In overall, a very good game (more info later.) Though the game is not extremely expectional or unique in anything specific, its a somehow a very good package. I hope this game gets a sequel or a different game in the same universe, but just like Golden Sun, its likely not going to happen. Almost nine years have passed, but Obsidian and/or Paradox have not made a new game in this universe.
==Storyline==
You start the game as a law enforcer, in the service of the Archon of Justice, who is a servant of Kyros the Overlord. You are either a mage, archer or warriors or mix of these skills, though not in a rigid class system. You are tasked with the task to pronounce the second Edict in your career, which is also a ticking timebomb for everyone located inside Apex, including yourself. Then you must assist in their success of reconquering this region part of a peninsula and make a decision who to pick as an ally, as both armies will start hating each other very soon. Also something unexpected happens when you encounter the first spire.
==Ending==
The ending of this game is quite odd. Though its wraps everything up, it feels more like the game development run out of resources after a quite long second part and then the third part, had to be rushed in order to finish the game. It does not spoil the story and neither does it have a bad ending like Mass Effect 3, but more like a whole large chapter of the game, had to be cut drastically to make it available for sale
==New game+==
The game has new game+ mechanics and even without that, the game on its has plenty of ways to replay the game and experience different things. The conquest screen gives your player character an unique start and relations with all faction in the region,
==Gameplay==
On normal settings, the game doesn't offer much of a challenge in combat, unless doing stupid things or meeting powerful opponents. For a second playthrough or when getting accustomed to its mechanics, you probably need to increase the difficulty. The amount of game mechanics at the start, are certainly overwhelming. Even as a veteran player of RPG, you will probably struggle a bit.
The game also a spell system, which allows a high amount of customisation throughout the entire game. It involves picking an element (core) and then an expression, which determine what the spell does. Then you can adjust around 6-10 values, depending on the spell and lore score of the spellcaster.
==Companions==
A good set of six different companions, they all have unique abilities and skills. They all have a good amount of dialogue and a different moral code. Their personal quests are locked behind the Bastard Wound dlc, which also determines some endings for them.
==Bugs and stability==
In overall, this game should work without problems on a Windows 11 pc. Game rarely crashes.
==DLC and music==
I bought the Deluxe Edition, which for some reason includes two soundtracks, one with 18 and one with 43. The one with 43 tracks contains like 16 demonstration versions of the same soundtrack, but also all normal tracks. The game has a good leitmotiv, but somehow, the tracks without are lacking a bit of punch to make them stand out.
[b]Bastard Wound and Tales of the Tiers (later).[/b]
Bastard's Wound unlocks the personal quests of the party.
Tiers of the Tales adds random encounters, aside from the few scripted encounters, necessary for the storyline. Buy this if willing to support the developer or if you have gained the game at a too cheap price. On its own, 6 Euros is too steep for a DLC which offers so few.
[b]Portrait pack[/b]
dont bother buying that seperate, the character face is not important and its not worth its money, unless willing to support this game.
==Alternatives==
If looking for other games like this one, try:
* [b]Dragon Age: Origins[/b]. Roleplaying game in a medieval universe with magic. The game is about saving a nation from being overwhelmed by a horde of evil creatures, the Darkspawn. The player character starts out as a novice of an order who are able to slay those creatures with enhanced skill and tasked to prevent this from happening. Far longer campaign, good interactive companions. Storyline is good, decisions matter, but the story is not unique. Try to acquire a complete edition, as due to its age, servers for dlc are no longer supported. The game is more accessible for a broader audience and requires much less thinking. Its not that philosophical either.
* [b]Planescape: Torment. [/b] Like Tyranny, great in lore and also like an interactive book. Tyranny has more combat and adjustable spells. Storywise, the two differ very much. While Tyranny is a typical medieval Europe setting, torment is placed in a surreal setting in the Forgotten Realms, with more things of life being different. Torment is better in the storyline and philosophical thinking. This game is mostly about the question, what will you do with power, if you can gain it? Torment is about the problems of an immortal one, who must find out why it keeps happening.
* [/b]Baldur's Gate (1+2)[/b] enhanced or classic. More intense and difficult combat, but with a bigger party and more choses in companions. Great in storyline as well, but dialogue is not that fleshed out as Tyranny.
* Icewind Dales enhanced or classic, if you like this type of combat and want to a single game with a custom made party, created at the start. No being able to recruit new party members though. Not much dialogue and no philosophic game.
* Disco Elysium (still have to play this)
