Being a second instalment in the series definetely did the game a good service: it no longer needs a lengthy and tiring exposition, instead relying on Tyranny-like context hyperlinks. I was afraid that transition from dark fantasy to a swashbuckling pirate tale will be awakward and artifical but it's not the case. So, the main story.. As it often happens with this kind of games, it's neither the main attraction nor the biggest part of the game. This doesn't mean it's not good though. It's fairly engagin and just the perfect length, at least in my opinion. Generally, POE2 is open-ended and you're free to do whatever you want after the first island. And even after clearing the main quest hubs you still have the free travel mode that lets you explore some of the wilderness locations for an ocassional piece of loot or a small dungeon. It's nothing significant but it feels good after the first game where the overworld map felt depressingly small and limited. What else do we have? Combat is probably the next major point. It's very tactical and there is a defined emphasis on positioning, debuffing and choosing tools appropriate for a particular encounter. I see how some people may not like it but for me it felt very fitting. And the last but not least part that sold me on the game is the return of text-based interactions. When the situation calls for it, the game switches to and old school text quest mode. In many places you can skip a significant obstacle by cleverly utilizing your companion's strengths and various tools at your disposal. Such interactions are much more frequent and better designed than in the first game and really set the tone for me. All in all, Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is a stellar game and despite some insignificant shortcomings (mostly related to the game engine misbehaving after a long play session), I easily got ~70 hours of enjoyment from it. Recommended to every fan of the genre and those just starting their CRPG journey.
