Pillars of Eternity

Pillars of Eternity

Hayden: Pillars of Eternity takes the 2015 nostalgia vote as an isometric CRPG from Obsidian that feels like the Infinity Engine games of old—same chunky interface, same overwrought writing, same micromanage-heavy combat. It even has the “You must gather your party before venturing forth,” thing.

If you’re an old-school fan, this one’s for you. It’s not quite the same caliber asBaldur’s Gate II or Planescape: Torment, but that’s a tall order for any game to live up to. Instead, what we have here is homage. It’s a “close enough” approximation of what those games might be like in 2015, and after fifteen years it was a joy to play something new created in the same old style.

The expansion, The White March Pt.1, is also pretty good—though I’d perhaps wait until the second half is released in 2016 before committing money to it.