I actually have played Disco Elysium and agree that it’s writing is consistently higher than Cyberpunk’s but I remember doing the devil ending in Cyberpunk and hearing male V express his fear of death, and the desperation to escape it at all costs felt so real to me in a way I’ve never seen. I’ve dealt with terminally ill patients and idk I’ve never seen someone capture the denial and bargaining as well as I felt it myself playing the character.
My favourite moment of writing in Disco Elysium was probably speaking to the boat lady who spits out some very harsh truths and for sure represents best the idea of “absords all critiques into itself” idea.
I must play Planetscape Torment because it’s the other big rpg that I’ve heard lots tell me is the pinnacle of writing in the genre.
I totally forgot that I got the Spoilers phasmid myself on my first run, that was another stand out to me. It’s such a beautiful and strange moment, in any other game it would feel out of place but for me the phasmid is arguably the greatest part of the game for me. I felt like hope and a miracle that something like that could exist in the crapsack world of Elysium and Revachol. With the fear of the Pale overwhelming everything and a constant state of drudgery and decline of a failed revolution it was nice to see that there are still things worth finding in the world. Harry speaking with it is a great thing as it lets him understand and overcome his self-hatred and shame.
Loved having Kim there.
“I see it, too”