Pillars of eternity the white march6/12/2023 ![]() Like the original game, the voice acting in The White March is disappointing, with characters speaking in monotones, or with emotion that conflicts with the text on screen. Maybe it was the booming of bells and the eerie chanting of fallen dwarf spirits, but for a moment, it felt like I was peering into Pillars of Eternity's version of the afterlife. Thanks to a great deal of emotional dialogue, along with poignant visuals and audio, these moments stuck with me. At least the main quest is more interesting, involving a spooky search for a dead dwarf and a trip to the haunted ruins of Durgan’s Battery. Unfortunately, their participation is minor Zahua does little aside from adding spacey, drugged conversation to your wanderings, and The Devil's backstory, while fascinating, is only briefly explored. These tasks aren't interesting or original in and of themselves, but you do meet two characters along the way who provide a welcome dose of color and personality: Zahua, a monk with a penchant for psychedelics, and a metal automaton rogue inhabited by the soul of a female serial killer known as the Devil of Caroc. The majority of The White March's side quests fall into two camps: defeat a horde of enemies, or retrieve an item. Durgan’s Battery may be deep underground and haunted by dead dwarves, but those little hairy guys still light up pretty good with the application of a Wall of Flame. It's suitable, but it's nothing Pillars of Eternity veterans haven't seen before. Stalwart itself is quite barren and fails to stand out there are a few huts, a tavern, a merchant selling equipment, and a handful of citizens offering side quests. Stalwart and Durgan’s Battery are accompanied by Russetwood and Longwatch Falls, but these wildernesses are lackluster, dotted with a few quest locations and encounters-none of which feel inspired. Inside lies the fabled White Forge, which is used to make a legendary alloy known as Durgan Steel. In the White March, your party must head up to the frigid mining town of Stalwart and deal with an ogre infestation so the local residents can return to the Moria-like Durgan’s Battery. Just as Pillars of Eternity is a modernized take on the iconic Baldur’s Gate games, The White March is reminiscent of Icewind Dale, at least when it comes to the frigid, mountainous setting and game's combat-heavy focus. The saying "been there, done that" came to mind. The setting was new, but I felt like I was finishing off leftover side quests that didn't make the cut the first time around. This isn’t entirely a bad thing given the game's superb foundation, but while I enjoyed most of my time in this snow-draped environment, something was missing. Unfortunately, these new adventures are almost indistinguishable from the questing and killing on offer in the main game. With the first part of the White March expansion for Pillars of Eternity, Obsidian Entertainment has a chance to expand upon one of the best RPGs around.
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