Pathfinder: Kingmaker

This game suffer from being too ambitious. In theory combination of classic RPG in style of "Baldur's Gate" or "Pillars Eternity" combined with kingdom building sounds awesome and interesting, right? Definitely, but the problem lies with execution.

I think that the world this game takes place in is interesting, also the story, although not the most original is quite captivating. I also have to praise number of classes and races you can choose from. This is all awesome. Also the quests variety is also pretty impressive. So far, so good.

Unfortunately there are two big problems with Pathfinder: Kingmaker. First is Kingdom management. It isn't mandatory, but if you put mechanic into your game, it should be good (besides without it you won't get the best weapons and armors). And in this case it's not even that execution of this specific idea is bad, but that it totally falls apart in context of the whole game, it just doesn't work, it isn't properly integrated in the whole game. Also it isn't properly explained and can lead to an unexpected game over (and to remedy the situation it's not enough to just load last save game, because there is a big chance that it wouldn't make any difference, you could be forced to go at least few hours back) which is troubling, because it is relatively new mechanic and you have to learn it "on the job".

I also have complaints about design of dungeons, because some of them are pretty unbalanced. You are going through them without much trouble until you meet the enemy that is almost impossible to beat. And if you manage to do it you fight boss which is usually relatively easy opponent. That's not how things should work, of course the player should meet obstacles that give him trouble, but he shouldn't be stuck, because designers thought that it would be cool to put in randomly much stronger enemy. The game is also too long and the ending sequence feels unnecessary bloated.. It doesn't offer much challenge but it is long.

I'm complaining but I have to admit that the game was interesting enough to finish it. It took me some time, but I don't feel like I have wasted it. But during playing I couldn't shake the feeling that this game could be much better with a little bit more polish and an improved mechanic. But as the things are I can't give this game a higher rating.