Better than the first, although still wordy
Pillars of Eternity 2 is the second game in the Pillars series developed by Obsidian Entertainment. After interacting with Thaos, the protagonist - now dead - must confront the god of death, Berath, who tasks him with saving the wheel of souls that Eothas is trying to destroy. Subsequently, the hero realizes that, due to the god of resurrection and his colossal size, his castle at Caed Nua has been wiped out.
The player will explore a vast archipelago made up of countless islands. Each island represents a unique adventure to experience and fight through. Furthermore, the protagonist will face a dilemma regarding which faction to support.
The game offers interesting themes, deeply developing the culture of this world and the various ethnic conflicts, such as the discrimination between the Rauatai and the Huana. The lore and stories are much more focused on the main plot and are less unfocused compared to the first game. Fortunately, the writing has been made a bit more concise, even if it still retains an underlying wordiness.
The gameplay and character management have become more intuitive. There is no longer an incomprehensible skill selection: everything is organized into a skill tree to follow and customize. Skills and spells are much more practical to use in battle. The game offers a more laid-back pace, completely removing the ridiculous time limits that used to plague the gameplay.
The sound design could be improved. The music during battles is limited, and this flaw is also noticeable while exploring the areas. A well-managed soundtrack, in fact, can truly elevate the pathos and emotions of a title.
It must be acknowledged that hand-crafting and polishing the environments so meticulously is no small feat. Some scenes and assets are reused, but it is only a minor flaw.
Pillars of Eternity 2 represents a clear improvement over its predecessor; it plays beautifully, and I highly recommend it to all fans of old-school cRPGs.