Peripeteia

Peripeteia is an immersive sim inspired by the works of Ion Storm and Looking Glass Studios. The game was developed by Polish studio Ninth Exodus, and was created thanks to a successful crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter, among other things.

Plot

The action of Peripeteia is set in an alternative version of the 1990s, in which the Cold War never ended and the giant leap in technology did not result in improved living conditions. The game takes us on a journey to a brutalistic metropolis located in the territorial dispute. It's a kind of no-man's land located on the border between the recently established Polish Solidarity Republic, Second Union, and the European Union. Lawlessness and corruption reign here, attracting mercenaries and international agents fighting to secure the interests of the powers that be.

The game's heroine is Marie - a cybernetic agent and one-man army who earns her living by working for whoever will pay her more. The protagonist has to decide whether she's going to support the Poles in their brutal attempt to keep their recently revived country safe, or whether she'll choose to work for Second Union; there's also nothing stopping her from trying to look after the interests of one of the Western powers. The choices she makes will not only affect her future, but will determine the future of the entire world.

Mechanics

Peripeteia follows the path set by such games as Deus Ex and System Shock. We observe the action from a first (FPP) or third (TPP) person perspective. The game doesn't provide us with an open world, but although it's divided into levels, they are vast enough to offer the players a lot of freedom.

During the game we roam the city (the heroine can grab edges and climb buildings), we talk with neutral characters and perform tasks which push the plot forward and are accompanied by various side missions. We often have to make morally ambiguous choices, thus shaping the story told in the game.

On our way we also encounter opponents, which we can avoid by sneaking behind their backs, eliminate silently (indicators of the noise we generate and visibility of our character help in this) or kill with an extensive arsenal. These include firearms inspired by German Korobov's projects. As we progress we develop our heroine by installing various implants in her body. They allow us to increase Marie's strength and speed, as well as provide her with additional skills, such as optical camouflage or the ability to see in the dark.

Technical aspects

Graphics of Peripeteia is kept in a gloomy style which brings to mind games from the beginning of the 21st century. The game offers soundtrack which combines elements of such genres as drum and bass, techno or ambient.

Last updated on 18 October 2023