Play on: PC, Switch, PlayStation, Xbox
Current goal: Make my fortress a little nicer
To be sincere, most of my gaming time this weekend will probably be spent in direction again incredible UFO 50. (Now I have my first two cherry carts!) However, I think it’s time for me to start mentioning other games in the Weekend Guide from time to time, so instead I’ll talk about something else I’ve been playing recently, Pillars of Eternity2015 fantasy CRPG from Obsidian Entertainment that follows in the footsteps of genre-defining classics such as Baldur’s Gate AND Icewind Dale. It’s absolutely epic in scope and immediately throws you into a world with its own prosperous, immersive story and lore – a world we’ll be able to return to soon Notorious– but it is also intimate and personal, with exceptionally well-written characters living in a world full of strife and strife.
Early on, your character is awakened and discovers his abilities as a Watcher, someone who can see and interact with the souls of others. Not only does this allow for some great fantasy RPG story arcs, but it also brings the story of the game world to life in a way it wouldn’t otherwise. For example, you may meet someone who in a previous life was part of marauding hordes driving others from their homes and see how their soul has been distorted by the trauma of participating in something so horrible, or you may be drawn into the experience of someone who was persecuted by these hordes. William Faulkner famously wrote: “The past never dies. It’s not even the past. I think this applies to our world and beyond Pillars of Eternity“Eora”, you really feel how the past lingers, shaping and haunting the present.
Of course, all the great pleasures of CRPGs are here – gorgeous lands to explore, gripping tactical combat, epic quests – and all of this is central to what makes Pillars of Eternity so special. But for now, I’m particularly enchanted by the script, so clever and prosperous, characterized by enormous respect for the player, trusting us to come to grips with the world and its history when thrown at us, and trusting us to appreciate its deep thematic depth without having to explain things to us or lampshade what it does. It’s great to come across some truly mature writing in a game, especially when it’s paired with gameplay as prosperous and engaging as what’s on offer here. —Caroline Petit
