Divinity II: Ego Draconis

Not the best fantasy RPG available this year, but good enough to sate those looking for more quests and characters. [Feb 2010, p.90]

Divinity 2 is an RPG but it isn’t particularly long or blessed with a big game world. The way you can turn into a dragon makes up for it in a lot of ways, though, and the ability to read someone else’s thoughts adds some life in the boring quests. For people who want to play an RPG but don’t have the time to play through a massive adventure, Divinity 2 is a decent option.

Nothing game-breaking, but there's so many oddities, annoyances and moments of utter frustration that keep this game from being as great as it could have been. Nevertheless, there's plenty here to entertain, and it's not every day that a game can stand up against Bioware and not be utterly crushed.

Divinity II isn’t without its charms, but weak game design sullies the thrill of digging into the many secrets of its outstanding world.

You'll have to get comfortable with the game's difficulty and spartan UI. You'll need to tame the camera and overlook the sometimes low-budget visuals, sketchy tech, long load times and a host of little bugs. It sounds like a lot of work, but Divinity 2 does have its charms and more often than not, I felt surprisingly compelled to see what was waiting around the next turn of the road.

Every bit of quirky humor and personality built into the game is matched by clichés in other areas that'll make veteran gamers roll their eyes, but the promise of better accessories, weapons and armor are enough to keep you roaming across the game's zones, smashing apart enemies and uncovering new dungeons. It's an entertaining, rainy day role-playing game.

The rose-tinted refresher combined with clever new features make Divinity II an RPG that's hard to put down. [Issue#29, p.50]

Ultimately, I was impressed by the length and complexity of Ego Draconis, and also by the stubbornness with which the producers wanted to present a high quality title. Indeed, if the game would have been bug-free, had a better voice acting and a more polished interface, it could have been a serious thorn in the back of Dragon Age: Origins.

RPG fans who don't mind puzzles and platforms mixed in with their dual-wielding, deep customization options and brutal enemies may find enough rewarding experiences here to be worth the struggle.

Divinity II is the kind of game that falls neatly into the category of "guilty pleasure" for me. It's an RPG that doesn't really break new ground, but plays well enough and provides a challenge.

Tedious side quests. [Mar 2010, p.78]

Yes, it's pretty rough around the edges and yes, it can be frustrating to interface with. What it is, however, is a very good story with an engaging combat engine, lots of content and a good bias towards action.

This role-playing sequel is a reasonably good time, but it doesn't nail some important basics.

It's completely let down by the actual developers. [Feb 2010, p.94]

The game feels broken at times and often gives the impression that the developers were rushed, or stopped caring halfway through. There also seems to be a lot of heart put into the game, but during several instances, the development feels blatantly careless.

The story is compelling and well told, and there's certainly enough flow to put it in the category of "just ten more minutes" games - but you'll need a lot of patience to get the most out of Ego Draconis.

A decent-enough fantasy action-RPG, Divinity II: Ego Draconis misses the mark a few times too many.

There is plenty to do in Divinity II, and if you don't mind putting up with the poor visuals or combat, there are plenty of side-quests to take on to extend your experience.

Yet another European RPG is weighted down by cement shoes of its ambitions and the developer’s lack of proper experience.

All in all, if you have the time, patience, and the will to endure the technical issues, you may find the bits of this game that makes it unique from games like it. Divinity II isn't going to set the world on fire, no matter how many dragons you can transform into, but it is a worthy look if you enjoy quest oriented RPGs.