Inquisitor (video game)

Lore & Background

Inquisitor was in development since 1999, when the company Wooden Dragon was founded, with financial support from Cinemax. Originally scheduled for release in 2001, the game was delayed to 2002 and then repeatedly postponed, ultimately taking ten years to complete. It was finally released in November 2009. An additional three years were required to translate the game into English, and it was released on GOG.com on September 5, 2012, and greenlit on Steam on June 1, 2013.

The gameplay resembles the Baldur's Gate series, offering a top-down perspective. Players create a character from the classes of priest, paladin, or thief, then travel the world fighting monsters and investigating crimes against God and the king. Evidence includes testimony and items, and it is possible to mistakenly arrest innocents. The game includes over 200 weapons, 80 spells, seven types of magic, and more than 90 monster types.

The plot follows inquisitor Maxmilian Conti as he investigates the murder of a merchant in the town of Hillbrandt. The investigation reveals a conspiracy involving bishop Vallarian, who summoned a demon, and leads to a larger cult aiming to bring about an apocalypse. The player can choose to join the cult or stop it, with different endings involving battles against angels or demons.

Reader's Guide

Inquisitor received average to positive reviews, praised for its story, atmosphere, and scope, but criticized for its graphics quality and high difficulty. It won Best Story/Writing on GameBanshee and was named RPG France INDIE DE L'ANNÉE 2012. The game's significance lies in its ambitious scope and lengthy development, reflecting the challenges of indie game production in the Czech Republic. Its dark, investigation-heavy gameplay and moral choices set it apart from many contemporary RPGs. A possible sequel was considered when Steam introduced its concepts feature in October 2012, with Cinemax asking players for input on the next project. Additionally, a novel titled Inquisitor: Renesance zla (Inquisitor: The Renaissance of Evil) was released, serving as a sequel set 200 years after the game, in which the protagonist Maxmilian Conti is summoned from hell.

Did You Know?

• The game was in development for almost 10 years before its 2009 release.
• It took three more years to translate the game into English.
• The player can mistakenly arrest innocents if false evidence is found.
• A novel sequel, Inquisitor: Renesance zla, was released, set 200 years after the game.