Worth the $60? Oh, yeah.
I've never played anything by Larian before, and my last big fantasy computer game was Dungeon Siege, but I'm a huge D&D 5e fan, and I love turn-based games. I love the (admittedly unrealistic) ability to survey the entire battlefield, contemplate my options, and finally select a choice... before moving on to the next turn.
As I mentioned, I'm a huge D&D 5e fan, and I think this adaptation is superb. There are a few differences (ranger abilities, surfaces, height --> advantage/disadvantage) but they're well thought out and I see them as an improvement on the 5e rules, rather than spitting on them. Mostly, I think the conformance is superb -- and my near-obsessive analysis of the combat logs during some fights bears this out, even if my d20 doesn't roll as well as I want it to. The spells, so far, are wonderful (I love the totally-satisfying slam of Eldritch Blast). I think the flavor and appearance come through great. (My only complaint here: I wouldn't let wizards learn clerical spells.)
I think the monster AI does a great job. Their tactics (particular regarding capturing high ground, clerical buffs, and using area-of-effect bottles and arrows) have taught me a lot about how to fight more effectively. Between the combat AI and the many branches of the storyline, suspension of disbelief is easy. I *believe* in my opponents.
There are some scenes that glitch during the render; I've had a crash or two. Save early, save often. We *were* warned about this. It's part of what you should be expecting for "early access."
For my style and my preferences, this game is nearly perfect. The $60 was well worth it for the more than 140 hours of play I've gotten so far (and I haven't even reached the underdark yet), not to mention the hundreds more hours to come.
-- What? They're going to be releasing even MORE in a year? And I'll get it for free? I'm speechless.
