Divinity: Original Sin 2 - Definitive Edition

Despite some improvements over the first game the sequel is tepid, tangled mess. Not having the source skill for the majority of the first map was a clear indicition of the devs falling out of the stupid tree and sustaining a large enough hit just once for it to affect (sour) the game for me. It always felt like an uphill slog that just once needed to chill out and not be faced with a laundry list of places to go and people to murder just to get X so you can now Y. Don't get me wrong there are some good ideas such as the speaking the ghost skill and having all the dialogue voiced for them but it comes after what feels like a 10 mile march in the rain beside Mr Naggy who constantly reminds you that you've got lots more sub-quests to do. And then having acquired said skill there's not an immediate thrill in using it when casting storm spell then lightning is more thrilling because you watch live people jiggle instead of dead ones moping, I mean floating and you've been able to do that since pretty much the start of the game. On the item/crafting side there is far too much crap and nothing to do with it and inventory management is no longer charming or desirable it's now a failure of restricting scope. Although I did like the power-skill item gems that you can put into equipment when you add this with said awful inventory management (or lack of) levelling up was no longer rewarding in a click a skill to make a better way but more of a tedious in a hunt under the bed for the thing to combine with the thing in the sock draw to make shield better. I've played this game through twice (second run was as the undead man whose bucket on head joke isn't funny when it hinders your combat options and only really comes into his own once you get a face-transplant thing WAAAAAAAAY too late in the game). I will probably return to it again in a couple of years but for the moment I really want something with less fragmentation in terms of maps and more in terms of focused gameplay.

I loved every second of the ~300 hours I've put in this game. It's one of the best games I've ever played, and definitely the best RPG I've played yet. The story, the characters, the art, the music, the gameplay and combat mechanics, it all felt so polished it feels above and beyond most triple A games.

I've been playing computer and board RPG for at least 30 years, and feel that this is easily of the richest, most enjoyable games I've ever played. I loved the story-telling. Larian Studios has created a fully realized world, with its own history and lore. There's consistency in the story, there's logic, and there is engagement. I felt like my decisions mattered. DOS2EE is in many ways a lot like reading an epic fantasy novel or series. The characters have depth and personality, and I came to care about these characters. Anything to complain about with this game would be truly nitpicking. There are no reasons to not play this, if you enjoy epic fantasy type RPGs. I don't have a high-end computer and the game ran beautifully, with all the graphic and audio bells and whistles. The gameplay can be tough, but it is fair. You have to be strategic in your approach to battles to make sure they aren't too far over your team's level. Strategy is an important component in the game, and you won't succeed by brute force alone. Immerse yourself in this game. I loved it, and think almost anyone who likes what I've described will feel the same.

I've never played top down games before; I was always a bit put off by the fact I couldn't directly control my character. But I decided to pick it up after reading some of the reviews for this game, and the game does not disappoint. The game feels a lot like a D&D campaign, giving you a LOT of freedom in what you want to do, how you want to do it, and who to bring along. You aren't class-locked in the game, whihc makes the game even more fun. The gaem starts you off as a preset class of your choosing, but even from the tutorial area you can decide "I want to try something else" and you can do it. I'm still only in the starting areas, but with the amount of freedom and exploration ability you have, I've put in a good six hours in the area alone, trying out different tactics in battles, dialogue approaches, and just exploring the map (and it does not skimp on places to visit!)

I'm just going to comment on the writing. There's a lot to like about this game, but the the writing is mediocre at best, and in a lengthy RPG that's a problem. It's quirky, and has plenty of fun parts, but as a whole it really doesn't hang together. Cliched characters and predictable narratives made it a slog as someone who was playing primarily for the story.