Is this game OW/exploration or story driven?

[Kira]

Good folks, can't really get it from the reviews.

I want to know if the game is focused around OW/exploration and expects you to go around, find and collect lots of things, and run into quests, etc, I.e. Like a Betshada or DA3, or does it have the yellow brick road of a core story you can stay on, and only do side stuff if it sounds good to you?

I also can't figure out if the companions banter or do not banter with the PC, each other and offer their PoV on quests.

Also, if I just use the easiest difficulty setting, can I build my characters however I want, not craft anything, just put whatever gear I come accross on them?

I did not like the games like Prey, NWN1 and DA3, but like the games like MET, Tyranny and DA2 if that helps to answer my questions. I want to play basically something similar to ME2, DA2 or Tyranny.

Ty for your time!

[Aldarick]

Hey there ! I'll try to give you some answers

The game is a mix of both story and exploration driven. You can only do the "main quests', which consist of the main storyline you'll follow during the game. But there are many (and when I say many, it's PLENTY) side quests you should do if you want your level to keep up with your ennemies'. Thing is, the main quests have sometime several ways of being solved, it depends of your team. If you can persuade the NPCs, have the right dialog options thanks to your tags, it can open new paths to follow. Pet pal is a must have, some quests are only available if you can talk to animals.

The only character who banters with a NPC is the one talking to them. So if you have a character whith more persuasion than the others, it can be sometime a good idea to use them to talk to the NPCs. Also, each Origin Story Character has their own storyline, and will sometime ask you to talk to the NPC in private. It opens new quests, but can also hold you from actually talking with the NPC. So tread carefully ! ;)

In Explorer mode, you can pretty much do everything you like. You get bonuses and your ennemies maluses. I one switched from Classic to Eplorer just to see, I wrecked the enemies havock. As the name says, the Explorer mode gives you the opportunity to explore Rivellon without the stress of hard fights. And there are many things to explore, it's a blast to interact with every thing, ever npc, every animal.

I didn't play Tyranny so I can't tell about this one. The combat system is not like ME2 or DA2, D:OS 2, like its predecessor, is turn based. But, unlike other turn based games like XCOM, you're not limited to tiles, you can move however you please. Furthemore, D:OS2 gives you many ways to play with the environment, create surfaces to burn your enemy, teleport them into lava, create hella cool holy fire to heal your team.. You're not stressed by the real time action, you can plan every move !

I hope it helped you to understand, and I'm sorry for my poor english, it's not my first language.
Divinity Orignal Sin 2 is truely and awesome game, and the story is wonderful. There are many things to discover, side-quests filled with emotion(this poor bear cub...), and every playthrough will be different, because each character gives you different dialog options, the race and tags matter. So I can only tell you this : Try it, explore everything, follow the storyline but talk to every NPC, interactwith every piece of the environment, you won't be disappointed.

PS : invest points in Wits. You will begin your turn before your ennemies, and you'll be able to spot hidden things !

[Gregorovitch]

OP, you are confused becasue DOS2 is a hybrid between open world and linear narrative styles.

Specifically, it is a series of gated open worlds. Progress is gated either by physical barriers (such as a hidden door/tunnel/boat/whatever you can't find until you solve A.B or C quest lines) or by difficulty (a bunch of enemies you can't possibly beat until you get o a certain level).

But within any one section of the world you will find it feeling big and very open with a lot to explore, a lot of people to meet and a lot of quests to do and storylines to uncover.

You can also think of it that each main area has a main quest line that you must solve before proceeding to the next. In DOS2 these correspond roughly to Acts, each Act being maybe 10-20 hours of gameplay. I think there's at least five of them (don't know as I'm just coming to the end of the first after 30 hours lol).

But whatever, no matter if you're a big open world fan or a big linear story fan, you will almost certainly enjoy DOS2.

[AIntPJZ]

The way divinity work anyway . You have to do mini quest to discover and progress through the main quest.

[Kira]

Okay, thanks folks, sounds like it's just not my kind of a game then. Cheers!