Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire Reviews
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is a game about choices and epic story lines, grounding itself with the unique characters you find and the fact that your ultimate aim is to get the rest of your soul back. Having such a personal quest at the centre of such a fantastical plot really keeps you invested in both the people and the world, whether you're carrying on your adventure from the first game or starting afresh. Either way there's a genuinely likeable cast, both personal and global stories and the pleasure of mastering all its systems. A genuine joy of a game and one which is simultaneously approachable and impossibly deep, Deadfire is a fantastic sequel and one which you will be thinking even when you are away from its world.
Obsidian has gifted the already cluttered RPG genre with an excellent title that offers hundreds of hours worth of gameplay. Puzzles, ship combat, side quests, exploration, and other activities keep you occupied along the way.
The fights are less fearsome, but if you liked Baldur's Gate or Planescape: Torment you'll enjoy this retro role-playing game
If one was to ignore the technical issues and consider it in isolation, Pillars of Eternity 2 could be deemed a solid game.
The tribute to the great Western RPGs of the first chapter was not easy to overcome: Obsidian has deservedly tried to change the cards on the table, bringing new contents not always perfect with a great overall result.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Alongside from its setting, Pillars of Eternity II improves in almost every way upon the already celebrated Pillars I, from the obvious, such as improved graphics and increased voiceovers, to the details, like better stealth mechanics and a new day-night system.
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is an exceptional roleplaying experience that truly lets you forge your own path in a rich, multilayered, grog-soaked world. Occasionally the game is just a touch too retro for its own good, but, for the most part, Pillars of Eternity II proves Obsidian has set the right course. It's clear sailing ahead for the classic computer RPG.
If you’re looking for the next, and perhaps greatest, grand cRPG; if you’re aching for an epic single player adventure; if you’re seeking a setting outside the norm; if you’re hoping for a story that takes you in and hangs on, Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire fills the bill. It is something special, something you’ll want to play again and again and is a game that will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the genre’s best.
When you pull out of the cylinder a cult title like the first Pillars of Eternity, being able to repeat the same miracle becomes an almost impossible mission. That's why the guys from Obsidian to generate this sequel were faced with a huge dilemma, a real wall very difficult to overcome: create a product perfectly in continuity with the predecessor, perhaps being too similar or repetitive, or try to upset its playful foundations with a clear change of direction.
Review in Italian | Read full review
If you enjoyed the first Pillars of Eternity, then there's a damn good chance you'll mine even more enjoyment out of the sequel. Quite a few of the smaller niggling issues that hampered the first game have been addressed, and you're certainly not as burdened to remember nearly as much history to understand character motivations. If you're new to the franchise, you'll be a bit under pressure to read up on characters and events from the first game, but it caters to new players (or those who have simply forgotten everything from the first game) well enough, is one of the best story-telling experiences I've had in recent memory, and is otherwise bloody fantastic isometric RPG.
Pillars Of Eternity 2: Deadfire is a truly superb RPG from the masters of the genre. Unlike, say, a Bethesda game or even The Witcher 3, this isn't an accessible entry point for curious newcomers; it's a game that demands the kind of attention and commitment that is rare in 2018. However, if you have that mindset – and the time – then you'll discover one of the deepest, densest and most rewarding Role Playing Games in years.
Pillars of Eternity 2 is a very good sequel. It doesn't takes a lot of risks (muddled combat system, not enough serendipity in quests), but is still is an awesome lesson of how build a good RPG, with a fantastic writing and a beautiful art direction.
Review in French | Read full review
Pillars of Eternity II isn't a perfect RPG, but it comes pretty darn close. The game's highly refined dialogue, combat, exploration, and character development systems come together in a way that just feels right for fans of old-school isometric RPG's. Making a sequel to one of the best roleplaying games in recent memory was a tall order to be sure, but Obsidian definitely cleared the bar and then some.
More than just a faithful recreation of an old subgenre, its greatest strength lies in its impeccable writing.
It's an extraordinary game. One that you'll feel faintly lost in at first, while its many systems permeate your grey matter. But all the while its story unfolds and reveals new wrinkles, the sense of place growing deeper.
We're starting to run long here, and that's because Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is such a huge game that one review that wants to remain reasonably sized in terms of word length is going to have a hard time getting to everything. So let me leave you with this: Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire rises well above the typical role-playing fair, and will provide an unforgettable experience for those that are willing to put the time to fully embrace what it is offering.
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is one of my favorite games of all time. In fact, it’s hard not to say that it’s an objective improvement over the first game in almost all respects except for the conflict. Following a god-statue just doesn’t inspire me the way being hit in the face with an ever-present catastrophe that devastates families did. Yes, Deadfire has fascinating themes of imperialism, cultural preservation, and politics, but those are secondary to the godly pursuit the Watcher and friends engage in. Despite this weakness and the relatively lackluster combat, Obsidian’s writers showcase why they’re the best in the industry and help lift Deadfire above its lesser qualities.
A swaggering sequel that reaches for the future as it embraces the past, Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is a unique and ambivalent roleplaying experience.
With clever gameplay refinements, strong mechanics, and a smartly integrated narrative, Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is one of the genre's best.