Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire Review - Gods vs. Pirates (Topic)

Obsidian Entertainment has earned a reputation over its 15-year history as workers who forge role-playing projects of the highest standard in their workshops. The original Pillars of Eternity was no exception, in 2015 heralding the return of the golden era of old-school RPGs. It was against the backdrop of the success of the first part from Pillars of Eternity 2 no revolution was expected. Just another non-linear adventure in the spirit of the old school would be enough to once again spend a hundred hours in the fantasy world of Eor.

But the development team's plans for the continuation of the "Pillars of Eternity" were much more ambitious: at times the increased scale of the world, the number of tasks, opportunities for role-playing, in other words - the perfect sequel. Check out our Pillars of Eternity 2 review to see how well Obsidian did this.

No unauthorized entry

The game starts almost from the very end of the first part. The Guardian, and also the player himself, not having time to taste the fruits of a quiet life, was buried alive in his own palace by the suddenly revived god Eotas. Finding a deity, and at the same time sending him to the forefathers, will be the main motive of our adventures.

If, after reading the previous paragraph, your eyebrows rose in surprise and the question “What, what are you talking about, but in more detail is possible?” in your head, then do not be alarmed. This is a standard emotion that you will experience when playing Pillars of Eternity 2 without knowing the events of the first part. The game is extremely unfriendly to beginners and quite calmly dumps a huge amount of information on it, as if the gamer just finished the original PoE yesterday, and at the same time defended his diploma in the history and philosophy of the world of Eor.

On the other hand, if you remember the events of the first part well, you remember who the "firstborn" are and cherishly store the file with the Pillars of Eternity on your hard drive, then the game will welcome you with open arms. Moreover: all decisions made by you in the first game will be carried over to the second part.

A team of heroes for every taste

The legacy of CRPG is recognized from the very first minutes of the game, and like the cult D & D role-playing in Pillars of Eternity 2, you can sit for several hours in the start menu, trying to fashion the protagonist of your dreams. Moreover, in addition to the standard characteristics and perks, it will be necessary to determine the biography and origin of the character, which in the future may affect the attitude of the NPC to the player.

Of the innovations, it is worth noting the addition of subclasses, which significantly increase the scope for wagering. Do you like to use edged weapons, but sometimes you don't mind having a heart-to-heart talk with your opponent? Pillars of Eternity 2 will give you such an opportunity, with only one condition: you still can't sit on two chairs, and if you throw experience points equally in two classes, then you run the risk of pumping your character like "neither fish, nor meat.

We still recommend focusing on one class and pumping either a combat or a peaceful way to resolve conflicts, and compensate for the lack of useful skills with a motley team.

If among your party members there are natural-born diplomats or hulks, from one type of which goosebumps begin to run down the back, then their abilities can be used to solve secondary and main quests. That is, by choosing the right team in the game Pillars of Eternity 2, you will be able to create an ultimatum squad that will just as easily remove a kitten from a tree or stop an ancient deity.

With fire, sword and red word

With all the advantages of the original PoE, it sometimes began to seem that in the usual gameplay concept of "battles and dialogues" there was an advantage precisely on combat methods of solving problems. And thank the gods of Eora, Obsidian decided to significantly expand the dialogue part of the game and at the same time without the graphomania, which abounded in the original Pillars of Eternity. Instead of the usual sheets of text, you are greeted with short but meaningful phrases in noticeably more branched dialogues.

Convince, lie, bribe, threaten, send to hell, punch in the nose - the dialogues here delight with variability and allow you to play any type. At the same time, each decision forms the character of the character and evokes a response from the party members, who are constantly ready to give a couple of comments about your actions. They snarl, praise and persistently create the illusion of living characters, and not just dummies. And they succeed.

A more classic - forceful conflict resolution method in Pillars of Eternity has become easier and more welcoming to casual players. Now there is no need to look for an overnight stay in order to replenish the supply of magic skills, like health, they are restored automatically after a battle. I don't want to criticize this approach at all. On the contrary, I even want to praise, since now every battle in Pillars of Eternity 2 turns into a colorful parade of special effects, where you use the characters to the maximum, and do not save their skills for a fight with a hypothetical boss.

Set sail!

The main innovation, even the pearl of the game Pillars of Eternity 2, is the emphasis on the nautical theme. Like the recent Sea of Thieves, you act as the captain of the ship and can feel the captivating romance of sea travel. It is difficult to resist the temptation to look at another islet, as each piece of land keeps new travelers, exciting stories or treasures full of precious loot.

The only thing that can darken your craving for the exploration of the sea is the detailed management of the ship, provisions and crews of sailors. You are constantly required to monitor the condition of the vessel and react to the smallest cracks in mistakes or frustrations of sailors, which can sometimes cause slight irritation.

Verdict

Obsidian Entertainment has once again proven that they simply cannot disappoint their fans. Taking the idea of the original game to the absolute, Pillars of Eternity 2 has acquired a personality and boasts a beautifully recreated marine theme. In short - a masterpiece for connoisseurs of the genre and the main competitor of Kingdom Come Deliverance in the struggle for the throne of the best RPG of 2019.

Pillars of Eternity 2 was another flashy PC exclusive this month, but most importantly, not the only one. You can find out what other good projects are coming to computers soon in our selection of top games in May.

Download Pillars of Eternity 2

The Topic of Article: Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire Review - Gods vs. Pirates.
Author: Jake Pinkman