Quote:
Originally Posted by O.A.F.K.1.1
Who wins in a POE2 v DOS2 heads up?
A tough one.
Story points
DOS2 has more interesting characters.
POE2 has better lore.
Both have more or less a bad/uninteresting plot.
The moral decisions in POE2 tend to be are childish.
This one goes personally for DOS2 since the companions are far more interesting and less one dimensional. Lore is nice but if you don't do **** with it, it's pretty meh in the long run.
Character creation and customization
POE2 offers better characters and effectively more skills + better party composition. Leveling especially early is really fun. The only minus is the talent system (like lore/stealing etc.) that feels incredibly stupid and limits the party compositions without offering anything really cool.
In DOS2 leveling after early game means running to merchant to buy new stuff since all the items that you had are now worthless. It's okay otherwise.
POE2 hands down.
Itemization
DOS2 throws a **** load stuff that you really don't want (but need for recipes/monetary value) into inventory system that just can't handle it at all. Their random generated stuff is really uninteresting in the long run. Also too many damn barrels etc. to open.
POE2 has cool stuff for almost any kind of character. It also gives out crap but handles it much better and smaller quantities.
POE2 by a mile.
Technical performance and graphics
Both suck in their own ways. DOS2 seems to leak memory or something and will get slower and slower closer you get to the end. POE2 maps were designed beautifully but don't support the engine meaning a loading screen every time you enter a small hut.
POE2 graphic design is really impressive whereas DOS2 seem to look more like a copy/paste world made out of same toolbox. Also thematically DOS2 maps would have needed a heavy editing imo. They crammed way too much into one area.
DOS2 wins the technical performance slightly, POE2 graphics easily. POE2 would take both if they just designed around Unity Engines technical limitations.
Combat
DOS2 does turn based combat which is less frantic than POE2 real time combat. However DOS2 uses absolutely idiotic combat armor system which ruins party compositions and makes the combat more similar than it needs to be.
POE2 combat will eventually turn into a mess with all the skills but it's still fun and diverse. It currently turns piss easy at one point making difficulty to spike at the beginning and combat being trivial later. The fun combat ends and you watch the party obliterate everything.
DOS2 edges here since they try something new and there are strategic decision that can be made in most fights. It's not perfect and it eventually becomes a chore but that's like 30-40+ hours in so well done.
Other things to do
DOS2 has better puzzles, POE2 mostly has skill checks.
DOS2.
Sounds
I can't remember much about DOS2, pretty good I guess.
POE2 music is too generic fantasy trope for my taste. It lacks soul or any kind of trademark. When you hear something like Skyrim or Fallout or even earlier mentioned Tyranny, you immediately feel like it's part of the world.
Sounds and voice acting is fine.
DOS2 but it might be personal bias.
Conclusion
If you haven't played DOS1, DOS2. The combat system is nice and refreshing. If you have played DOS1 and don't mind another a bit generic fantasy RPG, POE2.