I played and loved BG1 and 2. So I went in expecting to hate this game. I read a lot of reviews that say "it doesn't feel like BG..." and so on and so forth.. I disagree. The game is great so far. The vast options you have to approach situations is stellar. It plays and feels like D&D 5e and you are headed for Baldur's Gate. The game looks gorgeous, the acting is good, the mechanics are on point, the pacing is really good. It's a great game. Compared to BG2: Druids grove in BG2 was small. It was an outside area and one cave at the back. Here in BG3 it's much more expansive with the refugees outside, the beach, the outdoor idol and ceremony spot and the caves. The towns in BG2 outside Athkatla (the big city) were all just a few buildings.. not that big. The couple towns you go two (I count the Goblin camp as a town) were big in comparison. SO when the party actually gets to Baldur's Gate city I'm expecting Larian to make it expansive compared to the big city in BG2 and BG1. I am very optimistic and excited to explore it when full release gets here. There are plenty of bugs, but hey, it's early access: I saw a Tiefling tail turn into a big stretchy bungie cord. After I rescued Halsin, he was walking out, and then the spiders that I 'persuaded' decided to attack him since he was neutral. This made Halsin hostile toward my party and I hadn't saved in a while... If I could give one bit of advice to Larian Studios it's this: You have a great product. Sure, listen to the community BUT always keep in mind that this is your game. By trying to please everyone you'll water down your vision and wind up with mediocrity. Stay true to what YOU envision for this game and know that it's YOUR game to make. Make your efforts count and stay true to yourselves, not the masses. Earth shatteringly good games come out of labors of love and vision, not focus groups. Listen to the message boards but don't listen too closely and don't let them steer the ship.
