This could be an excellent game once they fix everything. At the moment I consider it unplayable due to various issues but most notably an issue which corrupts save files for a character. This is extremely frustrating and until this and other issues are fixed I wouldn't recommend. I hear that fixes are in the works which is great but honestly this game should not have been released with such major issues. Game stopping bugs like the save issues are unacceptable. I have set aside this game until the next major release as otherwise I fear I will end up loosing my progress again.
Having more than a few hours under my belt, I am comfortable in saying this was worth the purchase. I've been throughly enterained. Pathfinder:Kingsmaker will take its place among great title like the BauldersGate series, IceWind Dale etc.
Altho I opted to not purchase the additional module ( I would like the option to purchase after it is released tho) I 'm excited to see what it offers. I think that if the devs were to do regular releases of modules like the old AD&D modules " remakes" would amazing. i.e I want Castle Ravenloft.. Please Take my Money.
If you're like me, a RPG addict and AD&D lover for over 30 years, then only reading about this game made your mouth water. So I really wanted to like this game, and it hurts to have to give it such a bad review. But the truth is: in it's current state, it's a mess for several reason.
The main reason for me: there is almost no documentation on how the game mechanics or the Pathfinder ruleset work. The game simply doesn't tell you a thing and you have to find out everything yourself. So unless you're already familiar with the Pathfinder ruleset, your party is not going to get far in this game.
The game does recognize if you make a mistake, e.g. use a spell the wrong way, and it even notifies you with a comment. Only the comment is not helpful at all, especially my favourite "Learn how to use it first!". Very funny, developers. Learn how to write documentation first.
Another problem is that the fighting is horribly unbalanced, which makes it feel like it has been rushed out before it was finished. Of course it´s not uncommon in RPGs to have opponents who are too strong for your current level so you'll have to come back later, but they way this game constantly mixes easy with impossible fights simply feels wrong (and if I say impossible, I don't mean difficult.. I mean insta-death for the entire party in a couple rounds).
So this game could have been a gem.. but it turned out as an unfinished, frustrating waste of money. Sorry developers.
The bad: the game is not implemented properly. It's covered with bugs all over. It takes 15GB of memory when running, loads take forever, characters get stuck in walls and you occasionally have to check youtube and forums to see if your plot is progressing properly or if it's stuck because of a bug. It's several months since release by now, so I don't expect those bugs to be fixed in foreseeable future
The good: it's the most fun per buck game I've probably ever played. The story is complex and multidimensional, you are provided with plenty of freedom of choice, your actions are significant and have consequences all over. So if you think you can handle the bugs, I recommend giving this one a try
