It's a big RPG with lots of modern features. It has a ton of replay value but you probably won't keep engaged multiple times as you would with Baldur's Gate or other Forgotten Realms games. It not much like Baldur's Gate. It is a little similar to Divinity: Original Sin. While this could be a good standalone game by itself, I don't recommend it. The characters are not engaging enough compared to the standard of recent RPG's anyway. The graphics range from good to great and it's voiced. However, I found that even with an increased modern presentation, overall this game is less immersive than even games where you can't fully make out character's faces! It just isn't personable enough. The full turn based combat is a big step down from Baldur's Gate's real time with pause and frankly is less strategic and unnecessarily time consuming. The combat system as a whole has an overwhelming number of options but it just feels like you have less control of your characters and more fluff, while the computer is doing most of the work for you. I personally don't care for the story much. It's okay and has a similar tone to some of the Baldur's Gate 2 stories but put simply, it's hard to care about the characters or world as presented. The writing is theme park -like, in the vapid, hyped thrills sense, and not thorough enough to connect you to everything inside. There is a lot to like and a lot to be disappointed in here. But there are also some over the top breaking points if you are on the fence. The inclusion of cgi porn in the romances, the inclusion of the now infamous bestiality, inclusion for inclusion's sake, the lack of legacy class combinations/options from BG1/2, low level cap and underdeveloped character endgame, the combat system completely foreign to Baldur's Gate, and the list goes on. Overall, it's just not Baldur's Gate, not the next best thing, and not worth the time really. Don't expect it to be Baldur's Gate the Third, expect...something different.
Diablo is the type of game series that can always get you to try it but always burns you out, for some people very fast. Let's face it, nostalgia aside, the first game wasn't very good. It's a lot like (better) arcade games and while it's always had the loyalists and hype machine, the series as a whole is one where you will probably find something to enjoy for a while but before the end you'll likely be bored stiff. And it's designed to be played through multiple times! It was an early iteration of grind as content as it's all a repetition of itself over and over. If you find yourself playing just to get to the next part, just quit! It doesn't have a storyline as it's saving grace, in fact it hardly had any story at all. Charm, it does have but it wears off quickly, especially with it's clunky character and inventory systems and made-to-be-forgotten thousand upon thousands of battles. Take if from someone who thought there'd be light at the end of the tunnel, there is no payoff! The 2nd one had a good multiplayer (LAN especially) to rescue it and a story (albeit dark and uninspired) to keep you going but this one fails in that regard. It wasn't horrible, just dull and unimpressive overall. And then of course it's gruesome, if arcade-y; there's no beauty here to enjoy along the way. If you aren't itching to replay your past here, skip this one
This is more of a slow burning, immersive experience of a game than anything else. It is easily the best game I played in 2018. There are plenty of times when you might want to skip ahead or speed through something you've done but the game doesn't let you trivialize it. You fly with the ship in space, walk with the mechs on the ground, and in all ways are along for the ride the whole time. It burns slow and builds to the end. It doesn't captivate with flashy lights or mind numbing action, and it doesn't disappoint like those either. It has a feel of 'Firefly' in fringe, wild west, space setting and stringed instrument music. As a long time fan of the old MechWarriors this was quite different but fully satisfying. I could wish for more of the campaign, more story, more voiceovers but I couldn't fault the game for anything as a top entry in today's overfull market
