pillars role playing video game developed published released microsoft windows march game spiritual successor gate series started campaign september campaign raised million highest funded video game time game uses unity engine game takes place fantasy world mainly inside nation plagued recent phenomenon birth meaning born soul beginning game protagonist experiences awakening power disastrous supernatural event discovering person past lives interact souls objective game find caused awakening solve problem received critical acclaim release critics praised game world writing strategic combat said worthy successor games inspired game won awards accolades including best rpg expansion pack released august february respectively gameplay role playing game features party based real time pause tactical gameplay fixed user interface game world dimensional pre rendered backdrops similar vein spiritual predecessors gate series player characters explore area map unveiled fog war effect areas player explored moved away character classes game mechanics similar system created game game reward experience points killing enemies completing quests discovering new areas game starts character creation screen player choose items playable character physical appearance race creed player choose play available classes fighter ranger wizard monk priest rogue gameplay different example use soul enemy order attack beast cast spells protagonist class influence number available dialogue options player adventure characters total pick travels characters unique personalities appearances additionally protagonist hire party members player creates local monetary cost game optional quests advance main plot feature supporting characters multiple outcomes according writer digital_spy quests game protagonist build reputation depending actions non playable characters react differently depending affect outcome certain events game game features scouting mode party sneak allows player avoid seen enemies scouting party spot hidden items traps player use enemies damage enemies player characters affect endurance health pool endurance combat health restored resting party set camp rest inn character party endurance drained knocked end combat companion health reduced zero permanently dead player choose skills beat situations stealth athletics lore mechanics survival player fights creatures information added helps player find information attack effectively early game protagonist stronghold acts party fortress upgraded story setting story takes place world region placed southern hemisphere called area roughly size spain contains nations including free colony mighty won independence revolutionary war confederation sovereign city states quasi state ruled priests god socially roughly corresponds early stages renaissance firearms relatively new invention use result use widespread proven effective magic users factor great conflict recent scientific discovery souls mere objects transferred stored souls basis magic power allows certain people use souls leave body death largely unknown process newborn body soul embedded memories previous lives certain processes person soul awakened meaning gain awareness past lives study souls called young field science implications society large vast lead rapid advances technology caused clashes different religious communities marked era time great turmoil characters player character male female available races game typically refers course adventure player recruit secondary characters companions available companions include fighter game gods wizard child parents served nobility priest follower goddess war fire ranger quest search elder village strange normally fully seen people personal connection problem works sent people recover book sacred text banished tribe plot player arrives hit mysterious storm kills taking refuge cave player character witnesses perform ritual machine strip souls bodies exposed energies player character person able read souls player character awakened able access memories past lives waking visions inability sleep time mad set track reverse curse cursed plague children born souls leaving like vegetables people blame scientists study manipulate souls investigating curse discovers souls fact stolen cult known key led priest named framing plague campaign riot college destroyed companions pursue twin finally learn truth actions gods synthetic beings created ancient serve force world survivor order eternal mission ensure discovers gods secret end works discredit suppress stole souls goddess hates destroyed gods interest protecting secret want dominate aid confronting ending varies depending choices game development developed published game uses modified version unity game engine specifically game directed multiple competing pitches storyline studio worked ultimately won previously worked writer company fallout designated game lead narrative designer involved production audio director composed game bell stated inspired music gate composing game music september began brand new game entitled project initially number encircled day revealed countdown september campaign went live revealing details project completed million dollars objective hours set stretch goals announced surpassed million mark days fund raising began announced version game provided free option version announced september passed million mark september october announced offered pledged day campaign surpassed double fine adventure funded time ceo explained chose use crowd funding model instead traditional developer publisher arrangement let game absolutely reminiscent great games trying funded traditional publisher impossible interview said free limitations publisher enable mature subject matter slavery hostile prejudice racial cultural spiritual sexual drug use trade help flesh story said inspired success fund said project announcement campaign succeed franchise ruled possible console port game saying console limitations affect rpg mechanics content players realize especially players played rpg realize lost years doesn add rpg experience additionally pledged write set game world october funding campaign concluded total highly funded video game platform time funds collected budget rose december announced official title game dropping working title launched poll asking support fundraising march announced publish game stated role taking care marketing distribution game retains rights intellectual property march preview video documentary series titled road released revealed money raised game campaign saved closure suffering financial problems following cancellation game consoles release march confirmed went gold indicating prepared production release game released microsoft windows march editions game released including champion edition campaign map game soundtrack game includes items strategy guide concept art written expansion pack expansion announced released august released february extended game raised level cap added new party members abilities currently hold score metacritic respectively indicating generally favorable reviews reception met positive reviews release currently listed metacritic score indicating generally favorable reviews according site wrote nostalgic fan base excellent role playing game merit said best role playing game come years gamer said best game far wrote worthy successor games inspired ign praised game saying representation good old school role playing games digital_spy lauded writing role playing game development game revolution said combat deep engaging similarly metro wrote combat highly complex gamespot said combat game best component gave praise battle music praised game strategic combat level based progression game informer noted combat game including ability change difficulty set options auto review criticized game pillars graphics artwork received called art design game excellent game informer said game maps crafted detail characters equipment incredible metro noted game higher resolution older games gate saying benefits gorgeous artwork review praised game lighting particle effects said spell effects game visually impressive character models improvement traditional games reviewer said backgrounds impressive picturesque older titles ign criticized game art style calling dated found game voice acting excellent saying acted game informer echoed statement wrote game sound music delicate beautiful gamespot called writing lovely particular praise given reviewer character mother personal story said intriguing mysterious gamer praised writing saying rich evocative praised plot world player writing main plot packed twists surprises world players feel ign said characters game major minor elaborate characterization found fact characters voice acting annoyance eurogamer criticized game lack humor writer review saying wanted characters vein gate mood writer said found quests game fairly stock characters forgettable february game sold copies 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Pillars of Eternity