viewer felt it.
In general, I completely immersed myself in the topic and became a full-fledged fan. On the third week of this kaleidoscope, I even thought about getting a polyhedron on my shoulder. Indeed, none of the ice pick games, either before or after, caused such a storm of emotions.
True, in the end, the fact that I became a fan only prevented me from conveying everything properly in my review. I wanted a trilogy of notes about Pestilence, similar to what the RPS website had and symbolically coincides with the three heroes in the game. Moreover, the author there, judging by the text, did not completely complete the game, saw everything only from the point of view of the Haruspex. As a result, I came to the following plan: “What is this”, “How to do this” and my chaotic thoughts on this matter. A little stupid and straightforward, but that's how it works.
In the first note I wanted to briefly and in simple words describe what this game is and why it is good. I hope this is noticeable in the first part of the text. But then, as a fan, I started listing everything that fascinated me about the game. It turned out sweeter than I wanted. But okay, I'm not ashamed to praise a game that I sincerely love. Moreover, there are not as many such laudatory articles on the Internet as we would like.
The second note is practical guidance. On the streams that I watched about the game, I often noticed mistakes and misunderstandings of some mechanics. At the same time, the only thing truly good passage is on Steam, but it contains spoilers, and the article from LKI contains too much literature. I didn’t find any spoiler-free advice that I wanted, so I decided to write it myself. It’s a shame I didn’t write down in detail what people have problems with. It turned out not as concise and clear as I wanted, but I hope it will help some.
In the third note, I wanted to criticize the game, especially since the first part turned out to be too sweet. I recorded the game's bugs, unpleasant and annoying moments. Those moments in which history could not convince me to believe in itself, although I had already penetrated headlong. But it always turned out too chaotic and unclear.
And it’s already a little wrong to talk about the decisions of the game. This is a historical fact; it cannot be taken away. The studio hasn’t done many things like this for a long time, in next games they have corrected themselves. In the remake, everything will obviously be different, with different points of contact. Based on the podcasts, the lead designer now has more narrative assistants to help balance the quests. And the studio team is no longer the same, back then they were young, daring game makers who were doing something new and didn’t know how to take on it. More than ten years later, it is now an experienced and iconic studio.
And my indignation will not change anything. But still, there are several things that I want to write about, even if it is wrong to rehash the old.
I understand why sometimes quests seem cut off. We didn't have time to do it. Or when the dialogues promise something, but then it doesn’t come to fruition in the game. For example: a description of goods in a store, where they promise that some may be contaminated. I avoided them the whole game, and then I realized that it just didn’t work. Also, most likely, they didn’t have time or couldn’t.
Moreover, such unfinished pieces greatly harm the game. It’s already muddy in places, so here you get even more confused. The task says “it needs to be done faster.” But what does it mean? It could just be an artistic turn of phrase that doesn't affect anything. There could be a hint that if you don’t make it in time, the mission will fail. Or it could be that they simply forgot to attach a timer to the mission, nothing will happen. You won't guess what they want from you.
The same with forks and a variety of solutions. There are few of them, everything is very linear. But the fact that there is a feeling of forks, and those branches that exist - this is already quite a lot for those years. It was probably even ahead of its time. Because many quests still look convincing if you don’t look at them carefully.
You can remember the manifesto and principles that the ice pick studio stated during the production of its first games. But it’s stupid to argue with them; they guessed very accurately, even if they completely failed to use their foresight. Games have long been an art and always have been, hardcore and survival are now in fashion, randomness and chaos are the key to the popularity of games. The player as a co-author is successfully used in games. But I still have the feeling that somewhere out there, in 2005, the malicious Dybovsky is sitting with the thoughts: “I pressed buttons here, and now you’re sitting there, freaking out, inventing something for yourself, working as a co-author.”
The companies of the Haruspex and the Imposter are clearly not finalized. At first I thought that everything would be very different for the Haruspex. At first it was like that. But in the end, many characters in this world practically did not communicate with us. Then I had to spend the night with the Bachelor every night and engage in his missions. Again, there was almost no communication with the children close to us. It feels like even the Bachelor saw them more often than Burakh. But okay, maybe you didn’t have time again, and maybe it’s not necessary to communicate with those you are protecting. The story is logical and works. Unlike The Bachelor, where he seemed to be replaced at one point.
The idea of the Imposter in its concept now looks disgusting in many ways. I understand that the game is old and the situation was not like that then. But at the moment I’m trying in every possible way to abstract myself from how her line looks like archaism and obscurantism. I’m trying to imagine that she has nothing to do with this, looking for an excuse for these unpleasant associations. For example, in the joke that the Imposter is a libertarian. That this is all thanks to the will of free people, and not a demonic-Christian solution to the problem, which allows the city to continue to rot in its contradictions.
But let's return again to the Bachelor. Annoying Cains, I hated them the entire game. Every day my hatred for them only grew stronger. Playing the Bachelor, I understood Vlad and Saburov more than this family. Although, according to the logic of this story, I should have loved the Cains. Because in the second half of the game the Bachelor seems to be replaced. He immediately believes in miracles and trusts the Cains. No matter how you resist, the hero is led in this direction.
The beautiful Stamatin brothers appear in the plot only towards the end, like jack-in-the-box. It was already possible to forget who it was and that they were our confidants. It's as if the priorities during the quests were set incorrectly all this time. I could assume that this is a problem of my personal experience, but I have seen other people's passages. Everything happens exactly the same there.
Theoretically, I wanted to keep the polyhedron, even if I only saw it twice during the game. I saw slaughterhouses more often, and they seemed to me a much more mystical and special place. I understand why for the Bachelor this polyhedron is more important than a small town. But the fact that I was helping the Cains for his sake gave me unpleasant feelings. Perhaps this is a hint from the game that if you want to lay down the lives of many people for the sake of one idea, then there will always be unpleasant despots in charge.
The ending of the game is frustrating in the same wrong order. Especially during the first playthrough, when you are as serious as possible. The fact is that if you reached the end, then most likely you did everything Additional tasks. This means you can cure some of the people close to you. Or didn’t reach the finals at all. These are my playthrough statistics. Or they go through the whole set with additional missions, or do not pass at all.
As soon as the player has mentally prepared for the decisive stage, then at that moment they send a letter and we learn about the “sandbox”. For many people, including me, this was terribly frustrating. It ruins the mood and prevents you from enjoying the ending. It’s as if they are stealing the independent decision of the ending, proving the meaninglessness of existence. At this moment, most of all I want to spit and choose the ending where everyone dies. Because none of this matters, and you just give up.
Achievement in the game hints that this sensation may have been planned. He could understand and accept the rules of the game, and then still make a choice. But this does not change the vile theft of my first final.
But how powerful it would be if these children were shown only for the second playthrough! You have already made an honest decision once, saved the city, and the second time you play as a cheerful explorer. And then they give you this plot twist.
It can only save you from frustration if you accidentally save all the people close to you. But this is not always possible. Only then does the final letter from the theater arrive, which calms the player. Because it's honest, it helps remind you that this game was always real, even if it's just a game. “I just wanted to save the city, even if it was a toy city.”
I can’t get the thought out of my head that if the polyhedron were always visible from anywhere in the city, then everything would be different. Imagine that it could be seen from afar anywhere in the city. Every time you move around the city, you might see that on the other side of the river there is a large amazing structure. This would set off the terrible old and massive slaughterhouses. A Bachelor player would always be inspired by this. This would constantly remind the Haruspex player that his beloved city has a poisonous sting stuck in it. I understand that it was impossible to realize such a range. But because of this, the polyhedron is practically not felt in the game.
And wind. There really isn't enough wind here. Without them, the steppe turns out wrong, empty.
I myself grew up in such a small steppe town. Three blocks, which were built under one factory in the middle of the endless steppe. I also smelled wormwood if the wind blew from the fields. I remember that I got an awkward disc somewhere at the local market and tried to beat this game in August. It’s a pity that back then the dates differed slightly by day. I looked out from the balcony, felt a strong wind and looked in one direction. A factory chimney towered over the city and could be seen from anywhere. I imagined that there could be a polyhedron there instead.
Then I didn’t really understand that here, ironically, it turned out to be a game with the questions “who is to blame” and “what to do,” with a classic passion for death in dramaturgy. With no less classic curvature and grayness. I just enjoyed this atmosphere, where everything is the same, but dramatic and cool, and instead of a dull factory chimney there is a cool ugly structure sticking out there.
This is the moment I actually miss most about The Sea. So that I can always see the polyhedron towering over the city. This moment is not enough to make the game even more wonderful.
Spoiler vulnerability
The main thing to keep in mind is that the game is highly vulnerable to spoilers. Unexpected events and gameplay mechanics are especially vulnerable to this; this concerns the plot to a lesser extent. It's like one of the bosses in Turgor that can be killed in ten minutes instead of an hour if you know how. The whole point is to understand for yourself; with too much knowledge, a lot of pleasure is lost. But at the same time, the game is old, crooked and often unclear. Therefore, I will try to carefully, choosing words and hints, tell you how to play in general terms so that no problems arise.
Character selection
Character choice is important. Each has a separate company with its own tasks, events and plots. With different heroes the feeling of the game changes.
If you consider yourself the smartest, then you should start with a Bachelor. His company will be more of a visual novel and a walking simulator. Everything else will come too, but a little later. The main thing that everyone recommends this character for is: plot part. A metropolitan dandy in a raincoat comes to the village to do everything right and understand the local specifics. It will be easier to understand an unfamiliar world at the same time as the main character.
If you're not afraid to get your hands dirty, this is the Haruspex. Less chatter, more action, and more time after assignments to complete those actions. You need to read notes, run across the steppes, craft in the laboratory and collect ingredients. It is worth noting that the action and crafting here are not the best. At the same time, the Haruspex's motivation is much more humane. He comes to his home to sort out the inheritance and at the same time cut out a couple of hearts. But in terms of intrigue and elaboration, the Bachelor’s company is noticeably better.
First day
On the first day, be sure to complete the main task of the day before 24:00. After this, it is no longer necessary to complete any missions.
First, talk to people several times, check if you missed something important.
The controls are standard for games from the 2000s. Try the interface, see what buttons are in the menu, experiment. To activate an item, click on it with the mouse in your inventory. There are no special features in it, but it is not explained much.
First day of Bachelor:
For the first day of Bachelor, there are three valid tips accepted by the community. Everyone knows about them, one way or another. They bring many benefits, but you can easily miss these things due to inattention.
Tips: 1. As soon as you talk with the Cains, then go to the cemetery, which is located behind their houses. There you will find bread and milk.
2. While you walk to Isidore’s house, you will see a fire where a witch is being burned. Search two dead men near the fire. There's a revolver and cartridges.
3. On the first day, buy food with all available money.
First day of the Haruspex:
The Haruspex's first day begins with running around. It is better to leave the locals at full speed without getting into a fight. To do this, just go forward and don't look back. They are slow, so they can only catch up on turns, and then only for a couple of strokes at most. If you go in and out at any open house(shops, characters), then random opponents on the street disappear.
Letters and notifications
Alerts appear in the lower left corner in the form of symbols - this is a task update or a new letter.
Reminder about letters! Letters! Most people simply don't notice them, and if they do, it's only after many hours of play. This is the L button, be sure to check them, especially at the beginning. Then you will begin to discern a barely noticeable signal of their arrival.
Those close to you
By the way, few people end up properly understanding what kind of “close associates” they are and how they need to be protected. Essentially, those close to you are simply a promise to complete the main task of the day every day. If you don't complete the main mission in a day, someone will die. Who is the victim today can be seen in the list of those close to him.
If one of the other characters gets sick, don’t worry, most likely it’s not your fault.
The game is often linear in completing missions, but sometimes provides additional options or forks. Don't be afraid of doing something wrong or ruining it. If you play a role and decide according to the dictates of your heart, then your conscience will always be clear. But it’s better to try to complete the main task if you want a sane ending.
The morning is wiser than the evening
Assignments usually begin at 7 am. Before this, most characters are asleep. I advise you to do the same. Or engage in your own enrichment at this time. You can, of course, go to all the characters in a row and ask for tasks, but this only confuses. To complete the quests normally, wait for the morning and morning letters.
Some assignment emails may take place in the late afternoon or late afternoon, but that's how they are designed. Empty haste will lead to nothing. But it is also dangerous to hesitate and be stupid.
Map
At the beginning, most of the tasks will be primitive, like traveling from point A to point B. Important points for the task are marked on the map with a palm print. A hand in red is the main task, and a hand in gray is an additional one. Then more complex and complex tasks will appear, so sometimes difficulties arise with orientation on the ground.
There are modifications that simply add more marks and names to the city map. For example, here is more, to which names have been added. I haven't had any problems with this, but it may help some people.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?" he asked me after we’d both finished day three.
“I needed to see the infected organs” I told my friend, realizing as I typed that this defense probably wouldn’t hold up in court.
A look at the same events from different angles is probably one of the main timeless diamonds of this game. It's a pity that only a few will get to it.
Big game
Autumn is coming, incessant rains, factories are standing still, a detective story about a guy in a raincoat, guns, pretentious young ladies, deep meanings. Then despair, fatigue, pain, hardcore, alcohol tinctures, the desire to do everything in time and incessant deaths in an attempt to solve the question “who is to blame?”, and then “what to do?”. Not a drop of lubricant, but very much in the spirit. “Desease. Utopia" is a classic domestic game, gray and gloomy, which tries to contain more than it can bear. The most amazing thing is that she sometimes succeeds.
Ice pick games manage to predict and use their creative instincts to find the right gameplay solutions, even if they rarely manage to implement them pleasantly. An attempt to give a feeling of freedom. However, this is understandable; there is always a narrative at the head of the game, for the sake of which such gameplay solutions have to be implemented. And then these solutions work on their own, without their help. This is somewhat reminiscent of the film Andrei Rublev, where the director was simply trying to convey the idea correctly, but because of this it turned out to be a more historical film than most historical films.
There are a lot of cool moments that are memorable one way or another. And they were not made according to scripts, these are absolutely gameplay moments where people act under the pressure of circumstances. Either you make serious decisions, then you get out of difficult circumstances, then you solve a riddle, or simply go through difficulties like a terminator. I remember it as if I personally took part in an epic confrontation. And he loaded the revolver, treated people, killed them using stealth, then twisted the young ladies. At one point I realized that the soundtrack was missing a little Russian rap. Weapons, ubiquitous hunger, money, danger, depression, streets and young ladies.
1. What is Mor. Utopia"
2.
3.
The locations initially give the false impression that the game is like a quest, but it is not. Maybe I once planned to become a quest, but obviously quickly abandoned this idea. Also, this is not a visual novel; there is less text here than in some action films (which is a shame, it would have been fun). In short, this game is about driving a car, curved isometric shootouts, a shooting gallery and plot inserts in between. But more about everything.
Ilya “Maddison” became a funny performance, it would have been a shame not to continue it. I'm glad the developers didn't stop, as often happens with indies. Obviously, The Mercury Man tried to approach the matter a little more seriously. This means that the claims will be more serious. The last game was based on a post-apocalyptic theme, this time we are waiting for cyberpunk without cyberpunk.
The overly long intro of text blocks in this game is annoying. Instead of introducing information gradually, through history, they immediately lay out information about this world in one big piece. At first I assumed that this was due to the oversaturation of the game, but there are game days in which the story practically does not develop.
By the way, different types cursors - bad idea. It’s high time to completely abandon such quest rudiments. This was justified in the first part of Petka, there are many different comments on each subject. And there is quite a bit of text here that can be fished out with these cursors. It is better to use a description when hovering, rather than spawning entities beyond measure. Or then fill the world with various comments under these “cursors”.
Driving a car is a great idea. I’ll say even more, from such a taxi driver mini-game you can make an excellent turkey, like Cyberpunk Bartender. From the first seconds I want to start rocking out to retrowave. Judging by the idea, this should be the most autistic element of the game, relaxing after battles. But we couldn’t create any cool gameplay. Driving is boring, slow and annoying. I had to drive with one hand and read a book with the other in order to somehow relieve the boredom of driving.
Although there is no steering wheel here, the character controls the car only with the help of pedals, without placing his hands on the steering wheel. At least draw the wires going from the steering wheel to the head of the main character, because cyberpunk. Let him at least control his brain, and not just be armless.
The shootouts are unexpectedly cool in places. Drinking beer, smoking in style, popping some pills, choosing the right timing to recharge is great. Mainly because of the excellent animation. You even feel the drive in places. I always wanted Max Payne in the style of Hotline Miami, even in this version. But the character constantly runs into furniture and gets stuck. If it were possible to understand by some marks on the floor where the floor ends and the sofa begins, it would become much more pleasant to play. Now it is impossible to determine by eye where the scenery is and where the obstacles are. Not everything is going smoothly with the shooting itself either. You shoot at a target, but end up somewhere wrong. This kind of vagueness is annoying.
The test at the shooting range was a pleasant surprise. I was afraid that they would force me to beat mobs again, but here it’s a nice change. Only the complexity is incomprehensible in places. I couldn't complete the first mission in ten attempts, but I passed the second one on the first try.
Depending on the strength of the person, the game can become very boring. This is one of the main problems of "Quicksilver Man". The game doesn’t quite understand where it’s fun, where it’s challenging, and where it just becomes dull and boring. No balance found. It's hard to find reasons to play beyond the first two days without some additional value, like playing on a stream or wanting to write a note about the game.
Okay, let's assume the balance can be found with the help of patches and experiments. The Quicksilver Man has a great atmosphere, a narrative designer with talent. A strange story from a fantasy world, taking lowly everyday things to the point of absurdity, glued together with the help of cool Hollywood cliches. This produces a phantasmagoric effect in places. At the same time, the developers don’t seem to care about what happened. There are two unnecessary cursors for immersion in the world, but they won’t hit anything. There are a lot of things in different locations, but you can’t take actions with them. There are large, homogeneous chunks of text, but little dialogue. The description of the bed promises terrible nightmares, but there are none. Every morning begins with silence and silence. It’s as if they were saving on the text in the hope of cutting down on costs for voice acting and translators. Or as if all the writing energy was spent on the initial blocks of text and the ending, and then the desire to make the game dried up.
That being said, I really liked the game in places. A hodgepodge of Blade Runner without cyberpunk, noir templates and Russian detective stories about ducalis. Attempts to resemble Hotline Miami, Max Payne and a hint of visual novels. This covers almost everything I love. But the middle of The Mercury Man is unbearably dull and dull.
Part of this tediousness is redeemed by the ending. There are cool scenes where a police officer drinks and silently looks at a sleeping girl. New locations and cool sprites that are used only for one scene. At this moment you understand that it was the artist and animator who really wanted to make the game. It is they who pull it to the surface with their zeal.
A wonderful game made of metaphors, in which the philosophy of survival is taken to the extreme. In essence, this is an abstract survival game, except that the iron man mode is missing. I don't know people who were able to pass it the first time. It's not just about adhering to the principles of hardcore, the atmosphere of Turgor constantly puts pressure on the player. And ice axes are very good at compressing air in the atmosphere.
Even after many years, the first minutes of the game are impressive. These abstract decorations still excite to this day; even the cardboard characters do not spoil the impression (especially since they are practically absent here). Then the effect smoothes out, you get used to abstractions. It seems like I’ve already explored the familiar locations, and the new ones don’t surprise me. But then one day something appears that sticks in your soul. And what it will be - a garden, a younger sister’s apartment or a city is up to the player’s taste. Moreover, I would especially like to note the urban locations; after all, in this game they feel especially magical. At such moments you even regret that there are few such levels. I don’t know with what you can compare the anxiety in your soul from mostly empty locations. Unless with Myst, and that’s unlikely.
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| Growing a garden in Turgor is beautiful |
The problem with the game is that you need to get a feel for the concept. But it doesn’t look particularly attractive; to become interested in it, you need to feel the concept, only the desire to push yourself and feel the concept arises.
Moreover, Turgor in some sense is not complex. If you figure it out, understand the bare mechanics and learn a couple of secrets, then everything becomes simple. Instead of a couple of hours, it will take only half an hour to kill your brother. Therefore, after completing it, it seems that everything was easier than it actually was. It’s just that the time and number of attempts until you understand it are comparable to any similar Dark Souls game.
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| There are sisters for different tastes |
I won’t hide the fact that the boss fights here turn out to be truly exhausting and therefore impressive. The first time I killed a large worm for four hours, with all my strength and in the last bit of time, saving every drop of color.
A game about survival, catharsis and the search for creative energy. But here they demand a high price and a lot of time. Too high a price for a toy. It is clear that catharsis is not an easy matter, it will not happen just like that. But games are simplified simulations where I have to get the necessary emotions faster and easier. And here the balance is broken. The energy that the game took from me would have been enough to gain catharsis in the outside world. For example, I could write a short story.
The gag for most, as I noticed, occurs at the moment when the player is released to farm a color in the free world. The rules of the game are already becoming clear, the necessary locations have been studied, we need to further deal with resources and time management. On top of all this is a oppressive atmosphere and a constant alarming lack of time and resources. At this moment, hands begin to give up, the desire to finish to the end passes. Which is very symbolic, because the game itself is about the search for this very energy in every sense. He behaves like a swimming coach who throws a student into the sea while he himself hangs on an inflatable toy. I would like the game to somehow miraculously help me find energy within myself. She doesn’t do this and perhaps this is her main failure.
It’s not clear to me what was supposed to lead me to the finale, after I got acquainted with this phantasmagoric world of Turgor and that’s all storylines became clear. Perhaps he should have warmed to one of the sisters, the motivation should have been to help her overcome the barrier. But I didn’t find it in myself. Perhaps this is the answer that the game about finding creative powers gave me.
P.S. About the difference between versions
There are two versions of the game. The original “Turgor” and the expanded version “Turgor: Voice of Color” released for worldwide distribution. In the second version, the technical basis was slightly improved, the mechanics were slightly simplified, the dialogues were changed and the plot of the game was corrected. You can find many Old Believers who did not like the innovations. But, despite some ideological differences, the second version is much more intelligible and enjoyable. You should start playing Turgor: Voice of Color.
We removed unnecessary boring mechanics that only got in the way. Old Believers don’t like this, you can find a lot of notes about how this ruins everything. But in fact, all these small simplifications only make the game better.
First half updated game We are led by tasks that are more clearly indicated. In the original Turgor they simply throw him straight into the sandbox, while awkwardly trying to explain everything at once, which is why the mysticism of the game breaks down. All the amendments to the plot make the game more organic and correct some logical flaws.
There are quite important differences in the dialogues. In “The Voice of Color,” no matter how funny it may sound, color has its own voice and speaks to you. My favorite character, in fact, I can’t imagine how I could play without him.
The sisters have different dialogue in the two versions. In this regard, I understand the Old Believers who recommend the first version. The sisters say much more in the original. Now it’s much easier to get into them. And if you don’t like any of the sisters, then a lot of the game loses its meaning. As I understand it, this happened due to the fact that “The Voice of Color” had to be translated into different languages, which means that each line increases the cost of translations.
At the same time, the original Turgor is more unpredictable and seems to be more alive, more like a sandbox. But the expanded version maintains the pace and tension much better, preventing it from slipping into pure farming. And this dualism is incredibly annoying; you don’t understand which version is better. Every difference makes you feel as if this is still an unfinished and chopped-off game.
Apart from the dialogue, the second version is better in everything. We need to start with her. You won't be able to pass on your first try anyway. The second time (even if you didn’t pass the first time) you can start from the original. There will be no need to worry about missions and listen to tutorials, she will add bugs and a couple of changes in the form of complications, there will be more dialogues with the sisters. Then, due to familiarity with the game, instead of tension there will be meditative farming and pleasant communication with your sisters.
To be honest, I want to watch a video in the standard YouTube style “foreigners are watching” to understand what’s wrong with me and where I really should have laughed.
However, the further you go, the more bloody humor appears in the film. At first, the main characters are afraid of everything and behave like frightened chicks. Gradually they gain confidence and begin to fight for power. At one point, a turning point occurs. The film moves from fooling around into something more serious and bloody. But the funny thing is that it was at this moment that I started laughing.
The entire film changes the moment Captain Lorca from Star Trek Discovery appears in the frame. An unexpected plot twist brings the universes together, revealing the secret of whether Lorca died after falling into the spore reactor at the end of the season. Apparently he ended up in the same disputed corridors that threw him at that time. And here it looks as organic as possible. Having been in two universes, between the federation of love and the empire, Lorca finally found his calling. He was always impressed by this military role. An amazing character, his audacity and humor set off all the NKVD officers and office rats. Just as brutal as always, he comes and punches everyone in the face.
Let's go back to more recent series, the same thing happens there. Fabulous " Detective agency Dirk Gently" The first season is the strongest intrigue, funny jokes, bright characters. With each episode, the intrigue unfolded like a spring. And so stupidly they leaked the entire second season, depriving it of a fascinating plot. Yes, there were even more colorful characters and more funny situations. But without a fascinating plot, the series fell in terms of internal sensations from an unattainable peak to mediocre.
Netflix, by the way, has changed amazingly. Each of his series has always been a gorgeous work. Now it looks like industrial waste. Not in vain " South Park“There are so many jokes about him. Although he himself South Park"is also very weak, it belongs on the new Netflix.
This is especially noticeable in the example of superhero series, which they used to do well. Both Daredevil and Jessica Jones have been impressive in the past. True, the second season of Daredevil was already on the verge of patience, too boring. The drawn-out tediousness was still tolerable in Luke Cage, the rapper in the background helped to cope. But what started this year is already on the level of Arrow and Supergirl - both externally and internally (and it is not customary to discuss such series in polite society).
« Iron fist" turned out to be a continuation of the worst thing about Daredevil. The one that makes the second season sometimes painful to watch. The ninja theme sucks. There is a dissonance due to the very presence of ninjas with such a serious and dark narrative. They are too stupid, as if they came out of a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon. The plot of “Iron Fist” repeated the outline of previous series from the line. By the fourth time I was already tired of this scheme. Moreover, the hero is the most banal of all that you can think of. It seemed like kung fu fights would brighten things up. But this empty hand waving in the air is the weakest link of the series. The blows do not even reach people, stopping a meter away from the person. After such battle scenes, you want to turn on any Jackie Chan film and cry.
Actually, for the same reason, the Netflix-Marvel “ Defenders" failed. They brought their characters together, well, okay. It didn’t work out to connect anything worthwhile, so again it’s just pure nonsense about endless ninjas.
On this background, " chastener" - the only gray spot on a black background. Gray, boring, faded and drawn-out series. Again, for the fifth (or sixth) time, repeating one plot scheme Marvel's Netflix. With the same plot twists. It's also drawn out and boring. But there were no ninjas or bad kung fu fights here. This alone is enough for the series to be included in the lists of the best of the year in various publications.
Let's move on to another topic, comic-hallucinogenic and book-hallucinogenic. Series " Legion"is a wonderful example of a beautiful picture, vivid scenes, hints and references to comics. At the same time, he stayed within the framework of realism for a long time. A wonderful series in places. It's a shame that it ended with a hint of a second season, it won't work again.
« American Gods“—in some places it’s the same. I remember the book; I perceived it as an incomprehensible hallucinogenic journey. Due to the visuals, the series seems more sane and understandable. Even the cheap special effects scenes look very appropriate here, as if they were meant to be. It also drags due to the bright, juicy scenes. But the problem is main character failed here. If in the book I warmed to him, then here the hero is too stony. The most important vulnerability of the entire series is where it stops working.
Another ever-ongoing series about hallucinations is “ Mister Robot" Completely stopped making me laugh. Everything fell into repetition and raising the stakes. It's like Dragon Ball. One Super Saiyan is still cool, but when this happens for the hundredth time, I don’t care. And it doesn’t matter what happens there, planets, galaxies or universes explode. In general, I am sure that a sane person should not watch such series that pretend to be serious beyond the first season. Because they give the best at the beginning. And then the series just santa-barbarize, turning their interesting idea into a kindergarten.
I can’t make these claims against the second season.” Stranger Things”, because he keeps himself on the level. It's just too boring. I felt like I was staring at a screen that was turned off.
Season three Twin Peaks. It’s clear that I won’t consider the continuation as the main series of the year. Although, somehow I managed to watch all the first two seasons and the new one this year. It turned out that this is really interesting and not at all like what they write everywhere. A clear, interesting, funny and sometimes infernal series.
« Mindhunter"is a stylish and somewhat boring series. At first he captivates with his cunning photography, and then hangs out in the same style among the dull characters. The plot turned out to be more complicated than it initially seemed - this is only about the beginning of criminal psychology, about which many films would later be made. True, this series did not show in detail the creation of a new industry. Instead, I saw a tribute to all those Maniac movies. It’s as if Zodiac was made again, Red Dragon again, all the other films about maniacs together again.
My favorite stupid space series " Dark matter" ended on the most offensive point with a cliffhanger.
What's incredible is " Rick and Morty" The series, like Sherlock, soared in terms of expectations after the second season that they were afraid to make a third. It was bright, funny, dark and magical. The ending was a little leaked, but it doesn't matter compared to the other episodes. A cartoon that lived up to overly high expectations.
So, there were two best TV series this year (the story with games is repeating). Two series, one came out at the beginning of the year, the other at the end. Both are simply great, released with the support of Netflix, for that you can forgive them anything.
A Series of Unfortunate Events or in Russian " 33 misfortunes" An incredible series that made me feel like a small, defenseless child. At the same time, it seemed so fascinating that it was impossible to put it down. The series of children's books on which the series is based had something special - bad things constantly happened to the main characters, and then even worse happened. And it was impossible to tear myself away from this. Yes, I immediately remember the old film “Lemony Snicket: The 33 Unfortunate Events,” but in comparison with the series, you can see how faded the story was made by its re-interpretation as an adventure and Hollywood sweetness. The series reminded us that tragedy as a genre can also be very interesting. And funny, sometimes spectacular, sometimes incredibly outrageous; in the end, tragedy is the sister of comedy. The most complete, ideal and interesting series of 2017, which is unlikely to be missed.
On the other side of magnificence - the series is a little crooked, but at the same time beautiful " Star Trek: Discovery" The best Star Trek in the last 30 years, since The Next Generation. Like Star Wars, here the main enemies of the series are himself and his fans. Because when a great series returns, crazy fans who have degenerated during this time come out of the ground. However, the series itself gave a reason for this, showing the first two episodes to be terribly boring.
The new Star Trek has restored faith in this universe. Stylish and cool picture, new sci-fi features and ideas, still surprising worlds in places. Stoic and noble characters, even if they constantly try to disguise them with additional chiaroscuro, as if everything is not so simple. But the main thing is that the characters behave extremely logically, and do not hysteria like housewives. The plot very well bypasses all the hackneyed cliches. Just when you think that now everything will begin according to the pattern, everything goes the other way around. The captain is doing something sinister and there will be intrigue? No, he will just come over and talk about these doubts.
It’s especially painful to look at “against this background.” Orville" There the situation is exactly the opposite. It started out as a kind and funny world from the first Star Treks, which they decided to remake in our time. The same funny and funny situations with a little moral filling, an honest crew that gets into stupid situations. The only difference is that here “The Orville” showed something wonderful at first, and then immediately degraded to the level of the Star Trek series of the nineties and two thousand. However, I can argue with myself about this endlessly; someday I’ll write separately about all the “Star Treks” in a row.
Results: Star Trek: Discovery is the best series of the year, and 33 Unfortunate Events is arguably the best series of the decade.
One of the postulates that the Ice-Pick Lodge studio based the game on was the optionality story missions. The first task of everyone who plunges into the world of the eerie Utopia is survival. The rest is secondary, although, of course, it is not prohibited and even desirable. With such parting words, the creators place the player in the skin of a stunned character and carefully take care that the skin subsequently grows more tightly to the owner.
After a ritual conversation with two masks, we are essentially left alone with ourselves and begin to live. I repeat: to live, and the problem of survival is not only and not so much in goals and tasks. Having reached the end, having done everything that is possible and impossible, there is a chance to die at the very threshold of the solution. After all, survival and the plot follow adjacent paths, sometimes intersecting, but not connecting into one.
And “survive” is a flexible concept. Both the triumphant military leader and the crippled prisoner of war can be said to have “survived.” But I want to survive well!
Personal characteristics
In order to survive “well”, we need to understand that the “skins” of the characters we inherited are completely different. Each has its own history, its own character, its own views on life and the situation in the city. Each has unique capabilities, different resources, and encounters very different attitudes from the other participants in the drama. And the principles of effective survival, of course, are also personal to them.
Bachelor
A man of high society, intellectual work and high flying. He is the only one who comes to the city as a fighter who does not agree to compromise. A man who has earned the respect of some, the love of others and the hatred of others. His role is intellectual. All the doors of the city are open to him and many, many are ready to shift some of the responsibility onto him. No, collecting bottles is not his path. Daniil is the undisputed leader in the number of money assignments. The “exchange” option for starting earnings, which we will talk about a little later, is available only to him. He is a warrior of the day and night streets, a killer of killers and a terror of marauders. Dankovsky has no one to hide from and nothing to do in the infected areas. His job is to go deeper into the plot. Which he does with success. His scenario, in my humble opinion, is the strongest in the game, despite the uniqueness of the Changeling's fate. He lives to lead the player with him. Train him. Hit him. Prepare for further testing.
Haruspex
Artemy Burakh. Student. Oinon. Blood from blood and flesh from flesh of this city. You should know it like the lines of your own palm. And for this reason he must enter the game second. No, Artemy is no more difficult to play than Daniil. It's just different.
Yes, he comes penniless, hungry, beaten, poor and loved by no one. Nevertheless. Those half-days during which the entire adult male population chases him do not cause any inconvenience. They, frail townspeople, cannot catch up with the miracle hero!
On a note: practice has shown that half-sided running is somewhat faster than straight running.
The Haruspex is doing worse with money than Dankovsky. Few people are ready to trust a gloomy healer who, they say, also stabbed his father to death! On his side is the knowledge of his ancestors. Tvirin extracts, dead porridge. His place is on the streets at night, in boarded-up and plague-ridden neighborhoods. No infection is scary for the miracle hero who has just “drunk” half a bucket of moonshine! Or, rather, a home-made immunomodulator.
Burakh does not lack ammunition, mainly thanks to Andrei Stamatin - he readily offers them in exchange for herbs. And, accordingly, there is no shortage of organs of murderers, money and trophies from their bodies.
Imposter
The girl from the pit. Thief, plague, saint... Strange. Unexpected. Who is she in this City? Nobody. Having immediately received shelter and protection, she is forced to prove that she is not guilty of causing the pestilence. They don’t trust her and are in no hurry to pay for tasks. So you have to get out. Called a thief? It's your own fault! A little one and a half meters tall becomes a threat to peaceful villagers. Whistling something from the closet, she easily dodges the owners and runs to the next house. Oh, to look for my sister in the plague quarters? Okay, but then Klarochka will clean all the nightstands at the same time. Everything that is bad is for her!
And she has wonderful hands. They do not treat as much as they cripple. And 15-18 bandits may not return to their lairs by morning, because Clara wants to eat! It’s more difficult with marauders, but you have a pistol and it’s quite possible to make it in time. Arsonists are scary, but you can approach from behind and... Fear Clara, the new Mistress of the Earth!
These are the heroes of the eternal never and nowhere. But there are ways of survival that are common to everyone. The first and main one is that legs feed not only the wolf. The city is big, time is short. And, it’s disgusting, it doesn’t like to wait. Therefore, you need to run a lot. Extremely simple. But either the paths in the City are somehow strange, or the local plants smell somehow... interesting, but running straight is not the best quick way! But if you don’t resist the intoxication of flowering herbs and run in a half-turn, that is, simultaneously forward and to the side, then the result, although not radical, is still faster. Precious minutes can save more than just lives.
But what can once and for all protect our hero, immediately solving all his problems? Only money. I will devote the main part of the story to them, because cash is protection against infection, nourishing food, and a reliable weapon. The most commonplace way to get hold of money is through trash cans. There is so much in this sound! And there are needles, and watches, and razors. And glass containers, the eternal friend of the disadvantaged! No matter how much we hate collecting such wealth, no one will judge you for it. The most effective spell in the game might sound like this: “ Drunkard drunkard! I know you haven't had a hangover today! And I have some water...»
Conscientious recycling of bottles filled with water will bring a lot of bandages and tourniquets, which can already be sold in wholesale quantities to stores. And needles, hooks, watches and other trinkets are useful when trading with children who, in principle, do not take money. Well, enough about the sad stuff. Let's talk better about other, more elegant ways to make money...
Purchase
There is a good reason why it makes the most sense to start the game with the Bachelor. He, as a respectable medical luminary from the capital, owns some kind of start-up capital, therefore, can afford serious investments. As economics textbooks teach us, among stock exchange players the so-called "bulls" and "bears". If “bears” lower prices for a product and then buy it cheap, then “bulls” first buy it cheap and then raise prices. You and I will find ourselves closer to the second of these roles.
On the very first day of the game, it turns out that a pestilence is breaking out in the city. What's happening to prices? Right. Moreover, for food they skyrocket 10 times, for everything else - 5-6! And whoever did not have time to buy everything he could get his hands on was late. There won't be such low prices in the future. On the first day, I recommend buying stale bread (they don’t keep anything else), chicken legs and smoked fish. And there are three of all this. If there is anything left, you can buy it for yourself. Yes, that's right, and here's why. On the second day, a certain sweet person - Lara Ravel - will ask you to buy food for her shelter. The powerful cities of this, of course, will chip in for this godly cause, but a reasonable person wouldn’t buy at ludicrous prices what he bought yesterday for pennies? All that remains is to give away the pre-stocked products. 10-13 thousand is in your pocket. Moreover, prices as high as on the second day are not expected in the future either. If you have something for sale, sell it.
But starting capital still not enough for a global purchase. Looking for a job!
Sale
May the money-grubber not reach earthly heights! In the sense that accumulation is harmful not only from an ethical point of view. Great amount all sorts of trinkets found in tanks received as rewards, taken from lifeless bodies, should not be left lying around. From a needle to a double-barreled shotgun, everything can be put to reasonable use. Why the double-barreled shotgun ended up in the “trinkets” will be discussed later. To the question of where to get them, I will answer: depending on when.
On the first day, let’s say, providence is very generous to the Living. The bachelor finds up to three revolvers, two of which he can safely take to the moneylender. It is possible later, prices will skyrocket, but if there is not enough to buy food... Burakh, in addition to the already mentioned revolver, can also find a double-barreled shotgun. The impostor is not entitled to anything except a lady's pistol, but this is also something for which money is not paid! Everything unnecessary is thrown away, gentlemen!
Only two questions remain: where to get the “extra” and where, in fact, to donate it? In the introductory dialogue, the masks hint that prices may vary from store to store. And they don’t lie! Practice has shown that the treasured store with the best prices for sale is located right next to the Kain family nest. However, who cares about practice, Andrei Stamatin himself informs Artem about this. Come on in, people!
But to the question “where” and “when” the correct answer is “in houses”. Basically, in everyone. But there are three “buts” at once.
First. Peaceful houses don't just open up. With a master key - no problem, and there will be no problems inside until the search begins. Well, normal people don’t like it when some suspicious person bursts into their house and rummages through their late grandmother’s sideboard! Even if he were a Bachelor three times, he would taste a blow like the most common thief. You can, of course, fight back, but reputation...
Second. Infested and boarded-up houses can be opened without master keys, but an infection is an infection. True, with a certain amount of dexterity, luck and medicine, it can be avoided. And if not avoided, the things found will more than pay for the antibiotics.
Third. The boarded up houses are not empty at all. However, in this case, your reputation will even increase.
The issue of robbery is especially relevant for Clara. Judge for yourself: moonshine doesn’t drive, it doesn’t inspire confidence, God hasn’t given it strength... Of course, it’s even more dangerous for her to meddle in boarded-up houses (in other words, quarantine houses) than in infected ones... But who feels sorry for her?
Market for utopian services
Pestilence breaks out. And, unlike the heroes, the locals know very well what they are dealing with. This happened five years ago already. Yulia Vladimirovna... Lyuricheva, I mean, doesn’t ventilate her little house at all. Even though he smokes like a little train. And for someone to voluntarily stick his nose out into the street?! Never! Just now, three strangers came along, let them roam around due to the infection. All the same, they are itching... But they have to pay for it. Or give something, tell something interesting. You understand. There are quite a lot of tasks in the game - about three per day, in addition to the main one. Here we will focus on those for which the characters are given a hard coin with the image of a bull. Most of them come in the form of letters, but some have to be guessed separately. However, if you approach the “employer” just like that, he will be happy to reward you with a request even without any letter.
Bachelor
No matter how useful it is to rummage through garbage cans, you won’t earn much money from it. And is such an activity befitting of a recognized luminary of medicine? Of course, everything depends on the personality of the player who tried on Dankovsky’s skin. And, with the exception of some very curious cases mentioned in the gaming press, this is not our method.
Wouldn't it be better to provide professional services to noble citizens? After all, it is the Bachelor who has the richest opportunities to earn money without sinking to the level of an urban beggar.
On the first day, do not pass by Lara Ravel's house. Agree, a tip to the “powder” warehouse is worth kissing Lara on both cheeks and even forgetting about Eva for a while! You can then take 1000 from her for destroying the “poison”, but do you need it? Larochka, as always, will ask for a good deed, but Junior Olgimsky will not skimp on this day with a ringing (and very ringing, with a face value of 3000) coin for the sake of his family “skeleton in the closet”, which has not come out at the right time. Anna Angel will give jewelry for a not very good deed, Eva will give a gold ring for almost the same thing that Vlad did. You will have to choose between the ring and the money.
Second day. The bachelor will be able to make money on Lara (the already mentioned task with products). Well, another thousand - on Andrei Stamatin, who is fleeing the city, if it is not spent for its intended purpose.
In the third - Georgy Cain can pay 4000. Stingy. For investigating the disappearance of his own brother he could have received more punishment. So what if you didn’t find it?.. Although you can “surrender” the Ruby to him for another 5,000, if you really don’t have enough for twirin.
On the fourth day, the gentlemen close to him (Vlad the Younger, Saburov, Grif) unanimously ask to play with death. Is it worth the risk for 20 thousand? The lion's share of this money goes to the first combat mission in the game. But more about the battles later. But an hour in an infected house will amuse fans of the horror genre...
Day five is by far the most fruitful. By visiting Anna, you can get 10 thousand and a tip for another fifty. Impressive? If suddenly not, then perhaps the second combat mission will amuse you? Just don’t be upset - even though three times more was promised, who will pay for a dead daughter? Victor and Junior Vlad still have a total of 45 thousand. But whether to spend them for their intended purpose or not depends on the player’s conscience. Further such rich tasks are no longer expected, so the question is more than relevant.
On the sixth day, Olgimsky Jr. will be able to pay 10 thousand. Amazing! Let's get even with the bastard who didn't give us one hundred and fifty thousand the day before! In the eighth, you can get a tip on a panacea from him (I mean, Vlad). And even though he won’t give you money for vodka, still under no circumstances give him away to Taya Tychik, no matter how you feel about him! Unless you want to spend the twelfth day in impotent rage, knocking your heels on the door of the Cathedral.
The ninth day will bring up to 7000 from the Inquisitor and a panacea for yesterday, on the tenth - you can milk up to 14 thousand more from Aglaya and Victor.
In total, Dankovsky has a chance to earn about 170 thousand on tasks alone. Rich Pinocchio...
Haruspex
Poor student Artemy Burakh will not receive money assignments so often. Everyone is suspicious of him, no one likes him... Only on the second day will the inheritance be less than five thousand. And 4 thousand - from Andrey Stamatin, or 5 - from Maria, to choose from. The missing thousand is compensated by information about a good store.
On the third day, Capella will have another 4 thousand - for taking care of Notkin. And there is something to worry about! The cartridges are running out, but money is clearly not enough.
The fourth day is generally full of disappointments: maybe steal weapons from the two-spirited people? And if you don’t “forget” all your equipment, valuables and money at home before going to Rubin, you’ll have to save up a lot again...
The next day, however, up to 4 thousand falls on the Haruspex for Dankovsky’s “heartfelt” affairs and more than 20 thousand from the younger Vlad. Plus the rat race. Very handy, interesting activity, 500 coins per victory. We will definitely dwell on them a little later.
On the sixth day, Mary will give the Haruspex two thousand. - Who can pay more for a small notebook? Nobody? OK.
The eighth day will bring 4 thousand from Younger Vlad, in addition, there will be an opportunity to shoot bandits in his well for a tidy sum.
The ninth and tenth days are “moneyless”, but you can get hold of trinkets (9th) and blood for a panacea (10th). However, the tasks of the next days will also bring anything but cash.
Total 44 thousand. Not much.
Imposter
She came from rags to riches... And they trust her even less than the Haruspex. The first “money” task is received from Anna (1000) and Lara (1500) on the second day. On the third day, Katerina will fork out 1000, Victor 2000 and the Bachelor also 2000.
The fourth day is poor (500 from Saburov). But from the fifth you can make money on the rat race, on Daniel (4000) and Capella (4000-5000).
The 6th day is again without money, but from the seventh a stable source of income appears - the Inquisitor and Maria. First, Dankovsky will give you a thousand “for courage,” and then these crazy ladies will vying with each other to ask you to warn your “colleagues” about the danger, regularly expressing gratitude in amounts of up to 5,000, plus medicine. In addition, every day you can “surrender” your sister to Aglaya or your colleagues for selfish purposes (2-5 thousand). By the way, on the 11th day, Blok unexpectedly forked out money instead of Maria.
Gambling
The public rat race has a very special place. The release of the patch added the most valuable opportunity - to free your hands from weapons at the press of one button. Do you remember how much agony there was before? Oh, how much abuse was heard in the noble houses where they play Pestilence, at the first need to urgently get rid of the rat! When you have a barrel in your hands, the last cartridge in your pockets, and your immunity is 20 percent...
But if you scare a rat with a shot, or simply catch a freely running beast, and then catch up and take it alive into your inventory... You can slyly head to Warehouse No. 2 (near the meat shop in which Burakh was languished) with pockets full of squealing rodents . And they will run along the paths! And the winner will bring you an income of five hundred coins, as well as great aesthetic satisfaction from the process. But they don’t give it away, they are greedy. Apparently, a new breed of sprint rats is being developed...
Looting and robbery
Perhaps this is the only way for Clara to not only accumulate a fortune, but at least somehow orient herself in space, throw not a pinch of bread crumbs into her mouth, but something richer, and, well, dress up for the epidemic. Here, perhaps, the developers even went a little overboard with the hints: everyone calls the unfortunate girl a thief for something that she supposedly has to do in the near future. And so that unnecessary existential questions do not arise about this, two master keys in the inventory direct thoughts in the right direction.
The technology is simple: a richer house is selected, preferably a three-story one, and then it’s a matter of using a master key. It is important to take into account a couple of details:
- The inhabitants of the house rush into battle only if they see with their own eyes how you rummage through the cabinets and sideboards. Until this moment, they accept the uninvited guest without the slightest embarrassment.
- Once opened door remains open, but the inhabitants forget that they were robbed as soon as you cross the threshold. Moral: if you get caught stealing, you should leave the house in order to immediately return and “steal what was not stolen.”
If in residential buildings (as well as in boarded-up ones) you can usually get hold of food, jewelry and medicine, then in plague houses you will more often find cartridges and kerosene.
A fight with a shadow
At 20:00 local time it begins to get dark and gas lamps are lit on the streets. Evening is coming. At 21:00 it gets distinctly dark, evening turns into night. At night, normal townspeople are supposed to sleep, or go to the theater, if the miniatures of Mark the Immortelle do not cause cultural protest in them. What can you do, their director is such a night owl...
And everything would be fine, but with the onset of darkness, types in brown clothes and with such a brutal face begin to creep out onto the streets of the newly peaceful city that you can’t confuse them with anyone. Moreover, the mug is the same for everyone, to make orientation easier. At the sight of any civilian, they immediately strive, Herods, to throw a knife with enviable accuracy. It’s amazing that since this happens here every night, how come people haven’t died out yet? It will be necessary to interrogate the survivors... But in their pockets they have from 200 to 800 coins, as well as razors, knives, and master keys.
A fair and honest Bachelor (Haruspex? - underline as necessary) cannot miss such a person. Here, in principle, you can give up on all other types of income, spending the dark hours of the day in the company of these suspicious individuals. Well, you can’t sleep at night, really, when this is happening!
On a note: two to three hours of sleep is quite enough if you sleep for a reason. At the end of these terrible 12 days, the hero will definitely become a fan of all sorts of remedies under the general motto “relieve stress.” How can you relax without tasting a bottle of Tvirin or a bottle of Meradorm, Novocaine, or morphine before bedtime?.. Even your eyes widen - everything is so delicious...
So, sleeping a lot is a sin. And, on the contrary, it is by no means forbidden for the savior of the city to wander the streets, visit the theater and kill bandits. 10-15 pieces per night, more possible. Then in the morning we will be completely creditworthy and, moreover, loved by everyone.
In a nutshell about fighting technique
| It’s important not to lose the rhythm - hit, dodge, hit again... |
Over time, normal bandits will become impudent and wander around in broad daylight. They are joined by arsonists and rats. So combat capability is turning from an alternative livelihood into a necessary survival skill. And here we come to the aspect of the game for which some critics have indiscriminately called it a “bad action game.” Well, yes, I grumble under my breath, it would be called a bad Tetris... Be that as it may, the weapons in the game are definitely fewer than in Half-Life, but more than enough for a peaceful doctor or student. And with Clara it’s a special conversation altogether.
So, our arsenal:
1. Firearms, 4 types. First, of course, the revolver. A reliable and fast-firing “chances equalizer”, preferred by your humble servant to other gunpowder toys. Secondly, a carbine that is easily recognizable as a good old Berdan rifle. Thirdly - a shotgun. Well, fourthly - a ladies' pistol. Clara's weapon. It is not used by men out of self-esteem.
2. Cold steel, two types: a surgical scalpel, a large cartilaginous one, very sharp (and according to forensic experts, a small sectional knife in general) and a kitchen knife, no comment.
3. Weapons are “warm” - bare hands, gentlemen!
Now more details. First of all, a revolver.
Revolver, despite what the common proverb says, does not even the odds in a fight. He multiplies them! Two myths about the revolver persist among players:
- Myth one: the revolver is weak. Hmm, if three shots to kill the target is weakness, perhaps. And that's if you don't shoot in the head. But shooting anywhere other than the head is inhumane, impractical and dangerous to your health. In almost all cases, one shot equals one dead. The word “almost” refers to the fifth day for Dankovsky. Oh yeah! One bullet is not enough for security guard Burakh! He needs three of them, all in his head! And there are three guards. By the way, either out of natural greed, or out of innate hostility towards the robber class, Daniil, led by me, refused to ask for Grif’s help (and pay 10,000), and the revolver confirmed the hopes placed on him.
- Myth two: a revolver is a melee weapon. Yeah. And also medium, and a little - distant. Not a howitzer, of course, but 15-20 meters is quite a working distance.
On a note: firearms quickly fails when fired. And if in the middle of history you can still catch “factory workers” roaming the streets, then remember how many proletarian repairmen per square kilometer are found in recent days, huh? A reliable means here is to get into a residential building. Did you think he was a robber? But no, customer.
Carbine. This is serious. Accuracy, lethal force and range completely compensate for the low... sorry, very low rate of fire. Kill the villain on the opposite bank of the river? Easily! A rat next to the same villain? No problem! Destroy the Hunchback's gang (of five) with three shots? It was a pleasure to do! Having pierced one, the bullet also kills the one standing behind him in the line of fire.
Shotgun. To be honest, the lethal force inspires respect. If point blank.
Ladies pistol. You can paraphrase the joke: “ Have you seen the revolver? So - it's not similar at all" It is loaded with revolver cartridges, the destructive power is slightly lower.
Each of the mentioned barrels is good in its own way, each has its own approach and tactics. A rifle lover can ignore “trifles” and be sure that whoever crosses his path will send a bullet between the adversary’s shoulders earlier and from a greater distance than he can throw anything in response. The “Clint Eastwoods” of the plague cities will fearlessly cut into the crowd, knowing that these six will be killed in ten seconds. And shotgun apologists will dodge the knife and go straight, because they don’t have to aim...
Those who emerged alive from the duel with Sergeant Major Oyun will not let you lie - everything around after that seems simple, and the bandits inspire only slight contempt. Well, tell me, what can this guy do with a knife? Yes, I knocked on the horns of the Foreman himself!
Indeed, one on one you can defeat almost anyone if you approach him correctly. The whole point is to feel how the blow is thrown and learn to keep your distance. He started swinging, took a step at the right moment - hit, step back. He saw the enemy's swing - he stepped back and began his own... “Warm” weapons are completely devoid of the disadvantages of firearms - the fists do not require repairs and cartridges! But they take time. And two or three opponents have already a big problem. True, Clara is a special case. Her magic arms, striking from a distance, are an almost ideal weapon for open space. But indoors you still need a gun.
Cold weapons differ from “warm” weapons only in slightly greater damage and the ability to deliver critical hits to the head from behind (knife only). But this is more than enough to turn it into a formidable weapon. When plague days arrive, some players add militias to their deadly diet, from the ratio of “one militia to two or three bandits.” Having stabbed the stupid guard standing at the post from behind, you can immediately “atone for sins” in the fight against the criminal world, while replenishing your luggage with provisions, first aid kits and other medicines.
Makes me think: a case is described when a player (LxR, moderator of the official Mor.Utopia forum), sneaking up from behind, stabbed all (!) soldiers who were going to shoot Andrei Stamatin on the 11th day of the Bachelor! So, by the way, 15 people...
