5/5 ★ – Tomcar's review of Baldur's Gate III.

It’s not often that I beat a game, and can definitely say it’s one of my favorite games of all time. That feeling of awe really only comes around once every few years. Especially as I get older. I have a demanding job that starts early, and responsibilities that I need to be awake and alert to respond to. So when a game like Baldurs Gate 3 comes along, and has me staying up til just about 4 in the morning playing it, I can safely say that it is one of my favorite games of all time, and maybe even the best rpg I’ve ever played. Baldurs gate 3 is a classic turn based crpg in every sense of the word, initially I found this to be quite intimidating, as I had never played a game like that before, and my knowledge of the dnd rule set was very limited. However, baldurs gate 3 has many modern conveniences that its predecessors, and even some recent attempts at this style of game do not. The battle system is fun and very engaging, and while it retains the complexity found in similar games, it’s intuitive in such a way that makes it easy to learn, and a little more difficult to master. Character customization features a similar level of complexity, but most importantly, it’s incredibly flexible and really allows you to play your character and the members of your party however you want to. Do you want to be a Druid that is also a barbarian and a part time bard? Go for it, the only limitation is how you choose to allocate the 12 levels you will gain over the course of the lengthy 80-100 plus hour campaign. For a small pittance of gold, you can respec at any time, so the game allows experimentation without the fear of ruining a save file. In Baldurs gate 3 you can really play however you want to. While combat is frequent, direct combat isn’t always required to complete a task, and often encounters can be avoided if you have a sharp tounge, or can sneak your way around it. In that way, it feels much more like an immersive sim, similar to deus ex, or arkanes dishonored titles then your typical fantasy rpg. While the through line, which begins with you being implanted (quite graphically I should add) with a mind flayer tad pole, is engaging, and retains fantastic pacing throughout, it’s really the side stories and the characters who are the stars of the show. Each member who joins your party is excellently written and performed. And either as one of them, or your own created character, I grew very attatched to them, much in the way I did the crew of the Normandy in the mass effect trilogy. In fact, when my first run had finally ended after roughly 130 hours, I immediately started a new game because I could not get enough of this entourage. The writing really never falters here. It gets across heartbreak, tension, and humor excellently without ever feeling tonally dissonant. It’s effortlessly funny without ever reducing its self to marvel style quips, and its sad moments had me choking back a few manly tears. If like me you’re a fan of romance in your rpg’s then you are in for a treat. While it doesn’t have the most high end visuals on the market, it’s still a very pretty looking game, with detailed and unique looking character models spread across multiple different races. Similarly enviroments are also nicely detailed, and feel grand in scope, without sacraficing the feeling that this is a lived in world with lots of unique places to see and things to do. Baldurs Gate 3 is excellent in every regard. It’s a very fun, flexible rpg that encourages you to play it however you want to. Its An amazing multiplayer experience especially with a full party of 3 other friends, and as a solo experience it’s the most engaging role playing game I’ve ever played, with a cast of characters I’ll never forget.