Divine Divinity
- September 19, 2002
- Larian Studios
- 55h median play time
"Divine Divinity" is a fantasy RPG with hack-and-slash combat and a humorous tone, featuring a vast world, over 100 hours of gameplay, and classless character development with 96 skills to choose from. The game boasts an enormous amount of interactive objects, but is plagued with bugs and poor optimization, making it a mixed experience despite its intriguing story, pretty visuals, and phenomenal soundtrack. Overall, it provides a lengthy and entertaining adventure, but with some significant drawbacks.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Engaging and humorous storyline with plenty of side quests.
- Open character customization allows for diverse builds and playstyles.
- Richly detailed world with interactive environments and a charming atmosphere.
- Frequent crashes and bugs can disrupt gameplay and break quests.
- Dated graphics and clunky controls may deter modern players.
- Some quests can be easily broken if not completed in the correct order.
- story575 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story in "Divine Divinity" is generally well-received, featuring a mix of engaging main quests and a plethora of side quests that offer depth and humor. While the narrative is often described as traditional and somewhat cliché, it is enriched by clever writing and character interactions, making it enjoyable despite some bugs that can disrupt quest progression. Players appreciate the freedom to explore and the intricate connections between quests, although many recommend consulting guides to avoid breaking quests due to the game's non-linear structure.
“This is a thoroughly enjoyable experience with tons of story-rich content in the main quest and side quests alike.”
“The story, music, and gameplay all hold up great 20 years on.”
“The story is executed very well and intrigues the player to delve deeper until the climax. The side quests are also extremely satisfying.”
“The user interface is clunky, the gameplay is janky, the plot is generic fantasy, and everything seems uninspired.”
“The main problem with this game is that the quests are too spread out, and many times you're left hanging with no information on how to proceed with the quest.”
“The story is weak, and the combat is janky, but it is undeniably fun in a way only a classic isometric RPG can be.”
- gameplay198 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Divine Divinity" is a nostalgic blend of classic ARPG mechanics reminiscent of titles like Diablo and Baldur's Gate, featuring a hack-and-slash style with character customization and exploration. While many players appreciate its depth and humor, others criticize its outdated mechanics, clunky interface, and balance issues, which can lead to a frustrating experience. Overall, it offers a mix of engaging quests and character-building opportunities, but may not appeal to those seeking modern gameplay standards.
“The gameplay is your standard ARPG formula, you have monsters, a weapon, go and kill for experience, which levels you up, giving you attribute points to spend on improving strength, agility, intelligence, or constitution, and skill points to spend on abilities.”
“Overall, a truly enjoyable experience with an addicting core gameplay, but a drop in quality as the game progresses.”
“Divine Divinity features a lengthy campaign, strong quest design, a fantastic soundtrack, and decent gameplay.”
“Painful mechanics and dull fighting.”
“The user interface is clunky, the gameplay is janky, the plot is generic fantasy and everything seems uninspired.”
“The overall gameplay is... not the best.”
- graphics162 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally viewed as dated but charming, with many players appreciating the nostalgic 2D art style reminiscent of early 2000s RPGs. While some find the visuals to be serviceable and even beautiful for their time, others note issues such as small interface elements and occasional graphical glitches on modern systems. Overall, the game's aesthetic is often praised for its artistic quality, despite not meeting contemporary standards.
“The graphics are simply beautiful and have held up very well.”
“The power of nostalgia is incredible in this one, although after all these years it still holds up with its stunning 2D visuals and probably one of the most memorable soundtracks ever created for a video game.”
“The art style is beautiful, the maps are huge, and the hidden secrets are aplenty.”
“I was skeptical because of the graphics; everything in the interface is so tiny it's hard to read.”
“Great game that is ruined by the graphics issues on Windows 10.”
“The graphics seemed old and I didn't feel like starting it.”
- music146 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its exceptional quality and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers highlighting the memorable and immersive soundtrack composed by Kirill Pokrovsky. Players appreciate the variety of tracks that fit different environments and situations, creating a captivating experience that resonates long after playing. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the standout features of the game, contributing significantly to its nostalgic charm and emotional depth.
“The music is one of the best parts about this game.”
“The soundtrack is a work of art.”
“The music is absolutely standout and I've listened to the soundtrack many times.”
“The music and sounds aren't anything special.”
“The limited voice acting and repetitive (sometimes uninspiring) music should be mentioned as the disadvantages of this classic RPG.”
“It's a pity because everything else is good, good old 2D graphics, nice music (except the monotone 'hell' background music), nice story(ies), varied locations and characters.”
- humor103 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with many reviewers highlighting its clever dialogue, quirky quests, and well-timed comedic moments that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the integration of dark humor and absurdity, reminiscent of classic RPGs, which adds charm and depth to the storytelling. Overall, the game's light-hearted approach and humorous elements are seen as a significant strength, making it engaging and enjoyable for fans of the genre.
“The best parts about this game, in my opinion, were the humor and the soundtrack.”
“The dialogue is well written and funny.”
“There is a lot of humor interspersed throughout the whole game, and it is really fitting and genuinely funny. I loved it a lot, and it really adds to the atmosphere and nature of the game.”
- grinding48 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 98 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be quite tedious and repetitive, often feeling like a chore rather than an engaging part of the experience. While some appreciate the satisfaction of leveling up and the variety of quests, many express frustration with the lengthy dungeon runs, excessive mob farming, and unbalanced mechanics that contribute to a sense of monotony. Despite these criticisms, a few players note that the game offers enjoyable exploration and a solid story that can help alleviate some of the grind.
“No grinding for better gear; you just have to keep exploring new places if you don't find what you want.”
“Something quite annoying, however, is how long it takes to beat some of the dungeons. Some of them can take up to 2 hours or more to beat, making it a tedious and repetitive process.”
“Endless and mindless grinding, illogical resting/replenishment systems, and an archaic inventory system all contribute to a situation that will waste about half of your game's time.”
“The final nail in the coffin was how tedious the game itself got.”
- stability40 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- -2 % neutral mentions
- 95 % negative mentions
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with many players reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and crashes that can disrupt gameplay significantly. While some users find charm in its imperfections and still enjoy the experience, others have encountered game-breaking issues that hinder progress, particularly with quests and audio. Overall, the consensus is that while the game has nostalgic value, its age and technical problems make it a challenging play for many.
“The game runs great on Windows 10.”
“It's impressively bug-free, providing a smooth experience.”
“I haven't encountered any crashes or major issues while playing.”
“Unfortunately, it was very buggy to play for me.”
“The crashes are occasional, but the worst are the glitches that break questlines or that cause items to disappear.”
“I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys this kind of genre, and I had tons of fun with it... until it was cut short. I had game-breaking bugs I couldn't fix which caused all the graphics to go rainbow and black. Reinstalling, restarting my PC, closing all other applications, nothing worked in the end. I took a big plunge when none of the forums could help me or tell me a fix, so I deleted everything, my 21-hour save included, and did a full fresh install, and nothing... it was still buggy no matter what I did.”
- atmosphere37 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and captivating qualities, enhanced by a memorable soundtrack and well-crafted graphics. Players appreciate the unique blend of humor, rich storytelling, and a vibrant open world that feels alive, contributing to an overall enchanting experience. While some note minor inconsistencies, the general consensus is that the atmosphere significantly elevates the gameplay.
“The atmosphere of this game is just incredible!”
“It's a blessing since it's high fantasy, open world, which feels alive, with unmatched atmosphere and soundtrack.”
“Dd is simply a beautiful mix of classic ARPG plus mesmerizing atmosphere, stunning music, interesting storyline, a big world with lots of mysteries to discover, many lores that you can find and enjoy by reading books and scripts, beautiful and very dark artwork and many other lovely things that you should see for yourself.”
“Atmosphere is fine.”
“The atmosphere is dark and creepy without it looking corny like other Diablo clones.”
“Still an intriguing game, which is heavy on story, open world exploration, and atmosphere.”
- replayability19 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the variety among classes and the impact of choices on quest outcomes, others find the linear main plot and limited character options diminish replay value. Many users report enjoying the game enough to invest significant hours, citing intuitive mechanics and a well-designed skill tree as factors that enhance replayability. However, some reviews indicate that the game may not offer enough diversity for repeated playthroughs, particularly for those seeking a more expansive experience.
“About 18 years later, I am still in awe at this game and its replayability.”
“Great game with good replay value; I could (and I'm sure I will) easily get over 100 hours out of this.”
“If you like to experience everything a game has to offer, you will find a lot of replayability with the different classes and choices you can make that affect quest outcomes.”
“There is a decent amount of replayability and variety among classes, but towards the end of the game there is a clear set of meta-defining skills.”
“Replay value: relatively linear main plot line and effectively only a single character, so not much replay value.”
“Replayability - low.”
- optimization14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has been widely criticized, with players reporting significant performance issues such as stuttering, slow loading times, and low frame rates, even on modern PCs. Many users have struggled to find settings that alleviate these problems, and some have resorted to unofficial patches or software rendering modes to improve performance. Overall, the game's lack of optimization has rendered it unplayable for many, overshadowing its nostalgic value.
“This drastically improved performance for me and many others.”
“Use the 'Windows 8 performance patch' if you encounter lag spikes or low FPS.”
“Putting the game in software rendering mode fixes some issues and improves performance.”
“The game isn't optimized, it seems, which is a shame.”
“I tried playing, but the constant stuttering made it unplayable even with the settings lowered.”
“Terrible performance for such an old game.”
- character development12 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is praised for its flexibility, allowing players to explore various skill paths without being penalized for early choices. While the character designs are noted to be somewhat repetitive, the open-ended nature of the skill tree and the engaging storyline contribute to a satisfying character progression experience. Overall, players appreciate the freedom in character development, which enhances gameplay enjoyment.
“Another strength of this game is the character development, which offers plenty of flexibility and freedom in terms of skill selection.”
“The storyline is interesting, character development is open-ended, and gameplay keeps you interested and entertained.”
“Character development is pretty straightforward.”
“Other issues I had were with character development.”
“It is proof that choosing a class for your character in an RPG doesn't need to limit your further character development.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game evokes a mix of nostalgia and satisfaction, with some players feeling deeply connected to its hack-and-slash RPG elements. However, others express frustration with its design and story, leading to a sense of heartbreak when unable to complete the game. Overall, it elicits strong feelings, both positive and negative, from its players.
“Other than that, it's a solid title that made me feel nostalgic and satisfied.”
“After a lot of hours in the game, reaching a point where I am unable to finish is heart-breaking.”
“This game is absolutely delightful, touching all my old hack-and-slash isometric RPG fangirl fancies.”
“The game fails to evoke any real emotions, leaving players feeling disconnected from the characters and their journeys.”
“The story is filled with clichés and lacks depth, making it hard to care about the outcomes of the characters.”
“The emotional moments feel forced and unearned, resulting in a lack of genuine impact on the player's experience.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviewers appreciate Larian Studios for prioritizing player enjoyment over profit, contrasting their approach with typical cash-grab tactics in the industry. The positive sentiment suggests that their monetization strategy aligns with creating quality experiences rather than focusing solely on financial gain.
“This is why I will always support Swen and Larian Studios, because they make games for the enjoyment of people and themselves, not for quick cash grabs.”
