It's OK and just that.
The AI isn't wonderful, enemy or companion. Your companions need constant(!) micromanagement. The AI assist for the companions is spotty at best, as in you learn all the ways it is broken. As for the enemy AI, it gets pretty tiring when wild animals use the same tactics as humans, meaning go for the glass cannons in the back. It breaks immersion.
Since the AI for companions doesn't work and you have to micromanage your team, it is pretty disappointing to see a UI that pays homage to old CRPGs instead of making the micromanagement smoother and more efficient. You end up hovering over each little thing on the battlefield for information, googling spell effects, opening character sheets for stats. It is a garbage way to fight a battle and I think they could have made better UI design choices.
I like the story. It may be the best part of the game. I like the reputation system because it gives more heft to the dialogue and makes the world fill more developed. The atmosphere of the game is pretty good too. I enjoyed wandering around and exploring.
The game can be a touch too verbose and it would have been nice if was a bit more concise. It also would have been nice if the companion dialogue was fully voiced, but it is only voiced sometimes.
Nothing wrong with buying this game, especially if it is on sale. Because of the combat system, I think it is probably more fun to play on the easier settings and just enjoy the story.
Also, I hope you have a SSD because you are about to enter loading screen hell.
15 gamers found this review helpful