With The Inquisitor, a new action game will be released in 2023, which, with its dark, medieval world, will primarily evoke memories of The Witcher.
As a dark hunter, he trudges through the filthy alleys of a medieval town. Some fear him, some wish him dead. But killing him is no easy task. If you are his target, you can only hope that, contrary to everything he stands for, he will show mercy.
This description could certainly be used in this form for the good Geralt from the Witcher role-playing games. But it also fits Mordimer Madderdin, the hero of the action game The Inquisitor, which is currently in development.
Today we want to introduce this interesting project to you in a little more detail. After all, it looks as if fans of The Witcher could feel just as comfortable as the aforementioned Inquisitor as they would as a well-known sorcerer.
This is what The Inquisitor is about
The parallels between Geralt and Mordimer go even a little deeper. As with The Witcher, The Inquisitor also comes from the pen of a Polish fantasy author. In this case it is Jacek Piekara, who has been publishing stories about the Inquisitor Mordimer Madderdin since 2003.
But while Geralt wanders through a pure fantasy world, Mordimer lives in an alternative version of the earthly Middle Ages. And this version, mind you, turns out to be a lot darker than in reality. Jesus Christ is to blame. He didn”t die on the cross here, but took himself off it to take bloody revenge on all those who wronged him.
Such, of course, then affects the Christian faith 1500 years later, which knows no forgiveness or repentance in this world. Accordingly, the inquisitors proceed a whole lot more brutally than even in reality.
Mordimer is also such an inquisitor and is considered cunning, competent and pursues the constant urge to serve his divine order, but also to find out the truth. In The Inquisitor, this quest drives him to a town called Königstein, where you decide how unscrupulous Mordimer really is.
Who is The Inquisitor for?
If you have a soft spot for the dark Middle Ages and enjoy making morally complex decisions, The Inquisitor is for you. In the course of the game, you have to wander through the various districts of Königstein and bring the town, which has been taken over by corruption and sinners, back onto the right path.
In keeping with the original, it is extremely doubtful that any side will be right. For even Mordimer, as inquisitor, will certainly hold views and use methods with which modern people, in particular, very rarely agree. How vehemently he does so, however, depends on your decisions.
Especially whether you judge a caught sinner in the name of God, torture him or grant him mercy will play a major role. Whether this will lead to similarly morally tricky decisions as when we, as Geralt, decide on the weal and woe of a monster, cannot yet be predicted, however.
What does the gameplay look like?
The Inquisitor may seem like a role-playing game because of its stylistic proximity to The Witcher, but it has more in common with a classic action game. Mordimer cannot cast spells in the action-oriented sword fights, but he can at least use an alchemical powder called Shersken, which blinds enemies or heals him.
Apart from the fights, as Mordimer you investigate Königstein, make decisions and can also translate into the unworld. The Inquisitor can magically send his soul to this dark parallel dimension, which adheres to different physical laws. Here you can gain new knowledge, but you will probably have to pay a high price for the journey.
Mordimer can unlock new abilities as the story progresses, but they are not tied to level ups or skill trees. All new tools and talents only come into play through story events. For this reason, the development team refrains from calling The Inquisitor a role-playing game.
For Witcher fans, however, it could be worth a look due to the dark world, the difficult decisions and the bloody battles. Currently, a release in the 4th quarter of 2023 is planned.
Editor”s verdict
In its best moments, The Inquisitor evokes memories of the very first The Witcher with its tone and look. But I haven”t been able to play it yet, so I”m very curious to see what really awaits us. The setting has potential, but only if the story proves itself. Such delicate topics as the Inquisition and the use of torture can come across as distasteful if they are staged cheaply or written in a clichéd way. Incidentally, this also applies to the moral choices. In the end, this play stands or falls on its writing.
