Explore Baldur’s Gate 3: Your Comprehensive Guide
Quick Navigation:
- Introduction
- Review Highlights
- Cost Breakdown
- Time Investment
- Player Testimonials
Introduction:
Finally, the long-awaited moment has arrived! Baldur’s Gate 3, possibly the most anticipated CRPG (Computer Role-Playing Game) of the past decade, is now at your fingertips. You’ve likely encountered the buzz surrounding this game since it entered Early Access in 2020, and that excitement has only escalated since its full release. However, amidst all the talk and hype, you might be pondering whether Baldur’s Gate 3 lives up to its reputation. Whether you’re new to the series or concerned about the game’s scope, cost, and quality, fret not – we’re here to provide the answers you seek.
Updated on August 26, 2023: We’ve enriched this article with a video version, ensuring you have everything necessary to be unequivocally convinced to dedicate a significant amount of time to indulging in this massive RPG.
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Review Highlights:
Describing Baldur’s Gate 3 as a monumental gaming experience, a formal review is still in the works. Nonetheless, Jade King’s piece, titled “Baldur’s Gate 3 Is A Game Where Every Decision Actually Matters,” offers insights into the game’s core elements.
The game revolves around storytelling and player choice. Baldur’s Gate 3 thrives on player decisions, starting with the choice to either craft a custom character or adopt a premade one. It extends to pivotal narrative choices that shape the overarching story, down to interactions with every NPC. As King eloquently points out, every corner teems with miniature narratives, each carrying its own significance.
In this game, anything is feasible, and each action carries repercussions, reinforcing the idea that Baldur’s Gate 3 compels players to be mindful of their choices.
No decision within the game’s vast world is inconsequential. Even seemingly minor choices trigger cascading effects throughout your journey. Acts of kindness can lead to bloodshed, and astute dialogue choices might bypass conflicts entirely.
King applauds how Baldur’s Gate 3 seamlessly blends gameplay mechanics with storytelling. Every deviation from the main path reveals captivating side content that remains hidden unless actively pursued. While many games tout the mantra of “choices matter,” Baldur’s Gate 3 authenticates this claim by making each action feel substantial, infusing depth into your gameplay. Regardless of their seeming insignificance, every choice generates immediate aftershocks that resonate within your experience and the fates of your companions.
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Cost Breakdown:
Presently, Baldur’s Gate 3 is exclusively available for PC, with its release on Playstation 5 imminent. The standard edition costs $70. For enthusiasts inclined towards cosmetic enhancements, the deluxe edition is priced at $80. Alternatively, the same cosmetic items can be acquired through a $10 DLC pack (complimentary for Early Access purchasers).
For enthusiasts seeking the ultimate package, the Collector’s Edition boasts digital cosmetics, a special box, a captivating Mindflayer statue, stickers, origin character sheets, an oversized die, a Magic: The Gathering Baldur’s Gate booster pack, a tadpole keyring, an artbook, and a cloth map. This all-encompassing bundle comes at a hefty $270 – a justifiable splurge considering the intricate statue’s allure.
Time Investment:
Veterans of the Early Access version affirm that Baldur’s Gate 3 overflows with content. Even its initial act, the sole accessible segment during the extended Early Access period, can absorb over 30 hours. The complete edition dwarfs this, spanning 80 to 100 hours for a standard playthrough.
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This calculation doesn’t even account for the plethora of unexplored regions, NPCs awaiting interaction, and sidequests beckoning to be pursued. For those yearning for exhaustive exploration, a completionist journey could demand around 200 hours.
Moreover, the game accommodates six distinct origin characters, each offering a distinct lens through which to perceive the game’s events. The replayability of this colossal game seems boundless, as myriad choices, romances, and character classes invite successive engagements.
Player Testimonials:
Ryan Bamsey: A seasoned CRPG enthusiast, Baldur’s Gate 3 swiftly etches itself as a classic. Its captivating writing, engaging combat system, and avoidance of feeling like a chore, despite its substantial length, set it apart. While its mechanics might be intricate, particularly for those unfamiliar with D&D, those who resonate with its essence will undoubtedly be enamored.
Branden Lizardi: For aficionados of tabletop gaming, Baldur’s Gate 3 impeccably captures the freedom and diversity inherent to the traditional pen and paper Dungeons & Dragons format. It seamlessly integrates ogre trickery, debates with enigmatic creatures, and interactions with vampires. While tailored to D&D 5e connoisseurs, newcomers might initially grapple with its mechanics. However, for enthusiasts of classic high fantasy brimming with inventive problem-solving, this game is a gem.
Keitha Sims-Korba: Having ventured through Act 1 during Early Access, the full release of Baldur’s Gate 3 imparts a novel experience. Altered story beats, heightened character interactions, and an abundance of autonomy redefine the journey. The sheer extent of player agency might be overwhelming initially, yet the learning curve brings a sense of joy. Amidst a year teeming with exceptional games, Baldur’s Gate emerges as a luminous standout.
