Tyranny

Of course, the game is not perfect, and some may find the odd all-or-nothing decision regarding forces to recruit jarring, or the locations within the world itself a little too devoid of scope to be a truly immersive experience. However, it's in the large concepts, and in its gentle manipulation of the player's trained responses, that Tyranny finds its purpose. A must-have for fans of the genre, and a worthwhile title for those after a truly different experience.

Another fantastic game from Obsidian, the formula they have created from Pillars has served up another brilliant RPG for people to sink their teeth into for hours of Tyrannical enjoyment.

RPGs often give you a vague player character that is destined to have a hero’s journey and meet loyal companions in their fight of good against evil to save the world. Tyranny takes all of this and turns it on its head — evil has already won, and you helped them. In the game, you play as an arbiter of justice, and you are on the front lines to deal with a largely untold story: the aftermath of the great battle. With compelling characters and robust lore, Obsidian’s latest cRPG offering explores complicity and morality in an unkind, often cruel world.

Tyranny is a memorable RPG that looks great and feels fresh, even while largely working in the confines of the old Infinity Engine style. It's also the rare sprawling RPG that invites you to replay it, as its comparatively short running time and significant changes based on choice greatly change the experience from playthrough to playthrough, and combat is deep enough to last. With Tyranny, the old feels new again.

Unsettling evil.

It might sound, from the review above, like Tyranny is a terrible game. That couldn’t be further from the truth. The story, and the characters within, blend perfectly, and the expertly crafted world building is something we don’t see in RPGs as of late. While Tyranny might not be as good as I had hoped it would be, it is still a welcome addition to any classic RPG fans’ library, and Obsidian should be proud of the product that they’ve released to the world. Sure, there are things that could be better, but in the grand scheme of things, Tyranny is a brilliant jaunt through a land riveted by evi...

Evil is a tough nut to crack, but Obsidian have made a few fractures in the shell surrounding it; the next step is to break it wide open with a sequel. Otherwise, Tyranny will likely remain a cult classic RPG in the vein of Arcanum or Suikoden; great ideas that ultimately fall short of their full potential.

Muddled? I am. There’s so much going on here, but I never really feel like I’ve got a proper grip on it. It feels like a puddle the size of the Atlantic - this vast concept, but too gossamer to sink in deep. Huge stories, but minor roles in them. Exquisite detail, but all going by too fast. And yet, pretty good with it. Just not as good as what's come before.

Tyranny’s length does however mean the credits will roll before the combat becomes too wearying and that the choices you have made are actually important. I never felt as if there was a choice that the game should allow me to do as is so often the case in RPGs; instead, I had genuinely affected the world. I had risen to massive power with perfect pace; I had saved villages and towns from dreadful fates while damning others and I had destroyed entire factions that I could have played through as part of. Tyranny may have its issues and it may be shorter than other RPGs but it often means that, i...

Tyranny is most certainly a tale of two halves. The first half is immediately gripping and combat starts off a bit challenging due to the lack of abilities and options. As the game enters its second half, the plot starts to feel rushed and gameplay becomes an issue of “been there, done that.” The world and lore built here are worth exploring and I anxiously await another excuse to return to this setting, but at the same time, I really hope it comes with improvements to the AI and combat in general.

Tyranny is in many ways the Hamlet of videogames. By which I mean it is a fascinating exploration of the ways in which human behaviour can descend into evil, featuring a lengthy middle section defined by delay and conversation, before everything suddenly ends in a flurry of violence and a disappointing final exchange. There is much to like about Tyranny, but the game itself doesn’t live up to its narrative strengths.

How good does it feel to be evil?