CONSOLE YOURSELF: DIVINITY IS WITHIN EASIER REACH

Divinity: Original Sin II: Enhanced ★★★ Edition Platforms: PS4, Xbox One

How times have changed, eh? Whereas CRPGs (computer role-playing games), specifically the top-down ones with deep stories and tactical combat, were once the exclusive domain of the PCgaming master race, the advent of twin thumbsticks, shoulder buttons and radial menus meant consoles could now accommodate these complex games and we lowly console-playing peasants could now enjoy them.

In fact, some of them are so well implemented on console that I vastly prefer playing them on my PS4 with a single controller as opposed to sitting at a desk with a mouse and keyboard. Case in point, Divinity: Original Sin II: Enhanced Edition. It’s been available on PC for a while, but was released for the PS4 and Xbox One recently. It received even more accolades than its predecessor — such as “one of the best CRPGs of all time” — and it’s not at all unjustified.

As in the first game, players can create a new character from scratch, but you can also choose from several pre-made characters, each of whom has a distinct personality and story. My favourite is the Red Prince, a fallen royal who can’t seem to grasp that he doesn’t have the power and clout he once did. Your character starts the game by being shipped off to a prison colony for dabbling in forbidden magic. Once there, your first order of business is to escape, after which a whole world of adventure awaits you.

You’ll probably want to recruit some allies, but playing it solo is an option — if you’re a tactical genius. In each major area, there are dozens of quests, hundreds of characters to talk to (or rob or kill) and lots to explore. The tactical combat is a highlight of the game — but there are some situations that can be resolved without combat if you can talk your way out of them.

If you like this type of game, prepare to lose months of your life to Divinity: Original Sin II. LS