Tyranny - Standard Edition

Tyranny retains, but modernizes, all defining features of Baldur's Gate. A short playtime of roughly 20-35h, and because it succeeds at almost everything it wants to do, makes it a good first CRPG to play in this subgenre. The combat mechanics are solid, with all the stats you'd expect, and the spell system is unique, complex, very thematic, but also accessible. The classless, talent-based system offers great progression, with every companion having their own talent tree. The game has a reputation for being buggy, but most of it comes from misunderstanding the design choices (whether good or bad). While you'll visit most game areas, the order, their state, and available options will differ significantly based on your past decisions. Tyranny does not shy from locking possibilities behind choices made during character generation, let alone made alliances, and a single wrong dialogue choice may silently prevent you from obtaining a quest or a reward. An inaccessible room will make you think you missed something, not knowing you'll find the key only later, and only if you make a certain, seemingly unrelated choice. A character won't speak to you, because you have worked for his rival. This is not how games are designed today, but it makes sense if you want to provide a highly roleplayable and replayable experience. The game is promoted as 'playing the evil minion' and lauded for its story. In my opinion, both are wrong. The lands were rife with petty wars before the conquest, and while the generals of the overlord are guilty of genocide, so are the rulers of all major powers in *our* world, and you may try to forge a path of least damage, truly wanting to save the Tiers within the new order. The worldbuilding is excellent, but the story is only what you make it, bringing as little, or as much character development as you decide to roleplay. Will you rebel, will you strike your own path, or will you commit more and more heinous acts because they seem most natural?

Tyranny's short - my first and so far the only playthrough with most if not all side quests took ~17 hours. It's also very linear, i.e. new areas appear one or two at a time based on the main story progression. Most areas are very small, tiny even. Quite a few quests are simply: receive a quest, go to a specific, small and nearly empty location, talk/fight some encounter, go back to the questgiver.That's it. Some PoE mechnics are removed, like there's no stealing, even items in closed containers can be taken without owners protesting. Bestiary is limited as well, most enemies are humanoids. Forget monsters or dragons. Graphics - well, tastes vary, it's original, but for me kinda worse than PoE. Also, I've had some performance issues, namely FPS drops, but that may be fixed in the future. There are good parts as well, story is kinda weird, but ok, writing uneven but sometimes excellent, combat is decent, skills interesting. All spells are created from, say, "components". There are no classes, all six skill trees are open to Player Character, with two limitations in form of available skill points and requirements inside each tree. There are total of five, small havens for player. Main story has few memorable moments, but feels kinda bland. I may try to replay it and see how different choices affect game story. Developers led us to believe that it may be the strongest point of the game with the whole "choices do matter" thing. If that's the case I may increase my rating in the future. Final words: unfortunately, for me Tyranny feels like a - bland - Pillars of Eternity demo. A little rushed in nearly all aspects, a little too short with nowhere near production value as PoE, no final touches that made me wanna explore the world and follow a story. And yes, it's also a little buggy, but nothing game breaking. Still, I've managed to finish it.

I lately completed the game siding with the rebels playing a warrior mage. For me personally Tyranny was a great experience in so many ways and I will therefore leave out the small things I didn't like too much: #1 The Setting: I liked the idea of taking part in a conquest of the last free people in this world for a big bad boy (or girl?). Every decision u make at the beginning of the game changes the game in some minor and some mayor ways. Whatever u choose has its downsides and determines where u can go or who u can more or less easily side with later on. Simply great in my opinion, especially because it makes a new playthrough worth it. #2 The Sound and Graphics Design: I wouldn't say the graphics and effects are supreme, but they are nice, special and fit the atmosphere perfectly. Same goes for the sounds. The athmospheric sounds (!), the music (!!) and the speakers (!!!) are great , only the spells and battle sounds could have been a bit more...brutal!? #3 The Story and the Characters: I personally was excited until the end when I played the rebel path, because I never knew weather or not my decisions lead where I had anticipated it, meaning: will my secretly planned rebellion against Kyros stay hidden long enough before the Archont of Justice? Will he maybe side with me? Which of my companions will stay with me after my true plans become clear? Speaking of the companions: They are in my opinion remarkable and exceptional (!) characters with interesting background stories and comprehensible motives. #4 Spells, Character Dev and Combat: To create your own spells and change them again and again depending on what is needed in a special situation entertained me for many hours. In combination with the character development system (every companion has its own unique trees of skills and perks, the player character can mix out of 6 trees) it was an enjoyable challenge for me to perfectly match the spells and skills (and gears) of my group of companions. Splendid!

..or anything in between! Evil has triumphed and you are its emissary. You are given a task in the beginning but how you fulfill it is up to you. This is game does almost everything right: The NPCs are well written, quest can usually be solved multiple in ways, decisions matter, combat is interesting enough not to become a chore, and much more. But the best part is that, if you can live with the consequences you can play it any way you like. The game doesn't tell you that you can't do something. You can try to be a renegade goody two-shoes, a neutral arbitor or a greedy, vile sycophant. I cannot emphasize this enough: the game let's you decide how to reach which goals and this adds an extremely high replay value to Tyranny. If like you like "oldschool" isometric RPGs - like Baldur's Gate but without its moral constraints - you should definitely give this game a try. It's fun to play as a liberator but it's also fun to be evil. Oh, how I wish for a sequel for this underrated gem.

First, I must say that I'm not much of a rpg player, Though I did play the hell out of Fallout 1/2, Baldur's gate 1/2 and fallout new vegas (remember Van Buren), all developped by parts of the same team that made Tyranny. This feels every bit like BG. The setting is less epic, but then it fits with its more "bronze age feel". It is refreshing in this sense and the lore is fitting, abundant and quite enjoyable. I've seen many reviews downplaying the sandbox element as far as "freedom of choice" is concerned. But this isn't New Vegas nor should it be. Your PC is basically a roving judge, it is only through the events that he distinguishes himself as a "superior being", able to vanquish all foes. It is also fitting, in this bronze age like setting that his option are more limited, the influence of the setting's "Tyrant" is all encompassing yet relative, as it should be. The whole setting is also ambiguous, you are not a mere puppet of a vilainouss character, you're the voice of an emperor which brings submission but also peace and stability, if only the populace will have it. You are free to choose which legion to favor in their squabble. You are free to aid the rebellious natives...and you are free to simply strike out on your own in a quest of power. Combat is somewhat repetitive but has a few nice twists. The spell system is unique and it is quite enjoyable to build your own. Combat itself is driven by the character abilities, which I find interesting, though it lacks the divrsity offered by BG. You do spend a lot of time waiting for your abilities to cool down. Another interesting concept is that of engagement which simulates the opening created by turning your back on the enemy. You can't run around the battlefield like a headless turkey, which feels appropriate. As I've said, the story is quite well written and I've actually taken the time to read every dialogue, every lore entry. The choices feel meaningfull and you can truely roleplay a free willed being.