Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - General Does BG3 give the old "BG feeling" ?

There are significant differences. So far there isn't that experience of exploring a large world you have in BG1. There also isn't that sense of being isolated in a far-away, dangerous environment you had in BG2's chapter 5. Everything is really close together and reachable, which makes the Underdark feel like your friendly neighborhood cave, plus monsters. There's also no random combat. I like that, but it's mainly not there because there is no space for it, which I like less. Of course this is only the first chapter, but I have the impression this might not change signficantly in the full game.

On the other hand, the location design is outstanding. A lot of verticality makes locations feel more real, and there are so many details and countless interesting things to explore. You'll find more interesting things here in one map area than on any five full maps in BG1. We'll see how that holds up in city maps versus BG2's, but I believe it will. I can't wait to visit Baldur's Gate realized with this type of location design. And from the published material, it does seem like we'll recognize the city layout from BG1.

Similarities to DOS2 have been pointed out, but IMO they are actually are not that significant. You'll notice the design principles of the locations, and of course there is the turn-based combat and a combat system where you can use the environment to good effect. There are origin characters but they're very different from DOS2's origin characters. Overall BG3 feels very different from DOS2, even in combat. So far I haven't had a fight where I couldn't move without stepping into some weird shit. That was rather standard in DOS2. The combat abilities are also D&D and it makes a difference.

With regard to the story, well......there's no such thing as a slow start, as mentioned above. I'm not sure if I like it that way, but it does work to draw you into the world. And the story premise.... is just ingenious in several ways.

So...BG3 feels all in all like a different game of the same general type - a party based RPG where you look on your characters from somewhere above, and your character in the world feels different, but you definitely feel you're in the same world and I think you will recognize the city if you played BG1. In that sense. BG3 seems like a valid successor.

Edit:
One really annoying thing, from my perspective, is the visually intrusive dice rolls. I hope there'll be an option to make them less intrusive. The old games also used dice rolls, but you had to look into the log to see them. I like that much better than BG3's system.