There are some RPGs that hold the player's plan, at least through the beginning parts of the SLG Game Story Guide. Divinity: Original Sin II **** is not one of these games. The player is given objectives and some hints at where they might need to head to accomplish them, but nearly unlimited freedom is given to the player in how they wish to go about it. This freedom on top of proverbially being thrown to the wolves level of hand holding can be overwhelming for players not used to it, but this means how the game unfolds is entirely up to how the player wishes to accomplish the myriad tasks. For example, if you have ever played an RPG and wished you could just hack everyone to death and not have to attend to the errands of an annoying NPC, that freedom exists. I am not suggesting that killing every NPC in the game will lead to the optimal experience with this title, but the freedom is there for anyone who wishes to try it. The barbaric blood path is a choice, the numerous dialog options as well as other behavior choices could make completing the story a very cerebral experience.

Environment will play a more significant role this time around. Height does factor into battle strategy, making the decision to initiate battle from a cliff overlooking your enemies or from a rooftop an advantageous decision, though be warned the battlefield position benefits do work both ways. Areas of the battlefield can receive a blessing or curse, effecting all who enter the area. The ground may be frozen, energized, or set ablaze, making a path to an enemy or ally inaccessible without sustaining damage. The number of available skills and spells have been greatly expanded, and as a Sorcerer the player will have access to spells with unimaginable power, demonstrating why this potent magic has been banned. The action point system has been revamped making planning the next move in battle a more calculated decision. Lastly, if you think you have mastered the battle system, the option to put your money where your mouth is available in the new PvP arena where you can test your combat prowess against another player.

Things are a little bit different this time around. For starters, the Divinity: Original Sin **** II takes place over 1,000 years after the events of the original. The Divine is no more, and the Void is ever expanding and will consume the world if allowed to grow unchallenged. In addition to the great time gap between the two games, the role of the player in relation to the magical force known as Source has been completely flipped. No more are we engaged in a witch hunt but instead we step into the shoes of a Sourcerer and get to experience what being on the receiving end of said witch hunt feels like.

Instead of being limited to being human, Divinity: Original Sin II gives the player the option to also be an elf, dwarf, lizard, or undead, though that last one which is personally the most interesting option is not presently available in the Early Access build. There are also optional origin stories that the player can use for their character, four are currently available but more will be included in the final release. Origin stories not selected by the player will be seen in NPCs met during the game that could join the party. These different origin stories add an extra dynamic to both single and multiplayer modes. Not all characters will have the same objectives they want to achieve, which can lead to some conflicts. With their being freedom to play the game any way a player decides, how conflicting goals among party members are addressed is entirely up to the player's imagination. This can be even more interesting in multiplayer, especially since the option to have four players simultaneously is now included. Playing with three other people who all have conflicting objectives can elevate the role playing element beyond what can be achieved in most video game RPGs.

Once the player becomes comfortable with the game, they should experiment with different hybrid builds and see what works best for them. There is no perfect way to make a party. There are, however, various combinations of character builds that work better together as a pa

Divinity: Original Sin II is projected to be completed sometime in 2017. The Early Access build is accessible in Steam with a preorder. This version is obviously not the full game and may not have the same level of polish the final product will, so those wanting the complete final build would be advised to wait until it becomes available. For those wanting to get into the new Original Sin now, this build is worth the asking price. The first act of the campaign is available for both single and multiplayer modes which is easily a dozen hours of content and letting the players get their feet wet in experiencing the unbridled freedom of choice that is offered. The PvP Arena is available with select maps playable now with more coming in the future. Approximately half the skills are available across eight of the ten schools of magic. Those who take advantage of Early Access will naturally be upgraded automatically to the retail release upon completion.