Tyranny

 PC
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 665 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 472 out of 665
  2. Mixed: 109 out of 665
  3. Negative: 84 out of 665

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  1. CaptainChaos
    Jun 16, 2019
    10
    I'm 70 hours in and I have no idea how far into the game I am, but I'm ready to rate it.

    I could criticize that there was WAY too much reading in the beginning, that the combat seems to often reset to FAST mode which is the exact opposite that it should, that I often got lost in objective or place to go, which was annoying, and that there was WAY too many talents and abilities to ponder    I'm 70 hours in and I have no idea how far into the game I am, but I'm ready to rate it.

    I could criticize that there was WAY too much reading in the beginning, that the combat seems to often reset to FAST mode which is the exact opposite that it should, that I often got lost in objective or place to go, which was annoying, and that there was WAY too many talents and abilities to ponder (I do love choice but that was ... overwhelming for no real purpose). However, the writing, graphics, story, and overall fun was enough to just give it a just do. If there is a Tyranny 2 hopefully they can simplify some things without dumbing it down like Dragon Age 2.

    Once the spell casters got some levels, I was surprised that how four of them could basically take down anything without too much of an issue. I found the combat characters to take far longer to actually put things down. Once your Lore hits 100, you have 4 AOE spells constantly mopping up mob after mob. Once you get closer to 150 Lore your spells just rock the house. It's so much fun and gorgeously rendered.

    BTW, although it took awhile for me to understand, I so heart the spell system creation. It's so much fun to experiment with crushing anxiety area of effect spells or how many variations of flame this or that you can have. Bonus: Adding fire to my frost spell. That's just icing on the cake.    … Expand
  2. T-Opel
    Mar 10, 2017
    10
    Tyranny is a great game that I can definitely recommend.

    The gameplay is based on Pillars of Eternity, but it is a bit tweaked up and feels more similar to Dragon Age: Origins, which I really liked. It allows pre-buffs, your character has 6 skill trees from which he/she can pick skills, and the other members of your party have their own unique trees. I was also much more engaged in    Tyranny is a great game that I can definitely recommend.

    The gameplay is based on Pillars of Eternity, but it is a bit tweaked up and feels more similar to Dragon Age: Origins, which I really liked. It allows pre-buffs, your character has 6 skill trees from which he/she can pick skills, and the other members of your party have their own unique trees.

    I was also much more engaged in the story and actually cared about other party members more than in PoE. While you are in the world where the evil side had won, don’t let that fool you. Even though you can pick one of the more or less evil main factions in the game, there is also an option to revolt and side with the rebels, and you can do much good even in this troubled world.

    What really stands out though is the replay value. Depending on which side you choose and what choices you make, you get to explore different areas and the story unfolds differently. This really makes want to experience the game again with a different faction.

    There is a LOT of text in this game, and the total play time will highly depend on whether you want to read everything or not. Personally, I found most of the text very interesting I was glad to learn more about the world, so my first play through took almost 40 hours. This really depends on the difficulty you set, the amount of text you want to read and whether you want to complete only the main story without side-quests.    … Expand
  3. StormCrow
    Nov 15, 2016
    10
    This is really an excellent game. It's good to be able to play a bad guy who is not just a psychopath, like many other RPGS, the story and context are really interesting, the branching narrative is really efficient, and the Conquest mode at the beginning is really interesting. This is a game where you really have to make important choices, you can't do everything at the same time at all.IThis is really an excellent game. It's good to be able to play a bad guy who is not just a psychopath, like many other RPGS, the story and context are really interesting, the branching narrative is really efficient, and the Conquest mode at the beginning is really interesting. This is a game where you really have to make important choices, you can't do everything at the same time at all.I also like very much the fact that the game is classless (which does not mean that you don't have to specialize your characters), the relationship system with the companions and the factions, and the magic crafting system. Really a hit for me. And it's really replayable.… Expand
  4. ChrisMattar
    Nov 19, 2016
    10
    This wasn't even on my radar, turns out its one of my favorite games in years, and this year's game of the year. It is the best RPG in a very long time. Absolutely amazing.
  5. Kronos362
    Nov 15, 2016
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Absolutely a gem. Great story and masterful world. A fair amount of reading and needs a lot of concentration, but it's worth the effort. I personally think a step up from pillars at least in terms of epic scale.… Expand
  6. ardast
    Jan 13, 2017
    10
    Another masterpiece by Obsidian. Need I say more? Go get it if you love RPG's. You won't regret it.
    Beautiful soundtrack, comic book like feel atmosphere, hand drawn backgrounds. Simply amazing.
    Peace
  7. Mercent
    Nov 17, 2016
    10
    Pro:
    1. Gritty, dirty and true to the setting (a Bronze-Iron age civilization).
    2. Your choices really matter. Choosing different dialogue options will affect the end game. 3. The music is epic. 4. Game length. Many complained that it is too short. Not at all. It ended just when i have had my fill. Unlike PoE, i actually managed to finish Tyranny. Con: 1. Some enemies are just a    Pro:
    1. Gritty, dirty and true to the setting (a Bronze-Iron age civilization).
    2. Your choices really matter. Choosing different dialogue options will affect the end game.
    3. The music is epic.
    4. Game length. Many complained that it is too short. Not at all. It ended just when i have had my fill. Unlike PoE, i actually managed to finish Tyranny.

    Con:
    1. Some enemies are just a pain in the A**    … Expand
  8. SkySlam
    Nov 11, 2016
    10
    Even with a few drawbacks (like the reduced party size or the cooldown spells), this is another masterpiece by Obsidian. Solid RPG spirit, lots of choices and consequences, interesting characters with a deep lore. Tyranny does not feel like a Pillars of Eternity spin-off; instead it is a fantastic stand-alone game that will hopefully spawn its own series.
  9. Juniperus
    Nov 11, 2016
    10
    Another masterpiece by Obsidian. I'm so greatful and happy, that this Company brought back these kind of Games. Thank you Obsidian!
    This is why PC is, and always will be, the best choice for adult gamers.
  10. Celeborth
    Jan 16, 2017
    10
    Next amazing game from Obsidian,
    The only thing that for me is kind of upsetting is that I cannot enter all areas in one play if I take particular choices. But apart from that, amazing combat and lore (really great job in storytelling and creating brand new universe). Obsidian bases heavily on their PoE engine and mechanics, I can see a lot of content being reused which is great - no    Next amazing game from Obsidian,
    The only thing that for me is kind of upsetting is that I cannot enter all areas in one play if I take particular choices. But apart from that, amazing combat and lore (really great job in storytelling and creating brand new universe). Obsidian bases heavily on their PoE engine and mechanics, I can see a lot of content being reused which is great - no point in reinventing the wheel. One minor drawback is that of the game being kind of too short (what I mean is that we can clearly see where the game could have been easily continued if Obsidian spent more money on the game). Anyway great game, and worth money and time.    … Expand
  11. stratioti
    Nov 10, 2016
    10
    So far a very sophisticated piece of game!
    If you just liked Pillars of Eternity you will LOVE Tyranny!

    Prerequisite is to have some evil in you. ;)
  12. defjux23
    Nov 10, 2016
    10
    My expectations for this game were really high because of devs Obsidian and Paradox. As usual, they deliver yet another solid RPG. Similar to Pillars of Eternity, but looks and plays even better. Also, an awesome setting and concept with "evil won".

    RPG binge inc. 10/10
  13. jakovsky
    Nov 11, 2016
    10
    A Masterpiece.

    I'm only 5 or so hours into it, yet the writing alone of Tyranny makes up for whatever other flaw i could find (if any).

    It's like Pillars of Eternity but like, in better. And with a friendlier UI.
  14. GreyInvasion
    Nov 19, 2016
    10
    Tyranny is a true to heart Role playing experience, packed with choice. You'll have to replay it multiple times to see everything. Great story, and graphics, decent combat. Must Buy for RPG fans.
  15. rpgerfx
    Nov 19, 2016
    10
    The game is fun and the story is quite original for an RPG. That said, do not buy this game seeking an Obsidian experience - this is in many ways a Bioware game. Yes, there will be some Obsidian-quality writing, but most of the writing team are young devs who joined Obsidian for the development of South Park: The Stick of Truth and they have different sensibilities when it comes toThe game is fun and the story is quite original for an RPG. That said, do not buy this game seeking an Obsidian experience - this is in many ways a Bioware game. Yes, there will be some Obsidian-quality writing, but most of the writing team are young devs who joined Obsidian for the development of South Park: The Stick of Truth and they have different sensibilities when it comes to writing. It feels like Obsidian made a Bioware-game, BUT with an original twist that doesn't involve saving the world - in that regard it's still an Obsidian title. So buy this if you enjoyed the gameplay and the writing quality of Dragon Age: Origins, but wished the plot was more interesting than saving a kingdom from evil monsters.… Expand
  16. luckymanbest
    Jan 18, 2017
    10
    Давно так не увлекали игры. Ты полностью погружаешься в этот мир с его невероятным сюжетом. В этой игре все прекрасно. Для тех кто любит старые рпг с офигенным сюжетом кучей диалогов, интересными персонажами. Куча текста дает волю фантазии. И тут не важна графикаДавно так не увлекали игры. Ты полностью погружаешься в этот мир с его невероятным сюжетом. В этой игре все прекрасно. Для тех кто любит старые рпг с офигенным сюжетом кучей диалогов, интересными персонажами. Куча текста дает волю фантазии. И тут не важна графика
  17. FlashLight13
    Apr 4, 2017
    10
    Absolutly awesome game where you can create your own story. Magic is powerfull, characters are awesome, world is cool. Now I'm going to replay this game again with another character to live another interesting story!

    10/10 Killed guys
    GJ Obsidian :)
  18. ScathachPreach
    Dec 29, 2020
    10
    One of the most underrated, yet best RPGs out there.
    Playing a rising star from the evil empire is different than your average RPG story. Your choices matter and shape the ongoing conflict and end of the game in various manners, and there are ways to play a lot more humane than one might think. It's beautiful, and the dialogue is written really well.
  19. tontonac
    May 16, 2022
    10
    Amazing RPG, with great universe, characters, choices, story... It is really memorable.
    A bit short, but what Obsidian did with very little money and people (even compared to PoE1 and 2) is really awesome.
    Voice acting is really expensive, so of course there is very little (wich is very good for everyone that doesn't speak English natively, 90% of humankind, because English voices with    Amazing RPG, with great universe, characters, choices, story... It is really memorable.
    A bit short, but what Obsidian did with very little money and people (even compared to PoE1 and 2) is really awesome.
    Voice acting is really expensive, so of course there is very little (wich is very good for everyone that doesn't speak English natively, 90% of humankind, because English voices with Chinese or Spanish text is a chore) please look at the game budget. Also, don't play classic CRPG if you don't like reading, should be obvious.    … Expand
  20. Suhoi_Kaktus
    Mar 7, 2022
    10
    One of the best Obsisan RPGs here. Tyranny is really re-playable, in first 2 hours you will make decision that cut half of game content, and some other choises can lead you to different road with different locations and quests. This game is not about many ways to solve the situation, usually you have only genocide path. But some solutions in this game will change a lot. (like i saidOne of the best Obsisan RPGs here. Tyranny is really re-playable, in first 2 hours you will make decision that cut half of game content, and some other choises can lead you to different road with different locations and quests. This game is not about many ways to solve the situation, usually you have only genocide path. But some solutions in this game will change a lot. (like i said before). And a lot of other thing that was written in other reviews. 10.… Expand
  21. Nomac69
    Mar 19, 2022
    10
    I played this game on a whim and it's one of the best games I've ever played. There's no other game that drew me into the rich lore and story than Tyranny. Hoping for a sequel.
  22. sprocket64
    Dec 21, 2016
    9
    This game is the best CRPG since Baldur's Gate 2! It really grabbed me and kept me interested to the end. If there was ever a case for an episodic RPG - this is it!
    Did no one else notice the similarities to the Malazan Book of the Fallen? Kyros and Bleden Mark - Kelanved and Dancer, Archons - Ascendants, Scarlet Chorus - Malazan Marines etc...
    Great characters and companions but if I    This game is the best CRPG since Baldur's Gate 2! It really grabbed me and kept me interested to the end. If there was ever a case for an episodic RPG - this is it!
    Did no one else notice the similarities to the Malazan Book of the Fallen? Kyros and Bleden Mark - Kelanved and Dancer, Archons - Ascendants, Scarlet Chorus - Malazan Marines etc...
    Great characters and companions but if I had one complaint it is that Obsidian seems squeamish when it comes to deep characterization/relationships - one of the reasons BG 2 is superior. The companions end up a little flat. Here's hoping Obsidian takes it to the next level!    … Expand
  23. Antart
    Nov 14, 2016
    9
    In RPGs is usual to have the option to be evil, but is an uncomfortable way in which you can’t avoid the feeling you are doing things wrong, Tyranny push you to the selfish way, rewarding evil actions, and the nazi-soviet artistic style makes it even more believable, but at the same time you don’t need to be necessary evil, to be evil... The art design is excellent, scenarios hand-madeIn RPGs is usual to have the option to be evil, but is an uncomfortable way in which you can’t avoid the feeling you are doing things wrong, Tyranny push you to the selfish way, rewarding evil actions, and the nazi-soviet artistic style makes it even more believable, but at the same time you don’t need to be necessary evil, to be evil... The art design is excellent, scenarios hand-made with care in each detail, the gameplay on the Pillars of Eternity line is fluid and practical to manage a squad in a top table RPG. Absolutely recommended.… Expand
  24. georgio
    Nov 27, 2016
    9
    First as a disclaimer, I have just beaten the game for the first time: on the hardest difficulty after several character restarts. With that I hit 73 hours of gameplay according to steam.

    Now the good: - Storytelling is top notch - Lore, setting and dialogues are superb - Spell crafting is fun Passable: - Combat system. After you turn off the AI and play with autopause    First as a disclaimer, I have just beaten the game for the first time: on the hardest difficulty after several character restarts. With that I hit 73 hours of gameplay according to steam.

    Now the good:

    - Storytelling is top notch
    - Lore, setting and dialogues are superb
    - Spell crafting is fun

    Passable:

    - Combat system. After you turn off the AI and play with autopause settings it gets better.
    - More item variety earlier would not hurt

    Bad:
    - Nothing

    Also to add I am spoiled gamer and it is hard to keep my attention. Tyranny managed that. Some people claim to run through the game in 11 hours. I cannot imagine it. I had to talk to everybody, read everything and run back to places I visit to unlock other options. I fell in love with the game and its captivating storytelling. There are still some things to improve but Obsidian definitely moved the right direction from PoE.    … Expand
  25. misiaczek
    Mar 30, 2017
    9
    I like the graphics, setting (no elves, dwarves and so on which is quite refreshing) and story(especially the different paths you can take and some paths being close by given choices). I think this the right direction for such games. Combat has very nice flow but the problem is that there is just too much combat. Other problem I've found is that most powerful items/abilities are acquiredI like the graphics, setting (no elves, dwarves and so on which is quite refreshing) and story(especially the different paths you can take and some paths being close by given choices). I think this the right direction for such games. Combat has very nice flow but the problem is that there is just too much combat. Other problem I've found is that most powerful items/abilities are acquired so late, that there are just few occasions to obliterate your enemies. Anyway I think it is a good game that lays foundation for next titles with same approach.… Expand
  26. DelMann2
    Nov 29, 2016
    9
    An impressive piece of work. Perhaps not as deep as far as story goes compared to Pillars of Eternity but regardless a must have for anyone who still enjoys the cRPG style of gameplay.

    And while the story seems to be shrunk a little, it still has a way of pumping you up, giving you shivers and maybe even evoke stronger emotions.
  27. monkeyking95
    Nov 13, 2016
    9
    I normally cannot connect with isometric RPGs (I mean I was born in 1995 for god's sake) but this one grabbed for some reason. I played through the entire main campaign as an arse-hat and now I am eager to be virtuous on my second play-through and unlock EVERY EDICT. I seriously recommend this to every fan of fantasy RPGs. I may even have to give Pillars of Eternity a third chance toI normally cannot connect with isometric RPGs (I mean I was born in 1995 for god's sake) but this one grabbed for some reason. I played through the entire main campaign as an arse-hat and now I am eager to be virtuous on my second play-through and unlock EVERY EDICT. I seriously recommend this to every fan of fantasy RPGs. I may even have to give Pillars of Eternity a third chance to impress me. If I had one gripe, I would love full voice over work though I understand the lack of it may be due to budget constraints (or maybe my game is buggy?)… Expand
  28. DeusXCom
    Nov 30, 2016
    9
    After kind of a weak start, where you are thrown into things too fast, making decisions about things you don't know, dealing with things you don't care about (during my first day of playing I was heavily unimpressed with everything and it took some time to get me into it), Tyranny eventually turns into an amazing RPG experience.

    It's a perfect balance of dialogs and combat, there are    After kind of a weak start, where you are thrown into things too fast, making decisions about things you don't know, dealing with things you don't care about (during my first day of playing I was heavily unimpressed with everything and it took some time to get me into it), Tyranny eventually turns into an amazing RPG experience.

    It's a perfect balance of dialogs and combat, there are plenty of very nice innovations and changes, I loved the skill system, various reputations with factions and people in the world that unlocked additional skills. The Spire system was great. The combo abilities is a very nice touch.

    It's not as complex in terms of side quests and side activities as other similar rpgs, but that might have been for good this time, it's much more direct and focused on the main story which is really good and the entire journey is much more compact and to the point. A little short for an RPG and maybe a little too linear, but quality is always more important than quantity. Captivating story, interesting characters, nice unusual locations, smooth UI, it's all there.

    My only complaints aside from a weaker start, is the loot, which for a long time felt like tons of useless junk, especially in the first half and even later when you started to find some legendary items, they are often actually worse than that random junk that you found earlier. Another problem, that's starting to annoy me more and more in time is the lack of voice acting. Especially when some parts are voice acted and it works so well and suddenly a sentence later it's silent again. I know it's always been like this with these games, I know it's a question of budget, but come on, it's 2016 it's time to progress in this department. Also - no co-op multiplayer again :(

    On the other hand I was very pleasantly surprised, these rpgs tend to be very buggy and considering I started playing on release I was worried, but the game was updated with just 1 additional patch in the meantime and I haven't encountered any bugs whatsoever this time. I can't stress enough how important this is for your smooth gaming experience, not having to deal with bugs and I'm glad Obsidian took their time to polish and clean things up before release.

    Overall, excellent, unusual RPG that can easily rank among the best in recent years, not the top5, not legendary, but really really good. 9/10    … Expand
  29. Neravarine
    Nov 15, 2016
    9
    Its a good game, not as gr8 as Pillars of Eternity, but pretty good in its own right.
    I am personally not fan of that type of graphics, and even if combat system and character development are similar to PoE, I like "typical D&D" character dev/spells/classes etc etc, like NWN,PoE, and older stuff.
    Example: I hated Legends of the Sword Coast coz its character dev, which is very similar to    Its a good game, not as gr8 as Pillars of Eternity, but pretty good in its own right.
    I am personally not fan of that type of graphics, and even if combat system and character development are similar to PoE, I like "typical D&D" character dev/spells/classes etc etc, like NWN,PoE, and older stuff.
    Example: I hated Legends of the Sword Coast coz its character dev, which is very similar to Tiranny.
    The story is good, and the UI is awesome, I like spellcrafting but still, I would pick PoE system any time.

    I like the game in general, the only rly negative thing that I have to say about Tyranny is .....loading..smallzone..loading..smallzone...loading.    … Expand
  30. moonlight_shado
    Nov 23, 2016
    9
    Awesomeness! It's like Pillars of Eternity but with much more (for me at least) immersive world and mature story. Its an adult rpg, with Tons of text so it is not for hack and slashy game fans at all. It took me over 40h to complete the game, but i really read through every line of text. Those who finish in 15h simply didn't bother with the main core of the game at all. Pillars 2 can waitAwesomeness! It's like Pillars of Eternity but with much more (for me at least) immersive world and mature story. Its an adult rpg, with Tons of text so it is not for hack and slashy game fans at all. It took me over 40h to complete the game, but i really read through every line of text. Those who finish in 15h simply didn't bother with the main core of the game at all. Pillars 2 can wait i want Tyranny 2 or some decent expansion!!… Expand
  31. supercagan
    Dec 18, 2016
    9
    I was pleasantly surprised by this game since Pillars of eternity was such a letdown.
    -Spell creation system is fantastic.
    -Choices you make till the end of the game matter. (but still no replayability...)
    -Good old school combat system.
  32. raorian
    Aug 8, 2020
    9
    This game has a lot of negatives, mentioned elsewhere
    but the best parts are 12/10, so overall 10/10
  33. Cleglaw
    Nov 20, 2016
    9
    pros:

    -innovations in this one, makes my acctual scoring to go higher. i mean quality of life innovations, they are so good. i can list them but honsetly there are too many of them to list and it will just make a wall of text. trust me on this, they have really great innovation here and there. -spellcrafting is best i ve ever seen, its so fun, so creative and so progressive in    pros:

    -innovations in this one, makes my acctual scoring to go higher. i mean quality of life innovations, they are so good. i can list them but honsetly there are too many of them to list and it will just make a wall of text. trust me on this, they have really great innovation here and there.

    -spellcrafting is best i ve ever seen, its so fun, so creative and so progressive in gameplay feel.

    graphics look really nice, animations look really great.

    -story and dialogue depth is super good and well written to hook you up hours and hours. i found myself drinking coffe and reading texts non-stop for 2 hours.

    -leveling and skilling system is not confusing yet still deep enough to satisfy. you dont struggle to get what does what like in pillars of eternity. diving in, understanding in, is easy, confy yet beatiful.

    -acctual gameplay is not short if you are like me, a guy who is exploring and diving in story. 3 full days of playing still didnt finished it... and i can totally see playing it for 2nd time after seeing so many possible choices... i mean i just realised i killed a compainon.

    cons:
    -area of affect spell or abilites, doesnt have any kind of friendly fire. this was a important part of RPGs.

    -group size is 4, which felt few to me. 6 is much better for diversity, comboes.. for like.. everything, 6 is better then 4.

    -it doesnt make sense to start the game as a level 1 player with no coins. our character is taking part in 3 years conquest before starting game.

    conclusion: this game is a must try for people who like RPG genre.    … Expand
  34. 4verse
    Nov 14, 2016
    9
    The good:
    - story. love it. keep it. (but see below 1)
    - lore of the tyranny world/universe (i like it much more than PoE) - choice all over the place - length. around 20-40ish hours is just right for me. - replayabilty - classless system (but see below 2) - spell crafting (but see below 3) The bad: - (1) the ending is lacking (story- and gameplay-wise). and act 3 seems rushed.    The good:
    - story. love it. keep it. (but see below 1)
    - lore of the tyranny world/universe (i like it much more than PoE)
    - choice all over the place
    - length. around 20-40ish hours is just right for me.
    - replayabilty
    - classless system (but see below 2)
    - spell crafting (but see below 3)

    The bad:
    - (1) the ending is lacking (story- and gameplay-wise). and act 3 seems rushed. if not: its too short. but this maybe cured by a good DLC
    - (1) also: some things are not very clearly explained, i.e. sometimes i had to guess whats going on. but overall the story was told quite well
    - (2) locked talent trees and therefore locked talents. i hate it, when my PC cannot learn talents, i love (like teleport (eb has it)). i see the point that locked talent trees make companions special, but id rather have a REALLY open classless system
    - some talents are not really usable (e.g.: ebs teleport is a lvl 13 talent. my game ended around lvl 13 so i used this talent twice or so at most)
    - (3) spell crafting: spells are "combat focused" only. where are invisibilty, open locks, shape change etc.? (there is an invis potion, but its not the same IMO)
    - talents/spells play no role in quests/riddles (like: use an invis spell or shape change (which do not exist) or teleport to solve a quest/riddle)
    - combat is messy (sometimes i could not click where i wanted.) - but that is not a big issue to me, b/c i always play on story mode, so i win anyways ;-)
    - some talents are useless IMO (not really an issue though. better to much than not enough)

    The ugly:
    - no exploration: areas are way to small and there are not too many of them either! that makes the world seem and feel very small. focused game play is ok, but those few small areas are too small and too few
    - loading times: are you f***ing kidding me? the first 3 times i started the game, i thought it crashed (win10 actually told me the game might have crashed). of my 30ish hours playthrough time around 5 hours were loading times. Sometimes I really did not want to go into houses or change areas b/c another 5 minutes or so of loading times. WTF?

    Overall: what a gem of a game! I love it
    "The bad"-items are no deal breaker by any means.
    "The ugly"-items on the other hand weigh a little heavier, esp. the size of the world/areas. and loading times are beyond of being beyond.

    Lessons learned: Dump PoE and focus on Tyranny    … Expand
  35. Mad_Monk
    Nov 15, 2016
    9
    This game is great. I enjoyed Pillars of Eternity, but this is much better. Just about didnt get it...so glad I did. The story is great and the UI is terrific...really enjoying the rich atmosphere of the world. The opening sequence really captured my attention. So often I buy games and stop playing them quickly...this one pulled me in and hasnt let go...about 12 hours in so far.
  36. DerBomber
    Mar 3, 2018
    9
    This game is really contained, no bloated open world riddled with fetch quests. This means the game is quite short for an RPG, but most of the time spent in the game concerns important or interesting stuff. Choices you make are very important to the story, but also play out in a way that is logical and consistent with the game world and lore.
  37. ExpertPL
    Dec 11, 2016
    9
    Great RPG. Has a unique storyline. The engine is the same as in Pillars of Eternity. I love how the game very seriously shows what could happen if some evil Overlord would take over a continent. It's not "evil" like in cartoons or something, it's evil with shades of grey, moral problems etc.

    I like how the game plot is concentrated, it almost feel rushed, like for example movie    Great RPG. Has a unique storyline. The engine is the same as in Pillars of Eternity. I love how the game very seriously shows what could happen if some evil Overlord would take over a continent. It's not "evil" like in cartoons or something, it's evil with shades of grey, moral problems etc.

    I like how the game plot is concentrated, it almost feel rushed, like for example movie adaptations of books, but the difference being that this "adaptation" is actually 40 hours long (my play time).

    The addition of the Conquest at the beginning of the game is by far the best new thing in the concept of retro RPGs. It's something that should have been implemented many years ago, in times of Baldur's Gates and first Fallouts. The choices aren't exactly game-changers but it's an easy way of introducing player to the game world and showing his role in it.

    The "hyperlinks" are another great thing added into the game. From the first moments in the game, characters speak using in-world proverbs and refer to the events that the player may not be aware of, if so, the only thing you need to do is to hover over the sentence and the game gives you a brief description of what it is about and to what it is a reference.

    I like how the game shows big game of politics, diplomacy and law enforcement instead of a typical for RPGs adventure type character.

    The 4 paths that player can choose to follow are also good, but it's sad that they don't really affect the final act which always is the same.

    I can't shake the feeling that the developers had different idea for the whole concept of the game during the development of it as first Act works as a prologue, that is very detailed, that shows you just one small area of the game, the second Act forces you to go from one area to the other, not even tries to tell a detailed story of any of the areas, where in third and last Act there are no side quests, no lore dialogues, but just final boss fights (if you can call them that way), making the final Act look like some action game with really poor plot. I would definitely prefer all acts to work as the first one, which I consider the best of them all.    … Expand
  38. Renomitsu
    Nov 11, 2016
    9
    Tyranny is an isometric-view, dialogue-heavy decision-based RPG. In my opinion, it is a well-written, engaging, flexible and branching story with carefully-designed characters and poignant moments where you’ll be reminded of the gravity of your character’s choices as part of a brutally efficient, villainous campaign. If you’re an RPG player that focuses heavily on the consequences of yourTyranny is an isometric-view, dialogue-heavy decision-based RPG. In my opinion, it is a well-written, engaging, flexible and branching story with carefully-designed characters and poignant moments where you’ll be reminded of the gravity of your character’s choices as part of a brutally efficient, villainous campaign. If you’re an RPG player that focuses heavily on the consequences of your actions, as well as substantial character and story development, I highly recommend adding Tyranny to your library. The game is text-heavy, but has meaningful characters, art, and choices.

    Like a few games before it, Tyranny is a story-driven role-playing game makes you consider not only what large-scale decisions you make, but the means and attitudes by which you make said decisions.
    This is made apparent as early as character creation, where you make the decisions as to how, exactly, your character (an emissary of a seemingly all-powerful Kyros the Overlord) surmounts the last bastion against the uncompromising tyrant – it’s referred to as the “Conquest” portion of character creation.

    In one instance of character creation, you can choose to finish your conquest of a resilient city by forcing a peaceful surrender, or goading their queen into single combat and slaying her. Either way, you subjugate the city, but the people in the surrounding farmland remember you differently in the game’s introduction: as a merciful “Peacebinder,” or a ruthless and cold-blooded killer. Alternatively, you may choose to avoid this scenario entirely, and the people of this city bemoan the unpitying acts of one of the other Overlord’s agents.

    In-game, the core combat and dialogue systems are very similar to Pillars of Eternity, with a few new bells and whistles. In combat, actions like attacking with weapons and casting spells are taken based on recovery time – heavy armor and hefty weapons negatively affect how quickly your character acts in combat. There are defenses which prevent you from taking damage, and damage types allow you to be effective against different kinds of enemies. Using a weapon will increase the corresponding skill (this is the mechanism for combat and non-combat skills). You and your party members can work together and perform powerful combo skills – either received from the outset or gained from earning their loyalty and/or terror-induced respect.

    The concept behind much of the combat is excellent – in practice, there are hiccups in party member AI (if you always let them do their own thing), and for some players the delay between actions can be frustrating. In-battle skill choices and out-of-battle character levelling are intuitive, if a bit streamlined. For those with ample (maybe too much?) patience, it is a careful game of strategy on higher difficulties – and you might find yourself pausing combat frequently to re-assess the situation if a battle’s getting out of hand. I’m somewhere in between: some early combats felt a bit sluggish, while I enjoyed battles about a third of the way through the game.

    Dialogue is what makes this game divisive, but for me gives the game much of its charm. There is quite a bit of text in this game, and voice acting to go with a fair bit of it. But you’re no goody two-shoes or morally-conflicted antihero, as in most other RPGs: you’re a cold, ruthless enforcer, a calculating and diplomatic conqueror, smooth-talking bandit, or anything in between. For your character, the dialogue you have available to you is dependent on your character’s upbringing, their skills, the Conquest, what factions you’ve buttered up, and many other decisions you make throughout the game. If your character was an experienced Hunter before joining the Overseer, for example, you might be able to elicit information about local wildlife or make a couple of unique insights on survival in the wilderness. However, you forfeit the negotiating ability of a Diplomat, which *really* would’ve come in handy when the leaders of those two gangs decided to start stabbing each other.

    Dialogue makes or breaks the game: for me, the constant references to my history and proficiencies helped immerse me. Being able to right-click and view an entry on an old character or event I might not perfectly remember, and having party members interject in a conversation (or send it in a different direction entirely!) were both extreme positives for me. How you conduct yourself among even low-ranking members of major factions can have an impact on how the faction as a whole (or its leader) views you, and by extent can affect what areas and options you have available to you.

    In short, Tyranny’s compelling story puts you in the shoes of a central representative of Kyros the Overlord, with all of the boons your position of power brings you. There are plenty of battles to be fought, but more importantly, decisions to be made – and many of the actions you take, words you say, and people you influence aren’t simply lost to history.    … Expand
  39. Abyssal_Winter
    Nov 14, 2016
    9
    This is a fantastic game. It is going to be compared to Pillars of Eternity, but I think the writing and environment are much more fascinating. Imagine playing in the universe of Glen Cook's Black Company series and you will have a sense of the style. I am 20 hours in and maybe 50% done (level 10/11), so I am not sure where these reports of a short game are coming from? Spell system isThis is a fantastic game. It is going to be compared to Pillars of Eternity, but I think the writing and environment are much more fascinating. Imagine playing in the universe of Glen Cook's Black Company series and you will have a sense of the style. I am 20 hours in and maybe 50% done (level 10/11), so I am not sure where these reports of a short game are coming from? Spell system is very interesting. My biggest nitpick is the combat can feel a little tedious at times, and there are almost too many specials/powers. If everything is special, nothing is :)
    Overall, really good RPG; highly recommended.    … Expand
  40. EisenKreutzer
    Nov 14, 2016
    9
    Tyranny, the latest Obsidian RPG experience. And it is an experience.
    The story is fresh, fascinating and engaging. I love the world of Terratus, the amount of effort and dedication that went into the worldbuilding for this game is just breathtaking.
    I love playing as the bad guy, because in Tyranny, I get to choose what kind of bad guy I am. Bloodthirsty and ruthless? Cold and    Tyranny, the latest Obsidian RPG experience. And it is an experience.
    The story is fresh, fascinating and engaging. I love the world of Terratus, the amount of effort and dedication that went into the worldbuilding for this game is just breathtaking.

    I love playing as the bad guy, because in Tyranny, I get to choose what kind of bad guy I am. Bloodthirsty and ruthless? Cold and practical? Reluctant? Unwilling to be a bad guy at all? All valid choices.

    Choice stands at the heart of what Tyranny is. The choices you make in this game will quite literally shape your entire playthrough. There is content you will not see during your first playthrough. Whole quest-lines, important NPCs, even areas of the map, that you will just not get to experience because of the choices you make.
    And thats fine. In fact, it's excellent! Because Tyranny is made to be replayed.

    Tyranny gets a lot of flak for not being long enough, or not having enough exploration, not being an open world, not having an endless dungeon like PIllars of Eternity had and other things. It gets compared to Pillars of Eternity, which is fair since Pillars was built on the same engine by the same people.
    But Tyranny is a very different game.

    The thing about Tyranny is that it is an intensely focused experience.
    Pillars of Eternity is a grand, sweeping story. It plays out over a long time frame (I spent 114 hours completing my first playthrough), and it takes a long time to build tension and drama.
    Tyranny, by contrast, is much more narrow in scope. Tyranny is built with a pin-prick focus, it is the scalpel to Pillars of Eternitys hammer. The thing that defines Tyranny is your choices. The choices you make dictate what quests you get, what options will be available to you in the ongoing story and ultimately how the game ends. In Pillars, no matter how you play the game you will always end up following the same path. Tyranny has multiple paths, many of which exclude one another, and it all depends on player choice, You have immense agency in Tyranny, because your choices literally shape your playthrough.

    Is it a traditional western CRPG? No. It has most of the trappings, but it's substance is entirely different.
    Tyranny is a game about choices. It is masterfully designed and built, and offers hours of rich gameplay spread out over multiple vastly different playthroughs.

    It's not flawless, but it is brilliant. 9/10    … Expand
  41. aboldi
    Nov 15, 2016
    9
    Very well crafted and thoughtful game. While it does feel a little rushed towards the end, both story-wise and loot wise (finding a legendary item in random barrels scattered around starts to feel a bit pointless), it really kept me absorbed throughout.

    The gameplay is satisfyingly complex, without being annoyingly micro, and the characters along for the ride are both well thought out    Very well crafted and thoughtful game. While it does feel a little rushed towards the end, both story-wise and loot wise (finding a legendary item in random barrels scattered around starts to feel a bit pointless), it really kept me absorbed throughout.

    The gameplay is satisfyingly complex, without being annoyingly micro, and the characters along for the ride are both well thought out and 'realistic', in that they will seldom sway out of character regardless of how you try to convince them.

    The story starts off interestingly, with choices making a solid, tangible difference and they continue throughout. Some things start to feel out of your hands towards the end, but they aren't too out of sync with the rest of your decisions.

    All in all a 10/10, with 1 point deducted for the slightly rushed end game.    … Expand
  42. jcolin
    Dec 6, 2016
    9
    If you enjoy CRPGS or Pillars of Eternity, you will enjoy this. The setting a plot are interesting and unique. There are no classes and skills are increased in an Elder Scrolls manner; they improve as you use them. This allows for an incredible amount of customization and freedom of development. A few qualms prevent this game from getting a perfect score from me. The game is too short, theIf you enjoy CRPGS or Pillars of Eternity, you will enjoy this. The setting a plot are interesting and unique. There are no classes and skills are increased in an Elder Scrolls manner; they improve as you use them. This allows for an incredible amount of customization and freedom of development. A few qualms prevent this game from getting a perfect score from me. The game is too short, the companions are too few and don't really have much to them in terms of development and there is no romance.… Expand
  43. RagingPoet
    Nov 2, 2017
    9
    Tyranny is better than Pillars of Eternity in almost every aspect, and PoE was a pretty good game already. One of the best experiences of playing 'Evil' protagonist ever made in videogames
  44. Dingo__
    Jul 27, 2020
    9
    Excellent game overall. Definitely a nice follow up to Pillars of Eternity that uses much of what made that game excellent (while implementing some changes to character stats and parry size for better or worse) but differentiates itself with it's unique world and characters.

    It's one of the first games if it's Type I really sunk time in to and solidified my relatively new love with this    Excellent game overall. Definitely a nice follow up to Pillars of Eternity that uses much of what made that game excellent (while implementing some changes to character stats and parry size for better or worse) but differentiates itself with it's unique world and characters.

    It's one of the first games if it's Type I really sunk time in to and solidified my relatively new love with this genre as well as gave me a greater insight and appreciation level for Obsidian's reputation as a developer.    … Expand
  45. socokid
    Nov 13, 2016
    8
    The few bad reviews here actually attempt to equate Tyranny to KOTOR, which is bizarre and hilarious. (wut)

    This is a wonderful game so far. My only concern is it's length. There are a few people that suggested they finished in under 20 hours. If that is true, I will be coming back and downgrading my review.. harshly.
  46. Blenderhead
    Aug 2, 2017
    8
    Make no mistake this is a University level RPG game. If you haven't played an isometric RPG before, I wouldn't advise starting with Tyranny.

    First the bad stuff. The game has some rough spots, many of them technical. However, if you've played an Obsidian (or Troika. Or Interplay) RPG before, you know to expect this. The ending is very sudden--you prepare to go into battle and the    Make no mistake this is a University level RPG game. If you haven't played an isometric RPG before, I wouldn't advise starting with Tyranny.

    First the bad stuff. The game has some rough spots, many of them technical. However, if you've played an Obsidian (or Troika. Or Interplay) RPG before, you know to expect this. The ending is very sudden--you prepare to go into battle and the credits roll instead. The voice acting is very sparse. Few characters have any voice acting, and I don't recall any character who is 100% voiced. This gets most jarring when speaking with a party member who weaves in and out of being voiced as you change subjects. This creates kind of a spoiler effect, as you'll quickly learn that any character who is voiced upon initial contact is either a recruitable party member or Archon (in one case, both). Also, this game in involves *a lot* of reading. I wasn't bothered by this, but I see other user reviews that were. Lastly, some of the boss fights feel kind of cheap, either through unjustified immunities ("He's immune to stuns because you fight him alone and could just stunlock him" is unsatisfying for a game with such deep lore) or unintuitive recovery mechanics (I had to wiki what makes the Havoc suddenly revert to full health).

    Now the good stuff. This game feels like a reconstruction of the isometric RPG games that fell out of favor in the early 2000s. Combat is satisfying and the writing is excellent. This game handles moral choices in a way that seems much more realistic than usual. For example, in BioShock, you can harvest the Little Sister for a big reward now, or you can spare her for a small reward now and a much bigger one later. In Tyranny, doing good is hard, much like in the real world. You can burn the village as you were ordered to and receive the promised payment from the Archon, or you can spare it and earn the Archon's wrath for disobeying his direct order. Choices are more meaningful because you have to weigh your conscience against your rewards, as well as whether you have the resources necessary to start a fight over what you're doing with a powerful potential enemy. All the major factions are nuanced and have things to like and dislike about them--the Disfavored are disciplined but closed-minded and wasteful, the Scarlet Chorus are accepting but brutish, and the Tiersmen are idealistic but untrustworthy.

    Combat is much improved over Pillars of Eternity. Drastically fewer abilities are "once per rest." I often felt like Pillars wanted me to use per-encounter abilities and basic attacks primarily, only falling back on my class's actual specialization when necessary. In contrast, most abilities in Tyranny can be used at will once their cooldown is over. This makes it feel like builds actually matter, since you're actually deploying your handful of abilities in every fight. The modular spell system is also really flexible and probably my single favorite mechanic.

    I have heard complaints about the game's length. This game has so many branches that it should be pretty clear it's meant to be played more than once. Also, don't be surprised if it takes you 45 minutes to create your first character, given the "Conquest" prologue.

    Overall, I was satisfied with this game. It plays with the concept of good and evil and your choices mattering in ways that a lot of AAA games aren't willing to. Some choices are admittedly less impactful than others, but a great many of them make meaningful changes to the world of Terratus. The game is cerebral, but if you weren't expecting that from an isometric RPG, that's kind of on you.    … Expand
  47. Skulb
    Nov 14, 2016
    8
    This is very similar to Pillars of Eternity. In fact it is basically a sequel to that game. The combat is the same, a new version of the Stronghold is present, the same system for organizing your groups is there, the inventory is the same, etc, etc. But in my opinion it is much, much better. I completely lost interest in PoE during my first playthrough for a variety of reasons, and neverThis is very similar to Pillars of Eternity. In fact it is basically a sequel to that game. The combat is the same, a new version of the Stronghold is present, the same system for organizing your groups is there, the inventory is the same, etc, etc. But in my opinion it is much, much better. I completely lost interest in PoE during my first playthrough for a variety of reasons, and never returned to it. But I am having no problems sticking with Tyranny. The premise is more interesting and original, and the problems are less prevalent than in the first game. There are still excessive loading times, but not as many tiny two-story houses to explore. The gear is still somewhat uninteresting for the most part, but you can craft some nice stuff to make you forget about that. The combat is improved from when I played PoE, because lo and behold it actually has AI scripts; a baffling exclusion from PoE on release.
    And above all the "Stronghold" is not a pointless time waster like it was in PoE. If you haven't played either I would recommend you skip PoE and get Tyranny instead. if you for some reason liked PoE then you will love Tyranny because it is just far better.
    Unlike the disappointing first effort from Obsidian at reviving isometric party RPGs, Tyranny is a real contender to unseat Original Sin as the leading game available in the genre. At least until Original Sin 2 comes out. Meanwhile, Tyranny really is great in almost every way; only dropping down from a perfect score because of the ridiculous loading times and other minor issues. Personally at least I could live with them this time around. The only significant negative is the decision to go with four man groups in a game like this. It is just too few. Other than that, buy this game if you like RPGs.

    Pros:
    -Good reputation system.
    -Atmospheric graphics and sound. Original visual style.
    -Plenty of content, although some of it seems a bit optional.
    -AI scripting. Only mentioned because Obsidian previously didn't know that you need this in a party isometric RPG.
    -Improved and a lot more interesting Stronghold function.
    -Great characters and interesting story.
    -LOTS of text.

    Cons:
    -Meh leveling. Minuscule stat upgrade each time, one weird and usually situational talent chosen and off you go! Doesn't matter which three buttons you click when leveling. Just click three and keep playing.
    -Meh spell system. Create-your-own-spell gone bad, and more likely to inspire people to play exclusively with melee characters than anything else.
    -Long and frequent loading screens. Back to the C64 days with Obsidian!
    -Extremely meh gear. Endless trash recycled through your PoE-weird inventory. 20 hours in I had found one interesting item, and that was a bow. I didn't even use bows.
    -Fiddly combat system, pathfinding problems and some persistent need to babysit characters. Not near as bad as PoE was obviously, just because of the AI scripting.
    -Plenty of trial and error with rune-based puzzles not requiring logical deduction of any kind. Just click everything in sight and hope you get things done somehow.
    -Four man party. For a game of this type this really is a big negative. Your ability to tank things is already severely limited, as it was in PoE. In a four man group any casters will be instantly open to attacks on every pull, and you will spend a lot of time running around in circles with them while waiting for your other characters to finish other enemies off so they can come save you. It is bad. The game needs either five or six man groups or lots of summoning spells.
    -LOTS of text.    … Expand
  48. Soujirop
    Nov 19, 2016
    8
    So after playing it for 40 hours, I’m ready to review!

    Tyranny plays and feels pretty much like Pillars of Eternity, this is, like a modern unity engine game. The graphics are ok and slightly cartoonish which works well with the overall intention of the gameplay and the story to create a more straight-to-the-point, action-driven adventure. Artistic direction is a bit disappointing even    So after playing it for 40 hours, I’m ready to review!

    Tyranny plays and feels pretty much like Pillars of Eternity, this is, like a modern unity engine game. The graphics are ok and slightly cartoonish which works well with the overall intention of the gameplay and the story to create a more straight-to-the-point, action-driven adventure. Artistic direction is a bit disappointing even though the setting tries to be original running from middle-ages to a more iron-age, but environments are still pretty standard, sometimes repetitive, usually pretty small and lower in number unlike in others cRPGs.

    The music I believe is more noticeable and overall better played than the environment graphical design.
    As I said, gameplay is more action-oriented than Pillars, which imo is great. Everything is more flashy, dynamic, and innovative. For example there’s a spell crafting system, classes have skill trees, characters train skills by using them and not only by assigning points when leveling up, main character has unique combined skills with party members, etc. All these additions make the overly used and predictable cRPG combat style be fresh again.

    Another very good aspect of gameplay is how conversations are handled. In every conversation you will have many choices that have short, middle and long term effects. A lot of these choices vary depending on your skill level, your background, your actions during the game, etc. This kind of choices which make the game and story so fun to play, are very abundant, certainly many many magnitudes over Pillars of Eternity.

    So now the story. I’ll start saying the world of Terratus is indeed very interesting and you will quickly notice once the character creatior lets you shape (and play through) the backstory of your character. Lore is innovative and original, very entertaining and addictive to discover. I was conquered in the first couple of hours by this world at war and the mysterious Overlord Kyros that rules it. Being the fatebinder is, in all honesty, awesome, and my interest in the story never went down during the whole playthrough. Main quest is constantly there through important events, cut scenes, interesting conversations, etc. In so many other games you have this feeling of “I’m tired, I will save progress here”, which reveal main story just got a little too tedious. Never had this feeling with Tyranny.

    Party members are charismatic enough, they are entertaining to speak with and their stories are generally interesting. I really liked them all in a way, but sadly the game never lets you go deep enough with them. They clearly have less dialogue than in previous Obsidian games like Pillars, and they lack the typical side quests that reveal more about them. A pity that they are made so interesting in the surface, just for you to realize there’s not much under them.

    The ending was OK, but could have been better indeed. It was a bit rushed, predictable, not particularly epic, and very important points were left out of it. I was particularly annoyed by the fact that the mysteries surrounding the main character (you) never get to fully unravel. But the most important issue regarding the ending (in the negative aspect) is the lack of choice. In a game filled with choices, it is particularly ironic that the important closing event doesn’t offer any real variability, which also makes the "replay value" go down hill.

    Overall, Tyranny will be a very entertaining RPG experience, but one can not help but notice the spoiled opportunity to make this game the iconic cRPG it could have been.    … Expand
  49. ZaPaAl
    Dec 12, 2016
    8
    Quite a fun, if smaller, game with a fresh story and lot's of dialog. Choices really have an impact here. Combat and Gameplay held my interest. Nicely done visuals. Could have had more enemy types and more equipment to have something to aim for. At the end it was basically all just for selling.

    I don't think I would have needed the spires and their upgrades. Although nice things can be    Quite a fun, if smaller, game with a fresh story and lot's of dialog. Choices really have an impact here. Combat and Gameplay held my interest. Nicely done visuals. Could have had more enemy types and more equipment to have something to aim for. At the end it was basically all just for selling.

    I don't think I would have needed the spires and their upgrades. Although nice things can be created or upgraded there, I had so many artifacts to choose from, that I had difficulties deciding what to keep and I had tons of iron, but nothing to use it on. Game has the same unity engine then Pillars, with lengthy loading times.

    I played as caster, which get's very powerful. Difficulty got totally lost on highest difficulty setting with 2 casters (cloth) and 2 unorthodox (light and heavy) tanks. To properly use all the heaps of heavy armor taking a tank character would have probably been the better choice. Ending was ok (I got a quite good ending), but this story is clearly built for a series of games. No romance, and no uber epic story line so it's not baldur's gate, but it is a nice little offspring.    … Expand
  50. Mandulum
    Mar 25, 2017
    8
    Five Word Review: Pure isometric RPG related joy.
    Favorite Thing: Really enjoyed the final chapter. It left me wanting a sequel. Also, the sense of choice in the game is excellent.
    Least Favorite Thing: My party members kept changing targets. I never did figure out why but it sure was annoying. Date Complete: 2017-03-20 Playtime: ~ 28h Enjoyment: 8/10 Recommendation: Yes. It    Five Word Review: Pure isometric RPG related joy.
    Favorite Thing: Really enjoyed the final chapter. It left me wanting a sequel. Also, the sense of choice in the game is excellent.
    Least Favorite Thing: My party members kept changing targets. I never did figure out why but it sure was annoying.

    Date Complete: 2017-03-20
    Playtime: ~ 28h
    Enjoyment: 8/10
    Recommendation: Yes. It doesn't break too much from the regular isometric RPG flavor but it's still quite enjoyable.    … Expand
  51. FearAndLoathing
    Nov 21, 2016
    8
    As a big fan of classic RPG's, and someone who thoroughly enjoyed Pillars of Eternity, I went into this game with similar expectations. Ultimately, I felt that it was a very enjoyable trip into a thought provoking world. The first and second acts felt flushed out and complete, the third act was essentially removed from development making the end feel entirely too quick and to a certainAs a big fan of classic RPG's, and someone who thoroughly enjoyed Pillars of Eternity, I went into this game with similar expectations. Ultimately, I felt that it was a very enjoyable trip into a thought provoking world. The first and second acts felt flushed out and complete, the third act was essentially removed from development making the end feel entirely too quick and to a certain degree left you with an expansion-pack cliffhanger that was rather unsatisfying because it pertained to the primary story arc.

    Some bullet point thoughts
    - Good story, thought provoking world
    - Decisions and factions were meaningfully influenced
    - The game that follows the primary story arc in a linear manner, making decisions at point A dispositive for decisions in point B.
    - Wrath/Loyalty bars are determined separately, decreasing the kind of hard choices the game seems to want to force.
    - Lots of gear, but very few real decisions related to it
    - Great spell creation system

    Overall: Definitely worth playing, particularly if you like classic RPGs. Hopefully an expansion will flush out the ending, which as it stands is too short. Would have liked it to be more open-ended and non-linear, in general.    … Expand
  52. jseph1234
    Dec 20, 2020
    8
    I really love this game and premise for it so that i can be as evil as i want to. The Story AND RPG flavor of it is first rate and its from Obsidian Studios!
  53. username1222
    Apr 5, 2017
    8
    A great game but ultimately falls short of my expectations. The start is very strong allowing you to be as evil as you like (it's the theme of the game, evil has overtaken the land) but then you get into a tedious series of fights with combat mechanics that STILL do not manage to rise to the level of complexity of a game like BG2SoA almost 20 years later. The spells are crafted by you, aA great game but ultimately falls short of my expectations. The start is very strong allowing you to be as evil as you like (it's the theme of the game, evil has overtaken the land) but then you get into a tedious series of fights with combat mechanics that STILL do not manage to rise to the level of complexity of a game like BG2SoA almost 20 years later. The spells are crafted by you, a false good idea as ultimately it's tedious and unnecessary. There are no amazing spells like conjure a demon from hell like there were in BG2 just fire, ice, etc.

    The map is gorgeous and the background and characters are well rendered and animated. The story unfortunately cuts of at what should be the end of Act 1. The second half of the game is missing and covered by a "video scene" explaining what happens with slides.

    Choice has some impact on who's alive and who's dead but beyond that it's a long corridor and what you do doesn't impact the narrative, just what town is left standing, what character is dead or serving you.

    A solid game and hours of fun, I recommend buying it. Not a masterpiece tho.    … Expand
  54. DRITZZ_ZARCON
    Jan 15, 2017
    8
    OK, I just finished the game after about 20 odd hours of game play. It definitely has a different feel to pillars of eternity which i really enjoyed, although different it is still a very good game albeit not good enough to be a great game. Everything is of a decent quality although i felt some of the maps were too small, it needed more voice acting outside of the main characters, musicOK, I just finished the game after about 20 odd hours of game play. It definitely has a different feel to pillars of eternity which i really enjoyed, although different it is still a very good game albeit not good enough to be a great game. Everything is of a decent quality although i felt some of the maps were too small, it needed more voice acting outside of the main characters, music was good but not varied enough. I'd give it an 8 out of 10 as i played it through which meant i was captured enough and enjoyed the story. POE played out as a much bigger game in my opinion and the story was the more conventional hero thing, but i guess that's what they wanted with Tyranny. I'd definitely pay £20 for it but no more. I'm now waiting for Torment to come out in February to see how that compares.… Expand
  55. Harpasa
    Mar 8, 2017
    8
    +High quality text and dialogues. -Has some optimization problems.
    +Above avarage characters. -Can be boring for action rpg players.
    +Very good story telling.
    Conclusion: If u like Planescape: Torment etc. its a great game for you. If you dont , do not buy this game.
    Enjoy.
  56. SH1
    Dec 10, 2016
    8
    Good points:

    * Combat mechanics * Story makes you want to play it multiple times. * Classic RPG * Cool magic system * Nice 2D art in an isometric setting * For some reason this makes me want an HTML5/WebGL multiplayer version, where you can choose your faction from the ones in the story. Why not a 10? * Story has loose ends. I guess you have to leave something for Tyranny 2    Good points:

    * Combat mechanics
    * Story makes you want to play it multiple times.
    * Classic RPG
    * Cool magic system
    * Nice 2D art in an isometric setting
    * For some reason this makes me want an HTML5/WebGL multiplayer version, where you can choose your faction from the ones in the story.

    Why not a 10?

    * Story has loose ends. I guess you have to leave something for Tyranny 2 (which I will be buying if it comes out)
    * Not sure how crafting worked.    … Expand
  57. IJL711
    Nov 13, 2016
    8
    This was just the kind of addicting game that I've been looking for. It's certainly not a perfect game but it's enjoyable never-the-less.

    First and foremost is the story. While it does rely on some old tropes and doesn't reinvent the wheel, it does take an approach to the rpg story that we don't often get; the evil side. You work for "evil" from the start and have to carve your path    This was just the kind of addicting game that I've been looking for. It's certainly not a perfect game but it's enjoyable never-the-less.

    First and foremost is the story. While it does rely on some old tropes and doesn't reinvent the wheel, it does take an approach to the rpg story that we don't often get; the evil side. You work for "evil" from the start and have to carve your path from there.
    Having said that, the game does a very good job of making you wonder if what you're doing is truely bad or if it's good; there really isn't a true "good" or "evil" action in the game. A lot of the characters have their own justifications for their actions that seem perfectly reasonable given the circumstances in which they are embroiled. Even still, it can be difficult to make some decisions that are either terrible or you have your own idea and you wish you could implement it (but you said the wrong word two dialogue options ago).
    The problem with the story (and problably, but just in case, spoiler warning) is that it just kind of...ends. It is very clear that there either is or should be more to it. You can tell that it's coming, but you hold onto the hope that surely it doesn't. We certainly want our resolution of the story. That being said, a proper resolution feels like it would take another full game.

    If you've played Pillars of Eternity, then you already know the score with the combat. Now, I don't know if it's possible but I never figured out how to change the hotkeys for combat... Either way, this takes a lot of pausing, issuing commands, starting for a second, issuing some more commands, etc. ad nauseam. If you want go go go combat, then it is not for you. However, if you like to stategize and coordinate or if you're impartial then it IS for you.

    Long story short, I really like this game. I've played it through once and I intend to play it through at least one more time, possibly more.

    Pros:
    -Dark but engaging story with fleshed out lore
    -Choices have a lasting impact and may haunt/aid you down the road
    -Strategic combat

    Cons:
    -Story abrubtly ends in what kind of feels like the middle
    -While companions have their own stories, they just kind of follow blindly as long as you say the right thing once or twice    … Expand
  58. Smilingcookie
    Jan 12, 2017
    8
    Interesting game, but it has some flaws.

    For a game that sells itself based on choice & consequence, it could have done more. The Prologue and Act I are brilliant. Then Act II simply acts out choices you took in act I. Act III forms a conclusion where you have some choice, but not as many as I would have liked. After picking my alliances I got a few options to betray them at key moments    Interesting game, but it has some flaws.

    For a game that sells itself based on choice & consequence, it could have done more. The Prologue and Act I are brilliant. Then Act II simply acts out choices you took in act I. Act III forms a conclusion where you have some choice, but not as many as I would have liked. After picking my alliances I got a few options to betray them at key moments in the game, but at certain other key moments I didn't anymore. This felt a bit restraining. Further, your main alliance will define how other factions will be looking to you and this didn't feel natural. Even after I help a faction with everything I can, they fight me because of whom I'm allied with.

    In style and feeling it's a bit closer to planescape torment than Pillars of Eternity was. From all the old classics it feels closest to that one. Which is a good thing although it doesn't manage to reach Torment's level.

    Very interesting spellsystem with a lot of customization. Combat is ok but not great. The good thing about it is it doesn't distract too much from the story.

    Character building was not that interesting since "lore" was by far more interesting than other options in that it provides more options during dialogues. Lore is in Torment what wisdom was in Planescape Torment: the go to stat.

    Good game, I enjoyed it a lot, but not good enough to be replaying it.    … Expand
  59. ASTALONTE
    Nov 14, 2016
    8
    This is a great game where you work for the bad guy. It s simple, direct and no too long. But at the same time it has that essence of the genre where you role pay and read countless nice texts. JUST a step below POE because I would like to have seen more exploration and a bigger final act
  60. Rilke21
    Dec 24, 2017
    8
    This review comes after 57 hours and two full plays through the game.

    The Good: -excellent writing, great story -interesting and fun combat mechanics -great music -good art The Bad: -short, and wee bit anticlimactic -oddly easy in the midgame (even on POTD) I'll say off the bat that the path you choose to play will greatly influence your experience of this game. I allied    This review comes after 57 hours and two full plays through the game.

    The Good:
    -excellent writing, great story
    -interesting and fun combat mechanics
    -great music
    -good art

    The Bad:
    -short, and wee bit anticlimactic
    -oddly easy in the midgame (even on POTD)

    I'll say off the bat that the path you choose to play will greatly influence your experience of this game. I allied with the Disfavoured on my first play, and took the Rebel Alliance path on my second...I FAR preferred the rebel path.

    Tyranny's greatest disappointment is oddly also one off its strengths: the game is short, maxing out at 30 hours on a completionist run. However, this allows for great flexibility in the game paths you can take, and excellent replayability as a result. I had plenty more fun on my second run, and I'm looking forward to starting a solo character for my third.

    If you liked Pillars of Eternity (I loved it myself), you should not hesitate to pick up Tyranny. But. as I mentioned in my Pillars review, if you don't have patience for reading dialogue and don't feel like using your imagination, stay away from this game.    … Expand
  61. philb74
    Dec 12, 2016
    8
    I was excited to hear about this game from Obsidian/Paradox as I've enjoyed other titles they were involved in or made such as Pillars of Eternity. Also the concept sounded somewhat original and I was interested in how the choice making would progress throughout the game. I bought it on the release date and I've now had three play-throughs. Needless to say I really enjoyed it althoughI was excited to hear about this game from Obsidian/Paradox as I've enjoyed other titles they were involved in or made such as Pillars of Eternity. Also the concept sounded somewhat original and I was interested in how the choice making would progress throughout the game. I bought it on the release date and I've now had three play-throughs. Needless to say I really enjoyed it although it is not perfect.

    The combat is fun but not as varied or as tactical as pillars. There are not as many classes. The story is gripping and your choices matter a lot. There are essentially three factions you can align yourself with and missions will differ depending on which side you choose. The graphics are original but not fantastic - I was expecting slightly better. The loot is good with a number of powerful relics to collect and and upgrade system to improve weapons and armour. There are also some fun puzzles to solve but they are not overly complex and easily solvable if you search for the clues well.

    This biggest disappointment for me was the shortness of the campaign - I think it took me around 20 hours or less and I did as many side quests as I could find. I hope that any future expansions add at least the same playing time again. I'm giving this an eight score. It would have been a ten if they had added another ten hours gameplay to the game and another couple of classes.    … Expand
  62. Derf3L
    Dec 10, 2016
    8
    Tyranny is a solid isometric RPG, which is easily comparable to Pillars of Eternity.
    The game has the usual isometric and slightly outdated graphics. The settings remind of the Age of Bronze era. There is very little "fantasy" in the game, as most enemies are humans, with few exceptions. Forget about dragons and elves.. but still pretty captivating as it's not a common atmosphere in RPG    Tyranny is a solid isometric RPG, which is easily comparable to Pillars of Eternity.
    The game has the usual isometric and slightly outdated graphics. The settings remind of the Age of Bronze era. There is very little "fantasy" in the game, as most enemies are humans, with few exceptions. Forget about dragons and elves.. but still pretty captivating as it's not a common atmosphere in RPG games.

    The choices you make through the game totally change the outcome of your playthrough, making it very personalized. I must say the factions reputations system works very good: you are always aware of the effects of your choices and you can keep track of your reputations against any group or companion in the game.
    I believe the story is very good and it's not true you are the "evil" character, as you can take very "good person" choices to mould your story. It's just that you are in a war, therefore there won't be easy situations to solve..

    The combat is fun, they added combos with your party members, but it has less skills compared to PoE. Also keeping only 4 people in the party can be a bit limiting in terms of strategy. Overall I would say PoE combat was better.

    What dragged me down a bit was the companions: the dialogues with them are very limited because you basically have the same round of questions for each of them, with no real personalization. Also no side quests for companions...

    As I said, the game is very solid and, despite the abrupt ending, I must say it's one of the top games released in 2016    … Expand
  63. Wiebe
    Feb 26, 2020
    8
    A bit short, but great story and fun RPG gameplay, nothing experimental or new, but does wat it does well
  64. SolusBatty
    Nov 15, 2016
    8
    Just finished the game and it is quite a solid one. It took me 31 hours on the normal difficulty, although I read 90% of the possible dialogue as it is very well done (although it has lapses in grammar).
    I'd recommend trying this game out for its lore and if you are a fan of isometric RPGs, as the combat is good, but nothing special. The playable characters are diverse and each of them    Just finished the game and it is quite a solid one. It took me 31 hours on the normal difficulty, although I read 90% of the possible dialogue as it is very well done (although it has lapses in grammar).
    I'd recommend trying this game out for its lore and if you are a fan of isometric RPGs, as the combat is good, but nothing special. The playable characters are diverse and each of them can be played in different ways.
    I am unsure of its replayability, but I've enjoyed the first playthrough completely, although the normal difficulty wasn't challenging at all. All of this being said 45$ is a bit too much, 30$ or less would be ok, so I'd recommend waiting for patches and a drop in price. Cheers.    … Expand
  65. gum11
    Nov 30, 2016
    8
    Old style rpg with excellent story, choices and good gameplay. What really makes the game for me is the characters and their voice acting. The replay value is pretty big here too, as this game really needs to be played through at least twice to see all the areas and the whole story
  66. NieuweGassie
    Nov 13, 2016
    8
    A very strong RPG with a great plot, amazing visual design, but slightly flawed combat.

    From the moment you start the game you get the chance to create your character, but also shape the main villain's conquest! Did he take city A or city B? And how did he take it? Did your character play a major part in it? Or were you more sympathetic to the conquered? It's a very interesting    A very strong RPG with a great plot, amazing visual design, but slightly flawed combat.

    From the moment you start the game you get the chance to create your character, but also shape the main villain's conquest! Did he take city A or city B? And how did he take it? Did your character play a major part in it? Or were you more sympathetic to the conquered?

    It's a very interesting balance of Good and Evil, though you can be either. You are basically playing a wandering judge, you have the power to settle disputes in His name, or defy him by breaking the law (which will have severe repercussions). Thing is, you are ultimately serving the evil overlord, so you will have to make some really tough choices if you want to be a 'goody two-shoes'. The bad guy won, so what are you going to do about it? If you're someone who is trying to make the best of things then you'll have the most interesting experience, because it's impossible to satisfy everyone. If you serve your master well by remaining true to the law, you will piss off the Overlord's servants who only care about their own interests and glory.

    The combat system is where the game slightly suffers. Party AI isn't very smart, and attempting to control each party member individually by turning off said flawed AI, is too much of a chore and unintuitive. They'll often get stuck, and some party members simply don't know what to do with certain weapons. Thankfully, this is somewhat mitigated by the fact that *your* character, the one you always control yourself, can and will be much more powerful than your party members, so you don't have to rely on their AI too much.    … Expand
  67. likevin96
    Dec 28, 2016
    8
    True Score: 8.1

    Pros: - Masterful world building - Steady drip of lore - Conquest mode as the prologue is genius. Really gets you into the game without doing much. - Interesting to play as the actual bad guy - Spell system is novel Cons: - Combat is awful. Actively unfun to play. Your attacks rarely seem to have weight behind them and it always feel like a mess. -    True Score: 8.1

    Pros:
    - Masterful world building
    - Steady drip of lore
    - Conquest mode as the prologue is genius. Really gets you into the game without doing much.
    - Interesting to play as the actual bad guy
    - Spell system is novel

    Cons:
    - Combat is awful. Actively unfun to play. Your attacks rarely seem to have weight behind them and it always feel like a mess.
    - Occasional lore dumps
    - Most party members are not that interesting
    - Not enough variation in equipment    … Expand
  68. lagrie
    Mar 4, 2017
    8
    Tyranny isnt a bad Crpg and tries to be a more story based type game. The story itself is wel written and the characters are wel done. The world is interesting. But the choises arent always that deep... or have enough options. Its a must play for crpg fans, but dont expect a baldurs gate or Planescape.
  69. gir1000
    Jun 3, 2017
    8
    After successfully completing two playthroughs I feel confident in giving my opinion on the overall quality of the game. While for me personally it has slowly become one of my top ten games, there are some flaws that would be dishonest for me to ignore. So first off, let's cover what works in this game and the features that the average player will enjoy.

    The setting: Many have    After successfully completing two playthroughs I feel confident in giving my opinion on the overall quality of the game. While for me personally it has slowly become one of my top ten games, there are some flaws that would be dishonest for me to ignore. So first off, let's cover what works in this game and the features that the average player will enjoy.

    The setting: Many have commented on the uniqueness of the setting, as it has a very late bronze age feel to it. Eschewing the atypical late middle ages trappings of most modern RPGs, the geography of the tiers and its corresponding civilizations does add a lot to the game.

    Music: I personally loved the soundtrack. The music exponentially adds to the emotional tone of the game and find myself listening to it frequently. Very well composed and congruent with atmosphere the developers are trying to create.

    Story: You'll notice that this aspect will also be in the flaws section. While it may seem contradictory, just know for now that the story at its core is excellent. From the first act where you choose the flow of the overall war, to recruiting a myriad of companions who (Kills-in-Shadows not withstanding) are all excellently crafted and fleshed out. From the fearless and blood lusting Verse, to the forever iron bound Barik, or the young but devastatingly powerful Siren, the majority of the companions you find are exceptionally constructed characters. The loyalty of the characters can be lost or gained but the reasons for each one are consistent in the sense of staying loyal to the writing. The majority of people you encounter and the choices you are presented with, do seem to carry weight. The premise of being a villain protagonist is fascinating and really drives your play style. Whether you choose Machiavellian fascist you wishes to impose order at all costs or become a monster reminiscent of Ramsay Bolton, you'll find a dark but unique journey into the realm of villainy.

    Now for the flaws:

    Text vs voice overs: Having grown up right at the time when RPGs were moving from walls of texts to fully voiced characters, I personally do not mind the amount of text in this game. That said, if Planescape Torment or the original Fallout games turned you off with the amount of reading necessary to get through even basic NPC encounters, this wont be your cup of tea.

    Combat: Personally I had no problems with the combat While it is a bit more streamlined and the difficulty has been toned down, I spent the majority of both playthroughs enjoying myself immensely. However, there is a definitely a balance issue. The game seems to favor being a brawler as magic or archer builds take substantially longer to reach a point where combat feels fun instead of being a chore.

    Finally the story is the biggest flaw. Not the premise or the characters but the presentation. The opening act is superb and the rest of the game is very solid. The various factions are unique though all of them often venture into the eye-rolling territory of lawful stupid or chaotic stupid. For the most part though, the lesser parts of the narrative are at least passable. The choices you make also seem to carry impact at first, with some of them being downright discomforting on a personal level. Then, without giving anything away, you are streamlined into one path. The majority of your choices cease to matter and the final act of the game is so short and unsatisfying, that it is hard to believe any explanation other than they launched the a great deal of unfinished content.

    Verdict/ TLDR: A fun rpg that is definitely worth at least 1 playthrough, but given the story flaws, seemingly missing ending, and lack of balance with combat, it is not worth buying at full price. If you have money to spare then by all means pick up a copy. But if like many of us you are on a budget and have to choose games carefully, wait until the almost $50.00 price tag is permanently cut in half or there is a substantial sale on the game. 8/10: fun but flawed    … Expand
  70. Gelaos
    Feb 7, 2019
    8
    Tyranny excells in storytelling, lore and characters (Voices of Nerat for example). Also the moral choices and overall treatment of "good and evil" concept feels lot more realistic than in other RPGs.

    The game felt oriented too much on action and fights. Basically every quest had at least 1-2 enemy encounters. I wanted to solve most quests in a diplomatic way but in 4 out of 5 cases all    Tyranny excells in storytelling, lore and characters (Voices of Nerat for example). Also the moral choices and overall treatment of "good and evil" concept feels lot more realistic than in other RPGs.

    The game felt oriented too much on action and fights. Basically every quest had at least 1-2 enemy encounters. I wanted to solve most quests in a diplomatic way but in 4 out of 5 cases all options led to a fight. The combat mechanics aren't great and it got boring pretty early, AI's not great either.

    The character development offers lot of ways for character building but I didn't have to think much about stats and skills and still got through 80 % of my game without any trouble. The UI could be better. Also, I didn't need any item management and the most of the good and powerful items are acquired too late in the game.

    Tyranny can't compete with other isometric RPGs like Baldur's Gate or Neverwinter Nights, but it's still a good game. But when I compare it with other modern "RPGs" (DA: Inquisition, Witcher), it's a gem that reminds me of the good old classic RPGs of early 2000's.    … Expand
  71. laertan
    Feb 7, 2020
    8
    Close enough to DA:O & PoE, but still different. There are two fractions, there are many outcomes of early decisions, plot is awesome, dialogues are well written. Hope developers will continue this story!
  72. tbick
    May 19, 2020
    8
    Finally, after game after game of mediocrity and over-hype, Obsidian has finally created a seriously good RPG. Tyranny combines an intriguing and well thought-out world (one that is not overly bloated and complex), a precise and topnotch dialogue system (Only twice in the game, TWICE, in a 20 hour game filled with dialogue, was there not an option that matched what I believed my characterFinally, after game after game of mediocrity and over-hype, Obsidian has finally created a seriously good RPG. Tyranny combines an intriguing and well thought-out world (one that is not overly bloated and complex), a precise and topnotch dialogue system (Only twice in the game, TWICE, in a 20 hour game filled with dialogue, was there not an option that matched what I believed my character would actually say/do. This is a genuine achievement on Obsidian part, and they have to be congratulated for creating such strong writing), and combat, that while not genre-defining, works very well, and even incorporates unique ideas (such as the implementation of rune based spell modification system).
    But, as mentioned earlier, this game only takes around 20 hours without dlc, which, for a 30 dollar rpg, is way too short. Now, while this can be excused (to a degree) due to the fact that the game is highly re-playable, with 3 to 4 completely unique story-lines (and when I say completely unique, I mean completely unique. Structure, characters, and quests are different depending on the playthrough), this does not excuse the games length. The game is too short, but not in the way most are, as the game doesn't feel unfinished or that content was cut, instead, it feels like Obsidian never tried to extend the games length; to its detriment. Each play-through needed to be at least 5-10 hours longer, but, barring that, this game is truly excellent.
    It is overpriced however, as to get your moneys worth at the full 30, multiple playthroughs are necessary, so I would wait until it is on sale. A truly quality game, and I wish to see more from Obsidian on its level. 8/10.    … Expand
  73. Kosturko
    Jun 21, 2020
    8
    The game is great and fun, but I still can't help the feeling of it being unfinished given how it wraps up.
  74. storygamer
    Jun 20, 2021
    8
    Obsidian strikes again! Tyranny is an interesting western RPG with a great story and characters. For fans of Diablo and Baldur´s Gate but with new and fresh aspects. Really good in so many aspects!
  75. Awanka
    Apr 12, 2023
    8
    This is an excellent RPG with a great story and setting. The world is similar to Mistborn or The Black Company, where the bad guys have won and established an empire of crushing domination, and you work for them. It can be off-putting initially to be following orders from terrible people, but once you accept the bleak and hopeless setting for what it is, the fascinating and well-writtenThis is an excellent RPG with a great story and setting. The world is similar to Mistborn or The Black Company, where the bad guys have won and established an empire of crushing domination, and you work for them. It can be off-putting initially to be following orders from terrible people, but once you accept the bleak and hopeless setting for what it is, the fascinating and well-written backstory of the world begins to sprawl out before you, and you are given free reign to make open-ended choices, including working for the rebels or yourself.

    This is what fantasy writers would call a high-magic setting. Magic is all-powerful here, similar to the Glen Cook novels, and mages can cast spells that devastate armies. It plays a significant gameplay role with one of the most elaborate magic systems I've seen since Morrowind or Ultima 8. You can craft spells using various runes that describe the various qualities such as cold, area of effect, and modifiers. It's pretty great, and necessary for winning on the higher difficulties.

    The only real downside was some of the squirrelly combat. Enemies make a bee-line for your characters with the lowest armor. This might make sense, but it throws a wrench into tactical combat dynamics. It would be like if you're playing an MMO, and every enemy immediately targets the healer. There's also a lack of enemy variety, as 90% of your opponents are enemy humanoids.

    I've played every RPG Obsidian has released, and this is my favorite. My experience was also wonderfully bug-free.    … Expand
  76. S3XU4LH34L1NG
    Jan 23, 2021
    8
    A very enjoyable crpg with an incredible story - really outstanding and unique - bogged down a bit by minor bugs and clunky combat. I recommend the hardest difficulty (potd). Playtime ~ 50hr

    +great story way above the genre average +great dialog, lots and lots of choices, skill checks etc. +multiple unique playthroughs possible +beautiful backdrops and effects +spell crafting system    A very enjoyable crpg with an incredible story - really outstanding and unique - bogged down a bit by minor bugs and clunky combat. I recommend the hardest difficulty (potd). Playtime ~ 50hr

    +great story way above the genre average
    +great dialog, lots and lots of choices, skill checks etc.
    +multiple unique playthroughs possible
    +beautiful backdrops and effects
    +spell crafting system
    +you rly feel powerful towards the end of the game
    +innovative intro sequence that is achnowledged trhoughout the whole game
    ~item, skills and classes are just ok
    ~character models are just ok
    -majority of companions are garbagio
    -majority of the dialog not voice acted
    -skill checks require very low stats and are therefore trivial
    -insanely frontloaded difficulty
    -bugs in quests, spells, skills
    -description of stats and skills is kinda confusing
    -badly optimized    … Expand
  77. Bioreactor1987
    Oct 19, 2021
    8
    По началу игра не зашла, но пересилив себя я потерялся в ней с концами. Бесила боёвка, но по итогу я привык и оно того стоило. Хороший представитель жанра.
  78. Istio
    May 13, 2022
    8
    good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good
  79. Magical_Viktor
    Apr 30, 2023
    8
    Существуют просто Зло и Большое Зло, а за ними обоими в тени прячется Очень Большое Зло. Очень Большое Зло, Геральт, это такое, которого ты и представить себе не можешь, даже если думаешь, будто уже ничто не в состоянии тебя удивить. И знаешь, Геральт, порой бывает так, что Очень Большое Зло схватит тебя за горло и скажет: «Выбирай, братец, либо я, либо то, которое чуточку поменьше»Существуют просто Зло и Большое Зло, а за ними обоими в тени прячется Очень Большое Зло. Очень Большое Зло, Геральт, это такое, которого ты и представить себе не можешь, даже если думаешь, будто уже ничто не в состоянии тебя удивить. И знаешь, Геральт, порой бывает так, что Очень Большое Зло схватит тебя за горло и скажет: «Выбирай, братец, либо я, либо то, которое чуточку поменьше»
  80. HydrophobikFish
    Jun 9, 2023
    8
    Extremely interesting premise and writing, really sells the banality and logic of evil. Very interesting and influential narrative choices to be made. Very short with a sudden ending, not 100% committed to letting your characters stay evil. Combat is bland and empty, although custom spell system clear standout
  81. Teleman
    Nov 19, 2016
    7
    Having finished this game recently, I have to change my perfect 10 score to this. My enthusiasm was all about this game being a real successor to classical text based isometric rpgs. Having a good fantasy setting also effected my original 10 score. The only problem was that I was too quick to review this game and here are the glaring reasons:

    - Combat is good at first but as you play    Having finished this game recently, I have to change my perfect 10 score to this. My enthusiasm was all about this game being a real successor to classical text based isometric rpgs. Having a good fantasy setting also effected my original 10 score. The only problem was that I was too quick to review this game and here are the glaring reasons:

    - Combat is good at first but as you play through the ai involved in it is even dumber than classic rpgs such as nwn, bg etc. You can exploit the stupidy of ai to a point that it feels cheesy and disconnecting you from the world. One example would be the aggro ranges. Which is mostly individual. You can have two other enemies still having conversations while the other half of the group attacks you just because you are in range. Don't even get me started on the sorry and disfunctional "stealth" system.

    - Story is up to a point amazing. All of a sudden everything takes an abrubt and absurd turn where all of the unique mechanics introduced in this game feel unnecessary and novel. Some of the mechanics are not even implemented at all and just there for the sake of being there. The story takes a riddiculous turn as if the whole story is finished by a 10 yr old who does not know how to create relatable connections or general consistency. If your read the bleach manga then you probably understand this. I don't want to spoil the story but you can only understand this if you finish the game.    … Expand
  82. Umadbro
    Mar 22, 2021
    7
    It's short forgettable and unfinished but not the worst thing you can pickup.
  83. Ogurechka
    Dec 20, 2022
    7
    Cool, but small and short game. The spirit of Obsidian is felt in the plot in this every way. In general, before playing Tyranni, you need to understand that this is primarily a story game, and then an RPG. Despite this, the game has an interesting spell system. But it’s has problem with clothes, it makes sense to bother in equipment only at high difficulty levels, at low ones it’s boringCool, but small and short game. The spirit of Obsidian is felt in the plot in this every way. In general, before playing Tyranni, you need to understand that this is primarily a story game, and then an RPG. Despite this, the game has an interesting spell system. But it’s has problem with clothes, it makes sense to bother in equipment only at high difficulty levels, at low ones it’s boring and pointless. Naturally, there are no complaints about the plot and forks, and despite the fact that many write that you won’t win back a good character here, this is not entirely true, you just need to be a little more cunning to understand how))) I was very upset by how the game ends, we can only hope that the sequel will come out and we will see the end. In general, this RPG is not for everyone, but she made a fuss for a reason.… Expand
  84. RMDsilva
    Jan 21, 2018
    7
    Good, but not fantastic...
    Unfortunately, it's a game that promises a lot but doesn't really deliver much.
    It's Pillars of Eternity - slightly refined, with a worse story. My main issues with it is that the premise of "Evil has won" don't really affect you that much.. the main "paths" are mostly cosmetic with some very 2d villains. You feel a lone actor against a bizarrely passive    Good, but not fantastic...
    Unfortunately, it's a game that promises a lot but doesn't really deliver much.
    It's Pillars of Eternity - slightly refined, with a worse story.
    My main issues with it is that the premise of "Evil has won" don't really affect you that much.. the main "paths" are mostly cosmetic with some very 2d villains. You feel a lone actor against a bizarrely passive world.
    Don't promise choices if choices don't matter - don't build up ambience that doesn't deliver.

    However! On the positive side, companions and the world itself are pretty interesting creations - it's actually a shame we don't get to explore it that much (unless the DLCs hold more..?).
    Combat was also fairly pleasant, even though I managed to get through it with a useless lead character (leadership ftw?).    … Expand
  85. BaddoSpirito
    Dec 3, 2016
    7
    Starts excellent, ends weak. The world setting is pretty original and the game starts out really good in terms of story and dialogue which I think is the most important part of an rpg. Unfortunately, the story feels very rushed and shallow after the first 6-8 hours. The story could have been far better if they spent more time on it.

    The combat/character mechanics are similar but    Starts excellent, ends weak. The world setting is pretty original and the game starts out really good in terms of story and dialogue which I think is the most important part of an rpg. Unfortunately, the story feels very rushed and shallow after the first 6-8 hours. The story could have been far better if they spent more time on it.

    The combat/character mechanics are similar but somewhat different from Pillars of Eternity. I would say they are ok. The main problem I have with the mechanics is imo, mages and leather armor are overpowered. This makes replays less enjoyable if you are playing on higher difficulties.

    Overall I would recommend it. I think most rpg fans will enjoy at least the first playthrough which takes around 12-16 hours. It just feels a bit disappointing because this had the potential to be so much better.    … Expand
  86. szszsz
    Nov 16, 2016
    7
    this is by far the most uneven rpg games ive ever played

    it has amazing potential, interesting lore, cool characters, great spellcraft, nice skills, very climatic 'conquer' mode, all the small things like 'hyperlinks' during speech, etc - 10/10 but at the same time its just look incomplete i dont mind lack of cutscenes, voice acting, and other 'nowadays' stuff but the game gives    this is by far the most uneven rpg games ive ever played

    it has amazing potential, interesting lore, cool characters, great spellcraft, nice skills, very climatic 'conquer' mode, all the small things like 'hyperlinks' during speech, etc - 10/10

    but at the same time its just look incomplete
    i dont mind lack of cutscenes, voice acting, and other 'nowadays' stuff
    but the game gives you an opportunity to play your role yet the execution is poor most of the time

    SPOILER-FREE EXAMPLES (made-up but with the sense of actual gameplay):
    lets say that a farmer asks you to find his cattle, you go and find it, yet because of reasons you decide to kill his wife on a way back, once you go back to the farmer he talks hostile mouring his wife, but as soon as you mention saved cattle he becomes happy, starts cheering and celebrating and forgets about the bad things
    or
    youre told to take part in huge battle between good guys and bad guys, HUUUUUGE battle - you get there and theres 5-6 ppl on both sides, you kill all the baddies (normal weak troops), epic win, bards start creating songs about you, etc

    its still very playable, ive sunk into the world and lore
    but at the same time it is so fresh and it might have been perfect, if didnt lack polishing and sometimes common sense
    hope PoE II will learn from tyranny's mistakes    … Expand
  87. Thilus
    Nov 30, 2016
    7
    TL;DR, a decent game which I'm rating slightly higher than Pillars of Eternity. It manages to fix some of PoE flaws, while developing a bunch of its own. Just another average RPG, seemingly suggesting that the era of AAA isometric role-playing games is slowly coming to an end. Very minor spoilers ahead.

    Pros: + Story - some say it's rushed at the end (maybe a little), but I liked it.    TL;DR, a decent game which I'm rating slightly higher than Pillars of Eternity. It manages to fix some of PoE flaws, while developing a bunch of its own. Just another average RPG, seemingly suggesting that the era of AAA isometric role-playing games is slowly coming to an end. Very minor spoilers ahead.

    Pros:
    + Story - some say it's rushed at the end (maybe a little), but I liked it. The lenght is ok (around 30-35 hours), but I'm guessing Obsidian left something for upcoming DLCs or possibly a next installment (depending on sales).
    + Main character development - I like the fact that you can get quite powerful, and it feels. In PoE you were a character of legend, yet everybody kicked your butt at every turn. Here, you can get powerful enough to smother every opposition, even though fight still seem challenging at times (difficulty level Hard and above).
    + Being bad - it is the centerpiece of this whole game. In other games being good or bad means that you have to act like a boy-scout or a complete douchebag. You never get to be truly malicious, unless you take high-school standards and consider bullying others an act of evil and not misguided duchebagery. In Tyranny being evil means what it should, like you're doing your job for a steel-fisted tyrant. That is good.
    + Spell-system - Very cool. You combine runes to create your own versions of spells. Playing as a mage, I really had fun with this.

    Cons:
    - Only 4 character party - Why?! Apart from the fact that there are only 6 NPC playable character in the game, I see no reason to make the party so small. BG had six, PoE had six, and here we have four. What's worse, neraly all characters are pretty bland. I remember Planescape: Torment had only 6 NPC characters, but they were so brilliantly written that it didn't matter in the least.
    - No freeroaming - That ticked me off. You can only get to new places by receiving a quest. You cannot just wander around the map, because... we, f*** you, that's why. Also, during one gameplay you won't be able to visit all the places at once. For example, I played with a mage and there was this Burning Library, a place where a lot of arcane knowledge is stored. I though, allright! I'm gonna leave that for dessert. Then the game cut me off, and I couldn't go to the Burning Library no more. I mean, WTF?! It's not like it burned down completely. Even the neding said it still burned. Damn.
    - Skill dihharea - There are just TOO. MANY. SKILLS. You have 5-6 skills from leveling up. 3-6 skills from your companions. 6-10 skills from fractions. Even more skills from your artifacts, and then there are, of course, spells. All in all you have a s**tload of skills, and you won't be using more than 20% of them (excluding spells, because those you craft yourself to you liking).
    - Boooooring item system - What is this - Diablo 3? You find so much useless junk I just can't believe it. The loot system is just slightly better than in PoE, but it is still pretty bad. And don't get me started on those artifacts. They are often worse than regular stuff. What the hell?! I remember finding a +2 sword in the first Baldur's Gate - genuine excitement. Here, after I find an artifact, I ask myself why do I even bother looking at its stats for the hundreth time.

    I originaly gave PoE a 7/10, and I thought about giving this game an 8, which would place it in the green zone, but even though it's slightly better than PoE I just can't force myself to do it. Seven it is. You might like it, you might not, but it's certainly worth a look.    … Expand
  88. Exemplis
    Nov 15, 2016
    7
    This is a good low budget game. Fresh idea, interesting story, some innovative mechanics. And that's it.

    This isn't an RPG, more like choose your adventure book. The starting and the end points are pre-defined and your choices and actions midway eventually mean almost nothing. I can't get away from the notion that this is a technical demo of PoE2.
  89. djball
    Jun 8, 2018
    7
    Buy it on sale, be prepared to read A LOT, then start a new game when you figure stuff out. It's well written and the story is interesting enough, so starting over isn't a big deal. My only legit complaint, yes literally walls of text like that wall in China. The script for this game is easily as long as War and Peace with a boat load of blah blah lore that makes no sense. I can manageBuy it on sale, be prepared to read A LOT, then start a new game when you figure stuff out. It's well written and the story is interesting enough, so starting over isn't a big deal. My only legit complaint, yes literally walls of text like that wall in China. The script for this game is easily as long as War and Peace with a boat load of blah blah lore that makes no sense. I can manage about 2 hours before total burn out, but I keep coming back. Combat is sort of rare, because you're always reading, but generally speaking it's just ok. It take a very long time to find decent gear and level up, so about 25 hours of slogging before it's get remotely fun to fight. And then the screen gets busy with effects, and there is no camera rotation, "pause" becomes second nature because your team without micro will die in seconds even on a normal difficulty.… Expand
  90. godunow
    Nov 17, 2016
    7
    Tyranny does many things right, but feels rushed, genereric and devoid of either epic or personal feeling.

    Good and bad points: + Something different setting-wise... - ...turning out to be another Chosen One story + Lots of text... - ...that unfortunately is mediocre fantasy, pointless "lets fill this paragraph with letters" + Nice character development system - ...used only in    Tyranny does many things right, but feels rushed, genereric and devoid of either epic or personal feeling.

    Good and bad points:
    + Something different setting-wise...
    - ...turning out to be another Chosen One story
    + Lots of text...
    - ...that unfortunately is mediocre fantasy, pointless "lets fill this paragraph with letters"
    + Nice character development system
    - ...used only in boring fights (+some conversation skill checks)
    - ... supported by boring, tedious inventory management
    + Story was compacted...
    - ... but not in a way that gives you more fun per hour, rather it just cut a lot of things

    It is an ok game, with some nice ideas, unfortunately ending up as less than sum of its parts.    … Expand
  91. Mxm0
    Nov 11, 2016
    7
    Being the sort of person who loves the great isometrics RPGS including (the fallouts, the baulders, divinity OS, etc, wasteland was ok too..) I should I have loved this game, but I got that grose feeling of 'there's no way I'm going to want to finish this.

    It's simply an issue of using a terrible old engine being used in 2016 to make a game, this feels like Baulder's Gate, in a bad way,    Being the sort of person who loves the great isometrics RPGS including (the fallouts, the baulders, divinity OS, etc, wasteland was ok too..) I should I have loved this game, but I got that grose feeling of 'there's no way I'm going to want to finish this.

    It's simply an issue of using a terrible old engine being used in 2016 to make a game, this feels like Baulder's Gate, in a bad way, in the dated way. It does not even look like the anti-aliasing works, and 1440p looks like 1080.. Obsidian should have bitten the bullet and upgraded to a new engine, IMO opinion this game is ruined by it's engine and I feel sorry for the developers who were stuck with it.

    Otherwise, if you can handle that, the RPG mechanics of it are as solid as any game. I'd also like to add the 'pause combat' is far less favoured overall by gamers than 'turn based combat' (if that's the choice of two), look at the success of the XCOMs or Divinity OS for example.    … Expand
  92. Joewashere
    Aug 8, 2019
    7
    Tyranny setup is a breath of fresh air. The main character is empowered by a powerful entity and yet has to cope with the mighty Archons, the introduction is original, NPC and companions a real piece of art and the story enthralling.

    What's not to like? The combat system, RTwP, with a "new" mechanism, team skills isn't that bad, compared to recent similar games, but the enemies lack in    Tyranny setup is a breath of fresh air. The main character is empowered by a powerful entity and yet has to cope with the mighty Archons, the introduction is original, NPC and companions a real piece of art and the story enthralling.

    What's not to like? The combat system, RTwP, with a "new" mechanism, team skills isn't that bad, compared to recent similar games, but the enemies lack in variety, particularly in the old wall area where you're going to be sick of fighting. The outsourced companion's quest are also underwhelming and Obsidian treated loading screens like a piece of art, letting us enjoy it as long as we can endure it and beyond.

    Overall, if you're in for the story with a 1 month old gaming computer, you'll probably enjoy it, if you love the RTwP system, probably as well, otherwise it's going to be a mitigated experience. Still, it's probably one of the most legitimate entry, amongst the recent AAA cRPG.    … Expand
  93. albertpross
    Oct 3, 2017
    7
    Tyranny is like a Christmas present with skull wrapping paper. When you first see it, it's really surprising and different but as soon as you peel away the exterior it is just another god damned sweater.
    -
    It's not a bad game. It's not a great game. It's worth playing once. But a huge opportunity was missed here. Tyranny is everything stereotypical about every isometric RPG you've    Tyranny is like a Christmas present with skull wrapping paper. When you first see it, it's really surprising and different but as soon as you peel away the exterior it is just another god damned sweater.
    -
    It's not a bad game. It's not a great game. It's worth playing once. But a huge opportunity was missed here. Tyranny is everything stereotypical about every isometric RPG you've ever played only it let's you pretend your a bad guy... for a while anyway.
    -
    -1.) Evil is skin deep. Stereotypical RPG "morality" decisions repainted with quasi-evil text boxes. You just get to choose some flavor text. Occasionally there are some clever options but mostly its exactly the same thing you've seen a thousand times. Expect every predictable this or that, one or the other, forced game-logic decision you've ever been pigeonholed into. Tyranny is nothing if not plebeian in it's RPG cliche predictability.
    .
    -2.) Evil is magical. Combat is incredibly unbalanced. Magic dominates due to the core game design. You have the amazing options of choosing between a party of four mages or three mages and a tank. You CAN play differently if you really want to. You can also cut off your head to prevent a headache. There is too much combat in this game and mages make it all far too easy.
    .
    -3.) Evil is just another word for good. The game was sold as something completely different than it is. You are NOT the minion of an evil overlord and you have no choice in the matter. There are four "endings." Having played through three of them, they all appear to be the same ending, only with slightly different flavor. It isn't even as deep as Fallout 1's different endings. Now, the paths to get there do offer some different options and missions, so it isn't a loss. But ultimately every path leads to the same destination, not just the same ending. Your choices are chaotic evil good guy, lawful evil good guy or paladin-esque good guy.
    -
    VERDICT: Tyranny is not a bad game, but it will pigeonhole you into gamy decisions which lead to predictable uninspired "consequences." Tyranny is everything good, bad and cliche about isometric RPGs... wrapped in skulls. I'd recommend it to old-school isometric RPG fans and absolutely nobody else.    … Expand
  94. kiki78
    Jul 20, 2018
    7
    Has interesting story, pretty cool choices of rp. Story and writing wise its pretty cool.
    BUT
    Performance on high end PC is super bad, considering how cheap graphics looks, not even talking about animations. I wonder why obsidian uses this atrocious engine, in PoE, Tyranny, Deadfire - bad performance, cannot rotate cannot anything with camera, only zoom, slow loading, etc etc. UBER    Has interesting story, pretty cool choices of rp. Story and writing wise its pretty cool.
    BUT
    Performance on high end PC is super bad, considering how cheap graphics looks, not even talking about animations. I wonder why obsidian uses this atrocious engine, in PoE, Tyranny, Deadfire - bad performance, cannot rotate cannot anything with camera, only zoom, slow loading, etc etc. UBER atrocious combat AI just made me want to alt+f4 so many times, even worse than PoE 1. FFS!!!!!!! And many times feels like (or even worse) than some android game.
    What kept me going (same as PoE) is nice writing, good characters and story, and interesting rp choices. Because of this i give 7/10 - but honestly it should be probably 4/10 for whole quality feel.

    P.S. its about same with deadfire, using still again same crap unity engine, with all problems, even worse performance, slightly better AI (that must have been real coding challenge). Just makes me wonder why, obsidian, why...    … Expand
  95. Tarantula001
    Oct 23, 2019
    7
    A solid traditional RPG, but gives you the opportunity to play from the villains side, while not mind blowing, it's not boring either, good value for money.
  96. KarolP
    Jan 2, 2021
    7
    Complex, interesting and even quite complicated (at the beginning) story, with plenty of decisions to make. Most of them connect with some consequences, but not every is justified. World's creation is quaint, but its cut into little pieces with loading between them (which are definately too long). Fight looks the same through whole game, especially enemies are boring. Audio would beComplex, interesting and even quite complicated (at the beginning) story, with plenty of decisions to make. Most of them connect with some consequences, but not every is justified. World's creation is quaint, but its cut into little pieces with loading between them (which are definately too long). Fight looks the same through whole game, especially enemies are boring. Audio would be evaluated nicely, but most of dialogues do not have their voice actors. Through whole game we are sentenced to digging through the text, what would be okay in that kind of the game (it is really full of story background feature), but IMO more dialogues should be readen. Graphics style is attractive at first, but many locations are repeteable. Their look is nice only in far shoot, after zooming it is not that great. Character models are poor.

    Despite some worse moments during campaign (Old Walls are more than boring), I am pretty sure it is exciting game for fans of classic RPGS with isometric projection.    … Expand
  97. BoomerZoomer
    Jul 19, 2022
    7
    sidequests in this game feel like main story quests in any other CRPG same with any locations and i think this alone tells a lot

    But every combat encounter is you hacking enemies to death no tactics involved after throwing few buffs in
  98. hileger
    Dec 27, 2022
    7
    лучше пиларсов лучше пиларсов лучше пиларсов лучше пиларсов лучше пиларсов
  99. ErhanCeylan123
    Jul 17, 2020
    7
    Unsatisfaying final act and ending,short game time for a role-play game.Some game choices are not make sense.
  100. PenetratorGod
    Feb 23, 2023
    7
    The only isometric role-playing game from Obsidian that's worth playing. After a terrible Pillars Of Eternity experience, at least Tyranny was a game I was able to get to the end and finish.
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Awards & Rankings

71
#71 Best PC Game of 2016
34
#34 Most Discussed PC Game of 2016
37
#37 Most Shared PC Game of 2016

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 67 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 54 out of 67
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 67
  3. Negative: 0 out of 67
  1. RPGamer
    Apr 4, 2017
    70
    Tyranny, is fun little throwback to an older style of game. It does it well and it does it without having to cash in on a particular brand or nostalgic sentiment. It presents a brand new world in a compelling and understandable way. It showcases a much more nuanced take on being the bad guy than games tend to do. I found myself reminded more of Unrest than Baldur's Gate while playing this game and that is a good thing.
    Read full review
  2. PLAY! Zine
    Feb 20, 2017
    90
    If you are tired of same old fantasy setting in RPGs, you will absolutely fall in love with Tyranny. Another great isometric RPG from Obsidian.
    Read full review
  3. games(TM)
    Jan 27, 2017
    80
    It may sound like the weight of the game’s criticism lies too heavily on its story, but that’s where Obsidian has decided to focus its efforts. It doesn’t do anything to ultimately spoil what is a great classic-style RPG, and should be considered if you enjoyed Pillars Of Eternity but wouldn’t consider classic RPGs your typical sort of gaming experience.
    Read full review
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