"Your word is undeniable truth": Can't be bothered to find evidence in Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy? It's fine, because no matter what, you're always right

"You are an agent of the Golden Throne, an acolyte of the Inquisition"

If the promises that Owlcat are making of Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy aren't just PR fluff, it sounds like we might be in for a good bit of fun. In Dark Heresy, you are an acolyte of the Inquisition, meaning you have to look out for that titular heresy, which actually means that you're a space cop. Boo to that in the real world, obviously, but it's a narrative device that can make for some interesting storytelling, and according to the game's narrative designer, that storytelling manifests in being able to wrap up investigations with hardly any evidence.

In an interview with Pee Cee Gamur, senior narrative designer Veronika Larionova was asked if it's possible to finish an investigation whenever you want. "Absolutely, yes," she responded. "You are an agent of the Golden Throne, an acolyte of the Inquisition, and your word is undeniable truth. You can accuse any suspect in a case the moment you log evidence against them in your inquisitorial journal. Even if all you have is the feeling that they're breathing a little oddly." See! That's interesting! And a move that certainly doesn't make being a space cop sound all that nice.

That doesn't mean you should just never bother with evidence, however. "If you keep digging into the investigation, you'll also find that new evidence or conclusions can reshape the wording of the accusation, adding more detail and proof. Or, conversely, turn up evidence clearing the suspect. What you do with that information is entirely up to you. The fact that your verdict is treated as truth doesn't mean uncovering the actual truth is unimportant (though it isn't mandatory). It simply means that the power to use that truth as you see fit rests in your hands."

This, I'm sure, will elicit some amount of fear in the save scummers out there. "What if the choices I make are wrong!" I hear you cry into your keyboard. Well, don't worry all that much. According to Larionova, the correct answer is "whichever one you choose as an acolyte of the Inquisition." Different answers may upon up a particular story path, some net you rewards, certain actions may alter how NPCs feel about you, "and some... may unlock additional endings. Just remember that there are no right or wrong choices, only choices whose consequences the inhabitants of the Scintilla system will have to live with." Neat!

In any case, no release date attached to Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy yet, but you can wishlist it on Steam while you wait at least.