Summary
With so many promising video games releasing in 2023, it’s tempting to devour new releases as soon as possible, butBaldur’s Gate 3is not fit for this approach. Much ink has been spilled about Larian Studio’s latest smash-hit CRPG, and with PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions on the horizon, even more gamers will be able to get their hands on the title. In light of this, it’s important that audiences takeBaldur’s Gate 3one step at a time.
Baldur’s Gate 3has raised the bar for CRPGsin a number of different ways. The quality of the writing, present in both the main questline and the side content, provides an endlessly immersive experience that stimulates the imagination; it’s a game that offers a nearly unprecedented amount of freedom to its players, resulting in great replay value and lends a sense of weight to its decisions. Additionally, it sets the stage for a true role-playing experience, offering a number of different avenues for customization and class-building, which is something that has pleased many fans of classic RPGs. Considering these strengths and others,Baldur’s Gate 3is best enjoyed at an easy cadence.
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Baldur’s Gate 3 is a Slow Burn
While it would be a mischaracterization to call the game slow or boring, asBaldur’s Gate 3’s class creationprovides enough fun on its own, straight out of the gate, it is certainly not an action-packed spectacle.Baldur’s Gate 3is a turn-based RPG with a heavy emphasis on narrative and decision-making, to the point where players can go several hours without coming across a fight, or choose to skip large action-oriented sections by using charisma to side-step conflicts. All that is to say that, while there is plenty of excitement to be found in the world ofBaldur’s Gate 3, it is certainly slower-paced than most mainstream RPGs.
Aside from its more thoughtful, slow-paced design, there is the game’s sheer scale. Players can practicallyignore the main story ofBaldur’s Gate 3without even realizing it, as it’s incredibly easy to get sucked into a number of side quests as soon as the game gets going. There’s nothing that separates these side quests from the main story in terms of quality, as they are just as well-written, engaging, and creative as anything in the central campaign. The side content isn’t designed to be there for grinding, either, as progression inBaldur’s Gate 3comes from learning strategies and obtaining unique gear just as much as it comes from strictly leveling up.
On the subject of progression, it’s worth notingBaldur’s Gate 3’s combat difficulty. Even some of the toughestBaldur’s Gate 3enemies can be bested without combat, but sometimes push comes to shove and blood has to be shed. These encounters can be swift and simple, or they can involve dozens of brutal enemies that come at the player’s party from all directions. The time it takes to optimize builds, learn location layouts, devise the best strategy, and dispatch these brutal enemies can be considerable, and while some players will master the combat right away, others may need more time to learn the ropes. For this latter category, it’s specifically important to not rush, and take the game at a natural speed.
The bottom line is, even if a player aces the combat system or speeds past every piece of side content,Baldur’s Gate 3is a dizzyingly large game. Not all players willspend almost 100 hours inBG3’s first actalone, but there is no way around the fact the game is simply massive. It’s going to take a long time to beatBaldur’s Gate 3, and players should embrace that.
Baldur’s Gate 3is available now for PC. The PlayStation 5 version will be available on September 6th, 2023. A version for Xbox Series X/S is still in development.
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