MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS I finally managed to complete the game last night, after the patch (it fixed my battlefield problems and I could finally restock potions and buy new armour etc <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/party.gif" alt="" />). The story was great, I can see what you meant now Kiya. Larian did a great job with the plot imo, I genuinely liked how it ended. Made me feel a mixed bag of emotions, which is always good in my view. I hate boring endings, makes me think of those sicky love stories or soap opera's on TV. *yawn*.
Final Impressions - After Completion Skill Points: I still have the same issues with skill points, that won't go, but as i've said in the past: I love character development and getting attached to them.
Linear Gameplay: I actually LIKE the linearity of the plot though, after completing the game. It makes a nice change from Divine Divinity in my view, and gives me reason to continue playing the excellent DD. One with and one without (linear gameplay) actually gives me reason to play both instead of just playing BD alone as the updated version. Keeps DD fresh. I just wish as I said, there were less 'attention' grabbers which divert my view from the main plot. Act 3 had a little too many side quests and I got a little confused during it.
Music / Sounds: For some reason after patch 1.42 I started hearing songs I never have before. I do not know if some songs were 'stopped' by a bug, but I only heard 1 or 2 songs playing in a loop. Now I hear the full music and it no longer sounds like the musicians are playing at a funeral. Hooray for that. I love the music in the Divinity worlds. Dunno if it is the same song, but I also heard something sounding like the Dark Forest tune in Battlefields. Love that song, so catchy.
SPOILERS BELOW, WARNING WARNING (etc) Difficulty: I never thought a fight could be as hard as Josephina (spelling?) In Divine Divinity... however the last enemy in Beyond Divinity made me use so many potions, I am due to meet with 'Alchamedic's Anonymous' on Monday. The feeling after killing the bugger was oh so good though. Bit of a shock however, as anything before that one enemy was pretty easy to kill. Overall the game is a good balance, just wish there was some warning before these fights, they are pretty eye opening when they suddenly occur <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />.
Overall: A good game. I kind of agree with the general reviews around of 70-80%, it's good but not great. I think everyone's expectations are a tad too high after Divine Divinity, but I would of prefered just a little more freedom with character development and less 'walled in' quests/sections. Being stuck in the Act 4 location made me feel a bit claustrophobic. Definately worth completing though and i'd recommend anyone with patience buying it.
If people play this as <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beyond.gif" alt="" /> and not Divine <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/div.gif" alt="" />, the game is very playable and enjoyable (As long as bugs don't occur that stop progress).
Now i'm going to go through again as a magic user.
In closing: We all got bugs, I got as frustrated as any, but it didn't stop me playing the game. I was satisfied when I completed it, but I can understand those who cant play a bugged game. I'm just used to it I guess.
Good game, hats off to Larian for a great story again. Can't wait for DD2 to see what happens next.
