Larian Studios is bringing Divinity: Original Sin Enhanced Edition to consoles for the first time ever and there is much to rejoice for RPG fans out there.
Divinity: Original Sin is a isometric, turn-based RPG similar to Baldur’s Gate and Planescape: Torment and the focus of these games involve deep, complex gameplay systems and navigating menus. So I was skeptical at first how this would all translate over to the controller and the answer so far is: actually pretty well.
The skill bar found at the bottom of the screen is a great example of Larian’s focus on bringing accessibility to consoles, selecting it allows players to use a skill or item. This also means that the button layout on the controller follows this consistency, as the directional pad switches between party members while the face buttons are mainly used for interactions. A revamped skill system includes the master skill feature, allowing players to invest in new skills, for example “the rain of arrows”. In the Enhanced Edition, the Larian developers chose to unlock the camera angle, initially causing a big outcry from the in-house artists as they would have to remake every art asset in 3D. For players interacting with the world at-large, you’ll be glad to hear that interacting with the numerous objects in-game is painless and hassle-free through an active or cursor-enabled free search.
Combat in Divinity: Original Sin appears to have taken a more free form approach given the limited strategic options for any character class that didn’t include a mage. To remedy this, dual wielding is now available for all classes and character classes aren’t limited to class-specific weapons. For stealthier approaches, a backstab indicator can be used to pinpoint critical strikes. Other improvements include the ability to acquire and craft grenades of varying types and elements. You can also fully examine the battlefield to fully take advantage of the situation and reveal weaknesses of different enemies.
Local co-operative play is another inclusion that really shines through in the Enhanced Edition. Characters don’t have to be in same area or working on the same quest. Split-screen mode goes into effect when players reach the opposite ends of the screen and go off and make irreversible decisions without consulting the other player. When playing together, characters can also engage with the same NPC and answering with different choices can result in a game of Rock Paper Scissors. These dialogue exchanges with non player characters are now fully voiced, with over 80,000 lines of recorded dialogue found in the final game.
The Enhanced Edition will be available to current Divinity: Original Sin PC owners as a free upgrade. However, players won’t be able to transfer over their original saved game given all the revamped gameplay changes. With the inclusion of Tactician and harder difficulty modes, Divinity: Original Sin Enhanced Edition is shaping up to be a must-have for console RPG enthusiasts when it releases on Xbox One, Playstation 4, and PC later this year.
