Divinity: Original Sin II

The production values are impressive, but the gameplay becomes repetitive long before the game is over. The constant ambushes seem like a design crutch, and the deluge of boring loot doesn't help matters. The writing is sadly inconsistent - some parts are genuinely good, but others struck me as cringy and amateurish. Some of the major NPCs are utterly insufferable. D:OS 2 took me well over 100 hours to complete; if it had been edited down to half that size, it might have been a much better game.

I finally realized that my favorite combat system in games is turn-based. Love the strategy involved in it and how different elements play together. But this also has great characters, backstories, a pretty absorbing main quest and plenty of side quests to make me want to do all of them.

I'm playing a scoundrel in a game with 2 friends.. Since we are playing on the hardest difficulty our MO is to just have me steal all the shit we need. So I steal this dudes hat just for fun and give it to one of my friends. The guy angrily confronts him and my friend hits a perfect persuasion and tells the man he knows nothing of the missing hat while wearing said hat. This man then confronts me and I get sent to jail for having a single stolen orange on me. Orange wasn't even his. Brilliant.

A solid sequel with really nice RPG elements. Mechanics can be frustrating but not to the point of distraction.

I can appreciate that the game improves QOL and expands the quirky mechanics of the original, but it's a downgrade even if it's still decent. The shield system is all sorts of stupid forcing you to turtle and abuse summons, making a lot of your abilities virtually worthless for much of the battle. Furthermore, even if you removed the shields with mods, that doesn't change how much more lazy and boring combat encounters are. The narrative has some interesting hooks, but ends up banal and tepid.

130h

The game I am currently playing. Combat is brutal, and there are a ton of tricks to master before you feel like you're good at this game. And even though the game doesn't railroad you too much, there are areas that you can venture into that you just don't belong in yet. Also, some unforgiving fights where random strangers might jump in against you, and even the beggars know magic for some reason. Still, so far a lot of fun.

Inventory management is a pain.

DOS II is better than the first in terms of mechanics and gameplay, but the story was more immerse in the first one.

BUBBLING SKIN AND BURNING KNUCKLE! I'LL KILL YOUR SHINING LIGHTS!

Sure, there is "divinity" in the title, but let's face it, another tale of gods and chosen ones ? Been there, done that. Still, gotta admit, it's a solid RPG despite the clichés.