Summary
Baldur’s Gate 3has won multiple Game of the Year awards, including from Steam and Geoff Keighley’s The Game Awards, as well as a plethora of other nominations, yet one element of the game still somehow doesn’t get talked about enough.Baldur’s Gate 3’s narrative, thesuccessful translation ofDungeons and Dragon 5Emechanics, its characters, and more all understandably dominate the discussion, but by and large, these are aspects of Larian’s original work on the franchise.
Sure, characters like Elminster, Viconia, Jaheira, Minsc, and others are throwbacks to the original twoBaldur’s Gategames, and there are a handful of Easter eggs that reference the two as well. However, 120 years separateBaldur’s Gate 3from the first two games, and a lot has understandably changed in that time. That said, it is the work that Larian did in accurately bringing the city of Baldur’s Gate to life that stands out more than any individual character or aspect of the game because it truly feels like the city ofBaldur’s Gate 1.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Brings BG1’s Vision of the City to Life
25 real-world years, 120+ in-game years, thousands of CRPG innovations, entire engines, different development studios, multiple editions ofDungeons and Dragons, and more separateBaldur’s Gate 3andBG1, yetBG3still manages to capture that same almost unquantifiable feeling of exploring the city as the original game. In doing so, it also manages to modernize the city without losing its identity, bringing it into the world with much better, enhanced graphics.Baldur’s Gate 3Act 3, the city itself, has received plenty of criticism for the variety of optimization and stability issues unique to this section of the game, but the trade-off is an incredibly immersive city that retains such a powerful “game feel” from 25 years ago.
And how Larian exactly manages to recapture that lightning in a bottle is equally hard to explain. While they help, it’s not the return of the Elfsong Tavern orSorcerous Sundries, the myriad of Easter eggs, or the various factions and identities. Stepping into Baldur’s Gate now feels likeBG1andBG3were cohesive games, developed by the same folks around the same time, minus the obvious technological leaps. The retention of its city identity between the two games is second to none. It feels cohesive, like the Peter JacksonLord of the Ringsmovies which were all filmed simultaneously, yet it also feels like a certain brand of nostalgia. Returning to this city almost feels like reuniting with aDungeons and Dragonstable after years apart to continue the story without missing a beat.
Larian understood and managed to bring to life what made Baldur’s Gate special. The company clearly understood that Baldur’s Gate was not a destination, but a journey in and of itself. It understood the motivations, love, and mixed pride the city’s occupants have, the company understood the appeal of all its nooks and crannies, and it understoodall the dynamics that helped makeBaldur’s Gate 1so specialas well. Yet, even with all of that, it’s still hard to imagine or explain how Larian brought a city to life, 25 years later, and made sure that the input, response, context, aesthetics, and more were capable of evoking that same exact game feel. It’s truly remarkable, it’s documentary-worthy, and it embodies every intangible aspect of the “game feel” concept.
If someone hasn’t walked the city across generations, they owe it to themselves to do so. Rumors suggest thatBaldur’s Gate 1 and 2: Enhanced Editionare coming to Xbox Game Passsoon, and if so, they are well worth playing if only to experience this “game feel.” Walking the streets of Baldur’s Gate, then and now, is more than just a walk through memory lane; it’s a journey.
Baldur’s Gate 3
WHERE TO PLAY
Abducted, infected, lost. You are turning into a monster, but as the corruption inside you grows, so does your power. Forge a tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power. Caught in a conflict between devils, deities, and sinister otherworldly forces, you and your party will determine the fate of the Forgotten Realms.THE ULTIMATE D&D EXPERIENCEChoose from a wide selection of D&D races and classes, or play as an origin character with a hand-crafted background. Adventure, loot, battle, and romance as you journey through the Forgotten Realms and beyond. Play alone or as a party of up to four in multiplayer – and select your companions carefully.A CINEMATIC STORYTELLING EPICForged with the new Divinity 4.0 engine, Baldur’s Gate 3 gives you unprecedented freedom to explore, experiment, and interact with a world that reacts to your choices. A grand, cinematic narrative brings you closer to your characters than ever before, as you venture through our biggest world yet. Romance, deceive, aid, obstruct, and grow alongside your friends thanks to Larian’s next-generation RPG engine.
