Honestly I wish someone archived the Early Access install
*Raises hand*

Specifically have Update #7 backed up before Larian started their drastic tonal changes with Update #8 (Bard), which due to so many questionable artistic changes I disliked so much it became the catalyst of my extensive feedback-providing overdrive mode and the start of my worries for the game's future artistic changes. They even took away my favorite Drow hairstyle with that patch, was really sad about that one.
Anyone who doesn't have it backed up can download any EA version through Steam console using depots. Was actually thinking of replaying Early Access until Update #7 arrives, would love to replay it from the very beginning again for comparison purposes.For me personally Early Access was drastically a far more superior version of the story than what we got since release as it was more complex and cohesive. I honestly wish Larian stuck with what they had originally written, it's why I have it backed up and wish I could play their original story. It was dark, gritty, serious and a way more mature (and graphic) story while all of the companions wonderfully fit within that scope when the game actually tried to stick to the whole '
who can we actually trust' theme. Nobody could be trusted because everyone was so self-centered and skeptical of each other and I loved it so much, especially when the Dreamer came along with the dreams and consequences which pushed that mistrust theme into overdrive. I was so fascinated by the Dreamer, the dreams and the overall illithid implication because the entire plot clicked into place perfectly by having so many fully connected intricate details that were so well connected to the point some of us on these forums managed to deduct most of the plot based on pure EA details. It was that well written.
It was a wonderfully mature story and I never understood the need for extensive companion personality rewrites based on just 10% of the story at the time, since I loved pretty much all of them because they all fit perfectly within its theme.
- Shadowheart I loved interacting with because she behaved like an actual zealot with a tremendously enigmatic aura. So secretive and cruel with her snarky outbursts, yet so innocent at times. It was an interesting dynamic, despite being blatantly obvious she's actually a Selunite.
- Everything about Lae'zel fascinated me so much, from her expressive annoyance to especially her mannerisms, I would end up mesmerized just observing the way she speaks and moves. She was my favorite companion in Early Access, so beautifully unique and I was very sad when most of her mannerisms got dialed down with entire voice lines even changed to portray less of her racial annoyance.
Her scene when she describes Crèche K'liir was my absolute favorite scene of hers, looked forward to it every single playthrough of Early Access. The way she so beautifully gazes at the sky with a glint in her eyes to talk about her home and then so gently shifts her gaze towards the player with a saddened look when mentioning K'liir *CHEF'S KISS*. Such a beautifully made scene with a ton of emotion conveyed, I LOVED admiring such details in characters. But then with full release we get this piece of tsk'va instead, with her barely looking at the sky and the camera focusing on our own character... Shka'keth!
- Astarion was from a writing standpoint the most complex written companion, because unlike the others, his writing focused more on psychological traumas by having to very carefully navigate around his mental barriers like they're a minefield. It is what made me love exploring his character so much back then. The layers of psychological barriers he kept up in each dialogue was astounding.
I always fondly remember the dialogue right after the party's dreams (when only 2 companions could talk about any camp event); if he was the first to be asked about his dreams he'd pretend they were just as enticing as everyone else's. However if the player passed a hidden check they'd find out he was actually lying and terribly tormented by them, after which the player had to carefully navigate the dialogue to reveal more of his torturous past because if the player tried to offer him sympathy he'd lash out or even threaten to kill them. It was so brilliantly written him not trusting anyone and being paranoid to death.
- Wyll I also loved a ton, his story was super interesting. Why are we pursuing Mizora, who even is she, why is he so pissed off about goblins, why did Spike still have his eye after all those years, could we even possibly restore his eye later via Ethel or someone else? So many interesting things happening at once, so much potential as the most connected companion to ACT I... only to be reduced to Karlach's useless sidekick later. What a freaking letdown.
- Gale I liked, he was just always nice. Mysterious, but nice. I never saw him as someone that could not be trusted, just private and I always respected that about him.
I loved that they were rough around the edges by being heavily opinionated, I loved that they had actual clashing personalities and felt like actual strangers a person would get stuck with if something like this happened in real life. Until Larian unfortunately decided to terribly smooth out their personalities and remove most of their complexity to the point none today have any sort of rough edges, they just agree to pretty much everything and, other than Lae'zel, barely clash against the player when they don't...
Minthara I loved so much back then because as a potential character she was genuine, intriguing, full of potential and, just like Lae'zel, I absolutely adore when a character radiates their racial culture. It's why Sebille and Red Prince were my favorite characters in DOS2 and why Lae'zel and Minthara are my favorite in BG3 as they're both so uniquely beautiful with such blunt personalities and rich cultures, but today I cherish her drastically far more than any other companion because she is phenomenally well written and kept her unique personality that is such a pleasure to observe in full release.
She wears her heart on her sleeve, being blunt as hell without fear of clashing against the party. I love that and I respect when a character has an actual backbone to clash against the player by
being written for the actual story, instead of the character being written for the player (like Shadowheart who intentionally got developed to be as sweet as possible due to complaints). The moment she won my full interest in Early Access was right after the sex scene, when her real personality emerged with her sincerely regretting how her dream of us being together forever can never be. Right then and there I knew immediately that whoever she is meant to be in full release is not this mind-controlled batshit insane genocidal evil maniac she was believed to be. There was a lot of deep love, sharp wisdom and sincere regret in that tiny moment of hers, which I found to be incredibly sweet and it always stuck with me since.
To me she is the best written companion of them all today despite her unfinished development, because the tiny portion of content that she does have (and actually works) is incredibly passionate quality writing. Which is why none of the other companions today for me, other than Lae'zel, come even remotely close to her due to their own extensive personality rewrites.
Had she been equally developed as the rest of the cast for release then her actress Emma Gregory would actually receive some well-deserved attention and praise for such an exceptionally captivating performance as Minthara. It just freaking hurts my soul... neither deserved to be treated like this.