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Pardon the dust! This page includes some jargon that hasn't been added to the site's glossary yet. I'll be around to fix this later, but sorry for the inconvenience in the meantime. |
Review: Pilgrims
At a Glance
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How to Save and Pause:Your progress is automatically saved as you play the game. Although nothing happens without you doing something first, you can pause the game by bringing up the game's menu by pressing ESC or clicking on the star in the upper right. Time needed per session:This game can be completed in under an hour, so you don't really need to set aside a lot of time for it.
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Does this game pose issues for Christian players?
 | Yes Several situations in this game can be a problem for Christians, the big one being that the player is required to help the Devil claim the soul of a wayward priest. |
Screenshots
![[view screenshot]](../images/screenshots/pilgrims_0.jpg)
![[view screenshot]](../images/screenshots/pilgrims_1.jpg)
![[view screenshot]](../images/screenshots/pilgrims_2.jpg)
Game Overview
At first glance, Pilgrims might look like a point and click adventure game with a cute, sketchy art style. But it's actually presented more like a card game: in order to use a character or item, you'll "deal" their respective cards into the scene. Most of the challenges come from figuring out how to obtain specific cards and how to use them to solve puzzles. The choice of the card motif makes perfect sense when you consider how the game's story began.
One night, in the local tavern, the locals gathered to play some cards together and have a few drinks. But this wasn't your normal game of poker - one of the gamblers happens to be the Devil himself, and when people play his game, there are consequences. One person, known as the Tramp, plays it safe and bows out of the game before he spends too much. The local priest, on the other hand, continues playing even after he's run out of money, and this carelessness results in him gambling away his soul.
The next morning, the Tramp wakes up in his tent and gets ready to move on. However, the ferryman has lost their little bird companion, and refuses to take anybody anywhere until their feathered friend comes home. This is where we come in: it's up to us to explore the world, find and help its inhabitants, and locate that troublesome bird.
Each location in the world functions as either a place where we can craft things or solve a puzzle. Most of the time, it's the latter, as there's someone or something there that you'll need to interact with in order to progress the story. The crafting locations are just there to give you a place where you can mix and match your cards in order to create something, such as a tasty fish stew or sleeping potion, that can help solve the other puzzles.
And this is where things really get interesting. There's no set path here. Almost all of the puzzles can be solved in more than one way, and sometimes you'll even discover ways to alter the final outcome of someone's story. For example, there's a very sad little man off in one corner of the world, and there are all sorts of viable ways to cheer him up. In this case, it doesn't matter which method you use, as long as it's funny.
This is a perfect game for a rainy afternoon, if it wasn't for some of the less family friendly things it contains. There's a fair amount of drinking, and the player ends up helping the Devil collect his due. If this sort of thing doesn't bother you, then I think you'd enjoy giving this game a spin.
One night, in the local tavern, the locals gathered to play some cards together and have a few drinks. But this wasn't your normal game of poker - one of the gamblers happens to be the Devil himself, and when people play his game, there are consequences. One person, known as the Tramp, plays it safe and bows out of the game before he spends too much. The local priest, on the other hand, continues playing even after he's run out of money, and this carelessness results in him gambling away his soul.
The next morning, the Tramp wakes up in his tent and gets ready to move on. However, the ferryman has lost their little bird companion, and refuses to take anybody anywhere until their feathered friend comes home. This is where we come in: it's up to us to explore the world, find and help its inhabitants, and locate that troublesome bird.
Each location in the world functions as either a place where we can craft things or solve a puzzle. Most of the time, it's the latter, as there's someone or something there that you'll need to interact with in order to progress the story. The crafting locations are just there to give you a place where you can mix and match your cards in order to create something, such as a tasty fish stew or sleeping potion, that can help solve the other puzzles.
And this is where things really get interesting. There's no set path here. Almost all of the puzzles can be solved in more than one way, and sometimes you'll even discover ways to alter the final outcome of someone's story. For example, there's a very sad little man off in one corner of the world, and there are all sorts of viable ways to cheer him up. In this case, it doesn't matter which method you use, as long as it's funny.
This is a perfect game for a rainy afternoon, if it wasn't for some of the less family friendly things it contains. There's a fair amount of drinking, and the player ends up helping the Devil collect his due. If this sort of thing doesn't bother you, then I think you'd enjoy giving this game a spin.
Points of Interest
The art itself provides clues
Each character is represented by a worn playing card when they're in your "hand". These "character cards" have four smaller graphics on them, one in each corner, and these provide clues to how this character relates to the world at large. This can help you figure out which characters can make the best use of a given item, though one of the icons always represents something or someone that the character can't or won't interact with.
Additionally, each of the game's achievement are depicted by a playing card in game. Once earned, the card flips over, showing an illustration of how you earned it. These cards can also be briefly flipped over to reveal possible hints about what you need to do to earn thatachievement.
Additionally, each of the game's achievement are depicted by a playing card in game. Once earned, the card flips over, showing an illustration of how you earned it. These cards can also be briefly flipped over to reveal possible hints about what you need to do to earn thatachievement.
Many extra secrets
Just because something won't solve a puzzle doesn't mean you shouldn't try it: many actions produce silly or unique interactions that can be amusing in their own right. You may even stumble across something that can be put to use later, such as an unusual recipe.
Steam community features
Fittingly for a game where everything is made from cards, there's a set of Steam trading cards available. But chances are, players will be more interested in earning the 45 achievements that are on offer. Nearly every interesting interaction or solution has an achievement tied to it, so experiment with everything!
Concerns and Issues
The Devil is a main character
Although the Devil is depicted in a manner similar to how he appeared in old folktales (ie, as a cowardly trickster with no real power or authority), he does join the Tramp and his friends on their journey, and can be called upon to help with various tasks.
Of course, this will ultimately culminate in the player helping him capture the priest and abscond with his soul, which is both a dark subject for an otherwise lighthearted game and something that many Christians won't be comfortable with.
Of course, this will ultimately culminate in the player helping him capture the priest and abscond with his soul, which is both a dark subject for an otherwise lighthearted game and something that many Christians won't be comfortable with.
Alcohol is heavily involved
Everybody in this game likes some good booze, and strong drinks are an important item to carry around with you. While it's possible for any of the characters to get so drunk they pass out on the tavern floor, the Bandit gets rather mean when he's tipsy, and this is used to your advantage.
Near nudity
If you play the Bandit in the right scene, he'll strip to his underwear and go for a quick swim. However, he doesn't bother to look for his discarded clothes afterwards, so he'll be wandering about almost nude for the rest of the adventure.
Mild violence
Many interactions can result in characters punching or hitting each other. This is usually treated as slapstick, but there are a few situations where they'll actually need to fight. For instance, there's a dragon that needs slaying, though there are non-violent ways to deal with it.
That said, the only way to deal with the witch is to use violence.
That said, the only way to deal with the witch is to use violence.