Baldur's Gate 3

First of all it's not Baldurs Gate it's DoS... It's not possible to create a custom party, except with a cumbersome multiplayer method... The beginning setting is really too bombastic by showing Mind Flayers, Dragons, Cambions which means boss and elite mobs became common... It's not possible to select all Partymembers in the most common way by clicking and dragging the mouse to create a selection box... Turnbased feels like a super crapy "9th Level Timestop Spell Sequence" for every NPC in every battle encounter (You can't sneak with several chars behind different mobs and kill them at the same time like in good old BG)... The overview is confusing, especially for ranged attacks (tried to shoot down something from the ceiling but camera could not show it/zooming in. It plays like sand in gears at all... The German Translation is good but by special terms mostly names unfortunately consists of "Denglish" (mixed German and English words) so far, for instant Bane = Tyrannos in German, but is still called Bane (research prob of Larian)...

Having seen a lot of reviews from the angry or dissatisfied saying "THIS IS DIVINITY ORIGINAL SIN!!!", I was expecting to be disappointed with even the early access version of BG3, despite falling into the camp of reviewers who (after a bit of struggle with the writing and the fields of environmental effects) enjoyed D:OS. There is perhaps a bit of the D:OS narrative approach here, and I don't just mean the fact that it seems to replicate the first act of D:OS (but with mind flayers!). However, they are clearly implementing 5th edition D&D, which I've spent a few hours playing in the last year or two including dice rolls, advantage/disadvantage, character classes and spells. Tutorial entries explain most of what's happening under the hood. I don't even think they do too badly with the characters so far. I think there's a tendency with these RPGs for most players to play the proverbial goody two-shoes (with an angry minority wanting to play as chaotic evil). In the current early access version, you have the D&D alignment system, but character motivation and behaviour has a bit more depth than simply "evil = cackling villain; good = paragon of virtue". I've got 14 hours on this so far, so maybe this changes. In any case, this is certainly "Larian does D&D", but I'm still looking forward to being able to play the full game.

No matter what the others are saying here in their early access reviews, I'm playing the release version and I'm having a blast. Can recommend it for everybody that like role playing games.

No this isn't the greatest cRPG ever, but it is the best in some regards which automatically makes it special. Most modern cRPGs are weak nostalgia grabs with minimal role-playing and a minuscule spell selection that leaves you only fit for elemental mindless blasting. BG3 is a proper cRPG at least. Strengths: - The most branching, reactive overall plot and quest in any RPG, though not as reactive to race as some others - It has overall the most frequent use of dialogue skills in combat - Tied with KOTOR 2 for most influence you can have over companions - Can speak with animals more than any other, can speak with the dead like in Arcanum - Almost anyone can die at any time, minimal restrictions on how you can act - Features an antagonist with above average dialogue quality (Raphael) - By far the best level design in cRPG history - A cRPG with verticality! Actual 3D design! Due to the level design, jumping, localized teleporting, pseudo-flying - The best enemy AI I've seen in a cRPG, except for when using stealth. Ranged enemies are actually elusive and seek high ground, in melee enemies will shove you to your death. - Almost no limits on how far you can separate your party is a huge win - Lots of physics objects like other Larian games, including breakable doors and movable/breakable containers Weaknesses: - Bugs - FSR 2.2 not delivered on time - Technical disaster, stuttery mess on any PC in late act 2-end - Pathetic and unbalanced spell selection - Mandatory house rules like critical failure/success for skill checks - Dice rolls in foreground = WTF - No true flight, no rope or grapple hooks - Rest abuse is possible - Sneak attacks don't work with flanking - Can't use enchanted arrows with ranged sneak attacks for no reason - Totally broken, exploitable AI when using stealth lets a rogue solo the hardest battles in the game - No cover mechanics - Line of sight issues - Endless inventory and money - Lots of plot but no meaning behind any of it + More

I had a blast playing BG3 with family and friends. Every time I play the game, I find stuff, quests, missions, that were not there before, or I expect a quest to go in a certain way, only to find out, that it is completely different. It is fun, exciting and really enjoyable. To really have fun with it though, you best play it with a friend or two or maybe even get a full group of four.