REVIEW: Baldur's Gate 3 is the best game in years

After years of anticipation, Baldur's Gate 3 finally arrived to captivate the hearts of RPG lovers. Fortunately, the wait and uncertainty were worth it for what can be considered one of the best games in history. This masterpiece of Larian Studios it is an unprecedented journey and each new character of yours will live a unique story.

Whether through engaging narrative, charismatic characters or options that really impact the world around you, Baldur's Gate 3 reaches the apex of the genre by trying to open itself to the most casual audience, but without giving up the complexity of CRPGS. The result is a game that should be savored slowly, exploring the smallest details of each new setting you enter.

We will try to avoid spoilers for the game as much as possible, but the showmetech it leaves the notice that the analysis will have images and a brief citation of some events for better contextualization. While we won't delve into major plot reveals, proceed with caution!

Now, in case you don't want to read a review of the game itself, but you want to know what to expect from the game, we also prepared an exclusive guide for that!

Baldur's Gate 3 has an epic backstory

When, in one of your community updates most recent, the Larian Studios reported that the lines of dialogue and cutscenes present in the game were equivalent to three times what Tolkien wrote in Lord of the Rings or double the series Game of Thrones, seemed like an understatement. Something just indicated to generate engagement on social networks and people to be surprised by the immensity of the story. However, with the official launch of Baldur's Gate 3, you can see that all of this really is there and has been put to good use.

The plot of the game fits the points in such a masterful way that, as I play, I am still impressed with the freedom I have to decide my options along the journey. Everything I do while walking through the game's scenarios seems to have a consequence, be it in the long or short term. If I decide to help a character or not, it can be useful at a later point in the story and completely change the context in which we are inserted or, if I deny this help, I can have different events.

Luckily, these aren't just a few moments determined by the game's developers, you, the player, are always left with the impression that things could be the opposite if any of your choices were different along the way. I understand these details better as I share my experiences with other players who are also on this epic adventure for Baldur's Gate 3, although we made similar choices, the succession of events between our games was completely different. Some met characters that others didn't, while one group's path had some battle that the other didn't even know existed.

For example, in just the first act of the game, each of us reached an underground passage in a different way, either through a puzzle that revealed the passage, through a hidden portal in the middle of the forest or through forgotten tunnels in caves. That which makes Baldur's Gate 3 a wonderful game, it gives you the same sense of freedom as The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom ou Breath of the Wild give to players, but in different ways. in the games of Nintendo, you feel like you can explore the map however you want, while in the da game Larian Studios, everything in the narrative seems possible.

In addition, the game's story does not lose quality as time passes. Many games tend to drag on from their second half onwards, dragging on important events just to add up more hours and make it seem like our fun on that journey was better. However, here, there is no curling. Everything was tied together with extreme mastery by the game's writers, one event triggers another in a way that makes sense, even if halfway through you choose to make a completely different decision than expected. Do you want to betray those people who trusted you a long time ago? At will, the plot will mold itself to this.

memorable characters

Since Early Access, some of the CRPG fan community have made some complaints about the low variety of the cast of main characters that would accompany you on your journey as party members. These complaints make sense, as when we look at our options, it really all seems a bit generic, as there aren't any. companions dwarves, goblins, gnomes or another more exotic race. Everyone is tieflings, elves or humans.

However, before we pass snap judgments, it's worth exploring the depths of these seemingly "generic" characters. The real magic of Baldur's Gate 3 lies in the complexity of the stories that each one carries with him. Despite the lack of racial diversity, their backgrounds and motivations are woven with meticulous care, and each one, as common as it may seem at first glance, brings interesting layers to the plot.

Your observations on actions taken, settings explored, and interactions with each other or the protagonist not only add life to the game world, but also evoke a feeling of authenticity. Each comment, each reaction is like a brushstroke of personality that colors the universe of Baldur's Gate 3.

A Larian Studios demonstrated a remarkable commitment to building these characters, exuding a palpable passion for their stories and trajectories. Diversity is not limited to physical appearances, but to the richness of emotions and connections intertwined in the plot. While we admit that the quality can vary between them, it's undeniable that each one has received a dose of attention and care that makes them more than just digital avatars.

Obviously, despite the possibility of “what if we had a Dragonborn paladin servant of Bahamut, the King of Good Dragons?”, the game delivers good content. The biggest problem, in the end, is party space, as only 4 characters can venture through the dungeons and you'll have a hard time deciding which should be the ideal companion.

Dubbing adds to the story

Although there is no localization of the voices for our language, which is a pity, we also cannot deny the magnitude of the dubbing work in English that makes up the dialogues of this game. A Run he meticulously chose the voices and the dedication invested in the vocal representation of the characters gives an additional dimension to the narrative, very well evoking feelings and emotions that transcend language barriers.

The dubbing in Baldur's Gate 3 it's not just someone reading the text; the work of each professional to transform the written lines into life was excellent. When we talk about the main characters, in which it is possible to better observe the emotional nuances of each one, we see that they are well expressed. As such, this ability to infuse emotions into dialogue contributes greatly to the game's narrative.

The weight of the drama, the intensity of each one's emotions as they get what they wanted or lose something important is conveyed with an incredible authenticity that only high quality work can achieve.

It is therefore a pity that this wonderful game that is Baldur's Gate 3 has not been localized into Portuguese, depriving many of us of being even more immersive in the story. So, for anyone who is able to understand English well, you will understand that voice acting is one of the jewels added to the crown of this epic game.

The Narrator's Voice

In a genre where narrative is one of the fundamental pillars of games, the presence of a narrator voice is not new. However, what differentiates Baldur's Gate 3 it's the deft way this tool is employed, lending the experience a touch of authenticity and depth that makes us feel like heroes in a magical epic. Amelia Tyler, with her versatile and engaging voice, acts as an invisible link between the player and the virtual world, an omnipresent narrator who guides and immerses you in the emotions and adventures like a tabletop RPG master.

It's as if the very essence of the tabletop RPG genre has been distilled and infused into Baldur's Gate 3, thanks to Tyler's magical intervention. Its skillfully constructed narrative transports us into the plot itself, making us feel like essential characters in a legendary epic. When she emerges mid-story, it's as if the veil between the player and the digital protagonist momentarily dissolves, reminding us that we are, in fact, holding the reins of the adventure.

Amelia Tyler's voice is like an enchanted spell, drawing our attention and guiding us through the maze of decisions and challenges that lie ahead. Baldur's Gate 3 offers. It shapes the atmosphere, lights up each scenario with vivid descriptions, and injects a palpable sense of urgency into battles and encounters. The way she emerges, often appearing at the most opportune moments, creates an experience similar to a tabletop RPG, in which a skilled GM interacts with players, weaving the plot with touches of mastery.

It's no surprise that Amelia Tyler was the perfect choice to bring this narrator "character" to life. Her experience in the CRPG genre, especially in multiplayer games Pathfinder, positions her as a familiar voice for fans of that style. His ability to lend emotional depth to every line of dialogue and make even the most mundane descriptions memorable contributes significantly to the game's immersion and emotional impact.

Translation with some problems

We understand that Baldur's Gate 3 is a game colossal in scope, with millions of lines of dialogue for users to discover. However, during my adventures, despite praising the work of the translation team, I can't go without noticing some of their small problems – like dialogues still in English that appear out of nowhere or spelling errors.

modern gameplay

For fans who ventured through the first two Baldur's Gate, the journey in the third game in the series might seem a little strange at first. The gameplay has gone through major changes and it feels more like Divinity: Original Sin 2, another game from Larian Studios, that with what the classics. However, that doesn't mean it's horrible.

The developers were able to adapt very well the system they already knew so that it was suitable for the rules of Dungeons & Dragons and the result of all this is fluid gameplay. Although it is a little simpler compared to the company's last project, at the same time, it is more inviting for players who have never had contact with a cRPG in their lives; that was a key point for Baldur's Gate 3 managed to break the bubble of its niche.

However, we can still observe that some customs of the Larian Studios continue in the game. For example, dialoguing with animals or the living dead is a mechanic that is present at different times of your journey and depending on your group composition or even the main character. So, if you don't have access to those spells or items that grant you this ability, it's content that you can miss completely – including some items and side quests.

Turn-based combat is the charm

In your first minutes on the journey through Baldur's Gate 3, one of the most eye-catching features is the turn-based combat system, which offers players a deeply strategic and immersive experience. When facing enemies, it's like playing a game of chess, where every move needs to be carefully thought out. In this approach, we are rewarded with the ability to analyze all available options, make calculated decisions and, most importantly, interact with the environment in an exceptionally complex way.

Every action, be it a sneak attack or a powerful spell, must be thought carefully before being executed, otherwise, one false move and that can lead to defeat in an already won combat. Not only does this strategic approach add a cool and complex layer to the gameplay, but it also resembles the experience of sitting at a table with your friends during Dungeons & Dragons. The feeling of being immersed in a fantasy universe, full of possibilities, is accentuated by the cadenced rhythm of the turn-based combat, reminiscent of the moments of suspension while rolling a dice to determine the fate of the characters.

One of the marvels of the combat system in Baldur's Gate 3 it's the ability to leverage the game's setting and mechanics in creative and rewarding ways. In many cases, it's simply satisfying to allow a villain to unleash his memorized monologue on the plane, only to pick a different character and abruptly push him off a cliff, plunging him mercilessly into the abyss. Can you miss a rare item he was using? Yes! However, this freedom of interaction with the environment, combined with the ability to create elaborate ambushes, surprising opponents, offers an excellent sense of freedom.

However, even if the fight Baldur's Gate 3 is incredible, it is inevitable to question how the game could have worked with its traditional gameplay, the acclaimed real-time combat with pauses. While it would be nice to imagine battles being fought in a frenetic way, the truth is that the game was meticulously designed for this specific approach.

The complexity of the mechanics, the richness of the details and the intensive interaction with the environment simply would not fit cohesively in a real-time battle system. The developers' choices demonstrate not only a deep understanding of the universe of Baldur's Gate, but also an appreciation for the intricate storytelling and strategy that can only be fully appreciated through turn-based combat. For newcomers, they can be happy, as despite this huge range of options, the game is still less complex than Divinity: Original Sin 2.

Exploration on huge maps

Exploration is one of the most important aspects of any great open world RPG on the market. In this way, the way the developers build their worlds to allow the player to visit different scenarios is very interesting, something that the Larian Studios did with praise in Baldur's Gate 3, respecting the classics. It is also similar to The Witcher 3, CD Project Red, game latest on the market that also addresses this exploration mechanic in an open universe, but at the same time fragmented.

By drawing a parallel between these two games, it's evident that they both share the view that quality trumps quantity when it comes to world building. Rather than sticking with the industry's trend of creating vast open territories filled with empty spaces, both teams opted to divide their universes into several smaller areas, each with a remarkable degree of complexity and depth.

Baldur's Gate 3 adopts this approach masterfully. Each enclave, forest, and city that makes up its captivating map is a microcosm in its own right, filled with intriguing possibilities. Freedom of interaction is one of the main pillars here, where players are encouraged to approach challenges and puzzles in different ways, resulting in a sense of mastery and control over the environment.

Back to the point I mentioned above in the narrative, where your decisions can lead to different paths, the setting also contributes to this. In the first minutes venturing onto dry land, the paths indicate that we must visit a Druid Sanctuary, but this is just one of the possibilities. The location isn't there blocking your way, you have the chance to simply ignore it to see what else you can do in the region and only then go back there, something that is reproduced throughout the game.

Exploration often leads to elaborate dungeons, each better than the last. The environments are complex, with puzzles and traps placed in various places, which add to the charm and show that the Larian Studios respected the legacies he inherited from D&D. All maps are complex, well-planned and show even more the company's love for the game.

strange camera

Perhaps the biggest issue I encountered on my journey through the Sword Coast was camera quality. Even though I've played Early Access for a long time, I'm still a little disappointed as in Baldur's Gate 3 she can be a big problem. It often assumes unfavorable angles, making it difficult to correctly visualize the surroundings. Also, at critical moments, the view is often obstructed by objects, impairing gameplay.

Several times, mostly during combat, the most crucial part of the game, I found it difficult to click on the enemy I really wanted to hit or even find him, since he was in a very unfavorable position on the map. Not that the camera is bad or will ruin your experience completely, but out of all the immense qualities present in Baldur's Gate 3, she is one who is against the tide.

Great character customization

By the beginning of the fifth edition of Dungeons & Dragons, one of the main trademarks of the series resided in the fact that the race chosen for the character in the tabletop RPG had a great impact on several game mechanics. For example, when choosing an elf, some classes became more accessible, while others ceased to be an option due to the attributes received and lost.

This was an approach that, during its Early Access period, Baldur's Gate 3 also had. It was never bad, to some extent it gave more weight to your choices during character creation, but just like D&D modified this rule, the game of Larian Studios also went through changes and included this as default. Despite being controversial for old players, I think this was the right decision, especially when we are talking about a universe full of possibilities.

so much in D&D as well as Early Access Baldur's Gate 3, we couldn't bring our creativity to its peak due to this limiting mechanism, but now, any crazy idea that crosses our mind, however strange it may be, is released. This makes any character viable, without giving the impression that we are weak to the other enemies, so you are free to build your dwarf sorcerer or an elf barbarian without worrying about these details.

Excellent graphics for a CRPG

Compared to some of the modern giants in the industry, Baldur's Gate 3 it may seem slightly overshadowed in purely graphical terms, but when we put a magnifying glass on the universe of classic and modern cRPGs, the beauty invested in this title from Larian Supported they shine brightly. The work of the company's creators during this time, their care in every part of the environment and other details is admirable.

Above all, one of the most remarkable achievements of Baldur's Gate 3 lies in the way he brings the NPCs to life. For the first time in a cRPG, I could really look at my favorite characters and get the impression that they are no longer mere illustrations alongside dialog boxes; but tangible beings, with looks that convey an impressive range of feelings, sensationally deepening the connection between me, the player, with the narrative and that universe.

The interaction with the characters is elevated to a new level of realism. The slight frown of an ally in doubt or the knowing smile of a partner in a moment of triumph engages us in a way that goes beyond spoken words. Every line of dialogue is enhanced by the subtle movement of the lips, the change in body posture, and this not only keeps us engaged in the story, but also reinforces the feeling that we are actively participating in a richly constructed world. Perhaps the only problem is some naughty smiles given by the characters at different times.

Fortunately, this quality is not just limited to the characters themselves. As we move through the chapters and locations of the journey, we are surprised by the seamless transition between light and dark environments. Whether exploring sunny and lush areas or delving into regions deep within the Sword Coast, the game takes us through surprising changes. One moment, you can be on a beautiful shore of beaches, and a little later, you can feel like you're inside the pages of psychological horror books.

So, in this universe of cRPGs Baldur's Gate 3 it is not just a mere competitor; it is a beacon of artistic and technological achievement. While it may not shine as brightly as contemporary giants, its power lies in the richness of detail. The developers have really dedicated themselves to creating a visually stunning and immersive world where each scenario tells its own story.

Performance and bugs

Baldur's Gate 3 is one of the best games of the year, that's for sure, however, not even all the work done by Larian Studios rid the game of some bugs. Fortunately, they are few, occasionally related to some rare missions that are not triggered at the right time and it is up to you, the player, to give reload or finding a way to continue the dialogues – like, strange as it may be, attacking the NPC you need to talk to.

Most of the time, the FPS that the game manages to achieve is stable, with some occasional drops in moments of grandiose fights, where enemies are piled up in the same place; I decided to take the opportunity to combine some gunpowder with a fireball. The explosion that came as a result of all this was enough for the frame rate to drop to something well below 30 per second.

Requirements to play Baldur's Gate 3

Price and availability

The game is now available for computers and can be purchased at Steam by R$199,99. However, if you want to play Baldur's Gate on the console, the PS5 version of the game comes out on September 6th for the platform, and it is already possible to place your order on the PlayStation Store by R$299,99!

Finally, the Microsoft console version has yet to receive an official release date.

Conclusion

In a year that we had the launch of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, I didn't imagine myself so passionate about another title. worth playing Baldur's Gate 3 if you are a person interested in living a really epic story, full of nuances in its narrative and especially if you feel part of a world where your decisions can influence everything, in the short or long term.

the work of Larian Studios, since the game entered Early Access there in 2020, it has been commendable. He listened to the community like no one else, understood what bothered the players and adapted in the best way. It is possible to notice this with important changes in the plot of some characters that accompany the group, these stories being completely different from when I finalized what could be done during the first act of the game.

So, as much as part of the market's game development community says that Baldur's Gate 3 should be considered a major anomaly for the technical level it has managed to reach, I disagree with parts of this information. For a AAA gaming industry that moves millions every year, releasing a game that can be enjoyed from start to finish without massive performance issues or bugs should be the true standard.

On the other hand, I understand that for the genre of cRPGs itself, the Run achieved an incredible feat, which was to break the bubble of its niche and engage with a much larger audience than expected. It's a truly incredible feat, so for this industry in particular, I don't think BG3 should be considered a standard, as the investments are high and reaching the same level of success as this game might be an impossible task.

Anyway, whatever your style of play, this game should be a mandatory option. I'm not saying that you should like the result, but rather give it a chance to get to know a little more about this universe and the work done by the developers. In parallel with the Tabletop RPG, Baldur's Gate 3 reached a level of quality so high that it's like every aspect of the game has rolled a 20 on the dice!

LEARN MORE

The success of Baldur's Gate 3 it doesn't stop and he is the best rated of the year!

Baldur's Gate 3 is the highest rated game of the year according to Metacritic

Text proofread by: Pedro Bomfim (10 / 08 / 23)