1. Introduction
I have dedicated 335 hours to this game, starting from its early access days. After such a substantial time investment, it's challenging to conclude that the game is mediocre. Larian Studio has nothing left to prove to its audience. The romances and narratives are masterfully executed. Having also extensively played their previous game, Divine Divinity 2, I consider Baldur's Gate 3 the best RPG since Baldur's Gate 1 & 2. However, my all-time favorite RPGs are still Ultima 6, 7, and 8. As a fervent fan of Dungeons & Dragons RPGs, I've been exploring the rules since the 1980s, starting with the 1.0 edition. I'm on the verge of completing Baldur's Gate 3 (or rather, I've already played for 335 hours, and it's still not finished). Unfortunately, despite this massive time investment, a lingering sense of bitterness remains.
2. Character Customization Issue
Let's delve into the character creation and customization. Initially, I was taken aback by the available character faces. During the early access phase, there seemed to be more aesthetically pleasing face options overall. Furthermore, the game now offers a variety of faces, some of which appear Asian, African, or of an undefined gender, attempting to assert themselves among those of elven or other races. At the game's launch, I spent 1.5 hours selecting a character face that would suit me. It appears that Larian Studio had to comply with diversity requirements intended to represent the 0.01% of the population, but it gave the impression that the remaining 99.99% were disregarded. This situation deeply shocked and offended me, and I felt a profound sense of anger during the first three hours of gameplay because of it. For this reason, I am no longer willing to purchase any future games from Larian Studio, regardless of their quality.
3. Combat Ease
Nevertheless, I decided to continue and relive the adventure with my wife. She greatly enjoyed the experience. However, while the combat seemed complex to her as a newcomer to this universe, I was struck by the excessive ease of combat in the game. The only times I had to restart battles were when my wife accidentally clicked on an area that she shouldn't have, causing more damage to our group than to the enemy. At this level, I ultimately didn't regret having her by my side! In summary, the game is far too easy for my taste.
4. Dungeons & Dragons 5.0 Rules
Now, let's address the various aspects contributing to this ease. With my extensive experience in RPGs, having explored all editions of Dungeons & Dragons from 1.0 to 5.0, I consider the 5.0 rules to be a blatant absurdity. While many players enjoy these rules, which offer numerous classes and subclasses, as well as convoluted calculations to transform characters into ultimate deities, what shocks me the most in these modern rules is the absence of limits. The rules have undergone a rebalancing, if one can even call it that. We've transitioned from an old-school game based on swords and capes from the 1980s to a game more reminiscent of Dragon Ball Z, with chain attacks like the Kamehameha. Personally, I find this evolution hard to accept, considering the 2.0 rules of Dungeons & Dragons as the most refined. I would have preferred Baldur's Gate 3 to follow these older rules.
5. Useless Classes
Regarding classes, professions such as monks, druids, and necromancers leave me perplexed. I wonder why these useless classes even exist; they contribute absolutely nothing.
6. Story and Game Length
One of the initial issues that bothered me is the considerable time Larian Studio had to spend adapting these complex rules for each character, recording voices, and creating different interaction choices between races and classes. The base storyline concludes far too quickly. This may be attributed to the current era, where present generations seek instant gratification and ease of access. However, it's undeniable that the game is too short and too easy. Lastly, for someone who has played Divine Divinity, it's difficult not to draw numerous parallels between its storyline and that of Baldur's Gate 3.
7. Magical Items
Lastly, the final issue that deeply concerns me pertains to magical items. Once again, the rules of Dungeons & Dragons 5.0 are responsible for this situation. The items obtained throughout the game resemble more of the trash found in a municipal dump than treasures. We always hope to discover valuable items, but ultimately realize that their place belongs in a trash can. In Baldur's Gate 3, we even have the option to sell skulls, which exemplifies the problem. Ultimately, we end up selling everything without ever experiencing genuine satisfaction.
8. Conclusion
In summary, the major issue we encounter is the incalculable number of playable classes, such as barbarians, druids, necromancers, and monks, which are pointless when opting for classes like warriors or priests. Hoping to find powerful equipment like +2 shields or +5 weapons often leads to disappointment, as magical items are primarily useless gadgets. Ultimately, reducing the number of playable classes to a few, such as warriors, paladins, mages, priests, thieves, and rangers, while allowing for a group of six players, would be preferable. More challenging and imposing battles, along with a significantly longer storyline, would have greatly enhanced the gaming experience.
