If you like the first two games, there is a good chance you will love this one. A word of advice before I get into further detail: Playing this game does not make much sense if you have not played BS 1 & 2. Playing BS 3 on its own will confuse you more than anything. The best way to start the game is to import a save from BS 2 because then the game will keep track of the choices you made, the characters you got (not yet) killed and the items you collected. Just like BS 1+2, this game is a mixture of well-written, atmospheric storytelling and exciting turn-based combat. The visual and musical presentation is beautiful and most of the choices you make do matter. There is more combat in this game than in BS 1 & 2, which does, however, fit the setting. While there is a certain danger that the battles may become repetitive, I certainly enjoyed every single one of them. Due to the fact that almost every character you can control and almost every enemy you have to fight has different special abilities, strengths and weaknesses, each battle is a tactical challenge of its own. I think that the combat system used in all three games is excellent because it forces you to think tactically: Which heroes do I send into battle? How do I position them on the battlefield? Is it better to attack the enemy right next to me or to use a special ability to support a hero who is going to take a hit next turn? Another thing which gives this game a lot of replay value is choice and consequence: Not only can you experiment a lot with the choices you can make in this game, but depending on your choices in BS 1 & 2 some situations will play out differently. Characters you saved from death earlier on may sacrifice themselves to give you an advantage, or simply die when you screw up. And screw up you will. At times, this game made me feel miserable because of the deaths caused by my choices. But when I finally beat it after roughly 10 hours, I was already sure I would play it again.
