Recent reviews by JustVale

As my first serious review on steam, I can't recommend this game enough. ESPECIALLY if you loved the first game(if you haven't played the first one, get it while it is on sale).

LAPTOP specs:
i7-12650H
RTX 4060
32 GBs RAM

When the game first was released. I was a bit scared because of the "Mostly Negative" review on the game, as all should be. But taking a look at them you find that most of them are complaints about the microtransactions, one save file, low fps. So I will go into each problem.

1. Microtransactions:
People are complained about the microtransactions on a singleplayer game because they thought it made it P2W but that could not be any further from the case. From what I see they are just a way to support the developers while offering a bit of a bonus while playing which can be earned by playing the game for literally a few hours. The rift crystals can be earned easily by a few activities in game or by random monster drops, or gained by your pawn if some other person uses your pawn which gives you an incentive to make a pawn that stands out from the others. The other items available to be bought with real currency can be bought with rift crystals and not even at huge amounts either. Again, those paid items are more to support the devs for working on this game, just dont let it blind you as "Transaction, evil company"

2. One save file:
Believe me when I say, you do not need more than one save file for this game. There is literally no reason. If you are unhappy with your Arisen/pawn design, no problem, art of metamorphosis item, which can be bought with rift crystals OR you finish the game and start new game+(in my case it took 18 hours the first time and maybe 8 the second time). You dont like your vocation? No problem just change it at the vocation guild, not a problem. Failed a quest because you did not pay attention, NG+. NPC you needed alive died, wakestone(which the game feeds you by mountains in the later stages of the game) or again, NG+. Most things can be redone with NG+, the game offers a lot of replayability, you can experiment with different stuff, different quest results different story endings etc. It basically begs you to play the game until the end and figure out all the different stuff that can be done differently.

3. Poor optimization(low fps):
I myself didnt find a problem with the fps beside in vernworth sometimes i have some drops in fps but nothing too bad, I am not playing on max graphics, I know my laptop cant handle it, but my settings are in a way so that the game still looks gorgeous and also runs incredibly well when it matters(in combat). But I get that some people do have problems, there is no excuse for that from such a huge company to offer poor optimization on such a hyped game especially when they knew the state of the game before public release.

Now for things i want to say by myself.
1. The world, the world is absolutely stunning, Even in my 3rd playthrough I am amazed of the world, of how many things I missed during my first and second time playing the story. I love that in some way it reminds me of the first game's map which brings a bit of nostalgia from when I played it mostly on my Xbox. And one thing i love more about this map is that it makes you think. You have moments and places where you actually have to think how to get to a fancy chest or unlock a shortcut for later, your optimization for ferrystones and portcrystals which are essential in saving time while traveling to different non major locations. 10/10 wonderful map.

2. The combat.
The combat in this game is so much better than in the first, feels more fleshed out, feels fresh and will always keep you on edge, especially when you are fighting elite monsters like drakes, headless horsemen or the most annoying thing in the game, goreharpies. The skills all feel like they have impact and make you feel like you are the strongest until you realise that other npcs can also use said skills, and that unlike you, they dont run out of stamina. The combat in this game is something that has to be tried before giving an opinion from only just watching.

3. Replayability
Just like the first game, this one doesnt fail on the part of replayability. Each single time you can play the game in a different way, either make it a challenge, make it something fun or just try for a speedrun. All of these can be done multiple times, and will always be different from the last one. You are never stuck to one class, you can always change between them at every inn/guild. You are bored of one class, try another, bored of one skill, change it from the plenty others(altho less from the first game). The game is basically begging you to "play the game one more time and see what you can do different", explore it entirely, you will not be dissapointed.

4. Story
The story to be honest, it was eh. Did not really captivate me too much, they could .have done so much better with it and flesh it out so much more because it feels like a huge cliche. But again, this game's story is not what should make you try it, it was the same with the first game. It is the other things I said above that make it worth it but again, do not play this game for the story, you will be dissapointed in my opinion

People have different tastes when it comes to video games, as is normal. But if you are interested, give this game a try. I promise that if you stick with it, you wont be dissapointed. And if you do try it, play the first playthrough without looking at any guides on google or youtube so that you will get a very beautiful experience.