For some folks who have poured their hearts and souls into Baldur’s Gate 3, it’s hard to think of things that the game might have missed. And perhaps that’s thanks to the overwhelming nature of the game. Larian Studios presented players with an RPG behemoth where “expansive” doesn’t even begin to describe its enormity—packaging incredible narration, world-ending threats, and memorable companions tightly into an over 100-hour adventure.
But before Baldur’s Gate 3, there was Baldur’s Gate 2. Before that, there was Baldur’s Gate. Even with the narrative sequence, however, the two foundational games of the franchise don’t really resemble the final product of Larian’s turn with the IP. With decades separating the first two titles from its most recent installment, the franchise has undergone a significant transformation. And the visual and tonal identity of the game has shifted so much that comparison may seem futile for those unfamiliar with BG and BG2. However, those following the history of Baldur’s Gate know that some point of comparison is entirely possible. Indeed, there aren’t many things that the game got wrong, but there are also things that its predecessors absolutely got right.
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What Baldur’s Gate 1 and 2 Did Better Than Baldur’s Gate 3
Party Limit
Baldur’s Gate 3 fans know the absolute agony involving choosing the right party for a quest. From logic and plot beats to simply bringing personal favorites, striking a balance may not be as intuitive as most players may want. Therefore, they may download party expansion mods to ensure that no one gets left behind at camp. Baldur’s Gate 3 fans who aren’t familiar with the foundational titles may need their hands held when they’re told the following: Baldur’s Gate and Baldur’s Gate 2 have party limits of six - no mods needed.
This expanded party limit does come with a significant asterisk, though. The recruitable companions in Baldur’s Gate 3 cap at 10, while Baldur’s Gate has a whopping total of over 30 under specific circumstances. Similarly, Baldur’s Gate 2 has over 20 recruitable companions, although this number may not seem as overwhelming thanks to returning friendly faces. Getting to know all companions intimately becomes a challenging task when there are so many to cycle through, but still, the flexibility of having 5 companions instead of 3 would have been incredibly useful in Baldur’s Gate 3.
A Sense of Urgency
The first few moments of a game set the tone for the narrative gravity of the adventure. In Baldur’s Gate, a player is tasked with leaving Candlekeep after a horrific murder. In Baldur’s Gate 2, escaping Jon Irenicus’ lairs becomes the adrenaline-pumping vein that carries the protagonist through. The narrative paths that follow from these inciting incidents feel pulsing, ever-present, and consistent throughout the 50 to 100-hour playthrough of these titles.
It seems that Baldur’s Gate 3 studied the formula and attempted to replicate it. There are very few scenarios in a D&D campaign that can be more life-threatening than escaping a nautiloid ship while merely being at level 1. Not only that, but the parasites in everyone’s head serve as a ticking time bomb that discourages luxuries like long resting. But this impending doom isn’t entirely accurate. In fact, believing that there are many hard deadlines can lead to committing some common cardinal sins while playing Baldur’s Gate 3. BG3 is best played with exploration in mind, whimsy at heart, and long rests when curious—but all things considered, these things stand almost entirely in contrast to the sense of impending doom that permeates the first hour or two of the game.
Loot
Sweeping a dungeon in Baldur’s Gate 3 is a mixed bag. While some rooms can have some of Baldur’s Gate 3’s most legendary weapons and armor sets, all rooms suffer from the same ailment: an abundance of empty containers with no value. Larian Studios is incredibly deliberate in its level design, so the decision to add an abundance of empty barrels, boxes, and crates was likely made to create visually immersive and believable spaces. However, that immersion comes at the chagrin of players who groan at yet another rotten tomato. Baldur’s Gate and Baldur’s Gate 2 offered tighter dungeons that led to finding loot being a reward more than a scavenger hunt.
Baldur's Gate 3
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 96 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- August 3, 2023
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Larian Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Larian Studios
- Engine
- Divinity 4.0
WHERE TO PLAY
Abducted, infected, lost. You are turning into a monster, but as the corruption inside you grows, so does your power. Forge a tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power. Caught in a conflict between devils, deities, and sinister otherworldly forces, you and your party will determine the fate of the Forgotten Realms.
THE ULTIMATE D&D EXPERIENCE
Choose from a wide selection of D&D races and classes, or play as an origin character with a hand-crafted background. Adventure, loot, battle, and romance as you journey through the Forgotten Realms and beyond. Play alone or as a party of up to four in multiplayer – and select your companions carefully.
A CINEMATIC STORYTELLING EPIC
Forged with the new Divinity 4.0 engine, Baldur’s Gate 3 gives you unprecedented freedom to explore, experiment, and interact with a world that reacts to your choices. A grand, cinematic narrative brings you closer to your characters than ever before, as you venture through our biggest world yet. Romance, deceive, aid, obstruct, and grow alongside your friends thanks to Larian's next-generation RPG engine.
- Genre(s)
- RPG
