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What's up, nerds, geeks, weebs, and everything in between?
Your boy Mike here, checking in to ask a serious question: What games are you all playing these days? So many amazing games have come out this year, but one has seemed to take over all of my time, no matter how hard I try to pull myself away from it. This isn't a top 5 piece; this is a "GO BUY BALDUR'S GATE 3 RIGHT NOW" piece. Holy @#&*!!! This game is SICK!!! I can't get enough of it at all. I don't even know where to begin, but I'll try to start somewhere.
Okay, let's start with the basics. Baldur's Gate 3 is the third installment of the Baldur's Gate series, which is set in the Sword Coast setting of Dungeons and Dragons and takes place on the continent of Faerun. The series is developed by Larian Studios, the guys who brought you games like the Baldur's Gate series(duh) as well as the Divinity series. I don't work for any of this studio, and I don't get paid for this. I had to buy my copy just like I think you all should, especially if you're a fan of 5th edition Dungeons and Dragons! With six years in development, the game blazes its path forward as a standout not only in the series but also in the world of RPGs in general.
Visually, the game looks breathtaking and runs smoothly, although there are a few glitches and issues with lagging. Despite this, the game runs efficiently on my PS5 at 60 fps and rarely dips. I must admit that I never played the first two games in the series. I do know that they are set in the same universe but operate using the 2nd edition rules for Dungeons and Dragons. BG1 was released on PC and Mac, while BG2 was released on PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. I first heard about this game from my friends' group, with whom I regularly play Dungeons and Dragons. My bro Ryan and sib Evan were raving about the game months before it dropped and got to play the beta builds Larian released ealier in the year. I also started seeing discussions about the game in social media groups I frequent. BG3 gives me the impression that it analyzed the mistakes made in the previous games of the series and learned from them.
The game features complex systems built on top of the 5th edition ruleset, yet they are made easily navigable through a clever user interface. This interface not only shows you how to operate the game but also encourages you to figure things out on your own.
Players can traverse with their avatar and three other NPCs, equipping them with clothes, armor, weapons, and abilities as they see fit. Once again, I must highlight that the gameplay is easy to pick up and understand, but it will challenge you! It applies a level of realism to a fantasy realm where only players that take the time to familiarize themselves with DnD5e/BG3 systems to become adept at the challenges the games throw at you. It may take a little time to get used to navigating the various menus, but you are never truly overwhelmed by any of it. Well, at least I wasn't overwhelmed by any of it. If you enjoy turn-based RPGs, you'll appreciate the game's systems. However, they don't provide you with all the information, of course. If you have a history of playing the DnD board game, you have an edge in monitoring your characters' growth. You know that Rogues can equip light armor, wield a small weapon in each hand, and deal heavy damage when unseen by their enemies. You understand that clerics can not only heal themselves and others but also buff themselves and allies, as well as debuff and cast attack magic against their foes. You are familiar with how the magic system works in 5th edition and how the elements interact with each other.
The visual representation has been excellent, and the audio has not disappointed either. The music is as emotionally moving as it is accurate. While exploring the Sword Coast with your characters, you'll listen to subtle chords of instrumentation accompanied by acoustic guitars and medieval lutes. When a combat sequence is initiated, these same chords transform into a quicker tempo, with a more robust ensemble joining in a sympohony that creates all the expected crescendos during battles. The serene scenes, complemented by the right sonic ambience, never become repetitive or dull. Regardless of your in-game location and activity, the music always fits perfectly.
BG3 excels in character creation and interaction. During character creation, you choose your character's gender, with options including male, female, and nonbinary. This inclusion may have bothered some fans, but for those seeking a fully customizable experience and the ability to see themselves in games, it's a significant step forward. After all, isn't raw role-playing at the heart of DnD? When I say it's thorough, I mean it. The game isn't shy about offering options to customize even your character's genitals. I appreciate this level of detail, but it can be overwhelming, and downright wierd looking at all these fantasy creatures junks.
However, despite my love for the game and appreciation for these options, as cisgender black man, I find myself wanting to see more diversity in hairstyles. Having only two or three variations on the same styles of dreadlocks, cornrows, Caesar cuts, and mini afros for us feels limiting. I'm not suggesting that the game is ruined for me by any measure, nor am I unappreciative of the robust character creator. I simply wish to encourage more diversity in these fantasy settings for all players.
Beyond that, the relationship aspect is also noteworthy. Your avatar can form intimate relationships with most of the NPCs that join your party, and a few are open to polyamorous relationships, although these are rare and come with certain caveats, as you can imagine.
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Without giving away any spoilers, I must say that the voice acting in Baldur's Gate 3 has been nothing short of superb. It stands as some of the best video game acting I've seen in quite some time. This feels like a positive trend in the game industry, as the last few titles I played featured sensational acting as well. A special shout-out to Final Fantasy 16. However, none of them has delivered more consistently excellent character acting than BG3. The lowliest most unimportant NPC feels deliver lines as though they've lived in this fantasy plane all their lives. Even though I haven't finished it yet, I continue to be blown away by the exceptionally well-recorded dialogue and the captivating conversations it brings to life. This level of consistency is a rarity in video games, and I must apologize to Final Fantasy 16 for not being able to shout it out for that.
I want to tip my hat to the lead writer, Mr. Adam Smith, of Larian Studios. It's clear that he's not only a fan of good storytelling but also a dedicated fan of DnD! He and his team created the turn-based RPG that people have been waiting for. BG3 has achieved so much that some game studios have dismissed its success as "lightning in a bottle" or a "fluke." These rather prominent gaming companies, which I won't mention here, have expressed concerns that consumers will come to expect Larian Studios' level of game creation as the new standard and that they might underdeliver in comparison. Well, as a lifelong gamer and geek, I can only say: "Yeah, fools... yall better step up your game, huh?" I hope for all of us who love gaming, that all game companies take notice and make quality games that can compete with the likes of BG3. To paraphrase Yoda from "The Last Jedi"; I hope Baldur's Gate 3 is what gaming studios grow beyond. Go! Go forth and play this game!!!
Thank you so much for reading! Go play Baldur's Gate 3, available now on MacOS, PC, Playstation 5, Steam, and Xbox Series S/X. Take care, nerds, geeks, weebs, and everyone in between!
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