I wrote before about how I prefer real-time-with-pause to turn-based gameplay in RPGs. I wrote that post with Divinity 2: Original Sin in mind since it’s a turn-based game that I did not enjoy. I tried replaying it this week… and I still don’t enjoy it. The first island was a bit more enjoyable this time since I knew all the little places to get experience points, but honestly this game has some terrible mechanical decisions that make it an unfun slog that punishes you for exploring around the second island.

The first decision is that characters’ power is almost entirely based on their level. Power and level always go together in all RPGs, but in Pillars of Eternity I could beat some encounters well below the suggested level just by mastery of the systems and a bit of luck. Divinity 2 doesn’t have this. A fight at 1 level below the enemy is very difficult. At 2 levels below the enemy, it’s nearly impossible. At 4 levels below the enemy I was still pulling off victories in Pillars of Eternity, and I’ve never had a chance to do that here.

So you NEED to be at the correct level to have any success whatsoever in beating the fights. But the second terrible decision was to scatter the content for different levels all around the map with no rhyme, reason, or communication with the player. You might be wandering around completing a level 9 quest and suddenly get dropped into a level 11 fight. The quickest move here is to just reload, which also takes far too much time for a simplistic RPG like this one. There is no way of knowing if you’re heading towards content that is level appropriate or towards certain demise and another minute of looking at loading screens.

Taken together, the game is unfun if you’re underleveled and it doesn’t do anything to make sure you’re appropriately leveled for your challenges. The game is also unfun if you’re overleveled by the way, as enemies can barely scratch you. But with nothing done to make sure I’m finding level-appropriate content, I spent most of the game not having fun because I’m either over- or under-leveled for what I’m facing.

So yeah, they need to hire a level designer.