Pillars of Eternity Hero Edition
Overview -
Obsidian Entertainment was built from the remains of Black Isle Studios, which dissolved in the early 2000s when its parent Interplay was struggling. They were responsible for some of the most memorable RPGs of the 90s, such as 'Fallout 2', 'Icewind Dale' and the inimitable 'Planescape: Torment' ('Baldur’s Gate' is sometimes associated with Black Isle, but most of those games were actually developed by BioWare). More recently, Obsidian has developed RPGs like 'Fallout: New Vegas' and 'South Park: the Stick of Truth.'
In 2012, Obsidian launched a Kickstarter campaign for a title reminiscent of their earlier successes. They dubbed it 'Project Eternity' and it quickly became the most successful video game Kickstarter to date, and ultimately collected a budget of over four million dollars. Now, after some delays, we have 'Pillars of Eternity', whose crowd-funding campaign is credited for singlehandedly saving Obsidian from collapse.
Video Review
'Pillars' was created with the Unity engine, which is robust if not groundbreaking. The visuals look nice at a distance but tend to lack clarity when zoomed in. The spell effects can be pretty, especially the more powerful ones. The interface is easy to use but clicking can get a bit messy when there are a lot of creatures in the same spot. The camera’s inability to rotate is also problematic. The game runs smoothly and is nearly bug-free, although the load screens are frequent.
Audio Review
The score is excellent and has a sweeping, operatic feel. Sound effects are similarly well done. The voice acting is less impressive, and some of the dialog sounds as though it’s being read instead of performed.
Final Thoughts
Obsidian's 'Pillars of Eternity' is a worthy successor to its ancestors and, in some ways, manages to surpass them. In terms of story, this is a worthwhile experience. In terms of content, it is a bargain. It is a strategy RPG for the ages.