Divinity: Original Sin Enhanced Edition (XB1) Review

It’s a sin NOT to play.

I had heard about how good Divinity: Original Sin was. Not being much of a PC gamer lately, I never got around to checking out Larian Studios’ latest title. Of course the genre has never really captured me either, so when I heard it was coming to consoles, I decided maybe it was time to finally see if it could grasp me. Divinity: Original Sin is old-school in its RPG mechanics, so much so that no one thought it would work on a controller. I am thrilled to say that everything from the PC original comes over intact, and it works brilliantly.

Let’s not beat around the bush, there is a lot to take in here. There are so many mechanics and systems within Original Sin that the tutorial seemingly never ends. Larian has done an outstanding job of mapping everything to a controller, and making it simple enough to understand. I also enjoy how the tutorial prompts require holding down the button before dismissing them, thus not giving any chance to miss something vital. They can also be turned off with one quick click of an analog stick when one is on screen.

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MSRP: $59.99
Platforms: XB1, PS4, PC
Price I’d Pay: $59.99
How Long to Beat: 80+ hours

It is a lot to process. This is certainly not a game that can be played for 10-20 hours, put down, and come back to months later. It requires dedication, but it is worth it for those that enjoy the genre. There are some portions that are still cumbersome to deal with, such as managing individual inventories, but for the most part, Larian has done an outstanding job mapping this game to a controller. Those concerned should lay those worries to rest, everything great about Divinity: Original Sin is still here.

The thing I love most about Divinity is that there is no proper way to play it. Sure, there are quest lines and a main story to dig into, but every situation could be tackled any way I wanted. Now, a lot of games make this claim, but few execute it as well as Original Sin does. I also love the dynamic of being able to have conversations with my own characters. The two core characters I created can have dialogue between them, both controlled by me. It sounds kind of insane and chaotic, but the way it plays out gives ownership over both characters, allowing me to mold them however I saw fit. The amount of freedom is incredible.

There is a lot added to the package, but nothing stands out more than the addition of voice acting for almost every character in the game. While I never played the original, the writing is so well done that it was already a pretty realized world, and this is simply window dressing. The voice acting is fantastic, adding a personal layer to every character. It is also highly impressive considering just how much dialogue is actually in the game.

There are also a host of other additions that feel more like add-ons than anything substantial. The game already clocked in at well over 100 hours worth of content, so nothing here is going to spawn a second playthrough for those already having invested tons of time in the original. There is now, however, split-screen multiplayer support, which is huge considering how many games omit that feature nowadays in favor of making their game look and run better.

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Speaking of visuals, Original Sin isn’t going to blow anyone’s minds with its graphics, but the design and art direction are top-notch. I loved almost every locale, and the bright colors really shine in a genre filled with so much brown and gray. Character designs are interesting, and there is enough variety to always make exploring fun. The game is locked at 30fps, which is fine for this type of experience, and I rarely had issues with the framerate dropping.

There isn’t much wrong with Original Sin outside of the fact that there simply may be too much of it. In a time when games are releasing on a weekly basis, this is a daunting experience that requires the utmost dedication. Still, for anyone who loves the turn-based genre, it doesn’t get much better than this. It is a game I can see myself really digging into more once the rush slows down, there is simply so much to explore, and the world is interesting enough to keep players engaged for well over 100 hours.

Review copy of game provided by publisher.

Good
  • Splitscreen co-op
  • Freedom of game play
  • Voice action and world
  • Visually pleasing
  • Controller support is stellar
Bad
  • Some cumbersome menus
9
Excellent
Written by
Ken is the Editor-in-Chief of this hole in the wall and he loves to troll for the fun of it. He also enjoys long walks through Arkham Asylum and the cool air of Shadow Moses Island. His turn-ons include Mortal Kombat, Metal Gear Solid and StarCraft.