speedy

I just wanted to say big thank you Obsidian for making one of best games I ever played in my 20+ year gaming experience. I was very surprised when I heard that sales did not come as well as scores from reviewers and users, which really made me sad and I understand why PoE 3 may not happen in similar gameplay style. I would like to point what exactly made this game my personal ultimate turn based tactical rpg for now, but surely not everyone will agree with some of them due to different preferences. Similar games I already played (sorted by most liked): Divine Divinity Original Sin 2, Jagged Alliance 2, Temple Of Elemental Evil, Wizardry 8, Planescape Torment, Baldurs Gate 1-2, Dragon Age 1, Wasteland 2, and many less popular/liked indie/older TB/RPG games. * Real-Time With Pause / Turn-Based (choice). I am fine with RTWP, but definitely a big fan of turn based. What made PoE 2 so special, is fact that it gives you a choice between these two modes, so both preference sides might be happy. Some gamers will reject right away even a great game, just because of this one thing, they do not like RTWP or TB. This is first game that I found with such feature (not counting Fallout Tactics or later update of Pathfinder series) and doing it so well. Yes, I saw that this update was nothing special for many players, but this was mainly voice from RTWP people or PoE 1 familiar (used to it). From point of view by turn based fan who played PoE 2 in TB mode as first playthrough and compared it to many other TB games, even if PoE 2 was not originally made for TB foundations, it was converted very well (I am not comparing it directly to RTWP mode, it is just like I see it as TB only). PoE 2 has great potential in their detailed combat gameplay mechanics, so TB update was great move, but I guess too late. Most important was first impression before and during release. You see, I heard about Deadfire, but after PoE 1, it was not on my priority list. Then I heard about TB update somewhere just by accident (what? PoE 2 TB? it can not be true! I must check it!) a few months ago (about 3+ years after release and 2+ years after update). I will not comment here if TB is better than RTWP, it is all about giving a choice, well done in both modes (I assume from reviews that RTWP is good for RTWP players). It is just preference, each mode has its advantages and disadvantages, each gamer will have their own. * Level Scaling (choice). I am fine with fixed difficulty, but definitely a big fan of level scaling. What made PoE 2 so special, is again fact that it gives you a choice between these two modes, so both preference sides might be happy. I did not notice such feature in other games (did I miss something? maybe hidden deeply in game options?). I know that probably most players hate level scaling (infamous Oblivion and similar - personally it was advantage for me), but I am the one from that other side. I like when game keeps challenge (no matter if I am too late for the party due to my higher level progressed in other quests) and I am not wasting time on not intersting too easy encounters, even if loot or experience reward is not worth it. I also like exploration freedom, so if game is "non linear" (in fact, semi non linear) open world, then I can truly go almost everywhere in my own order of adventure, not just where game forces me linearly in (semi) "open world", but sure, it is still limited by some other quests (for example you can not leave first island right away). Is level scaling better than fixed difficulty, depends on preference. What matters here, is again a choice. * Ready and custom companions (choice). I am fine with ready companions, but definitely a big fan of possibility to make fully customized ones. What made PoE 2 so special, is again fact that it gives you a choice between these two concepts (including mixing), so both preference sides might be happy. Most games offer ready or custom companions only (there are some exceptions, where you start custom party and get additional ready companions later, sometimes temporary). I personally prefer own custom party that fits my vision (and possibly can be extented by later ready members), even in a cost of losing some content of the game. Additionally, players who want only story related companions with rich personality, might be interested in second play with experimental custom party. What is better, depends on preference, but what matters here, is again a choice. * Full control and auto AI (choice). I am completely not a fan of auto play, and I always want full control over all party members. What made PoE 2 so special, is again fact that it gives you a choice between these two concepts (including mixing), so both preference sides might be happy. Some games give only full control, some give only auto AI (as far as I remember, Fallout 1-2? yeah, some of you probably "love" when companions break your tactical plan, some maybe count it as rpg personality), and some gives you few default AI behaviors that can be modified with your control in cases when needed. What is better, depends on preference, but what matters here, is again a choice. * Own, interesting, thoughtful, detailed, useful, mechanics system. What can I say here, to not go with too much information that would look like whole wiki for the game? Earlier, Dungeons and Dragons 3.5 was my best bet as foundaments for interesting/thoughtful/detailed mechanics system (yes, I know 5.0 is most loved right now, but it borrowed what was most important in 3.5 and simplified the rest - definitely better for pen and paper easier play improvement, but for games it depends on preference). DnD 2.0 was too simple (not many useful choices during level up, not many abilities during combat except spells limited by resting). Other custom systems were usually heavy inspired by DnD or badly balanced (many useless things) or not much detailed (just hit, damage, no flanking, no disengaging attacks, very few statuses, very few useful abilities, not much meaning damage types, completely dump stats for classes, no multi-classes, item type limits per class, and similar things). PoE 2 seems to be inspired by DnD like other rpg games, but has a lot of own, interesting, thoughtful, detailed, and useful ideas in whole system. I guess not everyone will enjoy complexity (due to not much time, only story focused, only want to relax, only like to just hit things, or other reasons) with many aspects and usable abilitity choices during combat, which of course has a meaning mainly on highest difficulty or when someone like to plan best possible strategy/tactics/puzzle (even for simple encounter, additional challenge, how to do it without losing any health or in less turns as possible). Now, other advantages. * Weapon alternative modes (modals) and 2-4 possible sets. This brings nice variety into weapons (and also shields) and more options during combat. * Enemy weaknesses and strengths. Most enemies seem to have 1-2 damage type vulnerabilities and resistances (this also brings some variety into armors). * "Choose Your Own Adventure" books inspired events. Cool addition to gameplay, extended with atmospheric sounds and illustrations. * Ship management. Another cool addition to gameplay, giving extra place to manage. * 5 switchable difficulty modes. I am not sure if anyone tried first two easy modes (maybe for RTWP pace it makes sense), since normal seems to be already easy mode and veteran like normal, when compared to other games, but well, 5 possibilities to get your best fit is better than usual 2 or 3 (where normal is sometimes too easy and hard might be too hard), including option to change it during play, so you do not have to start from the beginning. * Graphic style. I am not a target of all this fashion for colorful/flashy/cartoonish/caricature/childish graphic styles (it rejects me from the start, no matter how good game mechanics are), so I prefer look that is closer (can be slightly mixed, since it is about magic and creatures) to natural/realistic and thankfully PoE 2 does it well enough. * Voiced dialogues. For comfort reason and PoE 2 english voice acting is well enough. Now, some disadvantages. * Difficulty. Not sure about RTWP, but for TB, game seems to be definitely too easy, making actually highest difficulty the only reasonable choice, even for first time PoE player (maybe Veteran if someone never played TB games before). Seriously, I do not feel like I am hardcore gamer, but when I compare other TB games, normal feels like easy enough for all easy modes, veteran maybe like very forgiving normal, and highest like some challenge, but thankfully, it can be changed. * Description details. While description interface is nicely done, descriptions itself in 1 per about 4 times, are lack in details like numbers (for example, "better accuracy", but how much exactly? +5? +10? sometimes it is mentioned, sometimes not), explanation (for example, what are some key differences between summons) or additional effects (sometimes some effects are not mentioned or their work not precised, so you realize it with surprise after use). It often forced me to minimize game and use wiki or sometimes even precise google search, to know more. And you, what makes this game so special for you or what things are made better, when compared to other similar games (I guess there were already many posts about it, but I would appreciate some discussion here)?