How time works in Pentiment
As players progress through the main story of Penance, they will see how time unfolds according to the canonical hours, the daily cycle of the 16th century.
repentance is a game that draws on its 16th century history in every element, from art to puzzle inspiration; even the passage of time is influenced by history. As players progress through the main story, they will see how time unfolds according to the canonical hours, the daily cycle of the 16th century.
The canonical schedule, as established by the Catholic Church, sets the tone for the day’s events, highlighting certain activities and prayers for certain times. The day passes through Matins, Laudes, Prime, Terce, Sext, Nones, Vespres and Compline. Similar to how events happen Night In The Forest, a stylized clock switches from one time period to another when players complete an important story beat, such as completing a task for Illuminata. This mechanic a repentance it restricts what players can achieve in a single day, meaning not all avenues will be explored.
Time management in Pentiment
As the game progresses, players must decide the best ways to spend their time and be aware of which ones to do first. They must use their best judgment to determine which interactions will move time and what research they can do ahead of time. Once the assassination occurs, players will have several clues they can follow. However, each one enters repentance it takes time, and by choosing to explore one perk, players may lose access to another. Fortunately, players can check how much time is left in a day by accessing the blue ribbon in the upper left corner of the screen. This ribbon shows the time, the main menu, and the exit option.
The canonical hours are not the only use of time repentance. The three acts of the game follow the main character Andreas over the course of 25 years, from 1518 to 1543. As time passes, real historical events will occur in the background and the characters will mention them. For example, in 1518, Lorenz talks about the theological rise of Martin Luther. This historical interaction is inspired by one of the developer’s most famous games, Fallout: New Vegas.
If players find themselves interested in more historical narratives from the 16th century, they can check the current date with the blue ribbon menu discussed above. If the canonical hours system is still confusing, players can also rely on the number system in the menu. For example, 6h represents 6:00 AM, and players can work from there. While some players may be annoyed by the time-based activity restriction, the more intense pace reflects the murder-mystery genre and encourages multiple plays. Study the passage of time based on history repentance it can help players confidently choose a track to follow and can even teach some players unique manipulations of video game design.