BG 1 and 2 were games presenting adventures in the D & D Forgotten Realms, specifically the Sword Coast region, using substantial aspects of the 2.0 rule set and lore specific to the territory, characters, magic, bestiary, and history of that part of Fearun.
BG3 is a game presenting adventures in the D & D Forgotten Realms, specifically the Sword Coast region, using the 5.0 rule set, and lore specific to the territory, characters, magic, bestiary, and history of that part of Faerun.
While YOU may not see enough ties to that prior lore, they are there - and once we get to a full game, and not 10-20 % at best, will surely be there to a greater degree.
So it is clearly BG3.
Uh, having a game set in Forgotten realms lore with D&D doesnt make it a Baldurs gate game.
Showed the game to friends (not giving away the title of course) everyones first impression : WOW Divnity Original Sins 3!!!?
So yea.
Firstly you have GAMEPLAY. For me the most important indicator of WHAT A GAME IS. Does it play like BG2? No. Does it try to evolve that game system? NO. DOS2 roots.
The UI, inventory management and presentation. Like BG2? No. Does it try to keep a similar theme/design but a bit more modern? NO. DOS2 roots.
The atmosphere, graphics? Again NO. Does it try to improve and update these systems? NO. DOS2 roots.
Huge dialogue trees, tons of playable characters including a party of 6 (tied to that gameplay element) ? NO. DOS2 roots.
The story and setting? Yes...hopefully.
A new D&D system? Ok, yes! BUT heavily borrows again from DOS2. Aaaand thats all you got thats similar.
The game should be called , <Dawn of the Illithids, > a D&D RPG cinematic adventure made by Larian, makers of the acclaimed DOS1 and 2 games!
I dont dislike BG3 nor do I love it. It just does not feel like a Baldurs gate game which is disappointing. Right now its a pretty good strategic RPG, a D&Dized DOS2 with clunky cinematic dialogues.
