Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire

The main pros of the game

• Immersive World and Storytelling: The game is praised for its rich lore, engaging writing, and deep character development. The world feels alive with factions that have interesting motivations.
• Quality of Voice Acting: The voice acting is noted as being particularly strong, enhancing the overall experience.
• Improved Combat Mechanics: The combat system has seen significant improvements over the first game, with options for both real-time and turn-based combat, which appeals to a variety of playstyles.
• Visuals and Art Style: The isometric art style and overall visuals are frequently highlighted as beautiful and well-crafted.
• Naval Exploration and Combat: The addition of ship management and naval battles adds a unique twist to the gameplay, although opinions on its execution vary.
• Quality of Life Improvements: Many s appreciate the enhancements made since the first game, including the no-pause dialogue system and the inclusion of mods that improve gameplay.

The main cons of the game

• Performance Issues: Numerous s report significant performance problems, including freezing, glitches, and poor optimization on modern hardware, which detracts from the experience.
• Rushed Main Story: The main storyline is often described as feeling short or rushed compared to the first game, lacking the philosophical depth and complexity that some players expected.
• Weapon and Loot Imbalance: There are complaints about the balance of weapons, with certain types dominating the loot pool while others feel neglected.
• Mixed Reception of Companions: Some companions are seen as less engaging or too tied to faction narratives, leading to a lack of depth in character interactions.
• Underwhelming DLCs: While some DLCs like *Beast of Winter* are praised, others are viewed as less impactful or lacking in depth.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to s

• Better Optimization and Auto-Save Features: s express a desire for improved optimization and better save systems, especially in challenging modes like Ironman.
• More Diverse Music and Soundtrack: Some players feel that the soundtrack could benefit from more variety, particularly during combat.
• Deeper Faction and Moral Complexity: There are calls for more nuanced faction interactions and moral choices, as some feel the current system leans too heavily into moral ambiguity without satisfying resolutions.
• Enhanced Ship Combat: While the concept of naval warfare is appreciated, many s find the execution lacking and wish for more engaging ship combat mechanics.

Summary

• Overall, Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is viewed as a strong sequel that builds on its predecessor in many ways but is held back by performance issues, a rushed main story, and some gameplay imbalances. It remains a highly recommended title for fans of CRPGs, particularly those who enjoyed the first game.

Summary generated on: April 7, 2025