Want something Baldur’s Gate 3 adjacent? Try out Larian studio’s predecessor.
If, like me, you want to play some more Baldur’s Gate 3 without retreading the same grounds of the Forgotten Realm, then this will be of some interest to you! Divinity: Original Sin 2 is one of Larian Studio’s earlier takes on the isometric fantasy role-playing game. Without the restrictions of the Forgotten Realms setting, they are able to explore a lot more high fantasy ideas and introduce new mechanics without need for authenticity.
You start as a “sourcerer”, a magic user in a world that prohibits magic users (on account of the horrible monsters that arrive soon after a spell is cast). And, in a start that is a classic staple of any fantasy series, you are a prisoner. A collar which nullifies your magical ability is around your neck. And yet despite the start it feels different to any other fantasy game before it.
Want something Baldur’s Gate 3 adjacent? Try out Larian studio’s predecessor.
If, like me, you want to play some more Baldur’s Gate 3 without retreading the same grounds of the Forgotten Realm, then this will be of some interest to you! Divinity: Original Sin 2 is one of Larian Studio’s earlier takes on the isometric fantasy role-playing game. Without the restrictions of the Forgotten Realms setting, they are able to explore a lot more high fantasy ideas and introduce new mechanics without need for authenticity.
You start as a “sourcerer”, a magic user in a world that prohibits magic users (on account of the horrible monsters that arrive soon after a spell is cast). And, in a start that is a classic staple of any fantasy series, you are a prisoner. A collar which nullifies your magical ability is around your neck. And yet despite the start it feels different to any other fantasy game before it.
For my playthrough, used to the classes and ancestries of Baldur’s Gate 3 I jumped at the opportunities and evocative titles put in front of me: battlemage, inquisitor, knight, metamorph, shadowblade, wayfarer, witch. Ultimately, I decided on an undead dwarven witch, who in my head was a victim of a long-lost feud now doomed to roam the land. This idea was immediately shaped by interaction with other characters. Each piece of my class and background provided tags that gave unique responses that helped me shape the idea of my character. The dialogue is not only branching but deep and allows you to more fully roleplay a character.
Other strengths of this game include the ability to also shape the class of your companions when you first meet them for free so you can find a combination that fits right to your playstyle – with each character providing unique resolutions and outcomes when interacting with NPCs making choosing who comes with you vital – you can’t just leave Gail at camp because you’re already playing a wizard! It is jam-packed of some exceptional high fantasy concepts with my personal favourites including a religious squirrel zealot, that the undead can lockpick with their bony fingers, separate magical and physical defences, and swapping surfaces. All of these lead to a highly tactical game with many moving parts and strategies to uncover. It is a satisfying level of puzzle-solving required to best combat and other challenges in your path with every choice taken providing a lasting effect on your playthrough as each victory, each teleportation cheat, each stealthy assassination, and each delicate and precise combination of spells turns out to be just one of the many ways you could have solved the issue. Consequently, every fight you pick or method you choose to overcome an obstacle is unique to your run of the game and with the number of quests that can no longer be finished or alternate endings which are locked out, you get the impression that the world is immersive and alive around you. This sense that you have made a choice and won’t be able to access some parts of the game may frustrate some but for me personally, it vitalises the world and the story and makes me savour each victory and decision I do take.
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Zatu Review Summary
Zatu Score
68%
