It's settled: classic computer RPGs are back in fashion. Last year brought us the endlessly charming and inventive Divinity: Original Sin 2, a game that was big, full of surprises, and a blast to play co-op. And Obsidian recently stepped back into the conversation with Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire, the follow-up to its 2015 hit. While Deadfire is broadly similar to Divinity and other pseudo Dungeons and Dragons games in many ways, its particular blend of tradition and innovation makes it stand out for reasons all its own.
The overarching story is one steeped in the divine. A colossal statue possessed by a god tramples across the land with mysterious motivations. A collective of other deities watch from afar, relinquishing your hollow earthly visage to the land of the living to do their bidding as they so wish. But despite being a veritable soulless pawn, you're afforded a great amount of freedom to intermingle with townsfolk, seek your own objectives, and sail the seas in search of adventure.
No matter which path you follow, Deadfire rewards your curiosity almost without fail. For every expected fantasy trope there's a quirky interaction or scenario that catches you off guard and reminds you of the potential that makes open-ended games so intriguing.
In the video above, Ben, Jean-Luc, and Peter recount some of their favorite experiences from their time with the game so far. It's telling that despite their limited time in the Deadfire Archipelago, they already have drastically different stories to share, and unique motivations carrying them through the game.
In their review of Pillars of Eternity 2, Dan Starkey echoed the groups thoughts: "...the real value of Deadfire is how its setting tees up new stories and tales of exploration and adventure." If you've had a chance to play the game, what are some of your favorite moments thus far? Let's talk about it in the comments--that is, if you aren't too busy scouring Deadfire for trouble and treasure.