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I recently picked up the “final cut” of Disco Elysium during the Steam Spring Sale at the amazing price of $9.99 (it usually MRSPs for $39.99). It’s a game I’d heard about since its release in 2019, but always with an air of mystery around it. It’s a roleplaying game, yes, but totally different from the typical fantasy-inspired roleplaying worlds of, say, The Elder Scrolls series or even the sci-fi roleplaying of Cyberpunk 2077 or Starfield (Ponty’s promised a review of CP2077, and I am quite excited to read it).
There have been non-fantasy roleplaying games before, to be sure, and even those that take place in the modern-ish world. Disco Elysium, however, is unlike any other game I’ve ever played, roleplaying or otherwise, and after just a few hours of gameplay—and having not even solved the first case yet!—I love it.
It also turns out the game can be had on consoles—and much more affordably than the default Steam price. Amazon has it on the Nintendo Switch ($25), the Playstation 4 (marked down $16.90 at the time of writing), and the XBox One ($24). If I’d known it was on the Switch I likely would have got for that console (and may still do so), but I think the game is meant to be played on the PC. That said, I can tell it’s quite console-friendly based on the controls.
What sets Disco Elysium apart from other games, I think, is that most of the game is dialogue—with your own mind. And not just one, unified mind, but your character’s entire nervous system. It is probably the closest simulation I’ve ever experienced to what goes on in my mind, although I’m not a drug-addled 70s-style super cop down on his luck.
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The Portly Politico 
I was hoping you’d review this at some point. I’ll probably write one up when we complete it. Philosophy, nihilism, humour, it has it all. And some of the best writing I’ve seen, in any medium. You can tell it was created by an author – multiple threads weave off in different directions but it all fits.
If you can send me the full article, that would be much appreciated.
Ironically, Audre would love the narrative shifts in this game. If only she could overcome her distaste of profanity…
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I’ll definitely send it to you. I wrote it earlier in the week, when I just had a few hours in it. I’ve probably played another twelve since then, so I will likely write another review at some point.
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Good stuff.
We’re a decent way through it. Shouldn’t be long until our first play is done.
And thanks for the blog. 👍
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