Baldur's Gate 3

This game hits the same 'explore & discover' itch that only Skyrim was able to hit before.
Also, you can pet dogs. 10/10

I started as a noble paladin.
Now I lie, manipulate, and let a vampire bite me because he looked sad and pretty.
This game ruined me. I love it.

I accidentally had this in my cart after talking with friends about it and bought it. Best accident of the 2020s for me, then my son after. This game is incredible from start to oh fuck i hit a wall, time to restart the game.

Out of the insane amount of time I've played this game I've only beaten it twice, lotta fun

Easily the most immersive game I have ever played, I can't believe that I almost didn't experience this game. So worth the price tag. Cannot recommend enough, you get used to the turn based and the story and cut scenes are so worth it.

Didn't knew DnD and never a fan of sword and sorcery theme before, but this is one of the most memorable game I have ever played.

It's an absolute masterpiece, especially if one is a fan of Dungeons and Dragons. The acting is world-class, and there's tons of replayability. I've played 1200 hours and I still see new things with each new playthrough! Can't recommend the game enough, especially to people who enjoy a story-rich RPGs with a turn-based combat system.

Also, Shadowheart best girl.

I literally can't express how much I love this game. I've gone through at least 10 or so full runs and I still have the itch to play again because of how well written it is and because of how fun it is. It's been so long since I played a game that could suck me into it's world and keep me there even now and I only wish that I could delete the game from my brain so I could experience it all over again for the first time.

Okay, my very biased opinion aside, the stuff this game does well is the story, the lore, and the worldbuilding. It's an RPG so you know you're in for a lot of reading and talking and this game is FULL of material. From reading all the books and documents throughout the world to talking to a cat trying to convince you to follow it's cat god, I can guarantee with all the time you spend in this game you'll get your money's worth ten times over. And I can tell you that only playing this game once is a disservice to all the story they managed to stuff into it, so to really experience a decent portion of the game I recommend playing at the very LEAST two runs as your silly little OC, Tav, and as The Dark Urge, in that order.

And as far as game mechanics go, it's all turn-based, homie, so if you don't like that very much you may not enjoy the game, especially if you're playing multiplayer and you know your friends are the type to 'take a turn' and then tab out immediately and have to be reminded to get back in there, especially if they aren't as invested in the world and story as you are. Like I said, it's a lot of reading and a lot of exposition, so this game isn't going to appeal to everyone, especially if they aren't the...patient type, and/or just don't have the attention span to keep them locked in.

Another super fun part are the companions! There's a whole myriad of companion characters you can find in the game that tag along on your journey, and if you play your cards right, can be romanced! Or if you ain't into that you can all by besties and take Faerun by storm! And all of those companions can be played by you the player (I call them Origin Runs), and playing as them all give a new perspective when running around the world, so highly recommend doing that too.

Okay, sorry I really tried to write pros and cons but again, I'm so biased lmao, but I hope this helped some people take the plunge or steer clear if ain't your cup of tea! And last but not least, thank you Larian for raising the bar! Thanks for reading! \(^_^)/

(I edited this to fix typos and add a few more put together thoughts...still came out ranty, whoops :') )

Absolutely deserving of all the awards it has received and one of the most fun and chaotic games to play with your mates or rudely enough when playing with yourself... don't lie this game sparked Joy, Sadness, Laughter, Anger and possibly the most anxiousness created regarding the work of people skilled in Studio Film Maker since Overwatch reduced a certain bubble butted gun wielding woman. Studio Film Makers brought it back and we knew they would be all over this.

All in all this masterpiece will be one that people play for years and years to come and will stand the test of time. 10/10 Game and Experience whether alone or with friends. Enjoy!

I am a huge D&D fan; been playing the game since I was in high school...over a decade ago. This game is the closest to the table top game I have ever played and I am hooked. Hey, DM's! Can never play a game because you're always running one? THIS! THIS WILL SCRATCH THAT ITCH! Beautiful story, compelling character development. This is story telling at it's finest AND IT'S SET TO D&D!! Anyone into fantasy RPG's should at least give this game a try. I can't recommend it enough. Happy adventures, darlings!

With 546 hours behind me and eagerly awaiting Patch 8, this is a game that truly captivated me. At first, I had no expectations and thought it would just be something to play with friends, but it turned out to be one of the rare games that completely drew me in. The sheer number of possibilities makes both single-player and multiplayer experiences unique every time. Characters, companions, and even most NPCs are designed with incredible detail. We'll have to wait and see what kind of new stories and places the modders will bring. As for the price side; it's absolutely worth the full price, and if you're able to catch it on sale, you'll 'get a great deal on a remarkable game. I'm aware that I'm raising expectations, but there's an undeniable effort here that deserves recognition. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy the beauty of Baldur's Gate city and many breathtaking landscapes with the sweet music playing in the background.
**Note:** Watch your head when jumping—your Honour Mode might just take a fall!

phenomenal game amazing va's amazing compelling stories larian killed it again

If you're into D&D and games that function like that then this is for you. If you're not really into that, I don't think the game is that great. I'm definitely in the minority when I say this but I just don't find any of the party characters likable and I was not a fan of the story.

I really liked this game when it came out as someone who played it from day one, but recent decisions made by Larian regarding character writing and actual stakes in this game have become more and more frustrating as patches come out
It feels like they don't want the player to actually be challenged or faced with any party dilemmas anymore, like how other choice based games like Mass Effect do, so have taken every possible opportunity to remove serious consequences that used to be present when the game first dropped
Compelling scenes with certain characters have been completely removed or made null by the ability to brute force your way to the desired result instead of being faced with consequences for your choices, and it feels like characters who were originally very morally grey with depth (The Emperor for example) have been forcefully rewritten to be as black and white as possible while other characters are absolutely left behind in terms of content while others are given way too much attention so it makes things feel very lopsided (Ex, Wyll getting scraps while Astarion seems to get new content every damn patch)
It has gotten to the point where I need to install mods to recover cut content that was actually really good because Larian keeps removing it even though there was nothing wrong with it to begin with
It feels like they don't want the players to be challenged or compelled by the story at all and it has hurt the once stellar writing that actually made you think and reconsider your choices and feel the weight of your actions
The game itself is still fun to play gameplay wise, but the story has just been battered to the point its a shell of its former self and it makes me sad since it used to offer so much to the table and now it feels like its trying to hold your hand at every turn while throwing out all the parts that contributed to it winning its writing award
I hope this improves at some point, but I doubt it will considering the trajectory things seem to be headed in, so I reccomend players look for mods like the restored Wyrmway cutscene to recover the lost content that used to make the story great if thats what they are looking for (if story doesn't matter too much to you then you should still be fine)

Worldbuilding and Storytelling is great. But Battles feel like youre against a DM that just wants to kill the group so he can start a new campaign. Highly RNG and so much random stuff that WILL go wrong. Presave/Reload/Presave/Reload, thats what Fights are about in BG3 and ISNT the DND feeling ive expected. Lots of other CRPGs have much better Battles. Nothing to do with managing spells ect. Very dissapointing sadly

Baldur’s Gate 3 is an immersive CRPG based on the D&D 5e ruleset, where your choices shape a living, breathing world. From the moment you create your character - or choose to play as one of the unique origin heroes - every decision you make truly matters, leaving a lasting impact on your journey and the world of the Forgotten Realms.

The exceptional writing and voice acting bring the world to life, while stunning graphics make it even more immersive. The bonds you form with your companions feel real, making moments of victory feel earned and betrayals devastating. With hundreds of hours played, there’s always something new to discover. The sheer detail in every corner ensures no two playthroughs are ever the same.

With strategic turn-based combat, diverse builds, and a rich story, Baldur’s Gate 3 is a truly unforgettable experience - I wholeheartedly recommend this work of love by Larian Studios to anyone who loves deep CRPGs, immersive worlds, and meaningful choices.

Amazing and rich story, with the most engaging, interesting, well written, well animated and well voice acted companions I've ever seen in a videogame. There is so much content that after playing for 500 hours, I’m still finding new stuff. Hell, the first time I finished the game I missed two companions and didn’t even notice.

Just the companion quests are some of the best videogame content I've ever seen, and the game would be worth the price just for two of them.

At the time of this review, 7 major updates have been released, with an 8th one on the way. Each of these updates has improved the game (except for doors, those are still broken), its performance, and has added QoL improvements and content.

As an avid TTRPG player, this game has been the closest a videogame has come to providing the TTRPG experience. I can't think of a better compliment for a videogame, to be honest. The attention to detail is borderline insane, with such fringe scenarios that the devs have anticipated and made content for, that the many times it feels like a GM is there to run the game for you.

And the devs are just awesome and have released a toolkit that is allowing people to make mods that change core rules, add equipment and items, and even create whole new campaings. This move has probably cemented this game as the most long-lived videogame of the decade.

Baldur's Gate 3 has become my favourite videogame.

Great game, worth every penny. I played through with my friends. We never did complete the final boss though. The third act had too many side-quests. We only care about killing first and then asking questions. Not really a critique though.

This is genuinely one of the most engaging games I have played in a long while. I typically don't like getting lost when trying to progress a story, but with Baldur's Gate there always something entertaining going on even in areas you never dreamed of entering. It makes every new playthrough feel unique even when you decide to make the same general choices.

If you even slightly like a well-written story, compelling characters, and RPG mechanics, just buy it.

I was pretty enamored by the game initially, most likely from the nostalgia from playing BGII back in the day. I personally enjoyed building my character (as I tend to), but there are definitely some missing aspects that could help produce differentiation in characters. As with any game, there are some glitchy aspects here and there, but by and large fairly smooth playing. Each character has a fairly similar plot path, however. Choose glory or power vs. choose humility and inner strength, etc. All fine though. Favorite class by far (so far) has been the monk, way of the fist. I could see other classes pretty much had similar magical abilities (just differed on how to get there), so choosing one without any is what I recommend to folks looking for something different. I know that's a bit of a generalization, but hey... it's my review. A fine game. I hope they create some more diverse spell casting options that are more class specific though.

I will play more and more and more…
This is the best game ever in my life
Every time i play this game it feels like i am really in there, forgotten realem!! It make me feel i was in there for real ㅋㅋㅋmaybe i’m addicted to this game!!! Recently after playing 500 hours i found very new point of fun that i have never felt before that mean i can play this game more over than 1000hours :) i’m so happy to play this game!

Perfect. I have never played an RPG to this extent, over 1500 hours now and I honestly still love this game. The combat, the writing and the characters are 10/10. My only downside to this amazing game is now I find all other RPG'S boring in comparison.

Have you ever looked at games that won a mountain of awards and thought, "Aww come on, some of those have to be bought, or they did the right industry handshake." Put such cynicism aside and believe when I say Larian crafted ANOTHER absolutely incredible RPG experience. Every award and accolade is earned, every actor gave spectacular performances, and Larian has spent so much time post release adding everything from QOL changes to additional free content to community mod support. BG3 is a fantastic game, a work of art, and proof that devs who love the project and the community can deliver, in a massive and resounding success.

What an amazing game, what an amazing adventure. Now that I've reached the end, with many nerve-wracking battles behind me, I'm sad that it's over. I'll miss it..miss my companions, the characters and the magical world around Baldur's Gate..Thank you to the creators of the game, what a unique job you've done

Played DnD for the first time recently and got a hankering for it. I'm 35 and used to hate turn-based combat but this game is incredible. Also really well written. Also you get to have sex with green people.

Prior to purchasing this I had no experience with tabletop; in fact I was hesitant to pick this game because it seemed overwhelming at first. Ultimately I'm grateful I decided to take the plunge. This game has so much personality and it really shows what a labor of love this game must have been to those who made it and it's made a deep impression on me. I don't think I can ever quite look at other games within the genre the same way now having played this. My only regret is that I can't rewind the clock to experience it for the first time again.

I mean, I could give you a big review about how this game is a great game with a great story and tons of stuff to do and all that crap. I can talk about how it is a buggy mess, where half of the "features" were only features because they couldn't fix it. How things like the Bulette are obviously bugged in ways that you wouldn't notice if you weren't paying attention. I could talk about how the ways you can handle problems are so expansive that, more often than not if you can think of a way to solve the problem within functions the game has, it will work. But really, anyone can watch a gameplay trailer, anyone can google bug reports. You really wanna know what I think of this game, and if I'd recommend it? Check my hours played.

You know it's a genuinely fucking good game when after 105 Hours of gameplay you are still like "Fucking hell I wanna do another run"

A great game for those who want an RPG tabletop game experience on the virtual.

The story is immersive, the characters have distinct personalities and motivations for the players to explore, and the array of options on how to proceed your adventure is just impressive.

The gameplay is a delight from dialog to exploration and combat.

Highly recomend this experience, be it in solo play or with friends.

This game does not live up to the hype. It's long, drawn out, and it has plenty of QOL issues. Sure, they spent a lot of money and time on the in-game animations and dialog, but as a fan of other CRPGs that rely more on text I found it a bit boring. My biggest pet peeve though was the cap at level 12. I literally played the last quarter of the game at the level cap. The extra XP I received could have easily led me to level 18.

Overall I'd give it a 3 our of 5. It doesn't reach the level of the original games or games like Pillars of Eternity. But if you find it on sale, sure give it a go. Don't pay full price.

Baldur's Gimmick Fight 3

Honestly.

I did not enjoy it. For the most part the play through was unpleasant. Combat fluctuated between tedious and infuriating due to profoundly poor encounter/enemy design. Story was, a story. Nothing particularly unexpected or engaging beyond the standard fantasy fare. (Note, so far final chapter is proving to be something of an uptick at least)

All in all, this game was a slog that would have refunded had I not promised to see if out with friends. Once the play through is finished, this game will never be touched again. Simply not enough enjoyment to be found to justify the storage space it takes up.

A solid "meh..."

I was hesitant to buy this game because I've never played DnD, and so I thought there would be a big barrier to learning/understanding the gameplay. I finally caved and, while there is a slight learning curve, the game has overall exceeded my expectations. It just feels like a more accessible way to engage in a traditionally tabletop RPG, and I've loved pretty much everything so far (only about halfway through act one). I also recommend playing with your friends if you get a chance and you all can handle the cost, as its definitely more fun when nothing goes to plan! :p

Baldur's Gate first playthrough review

A one in a lifetime experience

Baldur's Gate 3 is my first in a lot of case
1. Its my first ever CRPG
2. My first ever over the top CRPG
3. First D&D style game

Going into this game I had a lot of reservations, there was never any doubt that this is a once in generation game and the best this genre has ever seen. The question was, is this game for me. I was skeptical even through the mindflare section, it was o out of place for someone who has played and been in love with third person action since childhood. I have spent countless hours in RPGs but this seemed too complicated to start. Controlling four characters seemed convoluted, but I was in a quest.

My quest to complete all the GOTYs I had missed over the years and Baldur's Gate seemed too much of a challenge to take on. I am glad my stubborn mind pushed through these inhibitions. I am proud of myself for pushing through as Baldur's Gate 3 first playthrough will probably be one of the best gaming experiences in my life. My only regret would be I wont be be able to experience "first" playthrough ever again. When the credits roll BG3 left me with a sense of gloom that I probably didnt experience before. Its a unique feeling that I hope more people should experience the "first" time. I genuinely and truly believe that the reception and global appeal this game has received doesnt do enough justice to the absurd feat that Larian Studios has pulled off and I am thankful to them for giving me something to cherish for the rest of my life.

Great game. There's so many different ways to play that multiple play through's are a must

Everything I could have asked for from an RPG. Larian hit this one out of the park. Every time I play it I find something new and approach solving situations in a different way. One of the best video game purchases I've ever made.

This game should be the industry standard for games with massive development budgets. Nothing else even comes close to how polished this game is in basically every aspect. Larian studio is one of the few larger developers/publishers that continue to deliver good games when the rest of the AAA market has been on life support for years.

I want to start by saying I don't necessarily think it's a bad game, just over-hyped. There aren't enough people mentioning how niche this game is and how it won't appeal to everyone's tastes. I was mostly convinced to try it by word of mouth, and I did, in good faith. Obviously, this game is great for those that enjoy D&D, a very specific type of turn-based combat, and/or this particular style of....fantasy story telling. I found the characters to be a little cringe-worthy and difficult to care about, and the story was only somewhat coherent. In addition, there are actually pretty limited options for character creation, which took me by surprise, as many people mentioned character creation being rather in depth. That said, I think anyone that is on the fence about this game should do a little research before purchasing. Don't just listen to everyone else, like I did. TT-TT

I finally finished my first play-through, after 250 hours of gameplay :) It is the longest time I have dedicated on a game and I was satisfied each and every time I play the game. I loved playing Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance when I was a kid and I never thought I would ever feel the same with another game. This game brought me back to those times. Hours spent knowing the lore, talking to all characters, be it origin or NPC, exploring every nooks and crannies, looting even the most irrelevant resources... It really is a world of its own and I'm so happy to have been in it. This will most likely not be my last gameplay because there's still so much to discover. I have so much appreciation to the creators of this game. They really did an amazing job with this game. This will hold a special place in my memories.

I am not a fan of turn-based games and I dislike games with a top-down or isometric camera, so I didn't think I'd enjoy this game a lot. A few hours into it though, and it's hands down one of the best games I have ever played. From the very start of the game the insane level of interactivity and the attention to details blew me away

11/10 game and worth every penny.

Not a Fan of RPGs? This Game Will Change Your Mind

After a few sessions of DnD (the tabletop game), I decided to check out the computer game based on its universe — Baldur's Gate 3. And wow, it completely blew me away. The world feels alive and immersive, filled with rich characters and endless choices. The freedom to approach situations your way is incredible. From the stunning visuals to the deep combat and roleplaying, it’s clear this game was crafted with exceptional care and attention to detail.

This game is a must-play (especially fun in co-op). It’s a masterpiece that deserves all the love.

here my first hour experience of baldurs gate 3.

-wake up on the shore with davy jones aliens ship
-accidentaly walk into an abandoned village
-a goblin lady on the roof stop me
-manage to intimidate goblin lady
-goblin lady let me pass the abandoned village
-continue to explore the place
-saw a gnome tied to a windmill by a group of goblins
-wanting to help and release the gnome
-manage to intimidate the goblin to leave
-gotta find a way to stop the windmill
-saw buttons to stop the windmill
-accidentally press the wrong button
-the windmill speeds up
-gnome bounce off so fast and flies away
-journal notification pops up
-gnome's dead

10/10

A few months ago I was talking with my son about video games and I said I'd love to play a game that was similar to Skyrim but with story and realistic graphics like RDR2, and the next time I was browsing Steam, there it was! I didn't know it would be the perfect game for me when I bought it, but I saw that it's from the D&D realm and that sealed the deal for me. I'm now on my third playthrough and about 380 hours and don't plan on quitting any time soon! There is so much to the maps and storyline, and you can play it a different way every time and end up with completely different outcomes. You will definitely get your money's worth!

A very good game anyone who enjoys good story, turn-based strategy and a exciting adventure should play.

Play this is you've ever wanted to jump into Dungeons and Dragons. Play is you're into deep storylines and nonlinear gameplay. Enjoy the character development of your playable characters and see how your choices change the outcome of the main story.
Don't play this if you want hack n slash or action adventure play or expect to win because you're used to winning at everything and get upset at the idea of struggle.
This is a full-on D&D experience where you can use M&KB or a controller and really enjoy a real RPG that doesn't go easy on you. You really have to think about your choices and are rewarded (sometimes) for your conquests. A game you can play multiple times with very different outcomes, even if you made similar choices. It's all up to the D20.

You Put an RPG in My Dating Simulator

Baldur's Gate 3 is a role-playing game set in the Forgotten Realms universe. If you don't know what this means, it is a campaign setting for Dungeons and Dragons, a table-top role-playing game reliant on dice roles, an overarching storyteller (the "Dungeon Master"), and multiple NPCs to interact with. BG3, therefore, may be a bit unconventional to those familiar to standard RPGs like Skyrim or the Witcher. It is played from a top-down perspective, where movement is real-time, but combat is turn-based. All encounters and item locations (I believe) are scripted, meaning the only difference between "runs" will be your choices (we'll get to this later). And, of course, what determines your success are your stats. At points you wouldn't even think of, whether it be in conversations or wandering around, you will be making "dice rolls" based on various attributes like strength and dexterity to see if you will succeed or not, which can lead to numerous outcomes.

You have the option to choose from 7 different "Origin" characters, or create your own (however, the 7th Origin character is very similar to a custom character with a few nuances). They each have their own backgrounds, stories, and "personal quests", which you will progress throughout the game to determine a unique ending. You will eventually get the opportunity to recruit four other companions later in the game, but their interactions are much less impactful (I believe due to budget cuts). You will meet all of these Origin characters in the main game, and can have three others with you during "adventuring" with you at one time. Some may find this frustrating, as it limits personal quest opportunities, unique dialogue, and relationships, essentially forcing you to do multiple playthroughs. If you take the side characters along instead, you'll limit the opportunities even further.

As for the Origin characters, I think there's someone for everyone. I'm sure you've read online about people gushing over certain characters, but if you just care about stats or like them for their personality and don't like their stats, you can always respec them. The key component of using these characters is their combat skills, which, as mentioned, is turn-based. Everyone has special abilities, which needs to be used strategically in free-form combat. I say free-form as in "everything is game". You can use nearby objects to toss at enemies, combine liquids to deal more damage, climb rafters for a height advantage, push enemies off ledges, or use context clues for an encounter bonus (for example, there's a section where you can talk to a spider if you have the ability to do so to convince them to fight for you).

Overall, the combat is nuanced and varied, but it can be very, very slow. There's four of you and sometimes dozens of enemies. You have to just sit there and wait for them to scuttle about and it can be a pain, making you consider non-aggressive tactics (if even possible). As for the main quest itself, I'd ironically say it's the weakest part of the game. The game thrives in the world and the side quests, many of which you can have a deep impact upon based on your choices (thus encouraging replay value). The main quest, though? You can actually skip a lot of it if you know what you're doing. I felt like the main quest was just there as a backdrop for the game to populate a world with side quests. Even in the end-game, the "main quest" is split into three parts that can be tackled in such a way that they act like three side quests. This isn't necessarily a criticism, as the side quests have tons of choices and options to them, most of which are meaningful, which I believe is the main draw of the game.

Now, for the companion Origin stories and their personal quests, I think it could have been done a tad better. Your fate is practically sealed in the first part of the game, so if you mess up, or didn't build your relationship high enough (because you had other companions follow you), you may get frustrated. The game also starts dragging as a result. There's so many options and you want to see them all, that the tedious sections start to become more apparent. You can't do everything in one run, and one run takes a long time. Like, there's certain parts where you do just have to sit through inconsequential dialogue. Or there's choices that will just kill you, no matter the dice roll outcome (or lack there of). However, I can't really fault the game here for this, as Larian set a standard for RPGs of this genre with BG3.

Pros:

• Tactical combat that allows players to make use of the environment and a wide-range of abilities, requiring individuals to always be aware of what can be used against enemies and against themselves.
  
• The Origin characters are well-written and well-acted. They are fun to interact with and it's a joy to watch them grow as characters, for better or for worse depending on your choices.
  
• The side quests are a particular highlight, with you having the potential to miss more than half the game if you aim to just complete the main story.
  
• Choices that matter and leave an impact, with both morally grey, good, and evil options. So many choices and options that you'd want to start a new playthrough right after you finish your first.
  
• Larian Studios has consistently made an effort to improve the game overtime, including adding mod support and listening to the community, a welcome change in today's gaming world.
  
• It should be stated that the environments, voice acting, and overall design of this game is excellent.
  
• Create Water is a level 1 transmutation spell.
  

Cons:

• At the risk of being contradictory and hypocritical, I must say that, even though the game's sheer size and number of choices are wonderful, there is a fault to it. In the review, I keep mentioning "runs". It is a strange RPG to me, having so many choices and options, but you're never going to see them all. You're never going to see that charm, because a fatigue will set in playing this very, very dialogue-heavy game (also, there is A LOT of walking). Some players may not even witness the game's title of "Baldur's Gate" because they'll be worn out by Part II, and I think that's a shame. In my opinion, I think the game should have a method to either skip combat, or start at specific Parts with choices done for you, like Dragon Age: Inquisition did upon launch.
  
• Branching from the combat complaint, it is is very slow when there are too many enemies. You have four members that you have to manage individually against a dozen enemies sometimes, each having their own special abilities, intricately moving around the nuanced environment. It can be painful, to say the least.
  
• As stated before, the limit on the companions following you is to the game's fault. Their relationship should be able to change even if at camp. However, I am aware that the four "non-Origin" companions were cut down on content due to budget reasons, so I can't really fault the game for that. But the last companion especially just felt shoehorned in, you have next to nothing to do by the time you find them unless you blitz towards their location.
  
• Again, the main story seems just like a background for all of the side content. Also, for a game filled to the brim with so many choices, sometimes it deprives you of the ability to make them at key moments.
  
[*]Romance with the companions can feel too superficial and lacks nuance, with particular favoritism being done against one that I noticed, as they had more dialogue options in regards to the "relationship" (even though it's just repetitive blurbs).

Verdict: 9/10

Note: This review came out very late because Baldur's Game 3 is something you just can't rush. I really wanted to know my final thoughts after not replaying it once, but trying different stories, paths, and modes like Honour Mode. This review is late but I feel I finally have gathered my thoughts.

Legendary Masterpiece

Just no other way of saying it. Larian Studios took their time and crafted perhaps one of the most memorable games I had the pleasure playing in. It is incredible on so many levels, I actually have a hard time believing it even exits. Now there's definitely some flaws with it, not a true perfect game, but it's as close as you can imagine.

Gameplay

It really plays out like you're in a DND 5e tabletop, but beyond what most would had expected. It didn't just make an adaption or inspiration; it's a love letter to DND 5e and i'm here for it. Gameplay is very smooth, feels great with mouse and keyboard, plus so much to do both in and outside combat. Sure the turn based combat is the main sell, but it's also got a lot more going for it, and those who love roleplaying and exploring while engaging with puzzles, npcs, and finding secrets- it's all here. It's probably the most well designed tabletop game in the market.

Graphics and Story

Game is breathtaking, and looks like a beautiful panting where ever you go. All locations and settings in this world is brimming with life, and I love how the characters are designed too. So much effort went into how the game looks, and it's marvelous to behold seeing for yourself.

The writing is straight up fire. Every quest, every arc in Acts 1, 2, and 3 were just immersive to delve into. Never did I get tired or bored of any quests, no matter how small. The main story is also incredibly well crafted and I bet many DM's (Dungeon Masters) will take much inspiration from this game. Such a fantastic journey where you want to do everything the game offers, going out of your way to learn more about the world, what you can learn from it, and completing quests just to hear more about this place Baldur's Gate 3 resides in.

Your choices VERY much matter here. There is no illusion or just going with the ride- everything you do has either a small, significant or major impact on the story. No choice ever feels like it didn't matter, and even story bits can change depending on what you do first- like a DM adapting to how you play and NPCs can change entirely based on how successful, good, or horrible you are.

Characters

Never had I imagined any game topping the Mass Effect Trilogy in terms of developed characters. But wow, this is very much the only time in recent memory if ever, that I loved all the characters. The voice acting is just peak performance, the traits and personalities of each character is so developed, and they really feel like people. You always experience something new with an NPC in this game, no matter what playthrough there's dialogue or something you find out about them that makes you love them more. Every opportunity I wanted to engage and talk to my companions, completing quests with them and tangle in both friendships and relationships. Not a single NPC was poorly written, not one. What a huge feat Larian Studios did here, this is so hard to pull off but they nailed it. Some companions legit made me cry irl, just cause of how extremely touching or tragic segments were that left me thinking about it in my sleep.

What makes these characters even more amazing is unlike Mass Effect, they legit can leave you, hate you, or even want to fight / murder you depending on your choices. They don't just tag along, they have thoughts, views, morals, and goals. They do react to almost everything you do and will have actual things to say, which does have impact on how the journey goes. This aspect is what makes them so memorable to begin with.

Freedoms

So one of the strongest pros of this game (besides the unbelievably well written characters) is how much you can do outside the box. The game doesn't force you to play by the usual rules, you can get really creative in and out of combat. The game literally lets you cheese to your heart's content or do things even the game didn't expect you to do, but you're able to. With how the game is designed, any object can be used in numerous ways, you can do so many challenge runs with what you have at your disposal, and I keep seeing people on other sites and Youtube show off just how insane you can get when playing this game. Seriously you can almost do anything you want if you know what you're doing. The game even allows you to skip important stuff and doesn't outright punish you- sure it may come with consequences or unexpected cons, but the game really does let you roam and do whatever, in almost any order you wish. The world is yours to roam, Act to Act.

Mods

Larian Studios didn't just give us the best game I had played in awhile, but they are fully supportive of mods. This is a MAJOR deal, because now the lifespan has increased by 10 years+. Like Skyrim, they have an official built in modding system to let you download pretty much whatever you want, and sites letting you apply whatever kind of mod you're seeking. Larian Studios even made an animation showcasing how wacky and fun you can get with mods- that's just awesome. Surprisingly most if not every mod I had obtained works perfectly fine with little to no issues, fully functional. Again I can't stress enough how mods for this game is really doing it favors and with Larian Studios supporting all mods, this will make the game 200% better in the long run.

Flaws

So it seemed like I had nothing but praise for the game. But there are some flaws with it, and I won't be shy as to what these flaws are. If you really love something, you should be allowed to give critics.

The biggest issue I have with this game is how the companion's AI acts when they follow you. They tend to get stuck often, and you have to manually move them to catch up. Worse, if you come across traps or dangerous areas, your companions do not have any intelligence to avoid their demise. Sure the spacebar immediately stops them in their tracks, but that only helps so much until it really becomes a problem.

I remember in Tactical Mode, I had my party stop onto an elevator, waited 5 seconds because I wanted to make sure they'd stop moving, then suddenly when the elevator moved- all my party fell to their deaths, clipping from the bottom. Many traps or shifting parts due to bugs, which speaking of-

Another major issue is how glitchy, buggy, and unstable Act 3 is entirely. The first two Acts were solid, hardly any problems but Act 3 is riddled with pugs. Clipping through the floor, some cutscenes have missing NPCs, dialogue has no sound, and sometimes my companions are just dead after a cutscene, for no reason.

Honour Mode

So this one is my absolute pet peeve. While the other issues were 'worse' for general gameplay, this mode is just horrible. While I did like the challenge and Legendary Actions that bosses had, what makes it really difficult to enjoy was the fact you only get 1 save file, that's it. I understand why they did this, and you must live with your consequences and dealing with your battles, but the fact this game has some issues and especially Act 3 being so buggy, it ruins a lot of runs in Honour Mode.

I ended up having to make backup saves on my computer just to bypass the unfair situations. I don't mind dying and losing legit, but when it's outside my control and the game ends my run cause of a bug, glitch, or unexpected error- that's when I decide enough is enough.

Conclusion

Baldur's Gate 3 is when you decide to not just make a game. It's a story brought to life that you can replay and never get tired of. A game that will leave you remembering it for years to come. 9.5 / 10

The replayability of this game is insane, Larian did an amazing job giving us exactly what we wanted and maybe even a little more. This game has taken over my life and I love it so much, lol, and showing no signs of putting it down any time soon!

Best game I've ever played.

The "goal" of Baldur's Gate 3 is to get rid of your mindflayer parasite, but it evolves into so much more. The story exploration is perfect. Other than being overwhelmed by general DnD stuff that you're unfamiliar with; the game does a great job at slowly introducing and familiarizing players with the story, setting, and everything else. You are first placed in a world with a general task (after the intro), and almost everything you do will inadvertently get you closer to that task. The player is the one to find the path to achieving their goal. It is not some to-do list nor aimless pile of tasks. There is purpose, and you are motivated to pursue and explore due to that purpose.

This isn't really my cup of tea, but still it's a 10/10. I struggle to get into CRPGs, but this game is fire. One day it'll click for me, at least that's what I keep telling myself. Buy this, then buy it again on a different platform, even if you never play it, give Larian your money because they deserve it. That's it, I'm going to go back to playing some crappy 9/10 game that I really like.