After Stardew Valley I am pretty much willing to give anything the guys and gals at Chucklefish put out a try. Pathway is a downloadable turn-based strategy RPG with a setting that is the 1930s and that right there grabbed my attention. This is not your typical setting for a game like this so it certainly makes Pathway stand out from the crowd.
How to Download Pathway
Pathway can be downloaded from Steam or GOG. To start, click on the button located below this review. You can also get the game’s official soundtrack.
The Game Review
I think that Indiana Jones or even The Mummy movies are the best comparison for the style that Pathway is going for. This RPG has different adventures and you start by picking one. You will find that the different characters that are in Pathway tend to specialize in one main category when it comes to weapons and abilities.
For example, one may be a real pro when it comes to putting down the undead. Another might have a real knack when it comes to healing. Also, one character may be great with a shotgun in their hands and another may be happier with throwing knives. There is a great cast of characters here and it is impossible not to be impressed.
Part of what really brings Pathway to life is the drop-dead gorgeous visuals. This is done in that pixel style that is very popular. I refuse to call the art style “retro” While they do use sprites here, they look far better than anything that could have been on the Super Nintendo or even the Sega Saturn. The lighting effects, in particular, bring the different locations to life.
There are five different campaigns for you to tackle. However, each one has different adventures for you to take on. These can then lead to unlocking even more! So, there is a ton for you to do here. You have to main modes of gameplay here. First of all, you will need to make your way to a specific location. Plotting the way, you go is easy to do and a lot of fun.
You of course also have combat! Most RPG’s live and die when it comes to their combat and I really like what Pathway has on offer. Xcom is a good comparison when it comes to combat. It is turn-based and tactical and you will be taking on Nazis, evil cult members and many more.
As this is an RPG, you will be looking for loot and upgrading your equipment so that you can get through the tougher sections in the game. While the missions are the same from a story point of view. The caverns, deserts, and caves that you will go through are randomized which does help add to the replayability. While I like the “story” of the adventures, I do wish there was just a tad more variety to them.
There is a ton of stuff going on in Pathway and it could have been so easy for the developer to make things too complex. I feel that they hold your hand just enough to make it so you know exactly what you are doing, but at the same time give you enough space to make your own decisions. There is certainly a learning curve in Pathway, but I never once found myself getting super frustrated.
If you love tactical style RPG’s, you are going to have a wonderful time with Pathway. I love the old style setting and the inspiration that it takes from Indiana Jones. It can get a little repetitive from time to time in terms of the story. To be fair though, plotting your pathway to the objective and the combat is so much fun, you really will not mind.
