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Pathfinder: Kingmaker Definitive Edition Review - Great Content Hindered By Glitches
For those who enjoy the deep rule set and complexities of the Pathfinder tabletop game, Pathfinder: Kingmaker - Definitive Edition will definitely not disappoint. Pathfinder: Kingmaker provides everything from a robust character creator, intriguing questlines, and even a complex battle system that are all lifted directly from the Pathfinder rule book. The added DLC and mechanics add a lot to an already great game, and this would be the best version of Pathfinder: Kingmaker available if it weren't for a few bugs.
After choosing a character to play, players will be dropped immediately into the story. A group of warriors and adventurers have been assembled from across the world to join up and bring down the despicable Stag Lord. Players will need to join up with their party and work together to forcefully remove the Stag Lord from power and take his position as the new lord. This all happens within the first chapter of the game, and from there players will have dozens of more questlines to engage with as they try to build up their new kingdom.
Character creation is probably one of the most engaging aspects of Pathfinder: Kingmaker, and players are very likely to spend a couple of hours deciding the best character to choose from before they even begin the game. There are nine different races to choose from as well as 15 classes that each have three or four sub-class options. This means that players have potentially hundreds of options when it comes to creating a character, especially because they then get to hand roll stats just like in a pen-and-paper RPG. This level of customization, while interesting, can be very daunting for players new to Pathfinder, but some time spent with it will quickly reveal it's a compelling and enjoyable feature.
This version of Pathfinder: Kingmaker combat allows players to choose exactly how they want to approach fights. Players can choose between real-time combat or turn-based by clicking the right stick at any point in the game. Real-time feels less tactical, but it helps easier or less strategic fights pass by much more quickly as characters will just attack automatically. Turn-based, on the other hand, feels exactly like a pen-and-paper RPG translated onto a screen. Characters will only be able to move a certain distance per turn, can only complete a specific number of actions, and can complete things like opportunity attacks when enemies disengage. The option to choose between these two different combat mechanics helps players feel more in control over the game.
Pathfinder: Kingmaker - Definitive Edition comes prepackaged with all of the DLC available for Kingmaker, and these additions add a lot of enjoyment to the base game experience. Players will be able to play as the Tiefling race, have access to the Kineticist class, and have access to more spells than the base game version from the start. There are also two questline DLCs that shake up the world in interesting ways. Varnhold's Lot runs parallel to the main quest and allows players to work with another baron of the Stolen Lands. The other DLC, Beneath the Stolen Lands, tasks the player with exploring a continuously changing labyrinth as they fight off increasingly more difficult enemies. These expansions to the world of Pathfinder: Kingmaker are more than worth the price of admission.
There are a few downsides to Pathfinder: Kingmaker- Definitive Edition, however. Just like the standard version of the game, there isn't much in the way of a tutorial for new players. There is so much going on that those who aren't used to the rules of Pathfinder or at least an equivalent like Dungeons and Dragons will probably be hopelessly lost. The larger issue with Pathfinder: Kingmaker, though, is that there are a few different bugs in the game. Every few hours players will most likely receive an error message and must reboot the game. The game frequently auto-saves so this doesn't force players to repeat much, but it is still very frustrating to have to restart. There are also some other bugs like the combat style switch not always working or gateways to new areas not allowing the player to exit. These bugs bog down an otherwise well-made game.
Pathfinder: Kingmaker - Definitive Edition is the perfect game for those stuck at home needing something to fill their time. There is so much to do and explore that players will be able to spend hundreds of hours in the game and still not see everything that it has to offer. The bugs are the only major issue, and those will likely be addressed by the developer shortly. Despite the glitches, Pathfinder: Kingmaker - Definitive Edition is still one of the best tabletop-inspired RPGs in recent memory, and will captivate veterans of the genre for hours on end.
Pathfinder: Kingmaker- Definitive Edition can be played on on Xbox One and PlayStation 4.
