For people assuming BG3 feels more like D:OS3 - of course it does. If a product is made by the same group or individual, it always have some things that recognizable as their "style". IRL you can take any artist's pieces of work, they are always have a "personnal style" of painting that diverse one artist from another. For RTS lovers, you can look for example to Frost Giant studio (the Blizzard Veterans) and their new game-in-dev of "Stormgate" - it has A LOT of recognizable things from StarCraft series in artworks and unit design (maybe done for purpose, who knows). Or you can always differ From Software souls-like from any other by many aspects, such as combat for example.
Eh. Let's not mixed up artists (self-expression, high art etc.) from commerial products - which, unfortunately, most games are just that. Marvel be Marvel not because it is their artistic vision, but because charts suggests what sells and what doesn't. What bothers me about BG3 is preciely lack of a coherent artistic vision. It's a product aimed at as wide of an audience as possible, toughing everything and focusing on nothing. Not doing anything interesting as an RPG, not having interesting story to tell. Just something for everyone and for no one.
If FromSoftwere's next game was Devil May Cry or God of War, and they just did Souls-like again - "that's what we do" is not a good defence, is it.
I think BG3's story is fine so far. Certainly nothing spectacular. But as video games go it is solid. I can't really judge the entire story until I see it all unfold and potentially even explore different avenues through a couple of playthroughs.
I would say the only real complaints I have about the BG3 story so far are:
1. The need to remove the slug from your head seems to mirror the collars in Divinity: Original Sin 2. The story device is almost the exact same. Not that it is bad, just not at all original. 2. I think they should have a small prologue before you end up on the ship - something to attach you to your character before you wake up on a flaming ship soaring through the sky. 3. The presentation at certain parts of the game comes off as very... Michael Bay'ish. I think anyone who has seen his movies will know what I mean. There are just things that are over the top and action filled for the sake of throwing a bunch of effects at you and stuff. And it starts right off of the bat. You don't start as a lowly adventurer working your way up... you start out on a flaming mindflayer ship soaring through hell and fight/encounter incredibly powerful creatures right off of the bat. Just not a great way to start an adventure or story, IMO.
