Every once in a while, a game emerges that is so unforgettable, exhilarating, innovative, and brilliantly crafted that it not only redefines a genre but also sets an entirely new standard. Baldur's Gate 3 is undeniably such an accomplishment for the realm of tabletop roleplaying-inspired, swords and sorcery adventures—a genre that was first popularized by its BioWare-made CRPG predecessors decades ago. Larian Studios has masterfully transformed this corner of Dungeons & Dragons' Forgotten Realms into a breathtaking and intricately detailed world, teeming with an abundance of fully-fleshed, expertly written, and impeccably voiced characters that defy enumeration. Within its rich tapestry, you will confront heart-wrenching decisions, forge unexpected alliances, even engage in the unexpected pursuit of romance with bears, and encounter an astonishing diversity of captivating and challenging turn-based combat scenarios. My 130-plus hours in this journey were not merely enjoyable; they were transformative, and I found myself deeply and irrevocably captivated.
A recurring challenge that video games have frequently encountered when attempting to translate the essence of playing Dungeons & Dragons at the tabletop level is the inherent difficulty in capturing the boundless freedom and imaginative problem-solving that real-world logic permits. It often becomes comical in other RPGs when you possess a spell capable of obliterating an ogre, only to find it utterly ineffective against a mere wooden gate. While it remains doubtful that any game will ever fully replicate the unparalleled flexibility of the tabletop experience, Baldur's Gate 3 represents a significant leap forward from what we've been accustomed to in titles like Skyrim or Dragon Age. Those gates will prove no obstacle to a determined warlock.
If an object appears flammable, it's highly likely that you can ignite it using a fire spell. When you wish to conserve lockpicks, most doors can be forcibly opened with a sufficiently hefty axe. Many concealed areas that other games would typically barricade with invisible barriers can be accessed by climbing and jumping. Personally, I managed to bypass an immense boss battle by daringly challenging a fearsome zombie character to a drinking contest. Thanks to my high Constitution score, I succeeded in taunting him into drinking himself to oblivion, all while I continued to cheer for more. In this realm, the word "impossible" is seldom uttered, as it readily accommodates your curiosity and daring.
This is a world that seldom utters the word 'No.'
Furthermore, you can bring up to three friends into the adventure, each with their own custom characters, for cooperative play – whether online or right on your couch. I was genuinely impressed by how seamlessly this experience unfolded. Joining or departing from a session, regardless of your friends' progress in the campaign, was remarkably straightforward, and I encountered no noteworthy connection issues or any other online disruptions – although it's worth noting that there have been reports of such issues from other players. Considering the intricate nature of Baldur's Gate 3, this level of stability is indeed remarkable. The enjoyment and hilarity soar when you realize that one member of your party can engage a guard in conversation to distract them while another pilfers anything that's not securely affixed behind their back.
The level of freedom you can embrace in defining your character in this world is truly remarkable. The character creator stands out as one of the finest I've encountered, rivaling even those found in MMOs, offering an extensive range of choices including 29 diverse subraces, each equipped with unique abilities and distinct models (especially when you consider the various colors available for dragonborn characters). Each of the 12 classes boasts at least three distinct specializations, each with its own distinctive playstyle. Wizards and clerics, in particular, have an abundance of options to explore.
What truly captivated me was the exceptional artistry applied to every humanoid, foe, and even the attire. I've seldom derived as much delight from simply gazing upon a character as I did when craftinag my flame-haired elven ranger, a visual masterpiece that rivals even those from Final Fantasy XIV. Moreover, it's not limited to static models; the range of high-fidelity, performance-captured, expressive facial expressions that every character can exhibit is astonishingly well-executed for a game of this genre. This is particularly impressive when considering the sheer volume of characters, which far surpasses a typical core cast. The absence of any jarring lip-syncing issues further attests to the meticulous attention to detail in this game.
The range of high-fidelity, performance-captured, and expressive faces is remarkably impressive.
Larian's remarkable attention to detail is also vividly evident in their area design and writing. Nowhere is this more evident than in the city of Baldur's Gate itself—a bustling hub teeming with life and adventure that never ceased to amaze me, even after spending 90 hours to reach this titular setting. Nearly every inhabitant you encounter has something meaningful to contribute to the evolving narrative, and inquisitive exploration is consistently met with rewards in the form of fresh lore, valuable loot, and engaging quests. It's genuinely astonishing how much voice acting Larian has woven into the very fabric of these streets, and the quality is consistently high. Numerous casual passersby on street corners are portrayed with the same level of enthusiasm and professionalism as the main cast, seldom sounding too alike. While I assume many of the actors are responsible for multiple minor roles, I find it difficult to discern, unlike in some areas of Skyrim.
Let's Party!
Leading the way among this captivating ensemble are your companions, a diverse group of intricately layered and intriguingly flawed characters who undergo significant growth and, at times, regression throughout the course of the campaign. Karlach, the cheerful and enthusiastic tiefling with a demonic bomb instead of a heart, quickly became my closest confidant. I embarked on romantic escapades with the somber cleric Shadowheart, the conceited wizard Gale, and even the stoic Halsin, who possesses the remarkable ability to transform into a grizzly bear, among other creatures. This is just the tip of the iceberg, as there is a wealth of other companions, each boasting elaborate backstories and the potential for profound personal development and transformation.
As for the main antagonists, I'll divulge as few spoilers as possible, but suffice it to say that they are as intricately written as the heroes. They harbor complex motives and wield their own distinctive forms of malevolence, introducing fresh and heightened threats into the lattI also found Larian's approach to romance quite refreshing. Years of Mass Effect memes have demonstrated the difficulty of creating genuinely sexy 3D video game scenes, and Baldur's Gate 3 doesn't attempt to revolutionize that aspect. Society hasn't quite reached that point yet. Instead of striving for that and potentially falling short, they infuse a great deal of the magic into sensual wordplay. Many of the intimate encounters you can partake in are either genuinely humorous (I mean, who hasn't come across the bear scene?) or, more importantly, they serve as a means to delve deeper into your partner's character, how they perceive the world, and what they hold dear. This approach is far more satisfying than showcasing two naked elves engaging in awkward actions accompanied by unintentionally comical mood music, akin to Dark Helmet making his action figures kiss.
I also found Larian's approach to romance quite refreshing. Years of Mass Effect memes have demonstrated the difficulty of creating genuinely sexy 3D video game scenes, and Baldur's Gate 3 doesn't attempt to revolutionize that aspect. Society hasn't quite reached that point yet. Instead of striving for that and potentially falling short, they infuse a great deal of the magic into sensual wordplay. Many of the intimate encounters you can partake in are either genuinely humorous (I mean, who hasn't come across the bear scene?) or, more importantly, they serve as a means to delve deeper into your partner's character, how they perceive the world, and what they hold dear. This approach is far more satisfying than showcasing two naked elves engaging in awkward actions accompanied by unintentionally comical mood music, akin to Dark Helmet making his action figures kiss.
The combat is meticulously designed to evoke the impulse of wanting to exclaim at the Dungeon Master, 'You scoundrel!'
When it came time to don our clothes again and engage in combat by rolling for initiative, Baldur's Gate 3 consistently left me astounded by the meticulousness and thoughtfulness of the encounter design, all seemingly crafted to test my resolve. Each one felt like it was purposefully tailored to elicit that inner cry of, "You rascal!" aimed at the Dungeon Master. And I mean that as the highest praise. One skirmish involved teleporting imp creatures who ambushed my party members, swiftly incapacitating them before whisking them away to separate locations, effectively hampering spellcasting and compelling everyone to fend for themselves. The subsequent encounter might pit us against menacing insectoids who induce paralyzing fear in every one of us, leaving me to strategize on how to prevail without the ability to move. The AI proved to be shrewd and merciless, particularly on the top-level tactician difficulty. Never once could I rely on a monotonous, repetitive routine. It's a constant test of quick thinking or facing the consequence of reloading from the latest quicksave.
Tools of the Trade.
The learning curve benefits from a clean and legible user interface that allows you to press 'T' when hovering over any creature, object, or key phrase within a tooltip to access additional information. However, it is hindered by a rather inadequate set of tutorials that assumes a significant amount of prior knowledge about D&D. Personally, I'm well-versed in 5th Edition, so it didn't pose much of a challenge for me, but I can certainly see how others might overlook critical concepts, such as the mechanics behind saving throws linked to specific attributes. Baldur's Gate 3 doesn't delve into these details. While it's possible to get by without some of this knowledge, particularly on lower difficulty settings, mastering combat may prove elusive without a deeper understanding. It could be quite beneficial to familiarize yourself with the 5E Player's Handbook before diving in, although Larian shouldn't necessarily expect that level of commitment from every player.
Your character and companions require time and experience to evolve into effective combatants, and the initial four levels or so can be quite grueling due to your initial vulnerability. This is primarily a result of closely adhering to 5th Edition D&D rules, with Larian's designers choosing not to address this long-standing issue from the tabletop game. Nevertheless, they frequently provide opportunities to level the playing field or avoid combat through clever tactics. It's advisable to remain vigilant of your environment, such as identifying heavy objects suspended from destructible threads above your adversaries, or preparing for combat by dispatching isolated guards discreetly, ensuring no one is watching.
Your character and companions require time and experience to become proficient combatants.
However, as my party gained five levels' worth of upgrades and acquired various magic items, I gleefully advanced through battles, utilizing a wide array of versatile abilities and exploiting the environment to my advantage. One of my favorite pair of boots granted me the ability to teleport to any location within my line of sight once per day (typically a power reserved for magical classes), a feature that proved immensely useful for positioning my ranger in inaccessible areas, providing a commanding view of the battlefield. Consequently, I dispatched some of the later bosses with far greater ease than I would have in a direct confrontation, as nothing prevented me from having two invisible wizards nonchalantly approach them in broad daylight and unleash a Disintegrate spell before they even had a chance to react.
A World of Wonders
The narrative unfolds across three acts, each of which consumed approximately 40 hours of my time, as I played with an obsession for completionism and diligently pursued numerous side objectives. Each act boasts a distinctive ambiance and aesthetic, enhanced by an evocative and dynamic soundtrack. Act 1 primarily immerses you in idyllic wilderness, Act 2 takes you into a realm of eerie intrigue, and Act 3 guides you through densely urban adventures. There are moments when the pacing may feel sluggish, especially during the first act, where I found myself chasing multiple leads to address the same issue. Act 2, in particular, raises more questions than it answers, keeping the mysteries intact until the final series of confrontations. Nevertheless, the allure of uncovering new and captivating locations, engaging in well-crafted side quests, and participating in consistently enjoyable combat encounters ensured that my motivation remained unwavering.
The truly remarkable aspect of Baldur's Gate 3 isn't solely its vast scope, although much has been said about its size. To be honest, I wouldn't have minded if it were half as long as it actually is. Instead, the magic lies in the fact that nearly none of it comes across as filler, no matter how far you stray from the main quest. Every random house I entered or side quest I undertook rewarded me with a memorable, distinct, handcrafted roleplaying encounter. Even a seemingly inconsequential note discovered on a bandit's body could unveil a poignant backstory, imbuing every decision to engage in combat and take a life with a sense of weight and purpose. It's all meticulously crafted and serves a purpose.
Every aspect is meticulously designed with purpose.
While the first two acts present their fair share of challenging decisions, the major choices I confronted prior to committing to a final course of action in Act 3 were a stroke of ingenious design. Without giving away any spoilers, the realization that my adversaries had outmaneuvered me by the time I reached the city was truly heart-wrenching. However, I still felt empowered by the remaining opportunities to shape my own fate and forge a remarkable coalition of allies. Remarkably, the concluding segment frequently harked back to actions I took and characters I rescued a staggering 80 hours prior, weaving the entire narrative together and lending an even greater sense of authenticity to the world.
This is not a tale that assumes you're a hero by default; it's one that squarely challenges you to prove your mettle if you truly possess it. The build-up to the climax cornered me with numerous potential exits, but each demanded a compromise of my beliefs in one form or another. This heightens the tension and narrative to unprecedented levels, which is remarkable given its already impressive quality. There were quests that brought tears to my eyes, quests that prompted audible exclamations of "What?!". The multitude of variations in not only the ending but also in numerous smaller stories has left me eagerly anticipating a fresh playthrough. This sentiment speaks volumes, especially considering that Baldur's Gate 3 has been my sole occupation for the past three weeks.
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The diversity not only in the ending but also in so many other smaller stories has left me enthusiastic about embarking on another playthrough.
I should mention that there were some mild to moderate bugs encountered here and there – nothing that completely halted my progress, mind you, but certainly enough to be bothersome. Additionally, I faced performance issues during Act 3, which necessitated me lowering my settings, even with an RTX 3080. However, it's worth noting that many of the most problematic bugs have already been addressed with the four hotfixes released since launch. What remains feels almost inconsequential when weighed against the overall excellence of the game. A title as intricate as this one will invariably have its share of bugs, particularly at launch, and the experience I had represented a more than acceptable trade-off.
The Final Verdict
I don't want to suggest that every CRPG moving forward should aim to replicate Baldur's Gate 3. Not every game needs to be this expansive or ambitious, nor as densely packed. However, it undeniably marks a pivotal moment in the genre, and if I had to identify one exemplar for other developers to draw inspiration from, this would undoubtedly be it. I've waited 14 years for the stars to align once more, delivering the perfect blend of intricate, tactical, old-school RPG combat, an epic and masterfully crafted narrative with multifaceted characters, and a level of refinement and cinematic presentation that allows me to discern the sweat and sorrow on characters' faces during their darkest moments.
While other games have come close to achieving elements of this list, the last time they all coalesced was with Dragon Age: Origins in 2009. Finally, I can confidently declare that this game, alongside its Infinity Engine predecessors, has a worthy successor that not only matches their RPG excellence but surpasses it. Baldur's Gate 3 is essentially everything I could have hoped for.