The Pillars of Eternity: Hero Edition, released in 2017, is a comprehensive package of the core Role-playing (RPG) adventure, optimized for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Switch. You lead a party through a rich fantasy realm, making choices that significantly impact faction reputation and narrative outcomes. Gameplay involves exploring pre-rendered environments, utilizing five core skills (Stealth, Athletics, Lore, Mechanics, Survival), and selecting from six playable races to overcome ancient mysteries and dungeon challenges.
The experience centers on leading a band of companions through a world steeped in mystery and ancient lore. Players select from six distinct races—Human, Aumaua, Dwarf, Elf, Godlike, and Orlan—each contributing unique perspectives to the journey. Character progression relies on mastering five core skills: Stealth, Athletics, Lore, Mechanics, and Survival, which are utilized to navigate challenges and overcome obstacles.
A central feature of the gameplay loop involves navigating complex faction dynamics. The reputation system ensures that every choice and action taken by the player has tangible, far-reaching consequences on how various groups interact with the protagonist and their party.
As a specific edition package, the Hero Edition integrates the base game experience along with any associated content available at its release date. It is important to note that this specific package does not introduce new DLCs or expansions beyond what was bundled into this particular release structure. It functions as a complete, console-ready presentation of the primary adventure, focusing on the core narrative, exploration, and character customization systems established in the original title.
The world is brought to life through beautifully pre-rendered environments that serve as the backdrop for an engaging story filled with memorable characters.
This edition requires the foundation of the original Pillars of Eternity experience to function, as it is presented as a specific version or package of that main game, rather than a standalone title. Its scope is comparable to the full base game experience it packages, offering the complete narrative journey and all associated gameplay mechanics available at the time of its 2017 release across its supported platforms.
This version is available on modern consoles, specifically the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. The genres covered span Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Adventure, and Indie categories, appealing to those who enjoy deep narrative choices combined with tactical combat and exploration.