Disco Elysium

Disco Elysium's story is widely regarded as a masterpiece by the majority of critics, with many praising its depth, complexity, and thematic exploration. Critics such as Attack of the Fanboy and Eurogamer Italy commend the game for its deep and complex narrative, impactful choices, and thought-provoking themes. The narrative is lauded for its immersive storytelling, engaging characters, and unique approach to storytelling, as highlighted by BaziCenter and Cultured Vultures. The game's focus on character development, societal themes, and moral dilemmas, as noted by Adventure Gamers and Daily Star, adds layers of depth and richness to the overall experience. While the overwhelming sentiment towards Disco Elysium's story is overwhelmingly positive, there are some minor criticisms to consider. Critics like DarkStation and Game Revolution mention the tonal complexity of the story, which oscillates between dark existential hopelessness and black comedy. This tonal shift may not resonate with all players and could potentially detract from the overall narrative cohesion. Additionally, some critics, such as Game Informer and GameSpot, highlight the game's challenging themes of violence, poverty, and societal collapse, which may be too heavy or intense for some players. Overall, the consensus among critics is overwhelmingly positive, with the majority considering Disco Elysium's story to be a standout achievement in narrative-driven gaming. The game's unique storytelling approach, deep character development, and exploration of complex themes have resonated with reviewers across the board. Critics appreciate the game's ability to tackle serious topics such as identity, corruption, and societal conflict with nuance and depth, creating a rich and engaging narrative experience. Disco Elysium's masterful storytelling, combined with its compelling characters and gripping narrative, solidifies its position as a must-play title for fans of narrative-driven RPGs.

The gameplay of Disco Elysium has garnered praise from multiple critics for its unique and engaging mechanics. Adventure Gamers highlights the wide range of skills, quests, and customization options available for players, including the innovative Thought Cabinet system. Attack of the Fanboy commends the game for encouraging deep exploration, character customization, and impactful decision-making. CGMagazine appreciates the focus on conversations and skill checks, with 24 skills representing different aspects of the character's psyche, leading to a unique and entertaining experience. This emphasis on player agency and character development through dialogue and decision-making is a common positive aspect noted by several critics, such as Eurogamer Italy, who mentions the intricate dialogue options and character traits influencing gameplay. On the flip side, some critics have pointed out certain drawbacks in Disco Elysium's gameplay. DarkStation notes that the RPG elements can be complex and not well explained, leading to potential early deaths and difficulty in understanding the consequences of character choices. Game Informer criticizes the arbitrary nature of dice-roll checks and the need to invest skill points in specific ways to progress, which can be seen as a hindrance to some players. Additionally, Destructoid mentions limitations where critical paths can be shut off due to skill checks, potentially restricting player choices and progression. Overall, the consensus among critics is overwhelmingly positive towards Disco Elysium's gameplay. The game's unique blend of point-and-click adventure mechanics, isometric RPG elements, and emphasis on dialogue and character interaction has been lauded for offering a refreshing take on the traditional RPG genre. Critics like GameSpot appreciate the deep exploration of the character's psyche through the skill system and Thought Cabinet mechanic, while Game Revolution praises the inventive use of CRPG systems to shape interactions and player choices. Despite some minor criticisms regarding complexity and limitations, the majority of critics find the gameplay of Disco Elysium to be immersive, engaging, and a standout experience in the realm of role-playing games.

The majority of critics were highly impressed with the Graphics and Visual Design of Disco Elysium, praising its unique and immersive art style. Adventure Gamers, for instance, described the game's audio-visual presentation as elegant and immersive, highlighting the painterly look, European-style architecture, and captivating atmosphere. CGMagazine commended the game for its depressing watercolor art style that evokes a sense of a dying city, creating a haunting and immersive world. IGN also lauded the gorgeously designed isometric RPG with a beautifully realized depiction of the city of Revachol, emphasizing the dense and inviting world for exploration. While the overall sentiment towards the graphics and visual design of Disco Elysium was overwhelmingly positive, some critics did point out a few shortcomings. Game Revolution mentioned a weakness in the lack of animations and interactivity, which could potentially detract from the overall experience. Game Debate noted that while the environments were beautifully drawn, the focus seemed to be primarily on text rather than visual design, which may not appeal to all players. Despite these minor criticisms, the general consensus among critics was that the game's visuals were striking and effectively complemented the narrative and atmosphere. In conclusion, the Graphics and Visual Design of Disco Elysium received high praise from the majority of critics, with many highlighting the game's unique art style, attention to detail, and immersive world-building. Critics like Eurogamer Italy appreciated the watercolor aesthetics that created a dreamlike and vintage atmosphere, while Game Informer mentioned the attention to detail in creating a fantastical yet grounded setting. The overall consensus among critics was that Disco Elysium's graphics and visual design were a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's immersive and captivating experience.

The opinions of the critics regarding the Sound Design and Music of Disco Elysium are largely positive. Many critics praise the haunting and melancholic soundtrack that enhances the immersive experience of the game. Adventure Gamers commends the "haunting soundtrack by British Sea Power" for enhancing immersion, while Attack of the Fanboy appreciates the "melancholic soundtrack that enhances the narrative experience." BaziCenter highlights the rich musical and sound design that enhances storytelling and emotional depth, with dissonant melodies reflecting the troubled mind of the protagonist and the game world's atmosphere. Eurogamer Italy mentions the diverse musical score and professionally acted dialogue lines that complement the gameplay, further enhancing the immersive experience. On the other hand, some critics point out shortcomings in the sound design and voice acting of Disco Elysium. New Game Network mentions that the audio design is serviceable but not particularly praiseworthy, with some added sound design feeling out of place. USgamer notes that while the sound design is generally good, the voice acting falls short with recordings sounding tinny and canned, detracting from the overall experience. Worth Playing acknowledges that the voice acting is quite good but does not delve into the specifics of the sound design. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that Disco Elysium excels in creating an immersive atmosphere through its sound design and music. The haunting and introspective soundtrack, along with carefully deployed ambient sounds, sets the mood perfectly for the game. While some critics point out flaws in the voice acting quality and occasional inconsistencies in the sound design, the majority agree that the music and sound design contribute significantly to the overall experience of Disco Elysium. Critics like Cultured Vultures and PCGamesN praise the game for its great soundtrack and sound design that enhance the atmosphere, while RPG Site and The Games Machine appreciate the pleasant sound design that supports the story well.

The voice acting in Disco Elysium has received a mix of positive and negative feedback from critics. Several reviewers, such as Attack of the Fanboy and GameCrate, praised the voice acting for bringing the characters to life and adding depth to the setting. Eurogamer Italy also commended the professionally acted dialogue lines for contributing to the immersive storytelling experience. GameCritics specifically highlighted the impressive vocabulary and wickedly funny delivery in the voice acting, showcasing the depth of the performances. On the other hand, some critics, like Game Revolution and IGN, pointed out uneven voice acting as a flaw in the game. IGN mentioned that while some performances fit seamlessly into the world, others felt stiff, indicating a lack of consistency in the voice acting quality. USgamer criticized the tinny and canned sound of the recordings, suggesting that the overall experience could have been enhanced with improved voice acting. Worth Playing, however, found the voice acting quite good and a positive addition to the game, showcasing the varying opinions on the quality of voice performances. Overall, the consensus among critics leans towards a mixed reception of the voice acting in Disco Elysium. While some reviewers appreciated the strong performances that added depth and immersion to the game, others highlighted inconsistencies and shortcomings in certain recordings. The incomplete voice acting, as noted by New Game Network, allowed players to read the text instead, mitigating the impact of any weaker performances. Despite the varying opinions on the quality of voice acting, it seems that the overall experience of Disco Elysium was not significantly hindered by this aspect, with the voice performances contributing to the game's narrative and atmosphere to varying degrees.

In terms of the technical performance of Disco Elysium on PC, Adventure Gamers highlighted the consistent updates addressing performance issues, ensuring a smooth gaming experience. New Game Network also praised the game for being technically sound, with quick loading screens and no significant bugs. These positive aspects indicate that the PC version of the game offers a stable and enjoyable experience for players. However, there were some negative points raised by critics regarding the technical performance on PC. Cultured Vultures mentioned spotty autosaving and loading screens in interior locations, which could impact the overall experience. Games.cz noted struggles with pacing due to lengthy dialogues and frequent loading screens, affecting immersion. The Indie Game Website encountered bugs that required a restart, indicating potential technical issues that may disrupt gameplay. Overall, the consensus among critics regarding the technical performance of Disco Elysium on all platforms leans towards the positive side. While some minor technical hiccups were mentioned by critics like DualShockers and SpazioGames, the general sentiment is that the game is stable and enjoyable to play. Wccftech's mention of poor quality recordings and stressful timers may be areas of concern for some players, but the majority of critics agree that the technical performance of Disco Elysium is solid across different gaming platforms.

The majority of critics unanimously agree that Disco Elysium offers exceptional replay value, with various branching paths, diverse character builds, and multiple choices that significantly impact gameplay. Adventure Gamers highlights the branching paths of skill checks and dialogue choices that lead to new scenarios and characters in each playthrough, emphasizing the game's replayability. CGMagazine praises the high level of replayability, catering to different playstyles and expressing a desire to explore the game again. Cultured Vultures appreciates the many different paths and upgrades in the game, making each playthrough unique. PC Gamer mentions the variety of skills, stats, thoughts, and conversation options contributing to a unique experience in each playthrough. The diverse character development and extensive choices in Disco Elysium provide players with a wealth of content to explore, ensuring that each playthrough offers a fresh and engaging experience. On the flip side, some critics point out potential drawbacks in Disco Elysium's replay value. RPG Site suggests limited replayability due to the plotline and ending being generally the same with slight variations. Eurogamer Italy notes that while the game offers different character personality aspects and a highly reactive world, it falls slightly short of providing true freedom in choices. Riot Pixels mentions a lack of a clear epilogue and repetitive map exploration as areas that could impact the overall replay value of the game. Despite these minor criticisms, the overall sentiment among critics is overwhelmingly positive regarding the replay value of Disco Elysium. In conclusion, the consensus among critics is that Disco Elysium excels in providing exceptional replay value, offering players a vast array of choices, character builds, and narrative paths to explore. The game's emphasis on player-driven narrative, impactful decision-making, and diverse gameplay mechanics ensures that each playthrough feels fresh and engaging. Critics like COGconnected, Daily Star, and USgamer highlight the game's longevity and the desire to replay it multiple times due to the depth of character development and the multitude of choices available. Disco Elysium's ability to immerse players in its richly detailed world and offer a highly personalized experience through its gameplay mechanics cements its reputation as a title with outstanding replay value, making it a must-play for fans of narrative-driven RPGs.