Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Full disclosure: I am a 40-year old gamer who started on a Commodore 64 (!). While I would not consider myself a ‘video game guru’, I’ve played many titles over the past 25+ years, to include quite a few CRPGs. The following is a humble evaluation of the game, a few hours in. Family and professional imperatives prevent me from gaming much these days but I do occasionally treat myself to a title for the XBOX One; old habits (i.e. video gaming) die hard. This little gem of a title appeared on my radar a few weeks ago and, intrigued, I did a bit of research. Little did I know this game was first released on the PC last year, to great acclaim. I understand this newest release, entitled Divinity Original Sin Enhanced Edition (DOSEE), developed by Larian Studios, brings a few improvements over its original version, to include both couch and online co-op, fully voiced NPCs, a fully rotational camera, graphical enhancements, and technical improvements. A few hours in (I hear the campaign can take around 60 hours to complete), I am genuinely impressed. DOSEE is a lovingly crafted game, with great attention to detail, from graphics to quest design to dialogue. As the title of this review indicates, the game is nothing short of a thoughtful tribute to old school CRPGs, with a deep story, a healthy dose of character customization, and isometric turn-based combat. In today’s market, dominated by what I summarily describe as ‘easily accessible’ games, the learning curve in DOSEE is steep by comparison. Very little hand-holding awaits you and, consequently, you should expect to spend a bit of time on the web digging for clues/hints, whether it touches on crafting, skill management, or quest sequence. Slow-paced progression and head-scratching are part of the charm; but then again, those mechanics are something I grew up with. Be warned, however, if you do not have the patience to figure things out; a fast-pace Diablo clone this is not. Perhaps the most appealing aspect of the game is the open-ended flexibility it affords players, with its mix-and-match approach to skills, items, and talents. Customization reigns supreme in this game and it falls on you to find the optimal blend to survive. The addition of environmental assets (barrels of oil for example) to enhance the tactical nature of combat is a fantastic touch as well. I could write more but it should be clear by now I highly recommend this title to those who enjoy ‘measured’ CRPGs, as DOSEE is heavy on customization, inventory management, and tactical combat. The best comparison which comes to mind is that it is a slightly more intricate version of Baldur’s Gate on the PC (a reference which I hope will resonate with those of you who have had the pleasure of playing this ground-breaking title). Bottom-line: + Charming graphics + Great depth of character customization + Thoughtful tactical combat (to include use of the environment) + Campaign length (as reported by the press) + Attentive quest design + Full coop (couch or online) - Heavy on party management (may turn some folks away) It is difficult for me to provide an objective score since I admittedly like these types of games. Overall, I would rate this a 4 or 5 (closer to a 5). If this hasty and modest evaluation has somehow piqued your interest, I encourage you to read a compilation of reviews on metacritic.com and check out some gameplay videos on youtube… Like me, you may be happily surprised… Cheers, FM