Well it’s a Bethesda game. People should really expect it to have a fair bit in common with previous titles. Given the outrageous success of Skyrim in particular, you’d think there must be something in their way of doing things.
Getting massively hyped about upcoming games usually ends in tears. People build up an idea of what the game will be like based on limited information (mostly PR) and feel let down when it doesn’t meet their expectations.
I think saying it’s a Bethesda game, what do you expect? is really letting Bethesda off the hook. You can see a clear creative legacy from DOS1 to DOS2 to BG3, but it’s not just legacy, it’s evolution. Larian have a set style, which many companies do, but they are challenging themselves to do more with it.
I had no expectations for Starfield, and I’m still disappointed. Bethesda keep making what I view to be the wrong creative decisions, and putting time and energy focusing on the wrong things. Skyrim was a lot of fun, but that was a long time ago, and Bethesda feels like they’ve stagnated.
I mean...I love BG3. But the clearest pattern I see from DOS1 to DOS2 to BG3 is "They keep on dropping the ball in the back half of the game."
