Posted on: December 17, 2024

caelinnis
Verified ownerGames: 63 Reviews: 1
Before BG III, there was Origins
Bioware set out to create a game with the narrative richness of Baldur's Gate, the cinematic presentation of Knights of the Old Republic, and the community support of Neverwinter Nights. They didn't succeed. But they did create one of the best CRPGs ever made, if you give it a little bit of love and time this game will shine. It's by no means perfect-- the graphics weren't great on release, the DLC varies in quality from essential to passable to so bad it breaks the game. Go ahead and download Qwinn's Fixpack and Dain's Fixes at least. But what this game does have is an incredible setting, a dramatic narrative that mixes political, gothic, and high fantasy, compelling characters that to this day BioWare has struggled to reach the same heights of, and engaging, tactical combat that feels rewarding and challenging, along with a character progression system that rewards roleplaying (and is a bit underbaked.) This game built an entire franchise of games around it that, regardless of their quality, sit firmly in its shadow. In so many ways, Baldur's Gate III is the game Dragon Age Origins wanted to be. Yet, I think it still stands on its own as a unique experience, one important for the history of the industry and this medium as so many BioWare titles are, but also because I think very few RPGs have delivered better on the promise of "video games as DMs" that Origins has, unless, of course, it's made by Larian. It's a shame that so many people overlook this one-- if you like any Larian or BioWare game, play this. You'll love it. Oh, and take Walking Bomb.
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