Divinity Original Sin 2 is a GOAT worthy isometric CRPG second only to Baldur's Gate 2

[R.T Straker]

It absolutely is.

Can we also talk about the soundtrack while at it? Kirill will be missed as Larian's composer, but Borislav Slavov did a absolute killer job on D:OS2.

 

[JamesJoyce1882]

Haven't played BG2 yet, but I hope it's better balanced than DOS 2. Not being able to grind (finite enemies) together with overpowered bosses can make this game very frustrating. I'm Still continuing to play through it right now and refuse to lower the difficulty from default, but the bad balancing is often super annoying and leads to lots of wasted time. Latest example I came across: Eternal Aetera - could not beat her despite trying an entire evening.

The combat is very engaging when it's fair, and the story holds my interest, but the game is pretty fucking far from GOAT. Maybe if they spent another year on polish and balancing - but then I'm already playing the enhanced edition.

 

[johancruijff]

While true, the game does put a very heavy emphasis on loot and you'll be constantly buying new stuff as soon as you reach a new level. Honestly if I were to pick out one thing in this game I really dislike it's the loot/gear system. It's constructed in such a way that you will always be looking for new gear since your loadout will almost always be underleveled (and it can make an enormous difference if your gear is level 15 or 16).

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i agree, luckly gold is plenty, much more so if you start stealing around

another half missed opportunity is the rune system that can't keep pace with the stat inflation

Haven't played BG2 yet, but I hope it's better balanced than DOS 2. Not being able to grind (finite enemies) together with overpowered bosses can make this game very frustrating. I'm Still continuing to play through it right now and refuse to lower the difficulty from default, but the bad balancing is often super annoying and leads to lots of wasted time. Latest example I came across: Eternal Aetera - could not beat her despite trying an entire evening.

The combat is very engaging when it's fair, and the story holds my interest, but the game is pretty fucking far from GOAT. Maybe if they spent another year on polish and balancing - but then I'm already playing the enhanced edition.

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What lvl are you?

Positioning matters, your main triggers the dialogue and the others are "upstairs", all physical on her and cc the dogs that have low MA, especially with ice spells

Splurge the source spells early too before she drains you

 

[Hella]

The thing with DOS2's combat is that levels matter a lot, tactics matter more, and the AI will absolutely do to you what you can do to it. It's tough but fair.

The most important thing is to start an encounter on your terms rather than theirs, whenever possible. This may mean trying more than once, or even returning later when you're better prepared. Use every cheap trick you can think of to get an edge--you will need it. And DOS2 is so good because of this--it's perfectly leveraging the freedom players are given, both ways.

IIs the writing leaps and bounds better than D:OS1? The writing makes or breaks CRPGs for me and D:OS1 did not pass muster.

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Oh yes. The writing is incredibly sharp this time around, with great VO alongside it. Especially for the Pet Pal stuff.

And different fromt he first, t has this brilliant emotive dialog system that lets you be whatever you want, too.

 

[Schopenhauer]

I was really loving the game up until chapter 6. The further I made it into chapter 6 the more playing felt like a chore though. Really can't point to one thing as the culprit but I set it aside towards what I am guessing is the end of the chapter and havent touched it since.

Think part of it was the foray in chapter 5 taking mind in a totally different direction and chapter 6 not doing a great job of bringing me back. In some cases it had been 40+ hours between plot points in the various chapters.

IIs the writing leaps and bounds better than D:OS1? The writing makes or breaks CRPGs for me and D:OS1 did not pass muster.

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I would say it is a big improvement over the first game, with a more serious tone. The story is overall way better as well.

Although I do feel that the writing itself while being better is still pretty average.

 

[Powdered Egg]

I think nearly a quarter of my playing time is in the inventory screen lol.

 

[Nyx]

I loved 1 but could not get into 2 as the early fights already were so brutal with no room for error. Took me way too long to get out of the beginning area and when I finally did I felt burned out already and stopped playing...

I did tell myself that I should try again when the EE released, but since I have so many games to play I never did yet.

 

[Tagesreste]

While true, the game does put a very heavy emphasis on loot and you'll be constantly buying new stuff as soon as you reach a new level. Honestly if I were to pick out one thing in this game I really dislike it's the loot/gear system. It's constructed in such a way that you will always be looking for new gear since your loadout will almost always be underleveled (and it can make an enormous difference if your gear is level 15 or 16).

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They really needed to implement a better system for sorting loot and/or buying/selling loot across your party.

 

[Zynn]

I think D:OS2 is even better than BG2.

 

[Tagesreste]

Haven't played BG2 yet, but I hope it's better balanced than DOS 2. Not being able to grind (finite enemies) together with overpowered bosses can make this game very frustrating. I'm Still continuing to play through it right now and refuse to lower the difficulty from default, but the bad balancing is often super annoying and leads to lots of wasted time. Latest example I came across: Eternal Aetera - could not beat her despite trying an entire evening.

The combat is very engaging when it's fair, and the story holds my interest, but the game is pretty fucking far from GOAT. Maybe if they spent another year on polish and balancing - but then I'm already playing the enhanced edition.

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I have a neat trick for that one. Take the oil barrels from the previous rooms and stack them up next to where Aetera spawns in the conversation. Then detonate them. It'll knock her down to quarter health with no magic armor.

 

[Alastor3]

How is the humor compared to the first game?

 

[Wispmetas]

Didn't really grab me... Might give it another try because of all the praise, and as someone that really likes DnD and fantasy RPGs this really seems to be right up my alley.

 

[Deleted member 1635]

How is the humor compared to the first game?

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Less distracting if you ask me. I forgot the specifics, but I remember the "humor" of the first one being one of the reasons I eventually put it down and didn't return.

 

[Koz]

Mechanically I'd say it's the best, but overall it's probably my #3 CRPG behind Planescape and BG2. It would be higher but I found the second half of the game to be a bit of a slog and the overall story was good but not great.

Edit: after thinking about it some more I'd probably say it ties for #3 with Dragon Age 1.

 

[Kharnete]

The only black spot is how they butchered the dialog system in cooperative, compared to DOS1. I really, really miss to troll my friend with it.

Also, while fantastic, I still prefer DOS1 soundtrack.

 

[cowbanana]

It is an incredible game, definitely up there with Baldur's Gate II in terms of scope and execution. Well written and likeable characters to boot. There's some amazingly funny dialogue in there.

I spent 156 hours on my first and only playthrough so far. There's so much to see and do.

 

[Artdayne]

I love the OST in DOS 2 but I do think DOS 1 might edge it out, it's just really unique.

 

[Deleted member 2834]

How is the humor compared to the first game?

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Less on the nose maybe? I didn't play the first game much but the humour seemed off.

 

[Trace]

I think D:OS2 is even better than BG2.

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Agreed. Best CRPG ever, and best turn-based combat.

 

[Deleted member 21003]

Going lone wolf with two party members is way more fun than a full party imo.

 

[Decado]

DOS2 is excellent...far better than BG2, IMO.

 

[Deleted member 37739]

It's a staggeringly good game that manages to improve upon it's predecessor in just about every way... I'm having an incredible time with it.

 

[noyram23]

I liked it but I didn't love it honestly, I still prefer BG2 just for nostalgia reasons. I also like Deadfire better, it's definitely on my top 10 though. CRPG has been great these past few years

 

[Blaackstarr]

Sorry I did't want to create a new thread, so I want to ask this here. Any tips for beginners? I'm lvl 3 and every fight I get into I get my ass kicked. I played the first game for maybe 20 hrs so I knew what to expect but for some reason I feel like this is even harder. I'm working towards being a Death Knight so I got some warfare and necro skills on the Red Prince. I got not problem starting over since I'm not that far.