Pillars of Eternity

 PC
User Score
8.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 2683 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2,104 out of 2683
  2. Mixed: 308 out of 2683
  3. Negative: 271 out of 2683
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  1. Fruban
    Apr 9, 2015
    10
    I was hooked before finishing the tutorial area. Every aspect of the character you create oozes in every aspect of important dialogue, making this game feel as though it places even more importance on your character creation choices than the classic Infinity Engine games. All of the old mechanics that worked are either preserved, improved upon, or added to, making Pillars of Eternity anI was hooked before finishing the tutorial area. Every aspect of the character you create oozes in every aspect of important dialogue, making this game feel as though it places even more importance on your character creation choices than the classic Infinity Engine games. All of the old mechanics that worked are either preserved, improved upon, or added to, making Pillars of Eternity an excellent amalgamation of classic computer RPGs.… Expand
  2. Dattatreya
    Apr 10, 2015
    10
    I have seen numerous user reviews before me that reiterated how if you are a fan of BG2 or Planescape: Torment , you will be immediately hooked on to PoE. While I don't disagree with them, I should come out clean and say - the very first tactical RPG I played was Dragon Age: Origins. So, naturally that was the benchmark for me when it came to games like these (and I never played BG and itsI have seen numerous user reviews before me that reiterated how if you are a fan of BG2 or Planescape: Torment , you will be immediately hooked on to PoE. While I don't disagree with them, I should come out clean and say - the very first tactical RPG I played was Dragon Age: Origins. So, naturally that was the benchmark for me when it came to games like these (and I never played BG and its IE ilk). However, PoE for me trumps over DA: Origins in all almost every aspect - be it gameplay or the core lore itself (perhaps DA: Origins was only better in its sense of 'epic' scope).

    Simply put - Pillars of Eternity is a game that demands your attention in numerous ways, with a breakneck yet tactical combat system that is 'fair' as opposed to its watered-down brethren. This is complemented by one of the best writings I have ever come across in a game world, along with some (not all) nifty quests. In other words, PoE is a game that also deserves your attention.

    As an ending note, when I played DA: Origins, I thought it to be a great game that deserves a 9. To that end, PoE certainly deserves a 9.5 (a score which unfortunately cannot be given on Metacritic).    … Expand
  3. Ivan9173
    Oct 23, 2018
    10
    Hello from Russian fan! Прекрасная игра, низкий поклон перед разработчиками, вы лучшие!
  4. icedon
    Apr 12, 2015
    10
    It's like Baldur's Gate II with modern graphics and better story. The Backgrounds are hand-drawn and beautiful, the voice acting, while sparse, is fitting. The NPC's are very memorable and each comes with a unique back-story and personal quest. The music is your classic fantasy score with a lot of different themes for combat, exploration and city background.

    I can recommend this to any    It's like Baldur's Gate II with modern graphics and better story. The Backgrounds are hand-drawn and beautiful, the voice acting, while sparse, is fitting. The NPC's are very memorable and each comes with a unique back-story and personal quest. The music is your classic fantasy score with a lot of different themes for combat, exploration and city background.

    I can recommend this to any serious cRPG player.    … Expand
  5. Vasenor
    Apr 16, 2015
    10
    This is one of the best CRPGs I've played. It has both solid combat and excellent plot and characters. All the companions are memorable and have backstories which flesh them out as people beyond their role in the game.

    One thing I'd note is that you expect a cheerful high fantasy romp this isn't it. The game world is not a nice place and you're more likely to be faced with a corpse at    This is one of the best CRPGs I've played. It has both solid combat and excellent plot and characters. All the companions are memorable and have backstories which flesh them out as people beyond their role in the game.

    One thing I'd note is that you expect a cheerful high fantasy romp this isn't it. The game world is not a nice place and you're more likely to be faced with a corpse at the end of a missing person quest than a heroic rescue. You're often faced with having to pick the least worst alternative.    … Expand
  6. Jimomedota
    Apr 17, 2015
    10
    Awesome game never thought id like a crpg so much the game mechanics r awesome the sceneries are a joy to view it maybe a bit ready but thats fine but the only problem is the load but its negligible simply amazing
  7. Rilke21
    Apr 28, 2015
    10
    I never really got into Baldur's gate. I came to it late, and the game was too dated for me to really sink my teeth into it. After finishing my first Pillars of Eternity run (clocking in at a whopping 65 hours!) I'm excited to revisit the old classics.

    This game is exceptional. The attention to detail is pretty much unprecedented. The story is compelling, the characters are interesting,    I never really got into Baldur's gate. I came to it late, and the game was too dated for me to really sink my teeth into it. After finishing my first Pillars of Eternity run (clocking in at a whopping 65 hours!) I'm excited to revisit the old classics.

    This game is exceptional. The attention to detail is pretty much unprecedented. The story is compelling, the characters are interesting, the writing is (mostly) excellent and combat is a fun challenge.

    The challenge with this game is this: it isn't flashy. There is plenty of text to read. Combat is hard and the learning curve is high. In other words, you need to accept a much slower pace then in most games. You need to let your imagination take over for what other games accomplish with flashy cinematics and motion capture.

    This is a game to be imagined as much as played, and that is by no means a bad thing. But, if you aren't willing to settle into the slower pace, you will probably think of this game as a waste of money. You've been warned.

    For those who give this game a chance, it is an experience you will remember!

    PS: At first I was overwhelmed by the walls of seemingly pointless text from the Gold Names NPCs...and then I realized this was the backer developed content, and I could ignore it entirely! The pace of the game picked up considerably :)    … Expand
  8. AceroSolo
    May 5, 2015
    10
    Simply the best RPG since Baldur’s Gate. It has the same feeling of the Infinity Engine games, but it is not only nostalgia, the current multiplatform way to make "RPGs in 1st person" may be useful to Action-RPGs (I still prefer isometric view like Torchlight or Grim Dawn), but for RPGs isometric view is irreplaceable, as real board games. Also Obsidian was able to made whatever theySimply the best RPG since Baldur’s Gate. It has the same feeling of the Infinity Engine games, but it is not only nostalgia, the current multiplatform way to make "RPGs in 1st person" may be useful to Action-RPGs (I still prefer isometric view like Torchlight or Grim Dawn), but for RPGs isometric view is irreplaceable, as real board games. Also Obsidian was able to made whatever they wanted thanks the independence of a publisher: an isometric game with handmade backgrounds, lovely fantasy soundtracks, a deep way to develop our character since stats to the background through dialogue, is simply mindblowing. This game will be a reference for the next generations like Baldur's Gate was since 1988, a real must have.… Expand
  9. Poddmeister
    May 9, 2015
    10
    Being an old-school gamer growing up with games like Planescape:Torment, Baldurs gate and Daggerfall this game really takes me back to those days when I was truly exited to sit down and play for a few hours.

    Wonderful story, gorgeous areas, nice plot twists and really fun gameplay and combat. This is the game I have been waiting for for the better part of 20 years. Best game since    Being an old-school gamer growing up with games like Planescape:Torment, Baldurs gate and Daggerfall this game really takes me back to those days when I was truly exited to sit down and play for a few hours.

    Wonderful story, gorgeous areas, nice plot twists and really fun gameplay and combat.

    This is the game I have been waiting for for the better part of 20 years. Best game since Planescape:Torment with much better combat.

    I can't recommend this game enough. If you like a dialog-heavy, story-driven CRPG with exciting combat you owe yourself to try this game.

    10/10 and i would give it a 12 if I could!    … Expand
  10. KJSharp
    May 23, 2015
    10
    An immersive game that demands strategy and tactical play. You will like this game if you're looking for a Medieval fantasy game that will present a challenge.
  11. Demonscream
    Jun 30, 2015
    10
    The game mechanics are really good and the story is unbelievably great. Your companions really make the game fun, talk to them and listen to them. Don’t read any more reviews! Just go buy this game. Yes it is that good!
  12. manukosta
    Jul 5, 2015
    10
    Im sorry, but this isnt just another Baldurs Gate....its a vastly improved one, with better mechanics, visuals, great fast pace option toggled with s or d for exploring, and it is the comeback of a genre. THIS is why the game is so special, because these types of games have a market, and its big! Its why people still play tabletop RPGs and Dungeons and Dragons, we dont need the bestIm sorry, but this isnt just another Baldurs Gate....its a vastly improved one, with better mechanics, visuals, great fast pace option toggled with s or d for exploring, and it is the comeback of a genre. THIS is why the game is so special, because these types of games have a market, and its big! Its why people still play tabletop RPGs and Dungeons and Dragons, we dont need the best graphics in 3D to have a great gaming experience. I love Witcher 3 and I love this game. And we definitely need more of these types of games. Strategic, fun CRPG at its best!… Expand
  13. Furipe
    Jul 31, 2015
    10
    It's too easy to review this game. It brought back the true face of RPGs of IE and showed how an oldschool game can easily beat the newest ones. In my opinion, it's so far the best RPG of 2015. Those who love genre must buy it; and Baldur's Gate (1 and 2) too.
  14. Goldenface
    Aug 11, 2015
    10
    Pillars of Eternity is nothing less than a product of those in love with a genre, to be played by like-minded people. No longer will you be aimlessly grinding enemies who barely fit into the context of environment, but instead having unique and memorable encounters that cannot be overcome by simple brute force. No longer will you have to experience patronizingly obvious dialogue trees, butPillars of Eternity is nothing less than a product of those in love with a genre, to be played by like-minded people. No longer will you be aimlessly grinding enemies who barely fit into the context of environment, but instead having unique and memorable encounters that cannot be overcome by simple brute force. No longer will you have to experience patronizingly obvious dialogue trees, but instead ambiguous (yet malleable to be more obvious) and interesting choices that give the player the freedom to role play beyond the stale-cracker "good", "evil", and "uninspired" archetypes. No longer will you be flying through the levels in hopes of level cap with a slew of minuscule passive points to make you feel like you're doing is important along the way; NO! AWAY WITH THAT RUBBISH! Now you hold each level up like a precious, fragile metal that can be wasted as easily as it can be utilized. Wrap these table-top oriented design choices into an intriguing story that gracefully unfolds without dragging you through it against your will and you have one the of the finest crafted titles in the genre that I will recommend for years to come.… Expand
  15. SkySlam
    Oct 4, 2015
    10
    Great, immersive and fun RPG experience. It really felt like playing Baldur's Gate for the first time again.
    I enjoyed a good part of the story, the gameplay is smooth and the companions are interesting and definitely feel alive. Did not disappoint the long wait.
  16. mishkoff
    Nov 14, 2015
    10
    Excellent game if you like games like BG or Icewind Dale. Main strengths are: dialogues, story and beautiful locations. It is a proof a good game does not need a massive budget and all that 3D graphics to be a good game.
  17. SuperGlare
    Oct 31, 2016
    10
    Body and mind cant handle the amazingness of this game.
    At last obsidian created a true rpg in this dark era of gaming which everything is simplified ****
    The art is spectacular and graphics feels like magic.To hell with 3d nothing can match the 2d art design for enviroments. Music and sound is oldschool and amazing and the voice overs when casting a spell are just superb. There is so    Body and mind cant handle the amazingness of this game.
    At last obsidian created a true rpg in this dark era of gaming which everything is simplified ****
    The art is spectacular and graphics feels like magic.To hell with 3d nothing can match the 2d art design for enviroments.
    Music and sound is oldschool and amazing and the voice overs when casting a spell are just superb.
    There is so much stuff and so many thing to mix and match that you will explode from happiness.
    From an Icewind dale fan this game is superb.It combines baldurs gate and Icewind dale together and its amazing.Not only has the story character that you can hire but you can hire mercenaries as well that you create.I mean how awesome is that.Dont you like the characters that the game gives you?Go make your own party.
    10/10 True oldschool RPG waiting for tyranny and Pillars of eternity 2
    Screw bioware and their simplified piece of trash rpgs    … Expand
  18. floredon
    Jan 24, 2017
    10
    I created a Metacritic account in order to write this review. If you are a fan of RPGs that were made in the late 1990s and early 2000s and are interested in playing a game that is a modern adaptation of that experience, you owe it to yourself to play Pillars of Eternity and The White March expansions. This is a game that you need to immerse yourself in to get the most out of, althoughI created a Metacritic account in order to write this review. If you are a fan of RPGs that were made in the late 1990s and early 2000s and are interested in playing a game that is a modern adaptation of that experience, you owe it to yourself to play Pillars of Eternity and The White March expansions. This is a game that you need to immerse yourself in to get the most out of, although there is an alternative way to play that focuses more on the combat gameplay (triple crown solo, no companions, no deaths, hardest difficulty). The lore is inspired by history and it shows. Reading the Cyclopedia and the quests reveals a detailed history that rivals the Elder Scrolls in scope and depth. There is a sequel in development, and since Obsidian owns this IP, expect more content in this series (I'm hoping for a trilogy). I've gone back and played Planescape Torment and Baldur's Gate and while I enjoy those games, Pillars of Eternity has spoiled me to the point where if I am craving a CRPG experience, I come back to this game. I would say that this is my favorite fantasy CRPG. The expansions further enhance the experience, and do not feel like the typical filler DLC that you see in AAA titles these days. The high quality of the game reflects the high quality of the team, and solidifies Obsidian as the master of the CRPG.… Expand
  19. ThatUDLegacy
    Apr 27, 2017
    10
    Let's start with, should you buy this game? Yes, it is well worth the price.

    Pros: Dragons Interesting characters, Interesting Stories, Extensive spells(so many that i didn't use all of them), Fort Building, Fun Combat, Friendly Banter, Lot's of Bounties, Lot's of choices, Imprisoning people, Companion Stories & quest lines, An in Depth biography/journal that writes of your    Let's start with, should you buy this game? Yes, it is well worth the price.

    Pros:
    Dragons
    Interesting characters,
    Interesting Stories,
    Extensive spells(so many that i didn't use all of them),
    Fort Building,
    Fun Combat,
    Friendly Banter,
    Lot's of Bounties,
    Lot's of choices,
    Imprisoning people,
    Companion Stories & quest lines,
    An in Depth biography/journal that writes of your deeds,
    Dragons.

    A Few Cons:
    After the Boss fight the game just ends (apparently it autosaves just before you jump)
    Can't change decisions once they are made, for example, you can destroy and object or stop it, yet if you stop it, you cant come back and destroy it later, because.... reasons?
    Need's More Dragons,
    Banter it seems is only limited to 3 lines, maybe rarely 4,
    You can ask your jailor to whip your prisoners but not treat them well? :L & prisoners barely say anything! a person who asked to be put in jail asked to be released, after 1 day!!!
    I feel that companions don't talk enough?
    Important vistors personalies, are often Non- exxistant in your Fort,
    I couldn't find anything to make my screen follow my character, having to constantly click ahead, maybe i missed it.

    It is said people complain more about things they love.    … Expand
  20. minusfive
    Aug 3, 2017
    10
    As a huge fan of the Infinity Engine games, I must say that Pillars of Eternity is simply amazing in every way. It's a true spiritual successor - not only a faithful tribute to the grand legacy of BIS and BioWare but also a new chapter in the isometric CRPGs evolution, an important milestone for the whole genre.

    Particularly, the character classes are very impressive. To all who    As a huge fan of the Infinity Engine games, I must say that Pillars of Eternity is simply amazing in every way. It's a true spiritual successor - not only a faithful tribute to the grand legacy of BIS and BioWare but also a new chapter in the isometric CRPGs evolution, an important milestone for the whole genre.

    Particularly, the character classes are very impressive. To all who critcize PoE (for whatever reason) I can say this: name any other RTwP CRPG from the past decade featuring eleven distinct classes ("distinct" meaning that each class has its own mechanics and is vastly different from all other classes) or shut up. I'm dead tired of subpar RPGs and their warrior-rogue-mage repertoire.

    The game was already great on release but now with the the White March expansion and improvements brought by patches it's nearly perfect.

    Absolutely 10/10, can't wait for PoE 2.    … Expand
  21. Alexyaaay
    Oct 23, 2018
    10
    Great game. So much to depth to this game to explore whether it be the combat, character builds, lore or even just play the story which is FANTASTIC! This is really a game i can draw the curtains for and just sink into its world for a couple of hours. Can't wait to get home and play through again!!!!
  22. Kunray
    Feb 17, 2019
    10
    It's a great game, a long game though! Took 90+ hours to complete! One of the best RPGS i have played.
  23. MicLes
    Apr 13, 2019
    10
    I have just recently finished my first play-through, with both DLCs, and really took my time to explore and do everything. After over 300 hours, a part of me wanted to end, but I also did not want it to end. The moral depths of the story and characters are touching and memorable and this game is really one of those rare few that I will always remember. Hats down to the story writers andI have just recently finished my first play-through, with both DLCs, and really took my time to explore and do everything. After over 300 hours, a part of me wanted to end, but I also did not want it to end. The moral depths of the story and characters are touching and memorable and this game is really one of those rare few that I will always remember. Hats down to the story writers and also to the voice actors. Of course, the whole crew at Obsidian deserves my thanks, but my point is to convey that this game has soul. Long live Obsidian.

    NOTE for new players :

    * Read the preferences/settings and select pauses if you want to play it as an almost turn-based game (I took my time).

    * Story and character feel is the strong point of the game. There is plenty of combat, but if you dislike role-play (RPG) or reading a book, you will not like it as much as I did.

    * I will contradict myself here : with so many classes, weapon choices, trying solo or with a small party (1 to 5 companions at a given time in a party)), difficulty settings (you can change some of it midway), hardcore Steam achievements, etc., some people enjoy the combat challenges you can face. Personally, my party was overpowered near the end (you know, level 16 party, after over 300 hours :P), so I just never rested to make it a bit challenging on the last sprint.

    nb: I am also watching the documentary The Road to Eternity about the development of the game.    … Expand
  24. almax
    Jul 19, 2020
    10
    Wonderful classic rpg with interesting story, huge world and enjoyable combat.
    Do not miss it
  25. razorwind
    Mar 29, 2021
    10
    I'd say it's too difficult for the casual player, but the writing is unparalleled. Josh Sawyer is a legend of storytelling, and it shows. The plot is rich with nuance, detail, horror, and grief - but not without a faint ray of hope. I hope this genre will become more popular in the future, and Obisidan will continue to make games like this one.
  26. jani7
    Jul 20, 2021
    10
    This is how RPG should look like. After 5 years still the top! Many studios could learn from this one how to make a storylines and whole living world. Good job guys!
  27. seriousboris
    Aug 13, 2021
    10
    One of the greatest rpg's of all time! Honestly, every rpg lover must play this if he didnt yet!
  28. IloveCookies
    Sep 6, 2021
    10
    One of my favourite games! Especially with the White March DLC. Love the characters, especially Aloth, Eder and Kana. So happy I backed it on Kickstarter.
  29. RafaelgFaria
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    It's a great game, with so many contents, a rich story, and a beautiful world. It's a dense game in terms of dialogue and quests, so, the lovers of an enjoyable reading will enjoy the game and its contents.
  30. DankNemes
    Jul 25, 2022
    10
    I've read the story of the game in Blood, Sweat and Pixels (great book that you should definitely read) and it shows that the hard work that the developers went through with crafting this game has paid off, good game.
  31. RedDragonSchool
    Apr 9, 2022
    10
    Pillars of Eternity is a rightful successor of Baldur's Gate and Icewind Dale series, with fantastic nostalgy vibes (and with some less fantastic oversized lore dumps but that's totally forgivable, considering the overall high quality and amount of quality content in the game). The music - absolutely beautiful - is a perfect marriage of Icewind Dale and Baldur's Gate themes.
  32. bigbigtimeboy
    Jul 18, 2023
    10
    These guys had a VISION. Awesome birds eye isometric RPG - cool story in a world rich with lore and side quests - all kinds of NPCs to interact with and impact your decisions/endings. Great character customization, some crafting and base building tossed in. And the UI for the combat/spell system is super easy to learn. Just the right amount of depth!! I played The White March pt 1 andThese guys had a VISION. Awesome birds eye isometric RPG - cool story in a world rich with lore and side quests - all kinds of NPCs to interact with and impact your decisions/endings. Great character customization, some crafting and base building tossed in. And the UI for the combat/spell system is super easy to learn. Just the right amount of depth!! I played The White March pt 1 and 2 (both add-ons) and they really added to the storyline.… Expand
  33. CaptainChaos
    Oct 18, 2020
    9
    If you miss the old Baldurs Gate, I find this game to be substantially the same more or less, in many ways except for the "city management." Great very old school mechanics, wonderful rich lore, decent writing, very little voice acting but it's excellent. I am only in Chapter 1 but apparently have 120 hours (on hard difficulty) so no complaints at all really.

    Combat sometimes is both    If you miss the old Baldurs Gate, I find this game to be substantially the same more or less, in many ways except for the "city management." Great very old school mechanics, wonderful rich lore, decent writing, very little voice acting but it's excellent. I am only in Chapter 1 but apparently have 120 hours (on hard difficulty) so no complaints at all really.

    Combat sometimes is both too hard and way too easy on Normal, so I'm not sure what to say. I suspect when I'm in areas I belong with the correct party, pausing every 2 seconds and well rested, it goes to the way easier side. When I'm not (I went too far into the keep for my level but I didn't know that) it was difficult even untenable. I wish there was some way to gauge this or maybe I just haven't figured it out.

    The resting system is very old school, and I thought I would really miss that, but I have to say, all it does is force me to go all the way home instead. They fix this with camping supplies which are ... cheap or expensive depending on how you spend your coin on other things, but you can only carry a limited supply I don't understand the point of that. I think better would be to significantly (1) increase the price of camping supplies (2) take the limit off (3) making resting elsewhere more risky to go back or something or expensive. Despite all this blah blah it's really not a big deal. Doesn't detract from the game that much, and for 1980s, 1990s fans, may enhance it.

    The Keep ... is ... interesting but I find certain aspects frustrating. I have absolutely no idea how much security I need, or how many if anyone I should hire - they are expensive. Some are very expensive. I prefer the party combat and rpg side, but I don't mind some of the activities and story around the keep. Some people might be very turned off by it though. It does act as a huge money sink though for now.

    (SAVE GAME ORDER) DEVELOPERS: THE ONLY REAL CRITICISM I HAVE, is that the top save game in the list is frequently NOT the most current. You have to painstakingly look through your manual saves, quick saves and auto saves to determine which has the correct time stamp. WHAT? Please fix this. It's awful, and inexcusable 30 years into this.

    Done Well: Combat speed and steal controls. Hot keyed properly you can go in and out of that with ease, managing the whole party or individuals very nicely.

    So far, I totally recommend, particularly for those Jonsing for an old school BG adventure, but keep the comments above in mind.    … Expand
  34. Fuz
    Mar 29, 2015
    9
    Basically, Baldur's Gate 3.
    Pillars of Eternity is a fantastic CRPG with a lively world, tons of stories, deep lore, amazing characters and great writing. The gameplay is very old-school, in a positive way, with a real time tactical combat that you can pause to issue orders to your party characters at any time. The interactions with NPCs are made with a classic multiple choice, influenced    Basically, Baldur's Gate 3.
    Pillars of Eternity is a fantastic CRPG with a lively world, tons of stories, deep lore, amazing characters and great writing. The gameplay is very old-school, in a positive way, with a real time tactical combat that you can pause to issue orders to your party characters at any time. The interactions with NPCs are made with a classic multiple choice, influenced by your skills and knowledge. And your choices in dialogues do matter.
    Extremly immersive, it's easy to lose track of the time playing it.
    Fantastic game, recommended to every RPG fan.    … Expand
  35. obscurus166
    Apr 26, 2015
    9
    The last time I felt this compelled by the narrative of a game was Dragon Age: Origin. However, by looking backwards to Planescape: Torment and Baldur's Gate, rather than sideways to console optimisation, Obsidian have managed to avoid may of the mistakes fallen into by EA/BioWare and really let the player get involved in the epic, metaphysical story of the game. I was hooked fromThe last time I felt this compelled by the narrative of a game was Dragon Age: Origin. However, by looking backwards to Planescape: Torment and Baldur's Gate, rather than sideways to console optimisation, Obsidian have managed to avoid may of the mistakes fallen into by EA/BioWare and really let the player get involved in the epic, metaphysical story of the game. I was hooked from beginning to end and I'm sorry that I've finished it.

    That having been said, PoE is not, by any stretch of the imagination, perfect. The AI - particularly of companion characters - can be infuriating at times, as they stagger blindly into walls and fail to avoid running into one another during combat. There are too many mage spells which are simply too risky to use to get much of a look-in. And there are some rather peculiar decisions which have been taken with regards to equipment and inventory: for example, the idea that helmets add nothing to damage reduction seems inexplicable, and the fact that they can't be player-enchanted also seems odd.

    Despite these gripes, I can't help but feel that PoE is one of the most engaging games I've played in a very long time. The environments are interesting; the quests are (usually) well written and engaging and most of the player-characters offer a solid narrative reason, other than their (often frankly useless) stats for taking them along for an adventure.

    The game also plays well, with the pause and click tactical combat being smoothed over by a reasonably efficient, expanding spell-and-talent icon menu. In stark contract to the BioWare games, you can select what your character is actually going to say, and, if you would like to know more, there's a function in the options menu whereby you can see the traits which each dialogue option typifies.

    I hope that Obsidian make another game in this setting, and soon.    … Expand
  36. Dyalad
    Apr 2, 2015
    9
    The game captures the essence of Inifinity Engines games very well.

    The pre-rendered maps with the 3D characters are combined really well, and the graphics look great. The music is, without a doubt, inspired by Baldur's Gate. The story is good, but if one hasn't read the game's lore before playing, it can be difficult sometimes to understand what's going on. A lot of weird words and    The game captures the essence of Inifinity Engines games very well.

    The pre-rendered maps with the 3D characters are combined really well, and the graphics look great. The music is, without a doubt, inspired by Baldur's Gate.

    The story is good, but if one hasn't read the game's lore before playing, it can be difficult sometimes to understand what's going on. A lot of weird words and terms are used in the game to make it sound exotic. IE: a biawac is some kind of soul storm. They do have a dictionary that covers some of the words used in conversations, but not all of them are in there. I think that Dragon Age and Forgotten Realm based games (Neverwinter, Baldur's Gate) are a bit more friendly when it comes to introducing new players to their setting.

    The combat system is interesting. It uses two health systems - HP and Endurance. Both Endurance and HP depletes during a fight, but Endurance regenerates at the end of a fight. HP does not. Depending on your character's class, your HP is can be between 2 and 5 times your total endurance. Essentially, this system allows you to be able to run several encounters without needing to rest after each one. While it's not perfect, it is a big improvement from Baldur's Gate in which you could technically rest after each encounter.

    The game does a good job at displaying consequences to your choices. You can meet NPCs you've saved/spared elsewhere in the game, certain dialogues will be available to you depending on the reputations you've built for yourself.    … Expand
  37. Hoot86
    Apr 16, 2015
    9
    Pillars of Eternity leads the way in the isometric old-skool RPG renaissance. Ignore the minority of negative reviews, they are complete hodge-podge. If you are a die-hard fan of the Baldur's Gate era of RPG's then this game will blow you away. My first playthrough came in at 71 hours and it was truly epic. The writing is superb, the updated gameplay mechanics keep well in line with thePillars of Eternity leads the way in the isometric old-skool RPG renaissance. Ignore the minority of negative reviews, they are complete hodge-podge. If you are a die-hard fan of the Baldur's Gate era of RPG's then this game will blow you away. My first playthrough came in at 71 hours and it was truly epic. The writing is superb, the updated gameplay mechanics keep well in line with the pause/play spirit of the old D&D games and the art style and direction are amazing.

    There isn't a lot NOT to like, specially given that the game has been patched 3 times since release already with updated art assets and bug fixes. On the point of bugs however, I experienced only one small bug (to do with stronghold hirelings) and had zero crashes in a 71 hour play time.

    If you've been waiting for an epic RPG to get stuck into with a plot that doesn't treat you like an idiot (hello, certain Bioware game) then this is the game you have been waiting for.

    9/10 - Essential purchase!    … Expand
  38. Notger
    Apr 27, 2015
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game is absolutely awesome ... not so much for its quite often a bit repetitive combat mechanics or its sometimes harsh difficulty spikes (Vithraak stun-lock mob ftw) but for the superb story with lots of interesting story-elements and even philosophically interesting choices. I loved the companion quest for Grieving Mother ... excellently written and kept me thinking about my choices for quite a while. Same for the main quest at a certain, point but I don't want to spoil that.

    TL;DR: Game mechanics sometimes a bit repetitive, but storytelling is awesome!    … Expand
  39. Hety
    Apr 2, 2015
    9
    Well... it was worth waiting for this masterpiece. I funded PoE on kickstarter and its one of those titles that delivered. But lets get to the point:

    The good: 1. Story is good, so far it kept me on the edge and i even missed a few sidequests coz i wanted to progress faster, which rarely happens. 2. Characters are mostly good. Interactions and banters are there and they make sense. I    Well... it was worth waiting for this masterpiece. I funded PoE on kickstarter and its one of those titles that delivered. But lets get to the point:

    The good:
    1. Story is good, so far it kept me on the edge and i even missed a few sidequests coz i wanted to progress faster, which rarely happens.
    2. Characters are mostly good. Interactions and banters are there and they make sense. I strongly suggest to play this game on normal or hard first, so you can beat it with NPC's in party.
    3. The World. Should have been number 1 i guess, but still. Its deep, its huge and i'm reading the books that are lying around. Havent done that since BG i guess.
    4. Backgrounds are gorgeous. The IE style thingies look like paintings and still have the 3D look to them. Its not for everyone, but i just love it.
    5. Choices. Its no long the question of doing the quests in the diplomatic way and then killing everyone for the experience bonus. Nah, you can safely go the pacifistic route and wont miss much in terms of gear and nothing in terms of experience. My inner munchkin cried over this one, but its all for the good as i see now.
    6. Roleplaying is quite deep, we have consequences to our actions. At the same time there is freedom of choice. Actually you can just kill everyone if you want to and progress through the game normally. How about that?
    7. Tactical combat is there and its good. Not superb, but good.'llt touch it in the ugly part :)
    8. Almost all classes play differently, which is a huge leap if we compare PoE to BG1/2.

    The bad:
    1. Still minmaxers paradise, sadly. Obsidian tried to disconnect base stats from physical attributes, but due to system quirks and the way how combat works maxing 2 or 3 of them works best. Hope mods will fix that.
    2. Bugs. They will be fixed by Obsidian and modders, but they are there.

    The ugly:
    1. Drastic changes to combat systems that people either love or hate. Engagement for example (which can be disabled altogether by mods, YAY)/
    2. Class balance is so-so. Some of them just don't work like we hope they will. More of a perception problem than bad game design.
    3. Music is OK at best. Its fine, it has the mood, but nothing major.    … Expand
  40. greywolf00
    Apr 6, 2015
    9
    TL;DR: Really captures the BG vibe. Highly recommended for fans of the IE games. Writing is solid throughout, even if some companions are a bit flat. The new mechanics are a mixed bag of hits and misses. Wish there was a higher level cap. Glad I backed it, and can’t wait for the expansion and future continuations of the series.

    If you miss the good old days of BG, do yourself a favor    TL;DR: Really captures the BG vibe. Highly recommended for fans of the IE games. Writing is solid throughout, even if some companions are a bit flat. The new mechanics are a mixed bag of hits and misses. Wish there was a higher level cap. Glad I backed it, and can’t wait for the expansion and future continuations of the series.

    If you miss the good old days of BG, do yourself a favor and just buy this now. For those of you who have managed to miss one of the best CRPGs ever made keep reading for the rundown.

    PoE uses a RTwP system with plenty of options for auto-pausing, as well as a slow mode to briefly slow the action down and get your tactics set. While your uncontrolled party members lack an AI like BG (used spells on their own based on AI chosen) they do auto attack without input.

    A lot of the more complex rules are gone and things are much simpler for new comers (no need to know what THAC0 is). Many abilities have a limited number of uses per combat and other have a limited number per rest always providing choices in combat. At higher difficulties the number of enemies grows, you get higher enemies types (Black Ooze > Lesser Black Ooze), and the number of camping supplies you can carry is extremely limited (Hard and up). Depending on how much problems you have with combat this could be an issue. Crafting has also been added, though it’s far from a great implementation in my opinion.

    The diversity of races and classes doesn't disappoint. Each race has a choice between two subraces which gives them a racial bonus. Many of the races, and classes, will be familiar in general make up to normal fantasy tropes, but there's also some unique things like God touched (the lack of a helm is a drawback) and Ciphers. Character creation overall is pretty good and adding in custom portraits is quite easy.

    Some of the newly designed systems do fall a bit flat though. The new stat system really lowers the importance of min/maxing. On the one hand this means casual players won’t be stopped by bad builds, but people who enjoy character building may feel let down by the diminished emphasis on stats. XP is no longer given on a by kill basis, instead being rewarded for bestiary additions. For example, a little bit of experience the first few times you fight a monster till you know everything about it, then none at all. Depending on play style this can lead to a fair amount of unrewarding combat.

    A minor complaint includes most NPCs not feeling as interesting as BG. The low level cap (12) is disappointing, though understandable. You will most likely hit the cap long before the game is over if you pursue most side quests. After that point the lack of character progression feels a bit unrewarding sadly. Considering they designed a ruleset from scratch and had a limited budget it’s understandable, but still a bit of a let down. I expect this ground up design is also the reason for the limited number of abilities and spells compared to AD&D.

    Unfortunately at the time of this review there are bugs. Obsidian is still patching, but their official communication regarding it has been pretty poor. However, they are an established midrange studio so we know it's coming, eventually.    … Expand
  41. Ananisapta
    Jun 9, 2015
    9
    Fans of Baldur's Gate will be pleased with this retro creation... like visiting the Auburn - Cord - Duesenberg antique car museum. Fans of more realistic and action-packed modern RPGs may find Pillars a bit flat and the combat deadly slow. I was not pleased with the ending... perhaps it was the choices I made, but it seemed little had changed. Life is to continue in a medieval turmoil ofFans of Baldur's Gate will be pleased with this retro creation... like visiting the Auburn - Cord - Duesenberg antique car museum. Fans of more realistic and action-packed modern RPGs may find Pillars a bit flat and the combat deadly slow. I was not pleased with the ending... perhaps it was the choices I made, but it seemed little had changed. Life is to continue in a medieval turmoil of chance and futility, world without end. But to get there was an eternity of talk - talk - talk, punctuated by scads of 30" battles that could take a half-hour to play out. The final battle took me over an hour... and that was on easy difficulty! OK my crew was level 11 rather than the recommended 12, but I couldn't face grinding everybody up another level. Also many of the abilities are cumbersome to use and not intuitive. Part of the challenge is to learn how to play six different characters simultaneously, plus our group had a pet and three kinds of conjured creatures to keep track of. One has to level all these folks individually and tend to their armor and weapon sets, not to mention consumables. The 'top-down' graphics are much less immersive than the virtual reality typical of today's games. The game was made with love and conviction, the voice acting was good but many of the dialogs weren't voiced. Some enemies are unkillable but you won't know which ones until after 30' of waling away on them. And walls of text to read, especially at the end. In summary, a period piece, well made but not awesome.… Expand
  42. elterifico
    Apr 7, 2015
    9
    The first RPG I ever played was Kotor. For me, isometric RPG is something new. I was a backer for the game and I am having fun so far. But even if I understant people who are really into this kind of thing, I really think that the combat system is way to much complicated and since I found out that I suck at micro managing all my party members, well I have a hard time playing the game.The first RPG I ever played was Kotor. For me, isometric RPG is something new. I was a backer for the game and I am having fun so far. But even if I understant people who are really into this kind of thing, I really think that the combat system is way to much complicated and since I found out that I suck at micro managing all my party members, well I have a hard time playing the game. I would give this game a 8 or a 9, but I can't, not because I suck, but because I think it should have been fully voiced... the story is rich and inviting, but having to read it all just spoil a part of the fun for me... But even with that bummer, I just can't stop playing the game... It is a masterpiece of epic proportion... For those like me who suck even on easy, you just have to activate the console and use some cheats. With those I made it so I could rest as I want whitout using campfire supply and with that cheat on, I could survive my own mediocrity...… Expand
  43. nomemory
    Mar 27, 2015
    9
    This is the type of game I enjoy playing. With all the hyped crap being released lately POE is a breeze of fresh air. I hope publishers and game studios realize that story-rich and complex games can still sell lots of copies and there's no reason to dumb down everything.

    Now let me say something about the game. It is brilliant. The story is way above average, the writing is quite    This is the type of game I enjoy playing. With all the hyped crap being released lately POE is a breeze of fresh air. I hope publishers and game studios realize that story-rich and complex games can still sell lots of copies and there's no reason to dumb down everything.

    Now let me say something about the game. It is brilliant. The story is way above average, the writing is quite qualitative while the combat is very tactical and fun. The game is has a lot of mechanics and careful planning is advised if you don't want to die very often. Did I say the music is great ?

    Now, don't get me wrong POE has some flaws. For example there are no cut-scenes (probably budget issues), there is no voice acting for all the in game dialog. Also I've felt that companions were not well developed and there's no real party interaction (like in Dragon Age).

    All in all, if you are nostalgic about titles like Baldur's Gate and Fallout 2, and you enjoyed the most recent Divinity Original Sin, please buy this game. You will not be dissapointed.

    I am giving it a 9/10.    … Expand
  44. Benjamin99
    Mar 26, 2015
    9
    Amazing RPG. If you old enough to play Baldurs gate and icewind dale you going to love Pillars of Eternity. I actually think its much better then the latest Dragon age. A must buy for any old school RPG fan.
  45. cossayos
    Jun 5, 2015
    9
    I already wrote a review for this game right after the release and playing about 10 hours of the story.

    So now that I played about two months without losing interest, I'm writing again. First, if you don't like reading, this game isn't for you. But if you do, it's a very welcome light at the end of the tunnel of the so called AAA straight to console feces on a silver platter you get    I already wrote a review for this game right after the release and playing about 10 hours of the story.

    So now that I played about two months without losing interest, I'm writing again. First, if you don't like reading, this game isn't for you. But if you do, it's a very welcome light at the end of the tunnel of the so called AAA straight to console feces on a silver platter you get served so often these days.

    In fact, the Obsidian team is the only studio that never dissapointed me. They seem to be still hungry and invested in their products. As opposed to the empty suits being at the helm of the big shareholder companies. The story isn't original, but I don't expect a game narrative to be the next great novel. You can have an influence and you always feel to be part of the world, which ultimately, is all that I expect from a game.

    There are bugs, make no mistake about that, but the team is constantly working on ironing out the flaws and adding some additional balance fixes to the different classes and spells. So they don't let you stand in the rain and listen to the community. There are also some real issues I have with this game. Such as guards not reacting to fights right under their noses. But all this doesn't take away the impression of this being something great and having every potential for expansions.

    So, all in all, if you like a good old school RPG, are not afraid of reading and don't fall for the shiny factor so many games put before content these days, consider giving Obsidian your money. At least side quests are quests and not a glorified FedEx simulator of fetch and carry. And don't compare it to Baldur's Gate. It's a game in it's own rights and has nothing to do with D&D rulesets for starters. These comparisons are quite asinine as most coming from game magazines is today.    … Expand
  46. Theirlaw
    Mar 26, 2015
    9
    Can I just say YES!

    Yes. yes, yes!

    What a fantastic reminder of my youth this is quickly turning in to. I'm feeling the same euphoric game play I had when traversing Shadows of Ahm for the first time, all the while now being pleasant surprised by excellent mechanics.

    Inventory and party management is excellent.

    Lovely audio.

    Classic graphics with a stunning atmosphere.
  47. frankielee
    Mar 5, 2018
    9
    Thank god obsidian and inexile are still actively making games that rests on frp tradition.
  48. dup
    Apr 14, 2015
    9
    This game is great and I loved playing it! I has very good writing, a great story, nice graphics and the good old RPG feeling. It is not without flaws, though. The game world itself is a bit too lifeless, and combat is sometimes a bit too random. I also missed that one strong memorable thing, like Irenicus or Minsc.

    Faulting Pillars of Eternity for not being more like Baldur's Gate 2 is    This game is great and I loved playing it! I has very good writing, a great story, nice graphics and the good old RPG feeling. It is not without flaws, though. The game world itself is a bit too lifeless, and combat is sometimes a bit too random. I also missed that one strong memorable thing, like Irenicus or Minsc.

    Faulting Pillars of Eternity for not being more like Baldur's Gate 2 is like faulting Obama for not being more like Abraham Lincoln. It is a different time now, and Pillars does some things better, and some worse than the good old veteran.

    Keep one thing in mind though, this game is great for some players. If you do not like reading long blocks of text you will not enjoy Pillars.    … Expand
  49. zmmby
    Aug 3, 2017
    9
    Lovely game.

    The game can feel abit clunky sometimes, and some of the spells arent really creative. You have three familiar spells with different colours and names. I'd love to see some new creativity on that. Story is good. Nothing special but it's good. Gameplay works fine with pause and tactics. Music can be repetetive sometimes. Especially if you play the game for 8 straight    Lovely game.

    The game can feel abit clunky sometimes, and some of the spells arent really creative. You have three familiar spells with different colours and names. I'd love to see some new creativity on that.

    Story is good. Nothing special but it's good. Gameplay works fine with pause and tactics. Music can be repetetive sometimes. Especially if you play the game for 8 straight hours and get the same fighting music all over again.
    But these are minor picks. It's a great game if you like to read and play CRPG.

    Im already pitching in the Kickstarter for Pillars 2 at 2018.    … Expand
  50. lifeofbrian
    Apr 2, 2015
    9
    This game is amazing.

    Pros - Rich music - Great atmosphere - Lots of dialogue options - Factions (so that you can never do every quest in one playthrough) - Multiple endings for many quests. - Highly replayable - Many different classes to choose from, and a lot of variety for how you can build any given class. - Good writing - Good voice acting (largely) - Interesting    This game is amazing.

    Pros

    - Rich music
    - Great atmosphere
    - Lots of dialogue options
    - Factions (so that you can never do every quest in one playthrough)
    - Multiple endings for many quests.
    - Highly replayable
    - Many different classes to choose from, and a lot of variety for how you can build any given class.
    - Good writing
    - Good voice acting (largely)
    - Interesting companions.

    Cons

    - You have to take your stronghold before you can get 1/2 of the companions.
    - There are only 8 companions (Baldur's Gate 2 had 17 companions)
    - The game forces you to take the stronghold (this is an immersion breaker for people who don't want to be tied down)
    - You can't cast buff spells before battle, but you can cast offensive combat spells and healing spells. This is dumb and breaks immersion. Given that resting (and therefore your ability to cast spells) is supposed to be limited by your access to camping supplies I fail to see why people shouldn't be able to pre-buff, especially given that the game already lets you cast spells outside of combat.
    - Still is buggy. I've had annoying sound issues on occasion.
    - Different priests lack variation regarding spells. A priest of Skaen casts the exact same spells as a priest of any of the other gods. At least Baldur's Gate 2 had a small amount of variety when it came to cleric kits and combat.

    Its definitely not a perfect game, and there are some areas (like companion access) where it should have learned lessons from Baldur's Gate. I'd probably give it an 8.6/10, which rounded makes it a 9/10. Given the total lack of games like it in the last decade its still a welcome addition all the same.    … Expand
  51. Type4101
    Mar 29, 2015
    9
    An epic RPG in the Baldur's Gate style, by the folks who brought us Baldur's gate! This is a deep, immersive, stat-driven, party-based RPG. RPGs have mostly been abandoned by developers in favor of hyped up, overpriced, unfinished, micro-transaction and DLC based crap. Pillars of Eternity is the opposite of that. It is a full game at a fair price. These developers are fantastic, andAn epic RPG in the Baldur's Gate style, by the folks who brought us Baldur's gate! This is a deep, immersive, stat-driven, party-based RPG. RPGs have mostly been abandoned by developers in favor of hyped up, overpriced, unfinished, micro-transaction and DLC based crap. Pillars of Eternity is the opposite of that. It is a full game at a fair price. These developers are fantastic, and clearly care about the artistic nature of game-making. If Baldur's Gate was a Picasso, then this game (so far...I'm not even near the end yet) is at least a Rembrandt. The real-time/pause combat system isn't my favorite (I prefer the turn-based methods of games like Wasteland 2), and combat frequently devolves into a bunch of exploding colors on the screen that makes it difficult to know what is happening. Still, combat is functional, and not the focus of the game. The focus here is on the detailed world, its broken-willed inhabitants, and a terrible curse that steals the souls from babies. Pillars of Eternity is an awesome RPG that, hopefully, is the start of a great series.… Expand
  52. Veska
    Mar 27, 2015
    9
    Welcome home, my child.

    Baldurs Gate

    If you sometimes play games as Baldurs Gate, you would love it. This game is game for fans! Hard and long play time.
  53. knallfix
    Mar 27, 2015
    9
    Plain and simple:
    It's an rpg, a trip back to the glory days, when games where made to entertain and not turned into franchises with season passes, ingame Shops, day 1 dlcs etc.
    And nothing like Bioware's dating simulators of late.
    Great times, Divinity: Original Sin, Wasteland 2, now Pillars of Eternity and Torment on the horizon.
  54. pinball123
    Apr 9, 2015
    9
    Amazing game. Great throw back to baldurs gate with some modern twists. I've been wanting this game for so long and it delivers. I miss the forgotten realms setting but the game is still my goty right now.
  55. Renzuken
    Mar 28, 2015
    9
    This game has great game play and awesome storytelling. The writing is very deep and engaging, and once you get the feel of the controls in combat and the main story line, you are sucked into the world completely. I have not had this much fun with a isometric RPG since BG2! It's a instant hit and a classic! I wish more publishers would green light studios to create more games like this!
  56. Elkedacion
    Nov 22, 2022
    9
    Za mne skvělé RPG. Taková klasika.
    Navic se dá do hry stáhnout čeština.
    STEAM + GoG verze - 9/10
    EPIC-Store verze - 1/10 ODPAD!
    Důvod je ten, že Epic úmyslně poškodil soubory hry, aby nemohly být použity modifikace a čeština.
  57. amandra
    Mar 28, 2015
    9
    I backed this game in Kickstarter. I was always a fan of the original infinity engine games. I also backed Wasteland 2 which was good, but not great.

    I'm only about an hour in and I can say this is the best game I've played in years. I appreciate having a great story, but I'm generally a skimmer. Not in this game. I paused for a second to read all the text and it's blockbuster novel    I backed this game in Kickstarter. I was always a fan of the original infinity engine games. I also backed Wasteland 2 which was good, but not great.

    I'm only about an hour in and I can say this is the best game I've played in years. I appreciate having a great story, but I'm generally a skimmer. Not in this game. I paused for a second to read all the text and it's blockbuster novel level, it's actually entertaining to read. Additionally there's generally excellent voice acting for the first (or couple) layers of dialogue, which really draws you into the characters. After that it's text only which is a great design decision since I find I read much faster than voice acting and generally skip it after the first layer anyway. A great balance.

    Character:
    Character creation took an hour, but it was an enjoyable well informed hour. Little hoverable highlights explain all the details you usually guess at and end up recreating your hero after learning them in game. So far I'm satisfied with my first shot which is a sign of a great character design section. The customization is incredible (characteristics more so than aesthetics). I went for a cypher, a really unique soulsteal-for-mana crowd control caster.

    Interface:
    The interface is fluent and hasn't felt clunky, save for a multi-monitor mouse bug that they're working on.

    Combat:
    The combat is excellent and quite difficult. I've already died in the game (which I consider good). I've come across enemies that can one-shot me (clearly not linear). The interaction between your allies in combat is critical. The pause mechanic is necessary to execute the strategic dance necessary to defeat enemies and it's implemented very well. The only flaw can be the occasional mistarget when things get clumped which would be hard to remedy in an isometric game.

    Graphics:
    I'm playing at max 2560x1600 and I don't know why people complain about the graphics. It's absolutely gorgeous at this level. The prerendered maps look great and really draw you into their world.

    Currently I'd rate this a 9.5 if I could. I think there is room for very minor improvements in their next iteration, but they very nearly delivered a perfect game here so far. I'll update as I approach the end-game.    … Expand
  58. thermoplastics
    Dec 9, 2015
    9
    PRO: Rich storytelling
    One of the main highlights of Pillars of Eternity is the rich and deeply involved story telling. The minutia to be found in game is almost exasperating. Every aspect of the world and the characters within have a very involved background with many different reactions to the players chosen character (race, class, etc.). On top of this there is often very well done    PRO: Rich storytelling
    One of the main highlights of Pillars of Eternity is the rich and deeply involved story telling. The minutia to be found in game is almost exasperating. Every aspect of the world and the characters within have a very involved background with many different reactions to the players chosen character (race, class, etc.). On top of this there is often very well done voice acting to accompany these scenarios, giving even more life to the game.

    PRO: Deep character creation
    The character creation menu in Pillars of Eternity are highly detailed. The player can choose from six different races that have eleven playable classes. There is also an assortment of sub races for each of the six races. Making for a pretty wide selection of choices that allows the player to create very individualized avatars.

    PRO: Combat requires forethought
    The combat in Pillars of Eternity usually requires a good bit of planning. Depending on the monsters one is facing the scenario shifts on how one needs to react. Fighting a couple of bandits will call for a complete different reaction than fighting a large dragon. Players have to adapt constantly, which creates an exciting atmosphere and a good bit of tension. The use of the space bar (or having a setting that auto pauses) to pause the game is key in planning how to react to each scenario which thankfully gives the player plenty of time to plan their future actions.

    PRO: Fantastic throwback to the isometric RPGs of old
    For fans of games like Baldur's Gate or Icewind Dale, Pillars of Eternity truly succeeds in bringing the CRPG genre into the modern era without compromising any of the old mechanics. The isometric view of the game gives a familiar feel but the new engine and addition of many modern effects gives the game a look all its own that fits in with any modern offerings on PC.

    PRO: Movie quality music
    The quality of the soundtrack is comparable to some of the best CRPGs out there as well as films like Lord of the Rings. At times there are looping soundtracks but luckily the sound design was done in such a way that there is also moments of ambient music and sounds to break up the monotony.

    PRO: Long gameplay
    With a play time of up to 70 hours, Pillars of Eternity will last any player for a good amount of time.

    PRO: Large selection of companions
    A player can have up to five different companions accompany them along their quest. Many of these companions have their own storylines, making for a feeling of connection. There is also the option of hiring your own user created companions at an inn, but of course this may not be as exciting as using the game created ones.

    PRO: Crafting system
    Players can collects items in the world to use for crafting. Crafting allows for creation of potions and scrolls as well as equipable items or enchantments for equipable items such as weapons, shields and armor.

    Unlike some crafting systems, crafting in Pillars of Eternity is a mechanic and not a skill, so there is no need to level up any crafting experience in order to craft.

    PRO: Three editions available that offer extra out of game content
    There are three different digital retail editions available for Pillars of Eternity, Hero Edition ($44.99), Champion Edition ($59.99) and Royal Edition ($89.99). The Hero edition is the base game with no extras. The Champion Edition offers the purchaser extra digital content such as a soundtrack and HD map. The Royal Edition offers everything the Champion Edition does with even more extra digital content such as Ringtones, eBooks and a strategy guide.

    There is zero in game content missing from any of these editions as Obsidian made it a point to make sure all the extras are just that, extras. Some may say what is on offer for the extra editions is not comparable to the price, really it is just a way for fans to give more money to a studio that bothered to create a genre of game that is often overlooked, a way to show appreciation.

    CON: A lot of reading
    The amount of text in game may turn some people off as much of the time spent in game will be spent reading.

    CON: Single player only
    There are no online or co-op modes.

    Full comparison found here: http://www.slant.co/topics/2220/viewpoints/5/~what-are-the-best-crpgs-on-pc~pillars-of-eternity    … Expand
  59. cicimbus
    Mar 28, 2015
    9
    Perfect, I really pleasantly surprised, super graphics, playing super, super environment ... control.. so this is a little worse, perhaps will be tunes in the next update ... 9/10 because you can NOT have love(wife) !
  60. mbcu
    Mar 31, 2015
    9
    A great game by backers flawed by backers

    First of all as veteran player of Baldur's Gate and Planespace Torment, I welcome the new class and combat system. If you haven't played them then suffice to say that I share the developers' opinion that D&D rules are too rigid. Want to open chests ? Go back to town and get that thief. Why can't my fighter lockpick a chest ? Likewise mages can    A great game by backers flawed by backers

    First of all as veteran player of Baldur's Gate and Planespace Torment, I welcome the new class and combat system. If you haven't played them then suffice to say that I share the developers' opinion that D&D rules are too rigid. Want to open chests ? Go back to town and get that thief. Why can't my fighter lockpick a chest ? Likewise mages can only cast spell, monks can only fight unarmed. In PoE class system still exists but not to limit but to provide a template. You are free to develop your own class which capitalizes on any attribute. So yes, intelligent barbarians exist and they wreak havoc. They can lockpick chests too.
    As for combat if rush and click is what you are used to then you will be wasted in no time. When I started, I suffered many deaths because that's what I did. But I find afterwards that a fight that killed me many times could be won easily by employing my companions and observing my enemies. Take my wizard for example. He used to be standing behind my tank shooting puny pathetic bolts. But I learned that if I bothered to prepare him with the right spells before a fight, I could get him to paralyze the big bad monster leaving a short work for my fighter. This game is pretty challenging and there's little room for error. Fights are sometimes win big or die so preparation is the key.
    I like the graphics although I feel the engine is not running at full speed. The good news is this game is light in term of computing power.
    Voice acting however is a mixed bag. I think they all speak monotonously. There is no more Jon Irenicus for sure, only subpar actors. Writing is uneven. Although the idea is nothing new, it is wrapped in mysteries and shrouds that keep me going for more. My companions however are generic. These guys hardly feel like the work of the creative team that did Baldur's Gate or Torment. In term of their characterization, I think this game is more comparable to Icewind Dale. Also I dislike the use of expletives in this game. For me using curse words like sh*t or fck to paint emotion particularly in a Tolkienesque fantasy setting is lazy writing. I believe I have never heard such words in previous Black Isle games. Still this is probably a biased opinion.
    What really annoys me is the "backers' shrines": plaques, monuments showing the names of Kickstarter VIP backers and their weird quotes. It really ruins the atmosphere to find a plaque saying "greetings from Hong Kong" while crawling in a dungeon. Of course you can just ignore them.    … Expand
  61. Vidicus
    Mar 28, 2015
    9
    A true throwback to the glory days of RPGs. If you were a fan of Baldur's Gate or Plantscape Torment, you owe it to yourself to try Pillars of Eternity. There really is no major flaws with the game, it has the bases covered from the ground up as a near perfect 3D isometric view turn based RPG. Do not miss out, this is worthy of opening your wallet for.
  62. Elisyeas
    Mar 27, 2015
    9
    Will try to make it short, since I'm having one hell of a time from hour 1 purchase. One would think that in times of "amazing graphics with ultra GOGO effects", "one-button-does-all strategies" and "10 second learning curve" there is no place for a game like this. Yet, one would be wrong. The whole idea behind PoE was the sheer belief that there is a certain group of gamers, raised amongWill try to make it short, since I'm having one hell of a time from hour 1 purchase. One would think that in times of "amazing graphics with ultra GOGO effects", "one-button-does-all strategies" and "10 second learning curve" there is no place for a game like this. Yet, one would be wrong. The whole idea behind PoE was the sheer belief that there is a certain group of gamers, raised among post-apocalyptic ruins of Necropolis, burned more than once by the flaming breath of Firekraag and all that while searching for an answer to a question "what can change the nature of a man". Such group exists indeed and although hardly a young bunch, they remain incredibly sentimental when it comes to games that require that "little more" of you.

    PoE is not for everyone, I agree. You will learn the game, you will learn what defines your character, you you will learn combat. You will also get your butt handed to you on a plate more than once. You will learn how your attributes affect certain situations in a way you simply do not expect. You will learn that your companions can die and remain dead, should you perform poorly ;-) So if you expect modern learning curve of 5 minutes, brace yourself. Yet in the end, you'll simply enter that magical time machine which made old-school classics so worty of your time.

    I salute every person who contributed to the project and made it possible, both players and producers. I feel like home again ;-)    … Expand
  63. Harpasa
    Jul 19, 2016
    9
    If you enjoyed Baldur's Gate, Icewind Dale etc. , you dont want to miss this game.Only problem i had with the game is npc dialogues can get a little boring from time to time. Still one of the best RPGs i played in years and a must-play game.
  64. KJosey
    Mar 26, 2015
    9
    [I have not finished this game] I'm about 10 hours in and, so far, this is a brilliant game. As the "spiritual successor to Baldur's Gate", some of the aesthetics and feel of the game is similar to that beloved series. However, the indigenous rules set on display in POE deserve a lot of praise for going where D&D has not gone before. Anyone who isn't familiar with D&D can easily pick[I have not finished this game] I'm about 10 hours in and, so far, this is a brilliant game. As the "spiritual successor to Baldur's Gate", some of the aesthetics and feel of the game is similar to that beloved series. However, the indigenous rules set on display in POE deserve a lot of praise for going where D&D has not gone before. Anyone who isn't familiar with D&D can easily pick this up and play, but it's also challenging enough to keep even the nerdiest of the nerds off balance with some difficult game play. There's a couple of minor bugs here and there, which is to be expected, but considering this is a game that will give you anywhere from 50-100 hours of game play, I'll forgive them and know a patch is coming soon. Go get this today. Oh, and if you personally meet any of the negative reviewers, point and laugh at them derisively.… Expand
  65. Paladinus
    Apr 7, 2015
    9
    Though I haven't finished the game, I can assure it provides what it promises: a good old.school RPG, worthy of being considered Baldur's Gate successor. Stats and skills do not only affect combat, but also open new options during interactions. Each time we speak, the game takes it into account, and over time, what we say has some impact on our gameplay and future interactions (not alwaysThough I haven't finished the game, I can assure it provides what it promises: a good old.school RPG, worthy of being considered Baldur's Gate successor. Stats and skills do not only affect combat, but also open new options during interactions. Each time we speak, the game takes it into account, and over time, what we say has some impact on our gameplay and future interactions (not always in a decisive way, but it has more impact than in most RPG's). Difficulty is pretty decent on hard so far, so I'm satisfied with it. Excellent crafting and upgrading system, which is both easy and does not require harvesting tons of materials.
    The thing that pleases me the most is the incredibly wide range of options you have to solve each quest.
    It lacks cutscenes (or cinematics, better) for certain interactions, more (and a bit better) voice acting and a less overwhelming lore during the first stages of the game. However, I know the budget was not very high, so I consider it more than enough. A great job indeed.    … Expand
  66. cratecruncher
    Jun 29, 2015
    9
    Pillars is a long game with dozens of side quests, dungeons, interesting companion characters, and a unique story. It took me 160 hours to complete the game on my first playthrough. Great game in the traditional Baldurs Gate Infinity Engine mold. Only better because there isn't so much "grindy" map clearing like those old games.
  67. Alexlee
    May 11, 2015
    9
    30 hours of playing with a superbly frustrating moment fighting the final boss and the Adra dragon, test of patience, and uncountable moment of awesomeness. this game is just plain good.
  68. ellimar188
    Apr 5, 2015
    9
    Congratulations, Obsidian: Pillars of Eternity is an extremely fun game! Like most of the users reviewing Pillars, I played and loved the Infinity Engine games, Baldur's Gate 2 being my personal favorite. I think that Pillars successfully captures the "feel" of those old games; the interface, combat, environments (I love the pre-rendered environments!) and dialogue all seem like updatedCongratulations, Obsidian: Pillars of Eternity is an extremely fun game! Like most of the users reviewing Pillars, I played and loved the Infinity Engine games, Baldur's Gate 2 being my personal favorite. I think that Pillars successfully captures the "feel" of those old games; the interface, combat, environments (I love the pre-rendered environments!) and dialogue all seem like updated versions of their IE counterparts. The story and lore are also very interesting, though I think that the Forgotten Realms campaign setting is far more robust due to its age. Obsidian has done a fantastic job in updating the IE-style isometric RPG with Pillars.

    I also think that Obsidian has made some changes that make for a better experience. I find that Pillars, while by no means an easy game, is not nearly as unforgiving as the IE games. I have yet to run into a troll and wipe because I have no fire or fire-based spells! I also love that the classes do not feel as restricted as they did within the Dungeons and Dragons rule set used by the Baldur's Gate and Icewind Dale series (unfortunately, I have not played Planescape). Want to be a mage with heavy armor and a sword? Go right ahead! Just know that the armor will slow you down. Further, I really enjoy the text-based encounters that you come across throughout your travels in the game. There is something fun about leaving a scene partially to the player's imagination instead of utilizing cut scenes; it is like the difference between reading a book and watching a movie. I suppose that if you do not enjoy reading this will not appeal to you. However, you SHOULD NOT play this game if you don't like reading. The game often feels like a great novel, a quality that I really enjoy.

    However, Pillars of Eternity does have its flaws. The biggest one, in my opinion, is that while the combat is extremely fun, Pillars actually lacks something that the IE games possessed: customizable AI. In Baldur's Gate, for example, I could utilize scripts that allow my party members to behave in a certain way during combat, though I could still take complete control if I wanted to. Pillars, on the other hand, does not have this feature and requires you to meticulously micromanage your party during combat. This does not bother me a lot (I like micromanaging), but at times I wish that I didn't have to tell my mage to cast magic missiles every time I want him to. Or that my healer would just cast a healing spell when my tank reaches a certain amount of endurance. Hopefully customizable AI scripts will be added in a future patch.

    In addition to the absence of party scripts, I can't help but feel that Pillars of Eternity relies a lot on nostalgia. This isn't necessarily a flaw; I am having a great time with the game and it seems like others are too. However, I am not sure if Pillars will appeal as strongly to players who have not played an IE game. Again, this may not be a problem and I believe that the folks at Obsidian have accomplished what they intended. Pillars is an excellent adventure, though maybe not an adventure for everyone. But then again, what game is?    … Expand
  69. Ohm1
    Mar 26, 2015
    9
    Essentially, this is an Infinity Engine style game². Storytelling, RPG aspects and stunning 2D visuals are above anything else released in last decade.
  70. FurballHer0
    Mar 27, 2015
    9
    It's big, beautiful and lovingly crafted.
    I'm 8 hours and I'm hooked, if you love fantasy then do yourself a favour and give this a much needed try.

    Losing 1 point due to no coop. The only thing that would make this better is being able to take a friend along with you, even as just a drop in fable 2 style coop.
  71. shelter
    Mar 28, 2015
    9
    Hats off to Paradox Interactive yet again for a solid game release.
    And congratulations to Obsidian for making a great game.

    However it's a bit too linear in terms of loot and stuff, at least from what I've seen.
    Other than that, it's been very fun to play so far and I really like the art style.
  72. aceofspace
    Apr 30, 2015
    9
    So let's break this down and then get into the game a bit.

    Story (plot & writing): 10 Graphics: 10 Art: 10 Characters: 10 Mechanics: 10 Bugs: 3 Save integrity (due to bugs): 2 So yeah, it's beautiful, it's profound, it's balanced, it's fun. This is the kind of RPG I've been missing since Baldur's Gate 1/2 and Neverwinter Nights. The only thing that comes close in this genre is    So let's break this down and then get into the game a bit.

    Story (plot & writing): 10
    Graphics: 10
    Art: 10
    Characters: 10
    Mechanics: 10
    Bugs: 3
    Save integrity (due to bugs): 2

    So yeah, it's beautiful, it's profound, it's balanced, it's fun. This is the kind of RPG I've been missing since Baldur's Gate 1/2 and Neverwinter Nights. The only thing that comes close in this genre is Divinity: Original Sin, which is a totally different beast with a totally different feel. I absolutely love Pillars of Eternity, and rank it among my favorites of all time. No doubt.

    Problem: bugs. So many bugs. I don't have any crashes, or disappearing characters, but these things are happening to people everywhere. My bugs are nearly game-breaking, all the same: constant save state overwrite issues. Oh, didn't finish that dungeon before skipping out via the easy-to-access master staircase? Sorry bro, start over! Total reset! Only now you can't use the main door! Wanted to get some bounties in those zones you beat at level 3? Sorry bro, start over! Fog of war, enemies, loot, unique items: all reset. Absolutely decimates immersion. On the other hand, hey free gameplay hours, so I guess that's a good thing.

    Go for it, get this game, as no doubt it'll all be patched and Obsidian will make amends for their (legendary) lack of QA process. It's an unbelievably fun homage to all that came before.    … Expand
  73. aykunoise
    Mar 26, 2015
    9
    This is the dawn of fund-independent gaming companies with kickstarter projects. The game follows the path of its succesors Baldur's Gate, Icewind Dale & Planescape Torment. -1 score for not including oldschool romance options and multiplayer support like baldur's gate.
  74. Pjk1987
    Mar 26, 2015
    9
    Pillars of eternity reminds me of my Baldur's Gate days with deep storytelling, memorable characters and exciting gameplay. Obsidian have passionately created something they can be proud of - this is a masterpiece. The road to eternity series showed me that behind the development process there are real people with real stories so I want to thank all those individuals (both seen and unseen)Pillars of eternity reminds me of my Baldur's Gate days with deep storytelling, memorable characters and exciting gameplay. Obsidian have passionately created something they can be proud of - this is a masterpiece. The road to eternity series showed me that behind the development process there are real people with real stories so I want to thank all those individuals (both seen and unseen) for creating this game with such love through kickstarter. Ignore the 0 rating reviews, I'm not quite sure how someone gives this a 0 rating but unfortunately welcome to metacritic. Played 13+ hours.… Expand
  75. chai_spice
    Mar 26, 2015
    9
    Pillars of Eternity is an outstanding game, solid in most respects and spectacular in others. As someone who grew up playing and loving fantasy cRPGs, I was afraid this genre was basically dead; I'm relieved to say that Pillars of Eternity is a fantastic offering. I'd say it easily stands alongside the likes of Baldur's Gate I & II and Planescape Torment, and that's not something I wouldPillars of Eternity is an outstanding game, solid in most respects and spectacular in others. As someone who grew up playing and loving fantasy cRPGs, I was afraid this genre was basically dead; I'm relieved to say that Pillars of Eternity is a fantastic offering. I'd say it easily stands alongside the likes of Baldur's Gate I & II and Planescape Torment, and that's not something I would just throw out there without serious consideration.

    - The mechanics are wonderfully crunchy while still being very accessible to newcomers to the genre. Character creation isn't obtuse and fraught with mechanical pitfalls, nor is it limiting or simple; there are a huge number of diverse and viable builds. The combat is engaging, through-and-through, and it's very satisfying every time I get a unique option in dialogue based on my characters build, which is surprisingly often, considering the huge variety of possible PCs.

    - The visuals are serviceable; that's the most I can say, really. A good art direction goes a long way for compensating for the relative weakness of the graphics.

    - I'm very impressed with the companion NPCs, and although I really wish they'd banter with each other more, they each have their share of interesting dialogues with the PC. I definitely can't see myself ever replacing them with a custom-made party, even after a few playthroughs.

    - The setting. I'm in love with the setting; the races, the nations, the history. It's very thoughtful and rich in detail. I've been soaking up every bit of background lore I can, and I usually don't have the attention span to do that in these games since I tune out the moment things start feeling too dry. I can't say that it's *all* absolutely revolutionary, but it's a well-executed fantasy setting with some extremely novel stuff that puts it above a lot of the other toothless, bland stuff in the genre.    … Expand
  76. Skymax86
    Mar 26, 2015
    9
    I've played only 5 hours this far, but i absolutely love it. It feels like Baldurs Gate 2, with some thoughtful improvements and it's the first RPG for years which makes me really excited, it's a shame I have to go to work tomorrow. Buy the game and support the devs, great work!
  77. Ozard
    Jul 22, 2015
    9
    Excellent all round game which, if you are a crpg fan, should keep you occupied for quite some time. But it's not without its faults. Some very interesting classes to experiment with, story is good, combat generally very good. Joinable npcs are interesting, writing is very good and the game is more than a decent length. There is also excellent replayabilty value. All this makes for aExcellent all round game which, if you are a crpg fan, should keep you occupied for quite some time. But it's not without its faults. Some very interesting classes to experiment with, story is good, combat generally very good. Joinable npcs are interesting, writing is very good and the game is more than a decent length. There is also excellent replayabilty value. All this makes for a thoroughly great experience. Ok, now the gripes. After about level 5, my cipher, druid and mage where only casting 2 or 3 spells constantly. In fact, my cipher cast one spell about 90% of the time. It got a little tedious. Some of the druid spells are so much better than the rest it's not even funny (at the same levels). The Stronghold - possibly not worth the money and the time. I got through the game quite easily without any of it. Bounties are a good idea but you can only do 3 before you are 3/4 of the way through the game (and one of them that is required to get the rest probably isn't doable before level 8 anyway). More could have been given earlier with less rewards if necessary. Achievements - seriously, if you are going to dish out achievements like 'triple crown solo' you should make sure that at least most of the classes are able to do it. At the moment only a rogue can (not seen any proof at all that any other class can) and that's by avoiding as many fights as possible and shoving all points into sneak. Just make it a sneak achievement why don't you? The game should be able to be soloed by most classes, not just one.

    Having said all that, I for one will be buying the expansion.    … Expand
  78. Dmitro
    Mar 27, 2015
    9
    In Pillars of Eternity has everything she needed to resemble a classic, but it almost got rid of atavism Infinity-rolevok and went to his level. In her more freedom, more factors beyond the control of, and less cliché.

    It's not perfect. We would like to teammates played in the history of a more active role. That in the last hours of the game was more than life itself. To personal    In Pillars of Eternity has everything she needed to resemble a classic, but it almost got rid of atavism Infinity-rolevok and went to his level. In her more freedom, more factors beyond the control of, and less cliché.

    It's not perfect. We would like to teammates played in the history of a more active role. That in the last hours of the game was more than life itself. To personal fortress (as we have here is a personal fortress) gave the gameplay is something else besides linked to the timer settings and missions. I would like a lot. And it does not matter.

    Largely Pillars of Eternity feels like pen test ... but still very successful. We need more such games, now for sure.    … Expand
  79. Maquiame
    Mar 28, 2015
    9
    The best game of this type hands down aside from Planescape: Torment. I enjoy this title and its fantastic setting even more than Baldur's Gate 2. And much love for the Vailians! People of color with a great role in the world!
  80. Exeunt
    Mar 28, 2015
    9
    It really is Baldur's Gate 3. They took out a lot of the stuff that was annoying too. No Minsk (yet).

    But the handpainted backgrounds are gorgeous, the story as far as I am in it is compelling and the combat is challenging.What wore could you want?
  81. Malach1te
    Mar 29, 2015
    9
    A true RPG. I didn't expect this after the mediocre experience that was Wasteland 2 and other kickstarter projects but i was hooked from the very intro screen. The setting seems cookie cutter D&D at first, but you will soon notice it's so much more and very mature/believable (as is the writing). I especially like its Celtic and Anglo-Saxon tones.
  82. ASTALONTE
    Mar 30, 2015
    9
    It s like a machine time. You will feel as you were 17 years old again.
    Baldurs fan, welcome home.

    It is like a geme from a old time. It doesn't take you hand, you have to seek the goal for yourself.
    Buy it!
  83. gaargod
    Apr 1, 2015
    9
    For a huge fan of BG series, this game was an absolute joy to play. The only thing which I didn't like is that if you do as many side quests as possible you reach the experience cap way too soon. I reached the level cap before even starting any quests in Twin Elms and then I was a bit frustrated because there was very little sense of progression. It would be great if the level cap wasFor a huge fan of BG series, this game was an absolute joy to play. The only thing which I didn't like is that if you do as many side quests as possible you reach the experience cap way too soon. I reached the level cap before even starting any quests in Twin Elms and then I was a bit frustrated because there was very little sense of progression. It would be great if the level cap was raised or if all experience rewards were scaled down so that the level cap would be reached much closer to the end of the game.… Expand
  84. Jose1985
    Apr 4, 2015
    9
    this is the best RPG in years and years. Deep and complex..., you are going to enjoy it as hell if you liked baldur gate. Pure o!d school.Guaranteed hundred of hours of freedom and deep adult content
  85. NerPan
    Apr 4, 2015
    9
    This game is a dream after years of modern childish uninspired console oriented **** games. The feeling, that old feeling, is back again. Every Baldur's Gate fan shouldn't miss this gem
  86. lumibela
    Apr 5, 2015
    9
    Blast from the past!

    If you like controlling parties, pausing and employing tactical strategies to overcome difficult encounters then this game is for you. There is a variety of classes that you can choose, most classes are quite interesting, a great cast of AI companions and also you can fully customise your own mercenaries to accompany you on your quest. The perfect game to    Blast from the past!

    If you like controlling parties, pausing and employing tactical strategies to overcome difficult encounters then this game is for you.
    There is a variety of classes that you can choose, most classes are quite interesting, a great cast of AI companions and also you can fully customise your own mercenaries to accompany you on your quest.

    The perfect game to scratch that old CRPG itch you may occasionally have. PoE has a mixture of great voice acting and great written dialogue that combines together and actually complements each other perfectly. It has descriptive writing, almost feels like reading a book, whilst you make all the choices in that book.

    The game has improved in some aspects of the old greats - mainly in the graphical department. It has all been done before and doesn't reinvent the genre, but PoE simply offers the gaming community a modernised Baldur's gate.

    I enjoyed Divinity Sin, but I found PoE immediately more interesting and more akin to neverwinter nights 2 and the baldurs gate series. This game is a well deserved 9.5 out of 10, it's not perfect, the main storyline is cliché so far... but the interactions, the combat system and the writing is superb and carries the game through.

    Don't miss this one, unless Rpg's aren't your thing :)    … Expand
  87. Glaciergreen
    May 10, 2015
    9
    I´ve played (and enjoyed) Dragon Age Origins and was looking for a modern replacement that features a deep story, a complex stat/abilities system and some tactical combat gameplay. I came across PoE and after reading some reviews and critics i´ve decided to buy and play it. Long story short: The best role play game i´ve played in years! In terms of playability, story and complexity farI´ve played (and enjoyed) Dragon Age Origins and was looking for a modern replacement that features a deep story, a complex stat/abilities system and some tactical combat gameplay. I came across PoE and after reading some reviews and critics i´ve decided to buy and play it. Long story short: The best role play game i´ve played in years! In terms of playability, story and complexity far better than Dragon Age Inquisition.
    It´s loosely based on the old infinity engine games (Baldurs Gate etc.) but features updated graphics including 3D toons, lovely rendered backgrounds and stunning magical effects.
    The story got me involved right after apprx. 20 minutes of gameplay.
    All talents/skills are not only used in combat, but in actual roleplay events (e.g. trying to climb a wall, either use your athletics if high enough, or use your mechanics skill and a rope, or ... etc.).
    You´ll need some time to fully understand the system behind combat and character development, but it´s within the boundaries of what you´ll expect from a modern RPG.
    Anyways, my conclusion: If you enjoyed the rpg system behind DA:O, if you played Baldurs Gate, Neverwinter Nights etc. and if you look for a dark-ish, grim story that forces you to make many grey zone decisions, Pillars of Eternity is your game. Go, buy it, you´ll thank me later!
    Visuals/Graphics: 9/10 (overall very good, could use a little more zoom in)
    Story/Quests: 10/10 (could easily be made into a hollywood fantasy movie)
    Playability/HUD: 9/10 (semi-intuitive, needs some diggin, tho)
    Current game version is 1.05 and many bugs have been fixed,
    for everything else (e.g. better localization) there´s the mod nexus.
    Really, buy this game! ;-)    … Expand
  88. EdenR
    May 29, 2015
    9
    This game is the closest to old style computer RPG's that I have encountered in a very long time. The amount of character interaction and party tinkering possible is enormous. I loved the real time pause combat system as it was easy to set and forget for easy combats and micro manage for the bosses.
    I will say that my play through took 90 hours because you only get experience points from    This game is the closest to old style computer RPG's that I have encountered in a very long time. The amount of character interaction and party tinkering possible is enormous. I loved the real time pause combat system as it was easy to set and forget for easy combats and micro manage for the bosses.
    I will say that my play through took 90 hours because you only get experience points from finishing quests in the main as opposed to chopping your way through the world. The last third dragged somewhat as you had to grind your way to the end. If you enter the end game dungeon there is no exit so you really need to be maxed out to take the final battle. Can't wait to see what they do in the next expansion. Also, fantastic value for the paltry price.    … Expand
  89. bskierys
    Dec 17, 2019
    9
    This review is based on playing the game with all the DLC's installed s few of my comments may not apply to the base game.
    The score says a lot. The game is amazing, huge and full of content. It took me 110 hours to complete it - almost 5 months and I don't regret spending my evenings with it. Some people sais that PoE is the worthy successor of the Baldur's Gate and other isometric    This review is based on playing the game with all the DLC's installed s few of my comments may not apply to the base game.
    The score says a lot. The game is amazing, huge and full of content. It took me 110 hours to complete it - almost 5 months and I don't regret spending my evenings with it. Some people sais that PoE is the worthy successor of the Baldur's Gate and other isometric RPG's. In my opinion, this game in many aspects is much better than the classic ones. I just loved the mechanics for storytelling - dialogue mechanics, little paragraph games, possibility to look into people souls and even just that you can click on some objects not to interact with them but just to get a basic description. Basic game mechanics has also improved compared to BG games. All of it seems just more intuitive and less annoying to use. I also loved the story, both in main and side quests. It is all connected to the lore of the world. It is nothing surprising but the length of the game and how the story is told just adds a lot to it. And one of the best things in the game - companions. Each of them has its own character, attitude, story and side quest. I loved the fact that they were commenting on events in the story - both in main and side quests. They were talking to you, with each other and with people they met. And it just not the base game characters. I was surprised that the final boss spoke to one of the characters from the DLC directly mentioning her own, personal story.
    The graphics and sound are amazing. This is what I expect from an evolution of isometric RPG formula. After so many hours of gameplay, the music gets a little repetitive but nothing you can't handle.
    Now let's talk about what is wrong with this game - the combat mechanics. At the beginning of the game, I was overwhelmed by all the statistics and modifiers. The game does nothing to ease the pain, so I studied what does what from the game wiki. When I finally learned it (at least a little) the game started to make more sense. But then after about 30 hours, I got tired of it. The combat becomes boring and felt like a painful duty. Same goes for leveling characters - it felt like a punishment rather than a reward. And there is a lot of fighting in the game - especially in DLC's - and there is no possibility to skip it.
    I mentioned that I loved storytelling. The game presents the story great with various mechanics, but the language it speaks is sometimes too confusing and too convoluted to handle. Sometimes I had to look to the journal and to the game wiki just to know what the vision I just saw meant. I would prefer to be told some things directly.
    To sum it up - great game with amazing story and characters but with a combat system that got me tired. I will play a sequel for sure, but I need to rest from the first part for a bit.    … Expand
  90. Derf3L
    Oct 1, 2015
    9
    Amazing game! A true RPG, incredible story, great combat, really good immersion and a lot of exploration.
    So many good sides..
    I haven't given a 10 because of a few small issues, like slightly outdated graphics and overall interface is not that fresh.
    Good work Obsidian. Totally recommend it.
  91. toirko13
    Sep 5, 2015
    9
    First of all i want to give thanks to the developers for creating this master piece of a game! and i hope they will add more to this master piece in time such as characters and other wonderful DLC.

    this game is a must buy! so get it!
  92. Ljungman
    Apr 1, 2016
    9
    I like nearly everything in this game. The storytelling is probably one of my favorite aspects of this game, where it is told nearly like a book. Pillars of Eternity has one of the best writing I've ever seen in a game and it's wonderfully executed, both in dialogue and in storytelling. It's an amazingly well-written story throughout the game. You'll also meet other characters in yourI like nearly everything in this game. The storytelling is probably one of my favorite aspects of this game, where it is told nearly like a book. Pillars of Eternity has one of the best writing I've ever seen in a game and it's wonderfully executed, both in dialogue and in storytelling. It's an amazingly well-written story throughout the game. You'll also meet other characters in your travels, with interesting backgrounds and side-quests, also with an amazing dialogue.

    Graphically it reminds me of Baldur's Gate, with new-end graphics. I love how the game looks, it's truly a beautiful game, where the world looks like something from a painting. Character customisation is quite bad, but it's just a small part of the game.

    Sidequesting in Pillars was actually really fun! It wasn't those fetch missions, it was of the same quality as the main quest, with choices and consequences. Most of the sidequest had moral choices for your character that would build up what type of character he/she is, which makes you able to decide if you're a hero or a villain. Interesting all the way through. The party you choose to have with you is also affected by what you decide to do during this moral choices and might dislike you for it, and even leave you.

    I loved the combat. It's challenging and fun. Depending on what moves you do, where you place your characters and what spells you use to certain enemies you might die or win. If you play on the higher difficulties, side questing is a must to be able to continue. You even might meet a powerful enemy you can't defeat at the moment, but after doing more quest you can return to and defeat, and it feels really good in doing so. Looting for gear was one of the things I found quite lacking, often I got bad gear from a hard enemy, but the semi-hard bosses gave me gear I used for the most part of the game. It was not much gear changing.

    And oh yeah, THE MUSIC IS SO GOOD! It feels like a classic RPG from start to end!    … Expand
  93. Hohum
    Nov 12, 2015
    9
    I was skeptical at first, I admit. Back when the original Baldur's Gate bandwagon rolled on through town, I was too busy wrapped up in the glorious world of Ultima Online to take much notice. Only much later, in modern times, did I labor through the BG franchise. While the story and game world were both great, you really get a sense for how far we've come in 15+ years since, in terms ofI was skeptical at first, I admit. Back when the original Baldur's Gate bandwagon rolled on through town, I was too busy wrapped up in the glorious world of Ultima Online to take much notice. Only much later, in modern times, did I labor through the BG franchise. While the story and game world were both great, you really get a sense for how far we've come in 15+ years since, in terms of designing games which are actually enjoyable to control and play.

    Pillars, then, is the epitome of what can be achieved when classic RPG-craft and top-notch storytelling meet a more modernized game design philosophy. The result is a spectacular triumph.

    From the outset, you're struck with the "right" balance of nostalgia and playability, which continues on throughout the game. Controlling your party is a streamlined affair, and combat moves at a decent pace without ever feeling too fast or too slow. The variable game play speeds work wonders, meaning you don't have to pause every 2 seconds to issue a new command if you don't want to. It's the little things.

    The graphics, soundtrack, voice acting - everything is fantastic in my eyes (and ears). The quests are numerous and interesting. There's a rich lore to wrap yourself up in like a cozy blanket, but not so much that it feels like opening your favorite novel each time you launch the game.

    My only reservation is a technical complaint - the game runs horribly on my Core i7, 16GB RAM, Nvidia 960M 2GB laptop. I rarely get above 20FPS on low settings. On my desktop machine with GTX 980 graphics, it runs just fine. Little disappointing, but it doesn't detract too much from the overall experience.

    If you enjoy CRPG games, especially those of old, then you owe it to yourself to play this game. Roll on the next one.    … Expand
  94. AnTi_HeRo2100
    Mar 2, 2016
    9
    Pillars of Eternity

    If you are like me and a little hesitant to try this game out a bit I'm hoping to put your mind at ease a bit. I have never played Baldur's Gate so I honestly have nothing to compare this game to by the way of previous installments by the company however that means I'm not jaded by having a prior favorite in the series, so here goes my review. I wont get into    Pillars of Eternity

    If you are like me and a little hesitant to try this game out a bit I'm hoping to put your mind at ease a bit.

    I have never played Baldur's Gate so I honestly have nothing to compare this game to by the way of previous installments by the company however that means I'm not jaded by having a prior favorite in the series, so here goes my review.

    I wont get into character creation just gameplay, like I said above I had never played a previous installment by this company so I didn't know what to expect however, what I got was a truly great game from the environment to the characters to the music this game was made great and while there are some difficulties picking up some aspects to the game its nothing that you cant easily learn with time and a little practice. the atmosphere that the creators manage to create at each part of this game with the music, environment, and enemies is amazing I love to break out my Turtle Beach's when I play this game just for the immersion factor.

    I hope you enjoy reading because if you highly dislike it DO NOT get this game, it helps portray the story as you progress by allowing you to read and imagine the reactions that you want through descriptions that are equal to if you were reading an actual book and for those of us who don't mind reading it makes the story being told that much better in every way.

    (Summary) this game is a slow paced, story based, dungeon crawler that will grip you and keep you playing while enjoying the music and environment that has been created. I give it a solid 9/10 the only reason its not a 10/10 is that sometimes it can be a little to slow for my personal taste and sometimes the amount of constant reading can get a little annoying, great game none the less.    … Expand
  95. night4
    Jul 2, 2016
    9
    Wow.

    If you liked Baldur's Gate and Baldur's Gate II and you cried when it was announced that there would never be a Baldur's Gate III, then this game is for you. It's got EVERYTHING going for it with a couple minor cons that keep it from being a 10. Pros: Music, graphics, original story, combat. I want to emphasize how rare it is to see a game with a good, original story these    Wow.

    If you liked Baldur's Gate and Baldur's Gate II and you cried when it was announced that there would never be a Baldur's Gate III, then this game is for you.

    It's got EVERYTHING going for it with a couple minor cons that keep it from being a 10.

    Pros: Music, graphics, original story, combat. I want to emphasize how rare it is to see a game with a good, original story these days.

    Cons: Generated characters have experience penalty, wildly changing classes each time they patch (especially chiphers), and retarded AI. These things are fairly minor overall.    … Expand
  96. awolcz
    Mar 2, 2020
    9
    I grew up on games like Baldur's Gate or Icewind Dale. Pillars of Eternity is not only great nostalgia, but also en epic journey. i'm love this game!
  97. ExpertPL
    Nov 12, 2016
    9
    The lore of this game is incredible. The characters in this game are incredible. Everything in this game is incredible. Then why I won't give a 10? Well, it doesn't have that something special, that would make it one of the kind.

    This game is a great return to Baldur's Gate kind of RPGs, must-have for every RPG fan.
  98. destinyfan1
    Jan 28, 2017
    9
    maby one of the best rpg's ever , good story,combat , environments it has it all well done
    o and did i already say the caracter customanisation ,well its also awesome
    why aren't you buying it already????
  99. lagrie
    Mar 4, 2017
    9
    Obsidian has done a great job of returning the Crpg genre. And have created a beauty of a game.
    I'm glad that obisidian is bringing back the beauty that is Crpg's.
  100. AkumaJack
    May 5, 2017
    9
    This game is amazing for like 95% of the time.
    The graphics are astonishing, the combat system is both challenging and fun when you get used to it and the world design is really good. Every place seems alive with lore on inns, whores and sidequests that are more that simple sidequest most of the time.
    Plus there is the option to focus just on combat with the bounties or the optional mega    This game is amazing for like 95% of the time.
    The graphics are astonishing, the combat system is both challenging and fun when you get used to it and the world design is really good. Every place seems alive with lore on inns, whores and sidequests that are more that simple sidequest most of the time.
    Plus there is the option to focus just on combat with the bounties or the optional mega dungeon if you are tired of reading. Because you will read A LOT playing this game.

    The bad part is the ending boss which is for a level capped party quite too easy imo and some quests that are uninspired. (But thats not a problem because there are a **** of quests and most of them are really good.)

    But this is just a little fraction. Most of the game is enjoyable.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

6
#6 Best PC Game of 2015
7
#7 Most Discussed PC Game of 2015
25
#25 Most Shared PC Game of 2015

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
89

Generally favorable reviews - based on 71 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 70 out of 71
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 71
  3. Negative: 0 out of 71
  1. RPGamer
    Jul 7, 2015
    70
    Pillars is a title that should make old-schoolers happy while still offering a solid core game, story, and a rich setting for new-schoolers.
    Read full review
  2. LevelUp
    May 25, 2015
    93
    Pillars of Eternity stands on its own merits without resorting to nostalgia too much. Truly a CRPG masterpiece, the game offers old school, real-time strategic combat, and a vivid world to explore. Not only do you get an overall well-made experience, but also a challenge you haven't seen since the 90's.
    Read full review
  3. Games Master UK
    May 24, 2015
    82
    A sprawling game in a familiar setting, and a clever tune-up for the cRPG. Just what the backers hoped for. [June 2015, p.74]
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