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on August 27, 2025
Several weeks ago I was fortunate enough to get some hands on time with Divinity: Original Sin II at PAX . That experience only gave a brief glimpse into what is offered in this build and I imagine I will feel the same way about the Early Access build when the complete game is released. The predecessor was a massive choice-driven RPG that was in the vein of classic computer RPGs. The bar was set high by Divinity: Original Sin and everything that made that title so great returns here and then some. Making any definite declaration about a game's quality prior to its final release is impossible and I do not want to over hype this title to the point of having expectations it can not reach, but anyone who enjoyed its predecessor needs to keep this one on their radar, regardless of whether they want to wait for the final version to come out or if they want to dive into the early build right away.
Original Sin II is an isometric PC RPG that plays beautifully with mouse and keyboard but also offers full controller support. Perhaps this was a result of how well the controller worked for Divinity: Original Sin Enhanced Edition on console or maybe just a preemptive move with plans for this to go to console, but either choice for control input works well. The music is beautifully composed and accompanies this fantasy setting splendidly, along with the impressive voice acting, and having this title be fully voiced was no small feat. The graphics will not push higher end graphics cards to the limit, but the design of characters, environments and monsters look great as do the cutscenes that possess a painting-like quality. The overall tone of Divinity: Original Sin II is dark and serious, but somehow manages to maintain an element of lighthearted fun and levity. There are a few humorous, sarcastic quip dialog options that pop up quite a bit and the Pet Pal talent can lead to a lot of interesting side quests and humorous dialog. The greatest moment of silliness is when the player enters stealth mode and assumes the form of a shrubbery walking around. While one probably wouldn't file this title under the humor section, it's clear the development team had a sense of humor while creating this.
Humans have the Talent Ingenious, which gives a +5% chance of a critical hit and a +10% chance for critical damage. Thrifty gives them +1 to Bartering. The Skill inherent to the race is Encourage. Elves have the Talent Corpse Eater, which allows them to gain the memories of the dead by eating body parts. They may also gain +1 to Loremaster through Ancestral Knowledge. Petrifying Touch is the Skill innate to this r
The aforementioned slight impact on our reputation for taking out those guards and subsequently taking out some rather high ranking magisters was they started to engage Fane and company in battle on sight in Fort Joy, which is brought up to illustrate how player choices impact the game's environment. Had Fane not decided to slay about a dozen magisters they probably would have remained peaceful to us, but that is part of the appeal of Divinity: Original Sin II. A player doesn't have to be a homicidal maniac if they don't want to, there are nonviolent options for getting one's way either through charm or intimidation, or alternative routes to take to reach the desired location. Doors can be broken down, locks can be picked, or keys can be "found" or maybe someone can be sweet talked into opening. This is a game that is possible to complete while killing every NPC but that's not the only or even recommended way. Up until those guards messed with my kitty Fane was using the nonviolent solution to every encounter that he could, but we were able to change our social activity on the fly and the game immediately adjusted. Interaction with NPCs, both party members and everyone else, is a crucial aspect of shaping a player's role and standing in Rivellon.
Divinity might not be the biggest name in the gaming world, but when the sequel to the critically acclaimed Divinity: Original Sin was announced on Kickstarter, it met its funding goal in under twelve hours and eventually went on to vastly exceed it. One can only imagine the reaction Larian Studios had to this quick and enthusiastic reception to the <a href="https://Marketingme.wiki/wiki/User:ElaineDowns753">slg Game heroes</a> announcement. On one hand it showed amazing support from the fan community, since this support is saying that they loved the game so much they can't wait for the follow up. On the other hand, they loved it so much and are waiting for a sequel that will match or exceed its quality, so no pressure. After two years of waiting and an unlucky launch day thanks to a power outage in Ghent whose timing was so bad it was comedic, Divinity: Original Sin II has graduated from Steam Early Access and is now available to everyone in its completed form.
Instead of being limited to being human, Divinity: Original Sin II gives the player the option to also be an elf, dwarf, lizard, or undead, though that last one which is personally the most interesting option is not presently available in the Early Access build. There are also optional origin stories that the player can use for their character, four are currently available but more will be included in the final release. Origin stories not selected by the player will be seen in NPCs met during the game that could join the party. These different origin stories add an extra dynamic to both single and multiplayer modes. Not all characters will have the same objectives they want to achieve, which can lead to some conflicts. With their being freedom to play the game any way a player decides, how conflicting goals among party members are addressed is entirely up to the player's imagination. This can be even more interesting in multiplayer, especially since the option to have four players simultaneously is now included. Playing with three other people who all have conflicting objectives can elevate the role playing element beyond what can be achieved in most video game RPGs.
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