Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The Games, Movies, TV & Comics You Love
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
flag of UK
UK
flag of US
US
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of Australia
Australia
  • Games
  • TV
  • Movies
  • Hardware
  • Video
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Guides
  • Deals
  • More
    • PS5
    • Xbox Series X
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Nintendo Switch 2
    • PC
    • Platforms
    • Tabletop Gaming
    • Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • SFX
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Newsletters
    • About us
    • Features
Total Film
Gaming Magazines
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe from just £3
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12
View
Trending
  • Prime Day Deals
  • Superman
  • Donkey Kong Bananza
  • Switch 2 stock
Recommended reading
RPGs "We're in a post Baldur's Gate 3 world": Indie publisher says Larian proved players "are not stupid" and want "50 million copies" of intense CRPGs
RPGs Avowed isn't Pillars of Eternity 3, but if the third RPG ever happens director Josh Sawyer reckons it should move to a proper 3D environment "more like Baldur’s Gate 3"
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
RPGs Former Dragon Age writer praises Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as "beautiful," saying it's "kind of to JRPGs what Baldur's Gate 3 was to CRPGs"
Karlach uses her fire powers to light a cigar in Baldur's Gate 3
Baldur's Gate "We are going to do CRPGs that are going to be as serious as BG3," says Wizards of the Coast president, but Star Wars Jedi director's D&D action game is very different to Larian's RPG
Meeting the yeti-like puppet creature Monoco in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
RPGs Ex Dragon Age writer says Baldur's Gate 3 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 prove publishers wrong on how successful RPGs can be "when the game is good," and "what's possible when a game is given time to cook"
Meeting the yeti-like puppet creature Monoco in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
RPGs Baldur's Gate 3 publishing director throws support behind JRPG Clair Obscur as Oblivion Remastered threatens to bury it: "This game was made by a team that has fewer people than I have years"
Sunderfolk key art featuring the various playable characters
RPGs My bat bard absolutely cannot stop pushing people off ledges in Jackbox-meets-D&D RPG Sunderfolk, and honestly, that's tabletop, baby
  1. Games
  2. Platformer
  3. Pillars of Eternity

Pillars of Eternity brings back old-school, Baldur's Gate-style gameplay

Features
By Lorenzo Veloria published 24 July 2014

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Back in my day...

Back in my day...

They don't make games like they used to. Well, unless you're talking about Obsidian Entertainment. In that case, the storied developer really is making RPGs almost exactly like it used to. The studio's upcoming title is Pillars of Eternity, a title inspired by the Baldur's Gate games of yore. Like, seriously. The isometric perspective and old-school visual style will take you back decades.

Everything about Pillars of Eternity seems to be hitting the classic experience you would expect from an isometric RPG from the late '90s. There is an extensive character customization system that allows you to choose from races such as the traditional elf, dwarf, and human varieties, but there is also a cone-headed race called the Godlike and several others unique to Pillars that change things up a bit. You'll gather loot, outfit your party with abilities and gear, and battle enemies using the game's active combat system.

The story is guided by player decisions, giving you the option to do things like sacrifice your main weapon by throwing it into an enemy's chest, or let that enemy eviscerate one of your companions. Every decision seems to have a consequence. Some can have massive repercussions that cause you to lose a party member for good, while others aren't quite as serious. One decision made in the demo left an AI-controlled rogue character injured and basically useless in battle because the player decided to escape a pursuing enemy rather than rest and risk capture. Pillars definitely maintains the look and feel of the old RPG (which is totally awesome), and the interesting storytelling elements and choices already have me intrigued. It feels a bit strange to welcome the '90s back with open arms, but how can I not?

Check out the following slides for more information and images

Page 1 of 4
Page 1 of 4
Along with race, players can choose their origin story and culture.

Along with race, players can choose their origin story and culture.

Page 2 of 4
Page 2 of 4
Every class from brawlers to magic users is open to you.

Every class from brawlers to magic users is open to you.

Page 3 of 4
Page 3 of 4
That's not a helmet. That's the guy's head.

That's not a helmet. That's the guy's head.

Page 4 of 4
Page 4 of 4
CATEGORIES
PC Gaming Platforms
Lorenzo Veloria
Lorenzo Veloria
Social Links Navigation

Many years ago, Lorenzo Veloria was a Senior Editor here at GamesRadar+ helping to shape content strategy. Since then, Lorenzo has shifted his attention to Future Plc's broader video game portfolio, working as a Senior Brand Marketing Manager to oversee the development of advertising pitches and marketing strategies for the department. He might not have all that much time to write about games anymore, but he's still focused on making sure the latest and greatest end up in front of your eyes one way or another.

See more PC Gaming Features
Read more
"We're in a post Baldur's Gate 3 world": Indie publisher says Larian proved players "are not stupid" and want "50 million copies" of intense CRPGs
Avowed isn't Pillars of Eternity 3, but if the third RPG ever happens director Josh Sawyer reckons it should move to a proper 3D environment "more like Baldur’s Gate 3"
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Former Dragon Age writer praises Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as "beautiful," saying it's "kind of to JRPGs what Baldur's Gate 3 was to CRPGs"
Karlach uses her fire powers to light a cigar in Baldur's Gate 3
"We are going to do CRPGs that are going to be as serious as BG3," says Wizards of the Coast president, but Star Wars Jedi director's D&D action game is very different to Larian's RPG
Meeting the yeti-like puppet creature Monoco in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Ex Dragon Age writer says Baldur's Gate 3 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 prove publishers wrong on how successful RPGs can be "when the game is good," and "what's possible when a game is given time to cook"
Meeting the yeti-like puppet creature Monoco in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Baldur's Gate 3 publishing director throws support behind JRPG Clair Obscur as Oblivion Remastered threatens to bury it: "This game was made by a team that has fewer people than I have years"
Latest in Platformer
a group of mega man characters charge beams
Despite the 8-year hiatus, Capcom has called Mega Man "one of our most important IPs"
A Super Mario lore specialist issues an important correction: "Mario does not 'die and go to hell' - he is sent there directly while still alive"
Banjo gives Kazooie the thumbs up in a screenshot from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Despite layoffs at Xbox's Rare, Crash Bandicoot 4 and Spyro remake devs are reportedly among the studios "really interested" in a new Banjo-Kazooie game
Switch 2 launch games: a close-up of Mario and Luigi racing each other during Mario Kart World.
Nintendo combats big budgets with games that only need "shorter development periods" alongside $80 Switch 2 behemoths like Mario Kart World
Quantum Witch screenshots
This stunning 2D "plotformer" is the ultimate cottagecore fantasy with an extra dose of mystery, sapphic witches, and a giant lady who fights you
Crash Bandicoot PS1
Long before the Super Mario Bros. movie grossed $1.3 billion, Sega's president tried making a Crash Bandicoot movie but was told "video games is like a toy business"
Latest in Features
Kaizen: A Factory Story key art featuring a production line making a toy electronic
"Make games and die. That's my plan": Coincidence's Zach Barth on making games about making things, a year of teaching, and being in it for the long haul
Cyberpunk Edgerunners
Cyberpunk Edgerunners season 2: Everything we know about CD Projekt Red's anime
David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, and Skyler Gisondo in Superman
Do I need to watch any movies or TV shows before Superman?
David Corenswet as Superman in James Gunn's Superman
James Gunn's Superman looks like a comics-accurate take on the Man of Steel at last – but will it be enough to revive DC at the box office?
A cropped screenshot from Undertale, showing Frisk and Sans standing in Grillby's in Snowdin.
17 years after it was released, I'm tracing Undertale and Deltarune's origins back to Toby Fox's spooky Earthbound mod
Superman movies ranked: Christopher Reeve as Superman flying through the sky during the 1978 movie Superman.
All the Superman movies ranked from worst to best, ahead of James Gunn's upcoming DC movie
  1. A Gundam style mech in Mecha Break
    1
    Mecha Break review: "This mech battler makes up for lacking customization with a varied roster that lets me live out my Evangelion fantasy"
  2. 2
    Death Stranding 2: On the Beach review: "This tarpunk delivery epic is more Metal Gear Solid than ever, for better and worse"
  3. 3
    Rematch review: "As with Rocket League, the just-one-more-game pull is magnetic"
  4. 4
    Tron: Catalyst review: "Disc slinging is a thrill in this gorgeous rendition of the series, but I'm let down by a time-loop story that falls flat"
  5. 5
    FBC: Firebreak review: "A disappointingly bland multiplayer FPS that's missing far too much of what made Control special"
  1. A T-rex in Jurassic World Rebirth
    1
    Jurassic World Rebirth Review: "An unscary sequel that needed a little more time in amber"
  2. 2
    M3GAN 2.0 review: "A bold sequel with a slightly underwhelming conclusion"
  3. 3
    28 Years Later Review: "Enough terror, splatter and suspense to satisfy”
  4. 4
    Predator: Killer of Killers review: "Great characters, thrilling action, and gorgeous Arcane-esque animation"
  5. 5
    From the World of John Wick: Ballerina review: "Brilliant action, even if the plot gives you a sense of déjà vu"
  1. Lee Jung-jae as Gi-hun in Squid Game season 3
    1
    Squid Game season 3 review: "A staggeringly excellent final season wraps up one of the greatest Netflix shows ever"
  2. 2
    Ironheart review: "A relic of Marvel's content-at-all-costs era"
  3. 3
    Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 review: "The show's most assured run of episodes to date"
  4. 4
    Doctor Who season 2, episode 8 spoiler review: 'The Reality War' is "a mix of the good, the bad, and the truly baffling"
  5. 5
    Doctor Who season 2, episode 7 spoiler review: 'Wish World' is "an exciting and ambitious" start to the season finale, with hints of WandaVision

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...