Baldur's Gate 3

I remember being so excited when Baldur's Gate III was announced! This is a game that took forever to come out, heck, the second game was released around 20 years before this one. I think that the people at Larian Studios have done a fantastic job with this game and have been great with the regular updates that keep on adding content to the game and fixing any issues that may pop up. Still, with that being said. It is worth noting that as I write this the game is still technically in early access.

Hello Dungeon Master

The game as you would expect is set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe and the whole premise and plot of Baldur's Gate III got me hooked right from the start. They have added things as the game has moved along development, but I wanted to share the basics of the story with you. Mind Flyers are causing a ton of problems and darkness is taking over the land.

You probably think that stopping the Mind Flyers is the goal of the game. Well stopping them and preventing the darkness from taking over is part of it. What I thought was very interesting is that you have been exposed to a parasite that will turn you into a Mind Flyer if you are not quick!

Is This A Movie?

The cut scenes that Baldur's Gate III has are truly amazing I would actually go as far as to say that these may be the best-looking cut scenes that I have ever seen in a video game. Seriously, this looks like it is a movie, that is how good the cut scenes are. Even the actual gameplay is fantastic and one of the best-looking games of the year. Everything is just so well detailed and designed that you truly do feel like you are in this world. There was a bit of an issue with pop-in during the early days of the game, but that for the most part has been fixed.

The fantastic presentation does not just stop at the visuals. Baldur's Gate III also has some amazing voice acting. The quality is a cut about most other games and not just the main characters too. The random people that you will come across on your journey also are voice acted incredibly well too.

A Journey For The Ages

It is impossible for me in this short review to do justice to how big this game is. What I will tell you is that this is your typical action RPG. You will be following various main quests, taking part in side quests that distract you and get you cool loot and of course, you will be working on improving your stats. Speaking of stats, the game actually has a fantastic character creation suite, but you can select a premade character if you want and some of these are really cool. I think they did a great job in making this a game that is great for long-time fans of the series and those who are new as well.

The combat in the game is turn based and it is fun, but also very challenging. I found myself having to reload a save many times! The combat is not unfair, it just demands that you work hard and have a party that is equipped for the challenge at hand. This is something I liked and when I did die, it was usually because of poor planning on my part.

Pros:

• I found the story to be very engaging
• I am blown away by how incredible this game looks
• It has a fantastic tutorial system that teaches you the basics
• The voice acting is amazing

Cons:

• The game is technically still not completed
• Some people may find the combat a tad on the challenging side

Larian Studios has brought their RPG magic to the lands of Faerûn with the outstanding Baldur's Gate 3 – a game that could very well be one of the finest role-playing experiences ever made. From its fantastical setting to its impeccable character development, the world of Baldur's Gate 3 invites players to get immersed in an adventure that's more than worth experiencing.

Fans of tabletop games and the world of Dungeons & Dragons will be pleased with this amazing RPG that captures the magic of the pen-and-paper classic. Whether you decide to become a fearsome warlock, or you'd rather be an orc with dreams of becoming a bard, Baldur's Gate 3 invites you to create an adventure that's just as serious – or whimsical – as you want to.

Become Whoever You Want

The robust character creation system of Baldur's Gate 3 is easily one of the game's highlights. Virtually every aspect of your character is customizable, including some parts you'd likely not see during standard gameplay. Still, as far as skills and abilities go, you're free to create whatever character you can dream of.

For players looking for a more creative character builder in terms of physical aspect, well, that might be a bit disappointing. Compared to games like Cyberpunk 2077, body customization feels somewhat limited. Worse still is that you can't modify any aspect of your character's physique once you begin your playthrough, so you better commit to your character.

Rolling the Dice

While nearly every RPG under the sun features RNG and chance in some way or another, this randomization is more than palpable in Baldur's Gate 3. Every meaningful decision comes with a dice roll, which will determine whether you can perform an action, or you'll fail in spectacular fashion.

Being able to visualize your decisions like this feels more fair than what we RPG players are used to. The dies are perfect to understand why our characters keep missing attacks, or why we can't pass a certain charisma check. In other words, dies are the central pillar of Baldur's Gate 3, so you'll definitely love this if you're a DnD fan.

Punishing Adventures

If there's one thing that players should know before they go in blind into Baldur's Gate 3, is that the game is hard. And I mean that as a Divinity Original Sin II veteran. The game is designed in a way that makes it much harder to exploit weaknesses and build overpowered characters early on.

Still, much like Larian's Divinity series, the difficulty options are quite generous with most players. Still, even the "Explorer" difficulty setting can be challenging for absolute beginners, so expect some punishing trial and error before you finally grasp how to properly play Baldur's Gate 3.

Beyond the difficulty, the gorgeous visuals, well-written characters, and genuinely funny occurrences all come together to turn Baldur's Gate 3 into a truly unforgettable experience that's easily my favorite game of the year.

Pros

• Amazing story with well-written characters
• Gorgeous visuals bring the world of Faerûn to life
• Outstanding OST to accompany you in your adventures

Cons

• The difficulty can feel a bit unfair at times