The Thaumaturge

My Take on The Thaumaturge
Rating: 7.5/10

Being a fan of atmospheric storytelling and distinctive settings, I was eagerly waiting to start The Thaumaturge. It unites a magnificent combination of dark, early 20th-century Warsaw with supernatural elements based on real-world beliefs—definitely a reviving difference from the more common fantasy trade. I would rate it as a good experience overall, but with some oddities.

Story & Setting: 8/10
I liked the game's vibe and how detailed the world is. The story goes one way, but it's written well. It has cool people and a mystery that grabbed me. The game’s setting—an alternate 1905 Warsaw—is wonderful, it makes the player feel a combination of history and old spirits’ tales. It's a world that has a soul, and I liked the effort to render the environment so vividly. The main story treats the themes of morality, power, and consequence, and thus I was given a lot of food for thought while moving forward.

Gameplay & Combat: 6.5/10
The combat system is turn-based, reminding one of JRPGs like Persona, which I, in fact, enjoy. You go through the process of gathering clues, making decisions, and using a magic system that is based on real-world beliefs—fantastic idea! Nevertheless, gameplay is not at all deep or creative. There are times when the engagement feels a little flawed, with actions being sometimes out of sync, and the level of difficulty being inconsistent. There isn’t really any character personalization or ability trees worth mentioning, so if you are after intricate builds, you may be let down. All in all, battles do consist of non-material beings to a larger extent, which gives an interesting nuance, still, overall gameplay could have been smoother.

Voice Acting & Animations: 5.5/10
This might be one of the worst parts. The voice acting is hit or miss. Some people are great, others sound like they'rePhoning it in. The moves can be weird from time to time. It kinda takes me out of the game. It doesn't ruin the game, but I noticed it and it bugs me.

Choices & Replayability: 6/10
Although there are certain decisions made by the player that would affect the plot, it’s still a mainly linear ride. If your expectation is for the game to have branching paths and several endings, then you might get a little disappointed. This game certainly makes you consider the clues and the conclusions that you’ve drawn in a very nice way, but it provides next to nothing about replay value.

Overall Experience: 7.5/10
The Thaumaturge is nice. It's got a great atmosphere, setting, and story. It's not perfect though. Some little problems and a straight story mean it's not for everyone. If you like good stories and historical fantasy, then you'll like it. It's for some people out there, and if it is you, it's worth checking out.