Beyond Divinity
Beyond Divinity is a role-playing video game from Larian Studios, a sequel to Divine Divinity that was released in 2004.
Beyond Divinity | |
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Developer(s) | Larian Studios |
Publisher(s) |
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Composer(s) | Kirill Pokrovsky |
Series | Divinity |
Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X |
Release | Windows OS X
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Genre(s) | Role-playing |
Mode(s) | Single-player |
A Deluxe Edition was also released that same year, containing copies of both Beyond Divinity and Divine Divinity. In 2009 a digital download version was released, equivalent to the updated disc version.[1] The game was released for Mac OS X on November 15, 2013.
Gameplay
The gameplay is heavily based on Divine Divinity, but adds the ability for the player to control two characters, each with their own stats and equipment.
Beyond Divinity is divided into four acts; the first was designed to be relatively linear, but it opens up towards the end, and later acts have much more freedom of movement. The player can acquire a new summoning doll in each act, allowing the player to summon a specific creature, including a skeleton doll in Act 1 capable of wielding a crossbow to provide ranged support.[2] The player can control these summons directly (and depending on the doll, even give them some of your spare equipment to use) to help in combat, or simply use to carry loot.
There is a Battlefield (an area that contains merchants and some optional, randomly generated dungeons) in each act, that, once unlocked, the player can teleport in and out of whenever they wish.[3]
Synopsis
The storyline of Beyond Divinity takes place 20 years after the original game. The player takes on the role of a servant of the divine one, a paladin who hates and hunts necromancers. During the battle with one particularly vile necromancer, the paladin is grabbed by a demon, Samuel, and dragged into another universe where he is soul-forged to a death-knight, a creature of evil. Together another paladin and death-knight must venture forth to find a way to break that forging. To succeed is to resume the path you have set for yourself. To fail is to spend eternity linked to that which you have despised.
Reception
Aggregator | Score |
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Metacritic | 73/100[4] |
Publication | Score |
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CGW | [5] |
GamesMaster | 60%[6] |
GameSpot | 7.9/10[7] |
GameSpy | [8] |
GameZone | 8/10[9] |
IGN | 8/10[10] |
PC Format | 59%[11] |
PC Gamer (UK) | 62%[12] |
PC Gamer (US) | 78%[13] |
PC Zone | 71%[14] |
The Times | [15] |
The game received "average" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[4]
References
- "Beyond Divinity available for download!". Larian Studios.
- "Just started Beyond Divinity". Larian Studios.
- "Beyond Divinity". Larian Studios. Archived from the original on May 5, 2004. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
- "Beyond Divinity for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
- Ardai, Charles (August 2004). "Beyond Divinity" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 241. p. 78. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
- "Beyond Divinity". GamesMaster. July 2004.
- Kasavin, Greg (May 3, 2004). "Beyond Divinity Review". GameSpot. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
- Peckham, Matt (May 5, 2004). "GameSpy: Beyond Divinity". GameSpy. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
- Knutson, Michael (May 4, 2004). "Beyond Divinity - PC - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 2, 2008. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
- Brenesal, Barry (May 6, 2004). "Beyond Divinity Review". IGN. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
- Underwood, Dan (June 2004). "Beyond Divinity". PC Format. No. 162. Archived from the original on August 14, 2004. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
- "Beyond Divinity". PC Gamer UK. June 2004.
- "Beyond Divinity". PC Gamer. July 2004. p. 64.
- PC Zone staff (May 2004). "PC Review: Beyond Divinity". PC Zone. Archived from the original on April 30, 2008. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
- Blackmore, Keith (June 26, 2004). "Beyond Divinity". The Times. Retrieved November 17, 2017.(subscription required)