Larian Studios is basically a household name now. Thanks to the massive, world-conquering success of Baldur’s Gate 3, everyone knows about their penchant for chaotic systems and horny companions. But before the Forgotten Realms took over the zeitgeist, there was Divinity Original Sin EE (Enhanced Edition). It’s the game that saved the studio from bankruptcy. Honestly, if you jump back into it today after playing their newer stuff, you realize something pretty quickly: it might actually be harder, crunchier, and in some ways, more satisfying than its successors.
It's weirdly bright. That’s the first thing you notice. While every other RPG in 2014 and 2015 was trying to be Dragon Age: Inquisition or a muddy, "grimdark" slog, Divinity Original Sin EE leaned into a vibrant, almost Saturday-morning-cartoon aesthetic. But don't let the saturation levels fool you. This game will absolutely wreck your day if you walk into a fight unprepared. You play as two Source Hunters, essentially magical detectives, sent to the seaside town of Cyreal to investigate a murder. From there, it spirals into a plot involving the end of time, a goddess of emptiness, and more elemental barrels than any sane person should ever have access to.
Why Divinity Original Sin EE Hits Different
The "EE" stands for Enhanced Edition, which was a massive overhaul of the original 2014 release. Larian didn't just patch a few bugs; they added full voice acting, a rewritten ending, and new combat modes. It was a labor of love that most developers would have charged $30 for as DLC, but they gave it away for free to existing owners. That’s the Larian way.
Combat in this game is a chemistry lab. You aren't just swinging swords; you're managing surfaces. See a puddle of water? Hit it with lightning to stun everyone standing in it. Is there a cloud of poison gas? Toss a firebolt to make it explode. This interactivity is the heart of Divinity Original Sin EE. It makes the world feel tactile. You'll find yourself carrying around a heavy chest just to drop it on an enemy's head, or using "Teleportation" to move a boss away from their healers. It’s glorious. It’s messy. It’s often hilarious when a stray spark sets off a chain reaction that kills your entire party because your ranger was standing too close to an oil barrel.
The Learning Curve Is A Cliff
Let’s be real. The first ten hours of Cyseal are overwhelming. You’re dropped into a town with dozens of NPCs, hundreds of items to steal, and very little direction. Most players quit here. They get bored of talking to townspeople or they wander out the wrong gate and get incinerated by level 8 zombies when they’re only level 3.
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The game doesn't level-scale. This is a crucial point that modern games often shy away from. If an area is too hard, you aren't supposed to "skill" your way through it; you’re supposed to go somewhere else, find a shovel, dig up some buried treasure, and come back when you're stronger. It rewards curiosity. It punishes hubris.
The Dual-Protagonist System Is Kinda Genius
One of the most unique features of Divinity Original Sin EE is that you control two main characters. You can even choose their personalities. In the middle of a quest, your two leads might disagree on how to handle a situation. One wants to show mercy; the other wants to execute the criminal.
This triggers a Rock-Paper-Scissors mini-game.
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Yes, really.
The outcome determines the dialogue choice and grants different statistical bonuses based on the character's traits. It sounds goofy, but it adds a layer of roleplaying that makes the protagonists feel like actual people rather than just avatars for the player. If you're playing co-op with a friend, this leads to genuine arguments about the moral fabric of the world. It’s brilliant.
Tactician Mode and the Honor Guard
If you think the base game is too easy, Larian included Tactician Mode. This isn't just "enemies have more HP." It actually changes the encounters. Enemies get new spells, better AI, and sometimes entirely different positioning. It forces you to use every single tool in your inventory. You will use scrolls. You will use potions. You will definitely use grenades.
Then there’s Honor Mode. One save file. If your party dies, the save is deleted.
It's brutal. It's the ultimate test of game knowledge. You need to know exactly which enemies have "Reflection" shields and which ones are going to explode upon death. One mistake, like walking over a hidden pressure plate in the Luculla Mines, and fifty hours of progress vanishes. It’s not for everyone, but for a certain type of masochist, it’s the only way to play.
The Crafting System Is Deep And Totally Unexplained
You can combine almost anything. Hammer + Nails = Lockpicks. Long Branch + Bowstring = Bow. Pizza Dough + Tomato Sauce = Pizza. (Yes, you can make pizza). The game doesn't give you a recipe book that fills itself out automatically. You have to experiment or find books in the world that hint at combinations. It’s an old-school approach that makes you feel like a genius when you figure out that adding a tormented soul to your weapon increases its strength.
Making The Most Of Your Playthrough
If you’re diving into Divinity Original Sin EE today, don’t try to play it like a modern, hand-holding RPG. You need to talk to animals. Seriously, take the "Pet Pal" talent immediately. Some of the best quests and most important clues come from rats, dogs, and the occasional narcissistic cat. Without it, you’re missing out on about 20% of the game’s personality.
Also, don't ignore the environment. In the later stages of the game, specifically the Hiberheim and Phantom Forest areas, the environmental hazards are deadlier than the enemies. High "Perception" is mandatory for at least one character so you can spot the traps before they blow you to smithereens.
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Essential Actionable Steps for Success:
- Take Pet Pal: I cannot stress this enough. Talk to the dog in Cyseal near the crime scene. He knows things.
- Don't Rush Out of Cyseal: Spend time stealing everything that isn't nailed down. Sell it to buy skill books. You need a full bar of skills before you tackle the Sparkmaster 5000.
- Crowd Control is King: Damage is great, but CC wins fights. Frozen, Stunned, and Knocked Down are your best friends. If the enemy can't take a turn, they can't kill you.
- Save Often: There is no "auto-save before every fight" here. If you haven't pressed F5 in twenty minutes, you are living dangerously.
- Diversify Elements: Don't make two fire mages. You'll run into fire-slugs that heal from fire damage and you'll be useless. Balance your party across Water/Air and Fire/Earth.
Divinity Original Sin EE remains a masterclass in systemic design. It’s a game that respects your intelligence and rewards your creativity, even if it occasionally laughs while you're burning to death in a fire of your own making. It’s the foundation that allowed Larian to become the titans they are today, and it still holds up as one of the best adventures you can embark on.