Recent reviews by Jacek

It seems that the achievement issue has been resolved, today I have obtained the last achievement: Insanity III.

Beware! Spoilers ahead!

It is a pity that the minds of scientists are not free from the syndrome of the Savior. And I assume that that portion of helium-3 was enough to keep the reactor running until Claire arrived and mining was resumed, and of course the reactor didn't explode due to lack of fuel because Sarah's tricks were no longer available.

Other than that, great great game!

Game would be great if it wasn't written by some crooked God believers, who are trying to taint the greatest ideas of humanity of cosmic age: contact with extraterrestial intelligence and our extraterrestial (possibly) origin with murder and madness. The game toward the end becomes a bit of a thriller and a bit (visually, not action) of a horror, but if this not discourages you maybe you will find some answers or at least some good time. The game has specific mechanics, most of the time you move and zoom cameras except flying with little orb so patient is a virtue. As a reward player has opportunity of moving in 3D environment of space station and ... even flying in outer space. I personally encourage you to collect every piece of information to make a story whole and collect steam achievements. Some guides might be useful. In one of the guides I found information about meaning of appearing signs which makes the story even greater (and repeating easier). Now you are prepared!

Funny puzzles, 30 of them. My time was 63 min, and yours😀?

I finished the game, collected all achievements and I recommend the game wholeheartedly but some mixed feelings remain. The story is great, placed in the troubled medieval times. Protagonists/companions have interesting backgrounds right from those times. My little complaints come from some technical aspects of the game. The story is quite linear, however to collect useful materials to craft or upgrade your gear you should look everywhere and it 9 of 10 ends in sudden death. Gosh I never ever in any other game died so many times. You want to look behind that bush, oh sorry, soldier noticed you and you die. Moon light kept rats away, sorry it only looked that way. The game has some most unusual means to interact and solve problems or remove obstacles especially alchemy and it is imho beside the story itself the second cause to make the game great. It is the game of stealth and kill from a distance but toward the end it shifts into total war against many foes. You have means to win and not only in one way which is good, still... And last but not least, the game has 2 or 3 ”bosses” to kill and it wasn’t the idea I was looking for or expected. After 50 or more deaths I worked out some techniques to win. And “you need to kill him thrice to kill permanently” made me a bit annoyed. Everyone who has more experience in fighting with bosses probably will not complain but I do. At least you will be prepared, enjoy!
It is my 2021 nominee :)

I’ve played the game twice and I can honestly recommend playing it.
Great story reaching origins of the Gods themselves. Vast world consisting of many locations.
Your hero can be accompanied with up to 5 other companions, each with interesting story and quest.
The game mechanics is like other Bioware games (which is great!) but you will meet some unusual classes like chanter or cipher.
Last but not least you can have your own adventurers created from scratch and this is how I played the game! I created the hero and four other adventurers and last slot I used for ingame companions to do their quests. It requires careful planning and some walkthrough reading to know when and where to join specific companion to move forward his quest. I missed some companions interactions but I like it that way: I created (almost) whole party myself.
Here are some guidelines how to do it efficiently:
To create adventurers as soon as possible you need to be on level 2 and have 250 coins for each adventurer. So: in a camp collect everything but don’t pick up waterskin beyond a river yet. Instead go back to trader Heodan and sell your stuff, even ingredients, potions etc. Some hints: to open locked chest with 0 mechanics you need 3 picklocks, but to buy only one. Other two you will find. Inside is expensive potion. Beyond the river by the fireplace (just north of it) is hidden cache, if I remember well you need to be in stealth mode to discover it (even if you have 0 point in it). If you do as described you can spare your weapon and armor to collect 1000 coins for 4 adventurers. In the Cilant Lis ruins don’t go everywhere because you will collect exp. points which is unnecessary. Just go forward to traps than turn right. Calisha will break the wall for you and than go back to the middle of lair. Exit is somehow to NE. After leaving ruins there will be some cutscene. Your companions will be unfortunately dead and you will have to continue alone but you should be able to gain level 2 already. Do it and rest. Leave ruins, through forest continue SW along a road to the village. In a village go to the inn, use upper entrance to avoid scene with Aloth. Go to innkeeper and create your own adventurers. After that you can go back to the ruins.