A true under the radar gem. Technical flaws aside, Divinity II is an old school meets new school RPG goldmine.
Plenty of options and variety is one of the things this game delivers. You start off by choosing to be a warrior, mage or ranger. Yet, the game is classless in that you can choose from the skills of any class when you level up. Speaking of skills, the possibilities for character builds here are nearly endless.
Graphically, the game is certainly no technical marvel and will not be winning any awards. Artistically is a different story, though. The world of Rivellon is beautiful, magical, majestic and dark all rolled into one. It just has a certain fantasy vibe that gives me feelings I used to get when I was a kid. Yet, it still feels like a completely fresh and totally unique experience at the same time.
Beyond the art and level design, one of the main contributing factors for this wonderful fantasy vibe is the soundtrack, which is simply fantastic. Kirill Pokrovsky is a master composer and his art shines in this game. Without question, some of the best game music I can recall and that is no exaggeration. Of course, this is just another one of the pros that lifts this game above whatever flaws may be present.
Gameplay-wise, it is wide-open. You can hot key any of your skills to any of the 4 face buttons in any way that suits you. To access the rest of your skills, items or potions, simply click R3 in what is a pause n' play option that is at your disposal as well. Quite a nice implementation for consoles indeed.
Of course I have not even touched on what really makes this game stand apart from other role playing games, and that is how you gain the ability to transform into a dragon which you level up separately with another set of skills completely. Not to mention you also get various armors with magic bonuses, ect for your dragon form as well. How is that for unique?
Controlling the dragon is as smooth as can be and adds an entirely new dimension and level of variety to an already content packed game. You have to spend nearly half of the game leveling up at a gradual and extremely rewarding pace in order to gain this ability, and for this reason, the game gives you a sense of adventure and reward that can stand toe to toe with the best of them.
Overall, this is a game is simply a goldmine for RPG fans who can overlook a few technical flaws in order to see the gem that lies within. If you can do this and you are looking for a truly unique RPG that does not hold your hand, makes you think and encourages you to explore, then do yourself a favor and give this game a try. Larian put a lot of love into making this game, and they truly deserve the support.