Scottish game developer Joe Richardson is very tired, but is extremely proud to finally announce the launch of Death of the Reprobate, the standalone conclusion to the hilarious Immortal John Triptych, on Steam (for PC & Mac).
Death of the Reprobate follows on from Richardson’s previous titles, Four Last Things and The Procession to Calvary, with a delightful blend of classic point-and-click gameplay, mischievous puzzles, and absurdist humor, all wrapped in a vibrant style that uses real Renaissance art as the foundation of your wild adventure.
So far so press release (thanks Joe). While it may be accurate, it fails to capture the epic scale of the game, the extensive, howling, silliness of the whole thing and the utter joy of pointing and clicking your way through a medieval landscape of fun, famine, pestilence, siege, war, serfs, dolts, miscreants, mendicants, monks, saints and soldiers in a way which no other game has ever achieved (except Joe’s previous two titles). All to the accompaniment of period music and the sweeping grandeur of landscapes and settings from the likes of Pieter Brueghel, John Everett Millais and some other excellent paint slingers from yore.
It’s fucking bonkers.
Look at the state of this…
WTAF?
Death of the Reprobate is a gentle story about being nice. Step into the bloodied boots of Malcolm the Shit, who lives up to his distinct moniker as a gleefully cruel and inventive executioner. Malcolm is the last remaining heir of the now-dying Immortal John, who charges him with fighting against his nature and completing seven good deeds before sundown in order to earn his inheritance.
Guided by Our Lord God Almighty, wielder of large arrows that point at clues and interactable gubbins, Malcolm must assist a host of eclectic and outrageous characters to help secure his much-desired titles and riches. Find a woman stuck neck-deep in a pond looking for idle chit-chat, or climb the mountains and take in the wondrous spectacle that is the nature of life by helping shoot down some birds (which was apparently a good deed in those days).
Fans of ‘classic’ (pfffft, that description may need updated following this series…) point-and-click adventures including The Secret of Monkey Island, Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge, The Curse of Monkey Island, and possibly even Escape from Monkey Island will love the Rabelaisian comedy, colourful interactions, and delightfully bizarre world of Death of the Reprobate.
Details, Brian, DETAILS
Fine, features in the actual game you actually need to play include:
- Classic point-and-click gameplay with modern amenities – use the ‘verb coin’ interaction menu to explore unique interactions and place, push, or insert things where they don’t belong
- Explore Joe Richardson’s beautiful blend of Renaissance, Rococo, and Romantic art. Hundreds of paintings spanning hundreds of years of artistry are brought to life in Death of the Reprobate’s infectiously charming world
- A standalone story makes Death of the Reprobate both a perfect independent entry into the Immortal John Triptych and a heartwarmingly satisfying finale for longtime fans
- Highbrow meets base buffoonery. Enjoy a delightful combination of high-art influences and boorish comedy, including the occasional gag about butts. See for yourself…
But Is It Fun?
The series has already garnered critical acclaim, with Polygon describing its predecessor The Procession to Calvary as “a smart and funny tableau of Monty Python-style jokes,” while Eurogamer says of DOTR: “Its bawdy and playful quests are infectiously cheeky, and its smartly constructed puzzles will leave you wishing there were more … it’s easily one of the most memorable games I’ve played all year.”
Checkpoint Gaming meanwhile saw beyond the tinkly music and peasant-based misery, stating: “With its biting satire, intuitive gameplay, and Renaissance style, Richardson has once again proven he can make profound statements about human nature while making us laugh at our own pettiness.”
Speaking of Death Of The Reprobate, Joe Richardson said:
Oh lord, can’t I just fucking perish already. I have to provide fucking developer quotes as well now!? Four years crafting my magnum opus and now I must grovel upon bended knee, cap in hand, bottom lip aquiver, to convince these fucks to even bother to press play on the embedded fucking YouTube video?!
When coerced by his PR agency to include a more moderate quote, Richardson added:
If you like your masterpieces chopped to shreds and your game developers burnt out and thoroughly defeated then boy oh boy, do we have a treat in store for you!
Shut Up And Take My Money!
Death Of The Reprobate is OUT NOW on Steam for PC and Mac. If you buy it before November 18th, you can save a whopping 10%.
Get it. Get it now. Thank us later.