The new game from Larian Studios has set a new standard for Western RPGs and will serve as inspiration for future titles
From time to time, we are graced with publications that change our perspectives on certain genres. Half-Life changed the world of first-person shooters with its storytelling; The Last of Us has left its mark on cinematography in games; Now, Baldur’s Gate 3 creates a new standard for Western RPGs. Are they exaggerations or just facts?
Welcome to the world of “Sword Coast”
The Baldur’s Gate franchise has been around since 1998, when BioWare decided to work with IP Dungeons & Dragons. Due to high costs, the company shelved the idea after Baldur’s Gate 2 to focus on the development of Dragon Age Origins. Baldur’s Gate has been without news for some time, just waiting for another studio to maintain its legacy.
Larian Studios accepted the challenge and, in 2019, confirmed the development of Baldur’s Gate 3, initially an exclusive for the now defunct Google Stadia. After some stumbles with dates and slower-than-usual production — largely due to the pandemic — the developer released the game in Early Access on Steam in 2020, creating a culture where players could actively participate in the development cycle . This culture has generated good results and culminated with the release of Baldur’s Gate 3 in early August of this year.
Development aside, Baldur’s Gate 3’s story starts off simple enough, revolving around mind flayers. Mind flayers are alien creatures who want control of the world through the assimilation of living beings and seek this assimilation through communion between living beings and the “Hive”, a sort of collective consciousness that controls all devourers and infected .
The player takes on the role of an adventurer who has been captured by the feeders and implanted with a brain worm. This larva is the main form of transformation, the process of which takes place in a few hours. However, during the procedure, the feeder ship in which the main character is trapped is attacked by red dragons and enters a state of emergency, which forces the ship to release all prisoners and the adventure through the Costa da Espada begins.
It doesn’t take long before several characters join the protagonist’s cause. Each of them has their own distinct abilities and personalities, contributing to the grandeur of the narrative by offering special dialogues, missions related to their past, romantic options and much more.
While having a path to follow, the narrative is completely open for the player to create their own story. There are no limits to creativity, and it’s nice to realize that a single mission can have 10 – or even more – different conclusions, each of which gives rise to new opportunities and new stories.
Plus, every choice matters in Baldur’s Gate 3, spawning consequences that change the entire state the universe is in. As I was finishing up my first campaign, I was already thinking about the next adventure and everything I would do differently, which just goes to show how special the game from Larian Studios really is.
The revolution in turn-based combat
Exploration and combat go hand in hand in Baldur’s Gate 3, giving the player almost unprecedented freedom. It’s no exaggeration to say that the game has one of the best RPG systems ever created, largely due to the way the studio recreated the old feeling of playing a tabletop RPG, with pencil, paper and dice.
At first glance the combat may seem simple, but it only takes a few minutes to realize that it is more complex than it appears. For example, it is surprising to see how scenario can define the course of a confrontation.
You can burn wooden beams holding up enemies, push monsters off cliffs, put out a burning area with a bucket of water, throw objects at enemies to cause damage, or even drop acid on the ground, and right after that, launch a bomb, setting off a chain reaction that wipes out anyone in its path – creativity is really the limit in Baldur’s Gate 3, and it’s very rare to see a game with turn-based combat offer this.
Naturally, exploration also takes advantage of this same freedom of the combat system. You can enter and exit turn-based mode at will in the open world. Having got inside, the player can more calmly sneak through the darkness, disable traps, think over strategies, set up ambushes, run away from imminent danger, and so on. Furthermore, the player is not tied to the ground, and can even climb rooftops and reach secret locations that provide new missions and rewards for the most curious.
Baldur’s Gate 3 does a great job of recreating the feel of a tabletop RPG, especially thanks to the dice rolls. In the game, all actions are evaluated through it, which will determine success in different categories and skills, such as perception, dialogue, negotiation, intimidation, among others.
It’s fun to accumulate different perks to use them in specific dialogues, which ends up creating different paths and hilarious (or depressing) situations throughout the story. Every action is final and the player truly feels the weight of his actions, good or vile.
Considerations
But after all, is Baldur’s Gate 3 one of the best RPGs ever created? Yes, without a doubt. Just like we can’t imagine open world games without thinking about Red Dead Redemption 2 and The Legend of Zelda, it will be hard to imagine RPGs without thinking about what Larian Studios has created.
The freedom that the game offers in its scope is something that raises the current level of games. Baldur’s Gate 3, before being a commercial product, knows that it is an electronic game that exists with the sole purpose of offering a memorable experience to everyone.
It’s an incredible game, using one of the greatest fantasy books to create an adventure that, for me, is unforgettable. Don’t be surprised if Baldur’s Gate 3 bursts its bubble and wins the coveted “Best Game of the Year” award at the end of the year.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is out now for PC via Steam and GOG. The game arrives on PlayStation 5 on September 4th.
Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
