Baldur’s Gate 3 | Early Access Preview
It is what it was. And more.
Baldur’s Gate 3 in early access drives home the D&D experience with a concussive eldritch blast… to your patience. After 20 long years, we finally get to dive back into the amazing world of the Forgotten Realms. Dungeons and Dragons games are always intriguing, as the decisions you make normally affect the story’s plot in one way or another. Since Larian announced this game, I couldn’t wait to buckle on my AC 16 chain mail, sharpen my 1d12 greataxe, and take on the Sword Coast once more.While early access games are almost always a little glitch prone, I was not expecting Baldur’s Gate 3 to be this rough when Larian gave it to us to play. However, if you’re able to see past a fullscreen of your companion’s right thigh (more on that later), you can see what they’re working toward. Providing they put in the work required, this will be amazing. Someday.
Illithid Imperilment
Survive. Find help. Before you turn into a nightmarish Mindflayer. Visions of the tentacle-faced being haunt you as you make your way through an unfamiliar land looking for a healer with your companions. The opening sequence in Baldur’s Gate 3 is one of the more enjoyable ones I’ve experienced in recent years. The sense of urgency is very well played out as you begin your journey looking for someone that can heal you and your friends before it’s too late.
As you venture forth, you will develop (or deteriorate) relationships with your companions. If one of your companions has a lust for blood, and you choose to slay an enemy after interrogating them instead of letting them go, that companion will feel more affection for you. Meanwhile, the priestly cleric who values life over all else will take offense to your decision. This adds a personal flare to an already solid plot.
Turning to Turn-Based
Combat encounters in Baldur’s Gate 3 have changed pretty drastically from the format of the first two Baldur’s Gate games. Now, when you want to smite your enemies with an exploding fireball, you and your party enter a tactical turn-based format. The system they’ve implemented here is D&D 5th edition. If you’re familiar with D&D, this is great. If not, enjoy watching your character die over and over until you figure it out, because they don’t do a very good job of explaining it. There is a tutorial in the menu, but I didn’t even know that was there until I was already a few hours in. Each character has a certain distance they can move and specific main actions they can take, as well as bonus actions. These are based on the character’s race and class.
The dialogue choices that shape the adventure you’re on are many. They will also differ from player to player, based on what kind of character you are playing. Half-Elf fighters are reacted to differently than a Drow warlock, hence different interactions will commence. The storyline options I’ve played have been numerous, giving a very high replay value.
A World Dressed to Kill
As expected, the world of Faerun is beautiful, but deadly. Not just for you and your allies, but your adversaries as well. You will have a love / hate relationship with the interactive environment, with everything from scorching fires to slippery oil slicks. Has your enemy backed to the edge of a cliff? Shove him off and watch as his corpse makes artwork on the ground below. Your melee character just out of range and in a pinch? Pick up that chest you just looted and throw it at your enemy’s head. The possibilities are almost endless.
A Taste of Things To Come?
I really want to like this game. The story is great, the combat is fun, and the aesthetics are beautiful. But in its current state, Baldur’s Gate 3 is just not enjoyable. I’ve always loved getting my hands dirty with games in early access, because I get to watch as they are molded into what they were meant to be. But this game just has too much work that needs to be done to it.
Missing large story sequences because the camera settings weren’t right was extremely frustrating. More than once, all I watched while the story happened in the background was a close up of one of my characters thighs, or the back of their head. When that wasn’t happening, animations weren’t right. Characters talk while not moving their mouths, and glide motionlessly across terrain instead of walking. I’m sure as they progress these issues will get fixed, and this will be a great game. That said, Baldur’s Gate 3 could be what it was. And more.
This review is based on a PC Early Access review copy of Baldur’s Gate 3 provided by Sandbox Strategies for coverage purposes. It is also available on macOS and Google Stadia.
