Obsidian’s Pillars of Eternity brought the traditional RPG experience back to the mainstream. In Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire Ultimate Edition, Obsidian absolutely nails the experience. Whether you’re a Baldur’s Gate veteran or simply interested in the D&D style gaming genre, Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire checks every box on my list. The Ultimate Edition of the game includes all DLC and the superior experience for newcomers and fans of Obsidian games.

What is Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire Ultimate Edition About?

As a direct sequel to the original Pillars of Eternity, you play the role of a Watcher, a character with the ability to look into other people’s souls and read their memories, as well as the ones of their past lives. Eothas, the god of light and rebirth once believed to be dead, is back from the grave. His rebirth is incredibly harmful, in which all Watchers have parts of their soul stolen. Berath, the god of death, reaches out to the Watchers and offers repairs to their soul if they return to watch out for what Eothas has planned.

If you carry a character over from the original Pillars of Eternity, then your choices also come with you. If not, you can start a character and build a story for what would have happened to you in the first game. Upon your return to life, you meet four factions all vying for power on the Deadfire Archipelago. As you tour each faction’s plans and characters, you carve your path through the world of Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire Ultimate Edition.

Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire Performance and Presentation

I think some early reports on Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire for PC point to a pretty hefty set of specification requirements. I’m happy to report I didn’t experience any sort of performance issues on my Xbox One. The game looks and runs wonderfully. Visually, the game is a joy in every way. The visuals have been improved from the first game to the second. From what I can tell, further improvements to lighting, graphics, and small details in the scenery, are present in the Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire Ultimate Edition.

For a lot of people, overhead RPG experiences can feel clunky and look a bit sloppy. I love the Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire approach to these tropes by offering easy controls for your entire party. Plus, you can even choose a fighting system that suits your style. The original stopped-time experience of Pillars of Eternity returns, as well as a new turn-based option for those more akin to the JPRG world.

Is Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire Ultimate Edition Good For Newcomers?

Two things seem hard to access for players: sequels to games and deep, detailed RPGs. It just so happens that Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire Ultimate Edition is both of those things and contains a collection of the game’s DLC. It’s a ton of content, and with attribute management, complicated menus and item organization, it can be extremely overwhelming for newcomers.

If you don’t know how much you’ll love a detailed experience like this one, then it’s best to save your money for a sale. These games are meant to be all-encompassing and if it sounds like its too much, then it’s probably too much.

If you think you’re up to the task of learning the systems and story of the Pillars of Eternity world, you’re in for a real treat. With the DLC included bringing three additional adventures that are almost better than the base game itself, you’re getting an amazing experience in one package. Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire Ultimate Edition is available for Xbox One, PS4, PC, and Nintendo Switch.

An Xbox One review copy of Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire Ultimate Edition was provided by Obsidian Entertainment for this review.

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Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire Ultimate Edition

$59.99

9.5

Score

9.5/10

Pros

• So Much Amazing, Well Thought-Out Content
• A Complete Package of D&D Influenced RPG Action
• Great Options For Attack Systems to Match Your Mood

Cons

• A Little Overwhelming for Newcomers