Obsidian Entertainment’sPentimentis a game wrapped in story, intrigue, and style. From its authentic 16th-century artwork down to its font choices, there is a lot that makesPentimentunique while also being inspired by a multitude of contemporary works spanning almost three decades - and even works from the late Middle Ages. However, one of the most significant influences ofObsidian Entertainment’s newest historical fiction gamecomes from roughly 30 years ago, when a game titledDarklandswas in the hands ofPentiment’s director, Josh Sawyer.
Among more recent games that inspiredPentiment,such asOxenfreeorNight in the Woods, game director Josh Sawyer citesDarklandsas one of the biggest influences inPentiment’s development. WithoutDarklands,Pentimentmight have never existed, seeing as this 1992 MS-DOS role-playing game would be what laid the groundwork for Josh Sawyer’s passion project thirty years later. Moreover,Darklands’legacy has even inspired other works created byObsidian Entertainmentas well as Bethesda.
RELATED:Obsidian Announces Pentiment PC System Requirements
Darklands Set the Stage for Historical Fiction Games
To understand howDarklandsinfluencedPentiment,it is important to know whatDarklandswas and its importance at the time. Created in 1992 for the MS-DOS by a studio named MicroProse,Darklandswas an RPG set in the Holy Roman Empire in the 15th century. The game was more of a historical fantasy adventure than a historical fiction one, as it contained supernatural elements like demons and ghouls alongside 15th-century soldiers and Templars. Many RPG-focused game development studios, likeBethesda, still citeDarklandsas a significant influence on their creative visions, directly inspiring works likeThe Elder Scrolls: ArenaandDaggerfall.
Darklandsfollowed an entirely nonlinear plot, never guiding the player in a direction deemed right or wrong but instead allowing players to figure it out themselves. One of its most applauded characteristics was its striking watercolor art style, which impressed many MS-DOS gamers at the time. Most importantly,Darklandswas unique in its late-medieval concept in the 1990s, as most RPGs at that time liked to go for full-on high fantasy looks and found the most success in those settings. This was well beforeAssassin’s Creedand earlyCall of Dutygames would make historical fiction very popular. As a unique game with a distinctive look,Darklandsleft a lasting impression on a youngJosh Sawyer, who would go on to directPentiment.
Pentiment Continues Darklands’ Legacy
Pentiment’s origins began with Sawyer’s appreciation forDarklands’ approach to historical fiction. Sawyer found the 15th-century Holy Roman Empire a compelling setting for a video game, and he never gave up on that idea. Sawyer even went on to get a degree in history before finding himself working in the games industry, where he eventually found the resources for his 16th-century narrative game, set a little afterDarklandsbut still in that late-medieval period. Thirty years later,Pentimentfollows inDarklands’ footstepsby telling a story set in the late middle ages when most other games are taking place in entirely fictional worlds or diving into ancient mythologies. Moreover,Darklands’ celebrated art style, reminiscent of medieval artwork of the 15th century, lives on in spirit inPentiment’s painstakingly crafted illuminated manuscripts and woodcut artwork that strives for the same authenticity thatDarklandstried to achieve in 1992.
However,Darklands’ historical fiction setting isn’t the only influence it had onPentiment.Pentiment’s approach to gameplayis similar toDarklands,with a nonlinear structure to how its plot develops and freedom of choice for the player. Sawyer says thatPentimentnever definitively tells the player who the murderer is in this 16th-century murder mystery. Players will have to make their own choices, right or wrong, with no guidance from the game besides the clues they get, and then have to live with those choices. This freedom and open-ended approach to plot and gameplay harkens back to the days ofDarklandsand the MS-DOS, and it is clear thatPentimentis taking steps to honor the legacy of that game and that era.
Pentimentis available now for PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
