Pillars of Eternity: Hero Edition

Being a big fan of classic isometric RPGs, including Baldur's Gate 2 and Icewind Dale (real time fights) i started PoE long time ago. Those days i dropped it for some reason i can not exactly remember. Now i returned to it to finish what was started. What i found is that i barely can force myself to finish it. Also i cannot recommend it. There are a lot of pro reasons for this game, but even more contra. Describing all of them will take pages. In short, as i see it, authors tried to add absolutely everything they counted as great. It made game overloaded in many ways and meanings. Despite real-time battles, game requires a tons of battle micromanagement. Yet almost all possibilities, features and spells remain completely useless due to poor battle rules (especially ranges and combat-only use). It could make battles too hard but there is short set of actions that makes them just routine (while tanking, use clerics, druids and maybe mages infinite set of spells, especially druid's "returning storm"). Castle management is troublesome almost like real one. Consequences of actions are unclear and very annoying sometimes. Story and characters are undoubtedly rich but doesn't catch on for some reason. Really lots of magical items are in fact mostly useless. I doubt i'll ever re-play it or go for next parts.

This game is beautifully written. You can feel the love that was put into its development. Dialogue choices feel natural and are not totally evil or totally good. It explores gray areas, which a lot of games fail to do appropriately. Don't get me wrong, you can do evil and good things, but you can do it in ways that do not feel forced or unnatural. Pillars of Eternity is not afraid of going to dark places either. The lore is awesome and plays an important role in the experience. The characters are interesting and easily to feel attached to or at least intrigued by them. Pillars of Eternity is a big triumph for RPGs everywhere.

So what is this game about? Well, in this genre of fantasy games we got 3 still standing kings. Baldurs Gate 2 Icewind Dale 2 Planescape Torment So, this game is NOT another Baldurs Gate 2. If you ll expect that, you ll be greatly disapointed. Also this game is absolutly NOT another Planescape Torment. Forget it :))) And finaly YES, this game IS the same type as Icewind Dale 2. If you like games like Icewind Dale 2, then you will like this game too. Pillars of Eternity got worse engine then Icewind Dale 2, worse game control, worse user interface, worse game options and worse grafic. How is that posible 14 years after Icewind Dale 2, thats unbelievable... Anyway... Pillars of Eternity got better and more strategic combat, more ways in character and party development, multiple original endings based on yours decisions, and your decisions are based on your character statistic also. Warrior and similar classes are much more interesting then in Icewind Dale 2 for example. The storyline is very interesting and nice. A gave 5/5 stars. Its not perfect game. It got flaws. But it is worth to buy and play. There is no other game such Pillars of eternity today. So go for it and try. PS: If you (how is THAT posible?) never played game like this, dont buy it. Buy first Baldur Gate 2: the original edition. (Enhanced one is actualy worse then original one) PS2: IRONMAN mode in this game is unplayable, dont try it. Waste of time. Even single enemy can wipe entire your party in best gear and with max level. This game is not designed for Ironman mode, trust me.

This games is what would be BG2 done in modern times. It has great story with a lot of mysticism around, Quests with options for different solutions. Unfortunetly not much companion story or meaningufll interaction. Also the first two acts are great, but 3rd and 4th are a bit more of the same, so it depends how much player want to play more, or is just ready to finish. May say that the game is too long, but that is hardly drawback since you end game when you are ready (no obligation to do ever single quests including mega dungeon and challenges). Good stuff is that game has not only main quests and sidequests, but also 12 level mega dungeon filled with combat (like diablo but active pause) and challenges, fighting some really hard bosses. Definetly enought content for the value. Game have satisfing ending, which depends on decisions player made. Gameplay is active pause team based combat, with original mechanic (not DnD style). With some interesting classes like Mindblowing Ciphers (psykers) or Chanters (bards with knack cor spirits) as well as some popular like Druids or pewpewing pet pal Ranger. So player will probably find something fiting own style. There could be some complains about balance, but at least on Hard it dosnt matter (enemies die and that is all what matters). Class progression is feat based so we can specialize our champions in own way with some freedom. However sometimes there is a feeling that some paths are just better. Note there is White March expansion, so buyers may wait till part 2 will be avaiable on steam (spring 2016). Overall good game for isometric cRPG lovers.

I've been wanting to try an isometric RPG as I discovered I might actually like RPGs relatively late in my life (36) after falling for the Witcher 3. I'm over 100 hours into that one (and the expansions) and still going, but I digress. So, I also bought Baldur's Gate II here and quickly realized I was rather lost. Undeterred, I thought, "maybe a modern isometric RPG would actually show me how to play it". I poked around the interwebs and agonized between Pillars and Divinity then decided to try Pillars. I did not regret it. I am only a short way into Pillars but I was able to catch on pretty quickly, and I am enjoying the gameplay and story so far. I feel like it has shown me how to play the classic isometric RPGs, and I look forward to sampling those later on. My only criticism so far is that the Watcher stuff is a bit emo and overwrought. Like, simmer down dude. Peace out.