How Larian Ruined Baldur's Gate 3

An oldman rants at you kids. Like and subscribe.

Edit: I feel the need to point out that this video's script was written on the release of the early access (yes, it took me that long to get around to starting this channel). So if you're commenting "what do you mean - the game does x,y how could you not have missed it" Well...you know why.

#baldursgate #bg3 #divinityoriginalsin2 #boomer

[johndeighan]

Your biggest complaint is that EA destroys narrative cohesion in a CRPG. But that’s an unfair criticism: it doesn’t compare like with like. You’re comparing a complete game (BG 1 and 2) with an incomplete game (BG 3). It’s a bit like watching a movie trailer then criticising the movie for lacking narrative cohesion. EA is not the product.

As for character… I know BG 1 and 2 like the back of my hand. The characters were good, mostly. But they were also one-dimensional - vivid, but painted in primary colours. If Larian want their characters to be playable - and they do - then they have to take a different approach. It has to be plausible that they could take either a good or an evil path. And that means vivid primary colours won’t do. As for the writing… it’s good. I’m a fan of the originals, but I defy you to replay BG 1 and 2 and then tell me the characters in those games are better-written than the ones in BG3. They’re simply not.

Another objection is that Larian are making a Larian game. What do you expect? Do you think they’re going to invest millions into a BioWare fan-service project? Do you think they’re going to serve the BG franchise by bringing nothing of their own to the table? Where would be the creativity in that?

So yeah, generally not a fan of your take here. I don’t mind someone making fair criticisms. But “Larian are making a Larian game” and “EA isn’t a complete narrative experience” and “multidimensional characters suck” don’t arrive at that level.

[JeriDro]

it's divinity, not Baldur's Gate. that's the problem. should have went to Obsidian...

[Alexor]

After a bit of playing I got it refuded, saying that I've accidently bought DoS 3...
It's like Larian broke into a royal tomb where a legend rests, stole the remains and grafted it into a new body. The result is awkward Frankenstein's monster pretending to be the discovery of the decade. Every time Larian toxic fanboys talk about BG3 they mention DOS2. By that they're indirectly confess it's basically the same game.

[theincrediblefella]

While your video is stated in a respectful way, it's completely ridiculous and i genuinely do not think you've played the EA. I am likely younger than you, but i grew up playing the OG D&D games such as BG 1 and 2, Icewind Dale 1 and 2, as well as the two Neverwinter Nights games, and i absolutely love Divinity. I was incredibly skeptical about BG3, but i have actually played EA for about 300 hours at this point testing every possible thing i could and scoping out each and every detail i could. I have come to the conclusion that this game is in good hands, and that Larian genuinely cares about the games they make.

[berteberhardt]

Thanks for the honest review. One of the few reviews that didnt't succumb to the groupthink mentality inspite of all the aggressive zealots. Keep on rocking.

[Valdrex]

No disagreement here. Now that the game's out and I've played it, I can definitely say it's Divinity 3. It's nothing like the original games. BG1 and 2 are just so much better as far as I'm concerned.

[biglit]

Baldur's Gate 3 is not an Baldur's Gate, 10/10 good sir.

[Alister]

OK I see a lot of disagreement in the comments, but I think the general premise of the video is correct. I am a crusty old gamer who was 20 when the original BG came out, and I also have played hundreds of hours of the early access of BG3.
There are many ways that BG3 does not honor the tone and feel of the originals. It's like if you asked a bunch of heavy-metal aficionados to plan the wedding of a classical violinist - you'd get a wedding, possibly a pretty good wedding, but in all likelihood something would feel off. That's what I get with BG3. Some of the main ways it is disconnected from the originals are:

Tone - and this is best illustrated through the music. BG1 and BG2 had a bright 'knights and damsels', 'medieval hunting trip in the forest' tone to the music, and it's still one of the most iconic computer game music I can think of (I kind of tear up 20 years later when I hear themes from the soundtrack). One of my first worries was that Larian wouldn't even try to recapture that kind of ages-of-yore, semi-upbeat musical theme, and they really haven't. Not many people would disagree that their musical soundtrack it only one step away from a cat in a woodchipper. You can tell they are all metal fans, which isn't bad in itself, but it just isn't Baldur's Gate. I really don't object to the grittiness of the companions, though, which is just another storytelling angle. You guys are thrown together by circumstance and either come to be friends or not, which is actually fine in my opinion.

Scope - BG was always a zoomed-out game. You played it from above. You literally couldn't get lost. You were playing your party, not your character, and the scope has changed here. Now you're zoomed in over your character's shoulder, the environment is a termite-mound spaghetti maze, and despite hundreds of hours in the EA, I constantly felt like I was missing things due to being lost all the time. I mean, you could argue that that is great for replayability, but it was more like I felt like I was missing something _important_, which is not a nice feeling in a game. I'd also find myself spending 30+ minutes trying to figure out how to jump up a wall of mushrooms, which wasn't even close to being the focus of BG or BG2.

Freedom - BG was also a very 'open' world game, where you could go all over the map basically whenever you wanted, to test yourself against high level enemies. You could set out on a trip to the Larswood to fight the spiders, or head south to the Cloudpeaks to hunt down those awesome bracers of archery, or, my personal favorite travel down the coast, to see what weird and wonderful things the story was going to throw your way. You could completely ignore the main story and just adventure around the Sword Coast, seeking out wealth, reputation, powerful items, challenging enemies, and exciting adventure. And then you head to the Nashkel Mines and absolutely stomp the enemies there.
There's no sugar-coating the BG3 is on rails. Yes, you have choices, but they are on a _much_ smaller scale. It's really just a question of how you will meander in the small region they have given you, before they railroad you off to the next region. I can't choose if I am going to the forest or the mountains; Larian wants me to do this area, then this area, then this area. They might give me a branching choice or two in between, but it's more of a set-piece drama that they have set up that they are guiding me down. It's not a bad thing in itself, but it's not how either of the Baldur's Gate games worked.

I could go on, but nobody would keep reading. I actually don't hate BG3 as a game, but I agree with the video that it's kind of dishonest to call itself Baldur's Gate. I will absolutely be playing it on release, and will be taking the position that I should try and enjoy it for what it is, but I am still deeply disappointed that Larian either didn't or couldn't recapture the actual tone and focus of the original games. This should really have been Baldur's Gate: Rise of the Absolute, or something other than BG:3, because ultimately that's what it is.

[mirlivaanafor]

I think you didn't play BG3. This game more permutation then many triple a game even in early access. For example you can pick a side with only druid, only tiefling, both of them or goblins. Then all of outcomes will change with your choise. You can hate this game, but please first play then hate.

[darkokotev]

With all the hype around BG3 before release i was searching for different opinion like mine and found this video. Bravo.

[alex-dmed]

Just don't buy the early access? I've not played it and waiting for the full release like millions of people.

Saying BG3 is bad because the way the party comes together isn't your style is just daft. Starting a campaign where the party members are brought together through circumstance is just as common on the table as the other way round. It is not something reserved just for one shots. You talk about mass effect but isnt that exactly how you form a party in mass effect?

Also I just don't understand your issue with the trapped mind flayer. It is as D&D as it gets. Look at a monster like a mind flayer, find a unique and interesting situation to put it in where its powers would be of use to it, have the party happen upon it, roll dice to see what happens. Whats wrong with that?

[kharngotrekson]

This is so true, i hate the ilithid, githyanki and Astral Plane forced shit in BG 3. Its about the NPCs more than your custom character. You just there with a camera filming them.

[lordblazer]

first one to give a real critical review on this game.

[ChairZomg]

7:43 / 12:50
Are you talking about Zevlor wanting the removal of Kahga? Because the game does actually reward you if you do explore the world, as you can find a hidden note from shadow druids which expose Kagha as implicit in a conspiracy with them, you can then either choose to expose her and kill her, or convince her to turn against the shadow druids and spare her, so this is just one example of how your complaints of Larian wanting you to be a murder hobo are incorrect.

[JaxonBurn]

I’d like to nominate this video for worst take of the year

[leopard]

If you think BG3 is dos3 you didnt play it. Bg3 IS dnd

The game isnt even finished yet. There is still a lot contenr left, be it classes, races or comrades. You treat an optional Early acces like a full and finished game

[Sparroh]

I agree, I did not like this game, maybe if it was called Divinty sin3, but this story just wasn’t for me. It was very clunky for me the same way divinty was too.

[Skye_YTT]

BG3 Early access was for community feedback on balance. It isn't an episodic game. The full game is releasing in August.

[sixmillionsilencedaccounts]

Please explain to me how would you handle bonus actions, free actions, or reactions in realtime with pause. Total mess. This is 5E, not ADnD...

[eutiger]

this game being goty with its flaws is nice reflection of the state of gaming industry