Summary
Baldur’s Gate 3is not only one of the most advanced fantasy games around, but Larian Studios has also given players immense control over everything they do in its world. They can create whoever they want, make decisions that can alter the story immensely, and cause any shenanigans that they set their mind to. This freedom has helped makeBaldur’s Gate 3one of the greatest RPGs on the market, and it is made even better by the charismatic cast of characters that tag along for the ride.
ThroughoutBaldur’s Gate 3, players will be able to meet and group up with all sorts of different characters. These characters are all incredibly unique and can be a lot of fun to talk to. As players progress through the game, they will grow closer to these allies and may even end up falling in love with a couple of them. While this mechanic is not integral to the plot, it does helpmakeBaldur’s Gate 3feel more aliveand may even put it leagues ahead of Bethesda’s ownStarfield.
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Baldur’s Gate 3 is Winning in the Romance Department
Baldur’s Gate 3gives players the freedom to choose how they want to go about its world, and those choices canoften result in various romantic encounters. The game currently offers around eight different romance options that players can pursue. Once players recruit these companions to the camp, they must build up that specific character’s approval of the protagonist before they can engage in any sort of romantic encounter. Each character likes and dislikes different things, and it is up to the player to ensure they can juggle all of that in their pursuit of love.
As of now, almost every single romance option is relegated to one ofBaldur’s Gate 3’s many companions, and these relationships are supposed to feel real. There is only one romance option with an outside NPC named Minthara, and that requires players to be a bit nefarious. While some players may have no problem attacking the Emerald Grove for love, others will likely want to keep their love life within the confines of their party instead.
Baldur’s Gate 3’s romance optionsare not the focus of the game, but they do add a fun extra element to the story. Some of the trailers and developer updates have put this feature front and center, and most players will likely try to romance at least one of their companions. It helps make the entire world feel more real and lived in, and more RPGs may want to take some notes.
Bethesda’sStarfieldis set to be the next major RPG of 2023, and it looks like it should be worth the wait.The galaxy that Bethesda builtlooks impressive, the customizability looks top-notch, the gameplay seems exhilarating, and everything about the game has that classic Bethesda charm. It sounds like it will be the perfect sci-fi RPG, but the studio seems to have limited its romantic options a bit.
WhileStarfield’s core gameplay should come before anything else, the lack of romance options feelsa bit disappointing afterBaldur’s Gate 3. The game will allegedly only have around four different romantic options at launch, which seems like a ridiculously small number within its massive galaxy. Right now it feels likeBaldur’s Gate 3is leagues ahead ofStarfieldwhen it comes to romance. Larian not only included more than double the options, but it also made them actually feel lifelike.Starfieldcould be hiding an advanced romantic system up its sleeve, but that remains to be seen.
Baldur’s Gate 3is available now on PC, with a PS5 release on September 6 and an Xbox launch to follow.
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