Baldur's Gate 3

Have played a lot and tried almost all of the different classes for a few levels each. The game shows a lot of promise and there's quite a bit of gameplay meat to chew on. I feel engaged with the story and appreciate the tactical options in combat. Some changes have been made from tabletop and I'm happy with them for the most part although I believe disengaging has become too easy. I have experienced some bugs here and there but for the most part the game has functioned as expected the majority of the time.

I had my reservations when Larian made it known that there would be fully animated dialogue, because it has been tackled by many other titles without success. But, they have delivered beyond my expectations on that front for Early Access, and met their other goals for BG3. Anyone who says this iteration is untrue to the spirit of Baldur's Gate is stuck in past. The game is not yet done. We don't know how this story is going to unfold. And, truth be told, even if it isn't a continuation of the Bhaalspawn saga, I won't be fussed. It's "Baldur's Gate", not "Bhaal's Brood". There is good writing here, and the presentation of its format, music and voice acting are a delight. In terms of gameplay, it strikes a good balance between DOS2 and D&D, though it can still be improved. Even so, it's a good representation of my own experiences with pen and paper adventures and, more importantly, it's fun. Buy it if you like the idea of contributing to the development of this game - I can't imagine the $60 price tag is for anyone else. There's a lot here already that is highly playable - it is an exellent prototype - but don't expect a full and finished product.

First off, I know that $60 for an EA game is a lot to buy in to, but you are buying into a GREAT developer in Larian. If you enjoyed DOS or DOS2, you will like this game. The dice rolls in game are a different experience and I like how Larian incorporated some classic D&D experiences into this game. The story does not feel like a typical BG experience, however, but feels more like a Divinity: Mind Flayers game instead. Pros: The graphics are amazing, some of the NPCs have great backstories, engaging turn-based combat, similar gamplay to DOS, immersive role playing experience Cons: needs more detailed character creation (more classes), bugs bugs bugs (to be expected), needs gamepad support, does not correlate with previous BG games or Forgotten Realms lore In conclusion, like many other reviews say, if you like supporting EA games, like DOS games, you will most likely enjoy this game. If you feel like you cannot handle bugs, or feel even a bit apprehensive about starting this iteration, just wait until full release. I'm glad I invested in this EA, especially during a pandemic that has really cut short the time I have to get together with friends and do our own D&D runs. In it's current state 8/10

First of all I want to make sure people reading this know that this is based on the early access version of the game which contains only Act 1, and it is not the full version. With that out of the way, I think Larian Studios has crafted a really good story here, and this was a very enjoyable experience. The camera takes some getting used to, but I am coming from MMOs where you can rotate at will. Not being able to rotate the horizon of the camera was a pain, but you get used to it. The fights were challenging, but doable and the world is beautifully done. The one glaring flaw I found with this game is that, while the game lets you roleplay your character, you are not rewarded for roleplaying. You do not get experience for diffusing a situation through a deception check for example or any other such checks. Advancing the story by any other means that killing enemies does not get you much xp. That is unfortunate, because the game gives you plenty of opportunity to do so, but if you do, you will find yourself gimped for the inevitable fight that will come your way. I look forward to the finished product.

In a nutshell; Not the long awaited BG3 successor. D&D it might be, but not what Baldur's Gate series was about.