Fishing for Metaphors

What we don’t understand, we call it magic, therefore, God is a wizard.

– S. (a.k.a. Halsdoll)

I just had to quote myself because that is exactly what I got from the story in Divinity Orignal Sin and so, players shouldn’t read too deeply into the story because the game is purely for entertainment purposes. As some reviewers mentioned, it’s a “great time waster.” Is that a compliment? Surely it is because the enemy of time is the Void itself! It’s an extremely intelligent game. There is a brain behind the mastermind, although it’s not always without “error”. I have already mentioned some of the things I don’t like and the things I do like previously on this blog. So you can check them if you are inclined to do so.

For the most part, I enjoyed the battle system a lot. Being able to use elemental spells with its environment makes the whole game fun and quite addictive too. I remember it took me a few tries. Like any standard RPG, there is some strategy involved; however, it’s not one of those games where you can’t get away with button mashing with the same spell and expect a powerful result. It’s a game designed for adults to use their brains. I mean to think with their eyes. That’s what the game is all about perception. As the saying goes, the devil is in the details:

Perhaps’ you can? Of course you may, but if you’re having trouble with the whole affair, I’d suggest that perhaps it’s your perception you ought to work on first! Hah!

–Alchemist

Not only do I enjoy the game’s wordplay and how it integrates well with the overall theme of the story and the gameplay (I often find myself hunting and scanning for hard-to-see items), but I also like how the game encourages the player to use items as a weapon rather than relying solely on whacking enemies with a club. Sure, deep down we are all a bit primitive, but we can always learn how to be a bit diplomatic. For example, I love the Charm Spell. It comes in quite handy when you’re dealing with a powerful opponent. I used it on a stubborn bull. As you know, bulls are quite hardheaded, but with my Charm Spell, they helped me defeat my enemies in no time with their powerful head blow! I also enjoyed freezing and knocking the enemies down so that they missed their turn; there’s nothing funnier and more satisfying than seeing your opponent slipping on ice. Of course, I didn’t like it when the table turned on me. No one does because we all like to win. I also enjoyed strategizing so much that I lost track of time. From my experience, I learned that all it took was one mistake to lose a battle. The level cap in the game is up to 20 and you can level up by exploring places, completing side quests, and defeating enemies. By the time, I reached the ending, I was already level 20, which I thought would never happen!

It may sound a bit hypocritical, but my biggest gripe about the game is the side quests that relate to the story. They sure can damper the mood. One side quest I completely failed was the Goblin Story. Well, I was quick to punish a character for sending innocent people to death, which left the quest incomplete since I needed the character alive. This game would have been more enjoyable if I had tackled each quest as it came in order. I don’t know though, I learned that I wasn’t the only one with the same issue. Anyway, after reaching the climax of the story, and spending over 100 hours in the game, I lost interest in the story altogether. I found myself rolling my eyes when I learned about the lonely sorcerer turning a cat into her lover; and that the all-motherly orc can be quite the fearmonger and a big-time gold digger. I had my laughs because I would have never come up with those creative speculations toward my female kind. I suppose I understand the meaning of perversion thoroughly now. I would have never thought that God might possibly be a wizard with glasses…the god of Rivellon that is.

So back to the question of what I have uncovered through my investigation of the murder case that brought me to this grand adventure to Cyseal: Who killed Councilor Jake?

The answer is indeed, much more complex than its direct source: It was a long story, but for what it’s worth, it sure beats the VOID!