Divinity: Original Sin IIDivinity: Original Sin II Definitive Edition is the sequel to 2014’s Divinity: Original Sin. Developed by Larian Studios out of Belgium. Originally, the series was only available on PC. However, it has now made its way home to the Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

Since its release on PC, the developer has decided to polish up a number of aspects of the game. Improvements include HDR support, UI improvements, fleshed out story arcs and an enormous amount of dialogue. Let’s look at what might possibly be one of the definitive RPGs in recent memory.

Divinity: Original Sin IIDivinity: Original Sin II Definitive Edition Details

Platform(s): PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Developer(s): Larian Studios
Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment
Genre: Role-playing
Modes: Single-player, Multiplayer
ESRB Rating: M (Mature 17+)

Divinity: Original Sin II

A rich and compelling story

Set in the fantastical world of Rivellon, the sequel takes place hundred of years after the original. In Divinity: Original Sin II we get a new world and new characters to play with. Like the original game, this sequel is an isometric role-playing game with numerous things to do. As a result, after creating your own character, things ramp up immediately as the game begins.

You are taken captive due to who you are in Rivellon. As a powerful Source user, or “Sorcerer,” you are the one who can restore balance to the world by closing rifts created in the Void. As a result, your character plays a vital role and must restore balance between the Void and Rivellon.

Divinity: Original Sin II

Traditional gameplay

In like manner, Divinity: Original Sin II is an isometric role-playing game, which calls back to classic western RPGs. At first, combat doesn’t look all that different from other computer RPGs. You’ve got stats define your class, strength, finesse, intelligence and so on. How you deal out those points will dictate your character’s abilities.

Battles are turn-based. Your character can lead a party of four into battle where action points (AP) are used to attack. As a result, battles can often turn into madness at the flip of a switch. And, as a result, you can use the terrain to your advantage. You see, if you cast a fire spell or use poison, you can stick those spells to the terrain.

Overwhelmed by enemies? Set the terrain on fire. Or, use an ice spell to freeze the ground and watch an enemy who moves over it to slip on the ice you created.

Divinity: Original Sin II

A beautiful new game engine

Being the Definitive Edition, Larian Studios spent the past year working on fixing many things. As a result, large parts of the game have been re-written, and numerous re-balances throughout the game have been made. With user feedback taken to heart, over 150,000 lines of text have been modified and over 130,000 new lines of dialogue were recorded.

Not only that, but the studio added a new physics engine, a new (and welcome) tutorial for newcomers to ease them into this complex world, a new difficulty mode which focuses on the story over gameplay, a massively overhauled inventory system and quest journal. All now feel much better and serve a bigger purpose than one year ago. In other words, now you won’t feel so lost and helpless in Rivellon.

Divinity: Original Sin II Definitive Edition is beautiful. Whether you play on Xbox One or on PlayStation 4, visuals burst off the screen. I don’t remember the first game in the series looking this good, but Larian Studios has worked magic to create a world that teems with beauty. On the PlayStation 4 Pro, expect dynamic 4K resolution, while the Xbox One X features native 4K resolution.

Divinity: Original Sin II

More friends, more chaos, more fun

Multiplayer can be played solo with up to three AI characters or three online players. There is couch co-op split screen available, which reminds me of the classic Baldur’s Gate. You can interact with each other, talk to NPCs, battle it out against enemies and more.

Furthermore, it is exciting finding a friend to play multiplayer with. You can focus on completing quests, tackling nail-biting missions together and overcoming obstacles. All they while relying on each other. You can also play online co-op mode with up to four people if you wish to do so. I must admit, the real fun lies with friends at home.

Arena Mode has been retooled by Larian Studios and features two modes. First, Classic Deathmatch. This mode pits players against each other. Second, is a mode called Kill the King. This mode plays like VIP, where one person on your team is the VIP and must be protected at all costs. Spread out across 13 maps which were created for this mode exclusively.

Divinity: Original Sin II

Is Divinity: Original Sin II Definitive Edition worth your while?

All in all, Divinity: Original Sin II Definitive Edition is a new classic in every aspect. The amount of care, detail, and work put into making such a deep and exciting RPG shows the longer you stay in Rivellon. Consequently, what brought me into this world and kept me hooked was the top-level writing tucked into every nook and cranny of this game.

The story is larger-than-life and fleshed out impeccably. This is evident by the vast amount of characters to interact with. Each have deep and satisfying backstories to learn about. Whether you play alone, locally with friends, or with friends online, you’ll enjoy your time playing through the lengthy campaign.

If you enjoy classic computer RPGs or are looking to see what the fuss is about—look no further.

+ A large and rich world meant to get lost in
+ Combat allows room to experiment, smart terrain mechanics
+ Engaging quest designs
+ Beautifully crafted world that looks simply stunning

– Minor inventory hiccups

OVERALL ASSESSMENT OF DIVINITY: ORIGINAL SIN II DEFINITIVE EDITION

Gameplay: 5/5
Graphics: 4.5/5
Sound: 4/5
Lasting Appeal/Replayability: 5/5

Overall Rating 4.75/5 (95%)

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Jon Scarr
Jon is the Gaming Editor and is based in Toronto. He is a proud Canadian who has a serious passion for gaming. He is a veteran of the video game and tech industry with over 20 years experience. You can often find Jon streaming the latest games on his YouTube channel. Jon loves to talk about gaming and tech, come say hi and join the conversation with Jon on Threads @4ScarrsGaming and @4Scarrsgaming on Instagram.