Recent reviews by Butch Bhaalspawn

Never played a Warhammer 40,000 game before. No idea what I'm doing and no idea what's going on but I'm having a GREAT time! Fun weapons, genuinely thrilling narrative. Wasn't sure I'd be into the setting, but I'm loving it. While many of the characters take themselves very seriously it still has the kind of whimsy and ratchetness that reminds me of games like Borderlands and Wasteland 3. At the same time, there's clearly a lot of deep lore and a thoughtful, seamless blend of sci-fi and fantasy reminiscent of games like Tyranny: Tides of Numenora.

Really wish there was a freer camera, better character customization/outfits, more flexibility in mixing up action and movement point use during combat, and multi-character combo abilities, but those types of things could also be modded in.

I've barely made it through Chapter 1 and I'm already thinking about all the exciting possibilities of my next playthrough. Plus, now I'm really curious about other Warhammer games, so they got me in the funnel.

Got it on sale 'cause I wasn't sure I'd like it and it seems like most Warhammer games REALLY want you to buy the DLC which...ugh, but now that I've played it, I'd pay the full price tbh if only for the fact that I'm clearly going to putting in a lot of hours into this. Woe to the enemies of Humanity.

I played D:OS 2 before this and it's a fascinating peek into a world that, at the time of the sequel, has long since passed. It's dated, for sure, graphically and mechanically, yet I've found myself drawn in just the same. I've tried playing a few other party-based CRPGs made around the same time and was turned off by the rigidity and isometric view so it says something to me that this is still a fun game nearly 10 years after its release. It is *very* limited in mod capability which is unfortunate but unsurprising for a game its age.

So, yeah, it's no BG3. It's not D:OS 2 either. But it's a solid entry to the genre and a worthwhile chapter in the Divinity: OS universe. Also, it's fun to see what - and who - has stood the test of time in-world (Jahan! Transporter pyramids! Impish pocket realms!) if you've played D:OS 2. Playing this has made me hopeful for more Divinity games, it's a fun little world Larian has built.

This was the first party-based CRPG I ever played and I think it's a great intro to the genre. I found the story compelling and companions likable. The act you spend navigating the labyrinthine streets of hell is unintentionally or not deeply unpleasant and annoying. Surprising twists. Puzzles could use some work. Maddening that you can't just like, jump. But a satisfying experience overall and an approachable game for those interested in D&D-style rules and races (many playable options, moreso than BG3 which I appreciate).

There's a lot to love about this game. Rightfully, it's received much praise. Instead of rehashing its known pros, I'm going to talk cons in what is otherwise a great game.

- Aspects of the magic system feel shallow. There's not actually that many spells to learn, regardless of class, though that can be supplemented with mods. Few spell slots. The magical benefits of a weapons' damage isn't very high - granted, they may come with useful non-damage buffs. There's two quests that involve forging equipment and neither of them was really worth much which was pretty disappointing.
- Summons are incredibly weak. Their damage barely scales with your level, they don't have the ability to learn any action or evolve in any way. Shovel and Us are great company, but you don't keep them around for their prowess.
- If you kill a companion at camp, their dead, naked body just stays with you forever, traveling through the realm with you as the acts progress. Always just spawning somewhere at camp. It's kind of funny. Kind of awful.
- When a companion dies, they're never mentioned again. Ever. Regardless of their own connection to or involvement in later plot points. Again, kinda funny. Seems weird for a game that found time for so many other asides.
- Limited amount of playable races. No aasimar, no githzerai, which is especially surprising considering the story. All the recruitable companions are human, elven, or tiefling.
- There's like, three quarterstaffs to be found in the entire game. Really impacts the druid and monk classes who deserve some decent equipment. It's not all fists and wildshape!
- Armor and clothing, hairstyles, makeup leave a lot to be desired. Overall it's a rich roleplaying experience, but customer characterization could do with improvements, especially when it comes to natural, textured hairstyles.
- Speaking of which, why can't companions use the magic mirror? Minthara deserves a better haircut ffs.
- Act Three feels messy af. There's a quest that necessitates travel to like seven different locations and basically requires you to be very near the end, only for it to offer the most paltry reward. Not particularly valuable in any circumstance, and certainly not even usable in any of the final fights. Just a total waste of time. Combat could be tougher this late in the game.
- Gortash is a joke. A raccoon-eyed buffoon in a Power Rangers villain suit. He's obviously A Bad Guy, as greasy as slime and smug to boot. Yet we're supposed to believe he charmed the stiff lipped upper crust of the Gate? He looks like a 19th century morphine addict with a 2000s mall g*y haircut. Hilariously, he is described several times as both handsome and young. He is a visibly worn, dumpy psycho in his late forties?? And with Jason Isaacs to voice him, no less. A waste honestly. Hell, if they wanted handsome, they could have made Gortash look like him.
- Wyll is just a cardboard cutout Hero. Very little characterization compared to other companions. Did they run out time? Did they forget he was a character? He's basically set dressing.
- I get raising the stakes and bittersweet victories and all that, but having one of the main companions eat it at the end after you saved Gondians and Ironhands, befriended a guy who just happens to know how to work infernal metal, consorted with devils, literally went to hell, saved the child of a goddess not once but twice, and were repeatedly and directly aided by another god? Come on, surely someone earned a divine favor in there and can fix Karlach. At least the scene arriving back in Avernus is good. Withers' excuses at the reunion are not.

Ultimately, these are small foibles, no? I laughed, I was seriously shocked and disgusted, I literally sobbed. 581 hours doesn't even cover what I spent in early access. Play the game. It's got an incredible story, unforgettable companions, and is just freaking beautiful.

You wanna cast some mf spells tho? Play Divinity: Original Sin II.

The strategy game for people who don't like strategy games.