Divinity: Original Sin II - Definitive Edition
By Chad Sapieha,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Updated adventure has bloody combat, moral flexibility.
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Divinity: Original Sin II - Definitive Edition
Community Reviews
Based on 3 parent reviews
If your child asks to play it, I beg of you let them (within reason)
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Not bad at all!
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What’s It About?
A sequel to Divinity: Original Sin, DIVINITY: ORIGINAL SIN II -- DEFINITIVE EDITION sends players back to the land of Rivellon, centuries after the first game, in a time when magical Source power is outlawed. The player's character -- who can be created from scratch or chosen from a group of premade heroes with backstories and specific interests and goals -- is a Sourcerer, a wielder of such power. The game begins with him or her aboard a prison ship on its way to an island where such people are supposedly "cured" of their abilities. The story plays out according to players' actions, with decisions in dialogue and combat determining their relationships with various characters, and opening and closing quests -- even setting up the final conflict and how the campaign eventually resolves. Combat is tactical, with players and enemies taking turns attacking each other and using a variety of elemental spells to interact with the environment. As players explore the world, they'll find secrets, solve puzzles and riddles, and gradually level up and equip their heroes with better weapons and gear. The campaign can be played and completed either by a single player or a group of up to four players working cooperatively. An additional creative mode allows aspiring game makers to sculpt and share campaigns of their own. The Definitive Edition also packs wide ranging updates, including thousands of tweaks and adjustments to gameplay, two-player split screen co-op play, a new tutorial, four new Arena stages, a new difficulty mode, and more.
Is It Any Good?
Larian Studios' sequel in the land of Rivellon was a knockout, but this revamped take on the role-playing game (RPG) elevated the adventure to a gaming classic. Divinity: Original Sin II -- Definitive Edition takes note of the mistakes and rough edges of 2017's title, and polishes them into a title that any adventure fan needs to play. See, the original Divinity: Original Sin was an ambitious effort to provide modern freedom within a classical fantasy role-playing game framework, but it suffered stability problems at launch and its production values couldn't quite match its inspiration. The Definitive Edition solves these issues with an auto-save system to bypass stability issues, overhauls of virtually every game mechanic down to the opening tutorial, and doubles down on the series' original promise of player freedom. Everything done in the game involves choice, from what you decide to do and where you decide to explore to how you go about handling situations, solving problems, and clearing puzzles. All of your actions come with consequences, some of which could even result in key characters parting ways. Players who speed their way through dialogue trees do so at their own peril.
The action is a match for the strong, character-driven storytelling. Efficiency in combat -- not to mention the keys to certain puzzles and environment exploration -- often hinge on the player's understanding of how elemental magic works. Players who take the time to analyze situations will be able to, say, take advantage of a pool of rain to electrocute enemies, or use a barrel of water to douse a wall of fire blocking a critical path. Everything requires thought and planning, almost to such an extent that it's as though the developers went out of their way to disprove the old adage that declares video games "mindless." Thanks to additional tweaks in the Definitive Edition, other items like smarter inventory management, cleaner journal entries, and even adjusting the balance of combat makes gameplay more enjoyable and engaging. Simply put -- if you like adventure or RPGs in any way, you owe it to yourself to get Divinity: Original Sin II -- Definitive Edition.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about screen time. How does your family deal with very long games like this one, which can't be easily parceled into manageable play sessions based on missions or quests of predictable length?
Is the violence in games like Divinity: Original Sin II -- Definitive Edition affected by the frequent blood and gore shown during battle? Does the top down perspective limit the impact of the gory visuals? Would the game have the same impact if it wasn't as bloody?
Do you prefer to play as a traditional hero doing good deeds, or explore the darker side of morality when you're playing games? Why?
Game Details
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One
- Pricing structure: Paid
- Available online?: Available online
- Publisher: Larian Studios
- Release date: August 31, 2018
- Genre: Role-Playing
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Adventures, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- ESRB rating: M for Sexual Themes, Violence, Blood and Gore, Language
- Last updated: February 21, 2020
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