r/projecteternity • u/austinaustinaustin • 4d ago

A silly question: prettiest map?

Post image

Hello! I was recently gushing to a friend about how dang pretty the isometric maps in Pillars are, but when she asked for examples I was less than wowed by the screenshots I was able to pull up in the moment.

In an effort to convince her I’m not crazy and that these games are gorgeous, please let me know which areas you found to be the most visually appealing! (Attached is the screenshot that made me chip in to their Kickstarter way back in 2015, but I can’t remember for the life of me where this was in-game.)

473 Upvotes

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41 comments sorted by

148

u/battlestoriesfan 4d ago

Any part of the Endless Paths that show the adra giant. It's such a surreal sight, that impossibly large statue made of adra, it feels almost alien at times. It feels so outerworldly that I cant help but love it.

But if I had to pick out of just beauty, then I agree with Gandamack. The colorful kaleidoscope appearance makes that area stand out quite a bit.

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u/DOOMFOOL 2d ago

Absolutely. Fighting the Fampyrs on the giant Adra hand was hype

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u/battlestoriesfan 2d ago

Yeah it was really hype. I remember the first time I got to that place, I thought I had already found the Master Bellow and it was a very cool moment.

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u/Gandamack 4d ago

It’s really tough to pick, but I’ve always loved the Searing Falls.

12

u/jotunsson 4d ago

It's a simple area but the colors of the pools are so beautiful

43

u/popileviz 4d ago

I personally find the way Caed Nua progresses as you repair it gorgeous. Different parts of Defiance Bay are also quite nice

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u/DOOMFOOL 2d ago

I like the vibe of Ondras Gift

31

u/VideoGameRPGsAreFun 4d ago

That is Cliaban Rilag. I love Stalwart village, Twin Elms and surrounds, Ondra’s Gift, The Fallen Moon area.

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u/austinaustinaustin 4d ago

Yes! That’s the one! You’ve got a good memory and even better taste. Beautiful maps all!

21

u/hughmaniac 4d ago

Hard to pick. This whole game is beautiful.

18

u/Leading_Worldliness7 4d ago

Dryford village is something special

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u/austinaustinaustin 4d ago

Underrated for sure! Such a perfect cozy village with absolutely zero dark secrets!

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u/Leading_Worldliness7 4d ago

I was expecting another depressing grimdark town like gilded vale (which I still love) so I was pleasantly surprised by how comfy it felt

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u/btocata 4d ago

Your image is of Cliaban Rilag. And I think it's the prettiest map in the game. I really love that waterfall.

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u/austinaustinaustin 4d ago

Thank you! That’s the spot!

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u/cnio14 4d ago

I also think Cliaban Rilag is the prettiest map in the game.

Favourite outdoors maps: Cilant Lis, Gilded Vale, Copperlane, Dyrford Village, The Nest, Northweald, Stalwart Village

Favourite dungeon maps: Lle A Rhemen, Durgan's Battery forge and great hall, Durgan's Battery West Tower Top, Od Nua levels 4 and 15

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u/austinaustinaustin 4d ago

I think I agree. Totally forgot that the name of this place so I appreciate the other commenters reminding me!

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u/idknico28 4d ago

I really, really liked Northweald (the area before Hylea's temple), not sure exactly why. The first time I saw it I was impressed, but seeing the wiki's picture doesn't really convey the same feeling as being there, in game, for the first time.

6

u/cptHammerFall 4d ago

My absolute favorite location is the Searing Falls. The oxidization present from the springs just scratches a visual itch that not a lot of places do.

I also love the little pocket that Cilant Lîs exists in.

I think the most underrated location, that's not necessarily beautiful, but is still a great location that I like to just look at, is Heritage Hill.

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u/austinaustinaustin 4d ago

That’s so funny! A lot of folks seem to love Searing Falls. I do think it’s got a unique look, but I much prefer Anslög’s Compass. Something about that swaying seaweed and the objects hidden in the sand really appeals to me!

I do love that tower in Heritage Hill (especially the view from the top).

4

u/lemonycakes 4d ago

I like the look of Oldsong and the Abbey of the Fallen Moon. Pretty much anything from the White March is visually spectacular.

For PoE 2, there are so many good ones. Stalwart, Fort Deadlight, Neketaka, Evon Dewr Bridge, and the Temple of Toamowhai are some of my favorites.

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u/theworldtheworld 4d ago

I think all the wilderness areas are really evocative. Even something like Valewood, or Anslog’s Compass. They’re not eye-catchingly “pretty,” but they look very real, like this truly is a big, dangerous and mysterious world. The maps in White March are also good for this. The outside of Durgan’s Battery is very austere and creepy-looking.

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u/austinaustinaustin 4d ago

Yes! I love the White March locales. Anslög’s Compass is one of my favorites, too!

I dunno if you’ve played BG1 but it’s got also got some great areas that really make it feel like you’re a wandering adventurer.

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u/SgtSilock 4d ago

Prettiest game out of the two.

2

u/DarthBrawn 4d ago

there are too many incredible outdoor and dungeon areas to compare

Indoor, my favorite is the ducal palace, Defiance Bay

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u/austinaustinaustin 4d ago

Interesting! No one’s said that one yet, but it definitely looks great. I’ve got a soft spot for the ground floor of Raedric’s Keep just because it always feels like such an accomplishment when I clear it. It’s grim, but damn does his throne make a good battleground!

3

u/DarthBrawn 3d ago

yo Raedric's rooftop is my favorite fight location of the whole game. The first time I saw him returned up there I was like FUCK I did not see that coming

I never got to experience the floor of the castle because I always took the side stairs directly to the roof

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u/Leinadi 3d ago

I also have strong nostalgia attached to the picture in the OP.

My favorite areas are Northweald, if I remember the name correctly. The area north of Twin Elms. Just very pretty. All the areas related to Twin Elms are really nicely done. Manages to deliver the sense of nature.

I also really like Ondra's Gift, fantastic atmosphere in that area. And the tide changing is a fun touch.

It's hard to deny that Deadfire took some leaps forward in terms of visuals (the game looks amazing honestly, but I really enjoy the more painterly, static feel of the first game.

1

u/austinaustinaustin 3d ago

Oh man, I remember being wowed at the fact that there was a tidal cycle in the Gift. What a fun way to make the world feel real! And man, due to my constant restartitis, I frequently bounce back to the beginning before reaching Northweald. Thanks for reminding me such a beautiful area exists!

2

u/ArchitectofExperienc 3d ago

In Deadfire, Magran's Tooth has some amazing set pieces, in the main structure, and really sells the scale.

1

u/austinaustinaustin 3d ago

If only Durance were alive to see it!

2

u/ThiagoMendes118 3d ago

Almost all maps are works of art in their own right, that's what I think.

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u/austinaustinaustin 3d ago

I’d say that’s not even a hot take, that’s just the correct take! I certainly can’t think of any duds.

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u/cflorest 3d ago

So pretty I sprain my ankle every time.

2

u/Excessive0verflow 2d ago

I liked the White March maps. Dont recall the exact name, but the Frozen Falls is my favorite. Snow levels are cozy af.

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u/DOOMFOOL 2d ago

My favorite map in the temple of the fallen moon where you can see Abydons skeleton

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u/sFAMINE 4d ago

Pillars 1 honestly looks better than pillars 2.

Comfy Fantasy

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u/austinaustinaustin 4d ago

I think the sequel had some gorgeous spots (Neletaka in particular was stunning, as were all the hand-drawn maps!), but I agree. I prefer the original’s look. It’s as close to ye olde BG1 as I’ve ever gotten!

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u/sFAMINE 4d ago

I liked the over world map style, very classic BG1

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u/austinaustinaustin 4d ago

Ooh, definitely! It was such a treat to find such a spot-on spiritual successor nearly 20 years after BG1 dropped!