Pillars of Eternity Reviews
It may seem like I am being too harsh on Pillars of Eternity, but in truth the game is one of the better Kickstarter titles to be released, and gives a lot of independent and even some AAA titles a run for their money.
Pillars of Eternity brings back the best of a venerable genre with only a few of its flaws.
Still, let's not take anything away from what Obsidian has achieved all on their own. Pillars of Eternity is indeed great fun for RPG players young and old, and you don't need a $2000 beast to play it on either. I thoroughly recommend it to anyone who's looking for a deep and involving experience, and has the time to give it the respect it deserves.
Pillars of Eternity is a masterclass in role-playing game development, recapturing the essence of the genre's past triumphs and repackaging them for a universal audience.
As a spiritual successor to some of my favourite RPGs of all time, Pillars of Eternity does those games justice with its ultra-traditional story, presentation and mechanics. But I recommend other people check it out as well, as it offers a sprawling world to explore, and a fantastic cast of companions to interact with, making it the perfect example of a retro genre done right.
A fantastic tactical RPG for players looking for a deeper and more complex story and gameplay experience
Pillars of Eternity is a must-buy for anyone who has played classic titles like Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights or Planescape, and it will certainly deliver the story, the conversations, the companions, the combat and the big themes that they are yearning for.
It's almost entirely backwards-looking, and the characterisation is disappointingly dry, but for fans of Baldur's Gate and its era this will have you partying like it's 1998.
Whether you're a veteran of role-playing games with Dungeons and Dragons sauce or just a curious man attracted to the genre, don't wait: Pillars of Eternity is a perfect synthesis of the mechanics that made the heyday of typical PC RPGs, when Planescape: Torment or Baldur's Gate reigned supreme. With a captivating story, a real richness and careful writing, Pillars of Eternity is an unmissable role-playing game. The only shadows on the board: the many loading sequences and text up to indigestion. But apart from these little details, Pillars of Eternity is a case of school: well written, well finished, beautiful and rich at the same time, it is a huge adventure that reaches out to you and that will keep you busy for hours ... or for eternity.
Review in French | Read full review
Pillars of Eternity is a welcome return to the CRPGs of old, and it's a definite must-play for any CRPG fan or RPG fan, period. It has so many moving parts that work so incredibly well together with an unbelievably rich history and mythology. Pillars of Eternity will gladly eat up several hours of your time, and you will gladly give them.
The fantasy genre is always one of nostalgia for a world long gone, the vague, wistful ancestral memory of weary travelers and simple taverns, of brooding castles and dark-blooded wars. But also nostalgia for a real-life youth spent whispering about orcs at the back of geography class. Somehow, Pillars of Eternity captures this personal emotion with flair and empathy.
Obsidian had a daunting task before them: to make a spiritual successor to a series of games that are inextricably tangled up in nostalgia, over a decade after the height of those games' popularity. This is not the Baldur's Gate of 2015, it's Baldur's Gate, Planescape: Torment, Icewind Dale, the best parts of the lot of them wrapped up in something new and brilliant. And before you venture forth, don't forget to gather your party.
Critical Hit
Is Pillars of Eternity the perfect game? No, but it is an incredibly good one.
Pillars Of Eternity is a masterpiece and nothing less than essential for anyone who's ever heard of the Infinity Engine. Superbly written, expansive yet rich and detailed, tactical and thought-provoking, it's the sort of roleplaying experience that we've been dreaming about for years.
A deep, rich, and wonderfully written RPG that lives up to the towering legacy of the games that inspired it.
Obsidian (and its Kickstarter backers) have done it: Pillars of Eternity is one of the best RPGs since Baldur's Gate.
All you really need to know though, is this; Pillars of Eternity is a triumph.
Obsidian has crafted a game full of challenge, intrigue, betrayal, and heart. The Eastern Reach is bleak and hopeful at the same time, and the main plot is packed with twists and surprises with staggering ramifications for a world players will feel they have become part of. Its combat is tense and relentless despite the capability to pause at any point, the mechanics offering complex strategic challenges with difficulty settings to accommodate most levels of skill. Pillars of Eternity proudly carries on the legacy of the classic computer RPG, and those who remember them with fondness should find in it a welcome addition to the genre.
Obsidian has a reputation for crafting fantastic RPGs, and deservedly so. Pillars of Eternity is, as far as I'm concerned, Obsidian at its best ever.