You know I've tried playing PoE II a few times now and I seem to struggle the most with connecting to the setting.
I get that we are exploring a different place of the world and it's not supposed to feel like the original Pillars, but did everything have to change this much? Sure the adventure tone in the game I like, but why the hell does my character have to be tied in any way to the original game? Seriously, my character could have been any schmuck from the sea and just get Berath's blessing in some different way than getting resurrected and be forced into the Chosen One narrative.
On paper being a foreigner that's patroned by the gods, sailing around an isle territory you know nothing about, getting to know all the inhabitants and factions there, their motives, culture and choosing how to help/harm them sounds nice. But what does this have to do with the first Pillars? Why does my character have to be a reincarnation of that Watcher? I just don't get why they didn't let me create a new character and meet new companions along the way. They should have went guns blazing and try to separate the sequel even more than the original.
When it comes to sequels this is a really odd one for me. It doesn't feel like a true sequel to the first one and I've played to the mid-game where the combat feels more PoE like, but something is way off. I don't really get the feeling of impending doom around the world even though I'm chasing a God across the seas. Everything is so bright and sunny and no one seems troubled by the events that are happening. Are you kidding me? I'm chasing a reincarnated God that nobody knows why he is doing what he is doing and people are just yapping and acting surprised. Haven't felt any fucking urgency in the game whatsoever.
Do you remember the first village you went to in OG Pillars - Gilded Vale? Well let me refresh your memory, just in case, the place looks like a ghost town that's seen much better days. There was also had a huge tree planted right in the middle of the village, a tree that nobody can miss. A big old and strong tree with tons of solid branches spreading in every direction. Surely such a tree must have looked over plenty of generations before getting this strong and big. But now hanged people are dangling from all of the hands it has spread out. You don't need a better visual to convey the feeling that this is lowest point of the village, or maybe even the world we are in. Shortly after spotting it some town goons walk up to you and inform you that they did this because they are trying to stop the Hollowborn criss. Holy shit. I remember looking at all of this and immediately thinking these people might want me dead if I don't play my cards right. I felt fucking danger. I felt like I should be on my toes, be careful about my words. Suddenly there was more urgency and a previously unfamiliar darkness over the world that I was in. Later on meeting Aloth being bullied by the tavern goons that had just thrown him out only added to the tension and despair this whole world was finding itself it. The feeling that this all might be a bit too much for regular old me to handle, doubts starting creep up if I will be able to resolve any of this let alone all of it.
And what do I get in Pillars 2? I get killed offscreen, resurrected right after, crash land on an island, my crew is waiting for me to pick them up, the ghosts are friendly and I'm getting attacked by a boar right after I've recruited my main tank. Oh, and I'm also a Watcher that's been chosen by the Gods. Fucking genius.
