Divinity: Original Sin

Divinity: Original Sin is highly ambitious; it's the sort of rich, complicated RPG that usually requires resources beyond those of an independent developer. It's bursting with cool and original ideas, not least of which are its two equally important protagonists. They get in arguments with each other, allowing players to explore different sides of difficult issues. For example, should they show mercy to a seemingly docile -- but potentially very dangerous -- female orc? The turn-based combat (another interesting twist on the traditional isometric action RPG formula) is complicated and challenging, forcing players to take stock of dynamic factors -- such as distance to targets, whether they're standing on oil or ice, and which enemies pose the greatest immediate threat -- while making careful use of a limited supply of action points required to move and attack. It's the sort of strategic and rewarding combat that takes hours to learn and more to master.

But in its bid to create such an expansive and feature-rich experience, Larian seems to have bitten off a bit more than its limited team could chew in a few spots. Non-player characters often repeat snippets of conversation already spoken by others. Combat lacks adequate explanation at the start and may end up being too complex for more casual players. Plus, the game is a bit unstable. We encountered sporadic crashes playing on a powerful iMac, including a save file that, frustratingly, crashed every time we loaded it and a persistent inability to connect with other players online for cooperative play (a kink we expect/hope will be worked out in short order). Get beyond these frustrating hiccups, though, and you'll find a deep fantasy RPG with terrific action and an engaging tale.