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First Impresions of Baldur's Gate III

I know I’m late to the party, but I’ve finally decided to seriously dive into Baldur’s Gate III. This game has been gathering digital dust in my Steam library for quite some time. I played through the prologue when it was gifted to me but abandoned it shortly after—not due to any lack of interest but simply because I got busy and defaulted back to my comfort game: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

However, the recent and disappointing reception of the latest entry in another of my favorite franchises, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, made me reconsider. The critiques from many players in the gaming community I follow and respect, including CohhCarnage, have been overwhelmingly positive toward Baldur’s Gate III compared to the new DA title, and their praise finally convinced me. Now, I’ve started dedicating the time I used to spend DMing to exploring this title, alongside Assassin's Creed Odyssey and a modded version of the abandonware game Magic: The Gathering - Shandalar. I’m about ten hours in, and here are my initial impressions (which will likely evolve).

First Minutes and Premise
The opening cinematic drew me in, particularly because I have a personal interest in the backstory of illithids and githyanki. The prologue kicks off with a classic escape scene, a familiar trope in RPG campaigns, but it’s executed effectively here. From the outset, the game provides a compelling justification for the party’s cohesion: all the characters have been infected by mind flayer tadpoles and are desperately seeking a cure to avoid transformation. This “parasitic bond” between the protagonist and NPC companions not only establishes a shared goal but also manifests as a psionic link, allowing them to sense each other’s intentions. Moreover, the game gradually introduces its NPCs, holding some back for later in the story, which allows you to get to know and appreciate them over time.

Combat System
Although I’m not deeply familiar with the 5th Edition rules, my experience with 3.5 has helped me find my footing. I’ve been playing on the recommended difficulty without worrying about optimizing builds, and the combat difficulty feels just right. Some encounters are clearly designed to encourage players to use all the resources at their disposal, while others are significantly tougher, signaling that I should come back later.

The use of the environment and verticality in battles pleasantly reminds me of Divinity: Original Sin 2, which makes sense given that both games are from the same studio. The freedom to leverage the terrain adds a strategic layer to combat, making it more engaging and dynamic.

Exploration and Dungeons
I’ve had the chance to explore my first real dungeon outside of the tutorial, and I was pleasantly surprised by its design. For a relatively small area, it offers four possible entry points, adding variety and rewarding exploration. The main entrance is the most obvious and also the most dangerous, while the others require examining the surroundings or manipulating the environment. One entry seems to require a key, and I’m not yet sure if it’s an exclusive exit route or just an alternative way in.

The dungeon has its own story that unfolds as you explore, and there’s an encounter with a character that was unexpected and intriguing.

Mi PJ en el campamento

Visuals and Voice Acting
The game is visually stunning; the environments are intricately designed, and the landscapes are breathtaking. The NPCs’ facial expressions during dialogues are remarkably well done, complementing the excellent voice acting. This level of detail adds dramatic weight to interactions, a rarity in most games.

I’m still getting used to the user interface and camera controls, which initially felt awkward. Adjusting the camera to pan by moving the mouse to the screen’s edges and reassigning the right mouse button to rotate it has greatly improved the experience. I now only use the keyboard for minor adjustments, making gameplay much smoother.

Story and Characters
So far, the plot and characters feel solid but not particularly evocative. None have sparked a strong emotional connection with me yet, though they have well-defined personalities and react convincingly to my choices. The world is brimming with intriguing details, and I get the impression there’s a lot of hidden content I’m likely missing despite my efforts to interact with everything and everyone.

Conclusion
My initial impression of Baldur’s Gate III is overwhelmingly positive. The game has captured my interest, and I’m eager to see how the story and mechanics evolve as I progress. I think I’ve found in this game something I haven’t experienced in a long time.


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