Character Creation
Many people who have started their journey into Baldur’s Gate 3 have had one roadblock: getting past the Character Creation screen to actually start the story. With so many options relating to class, race, and physical customizations, each having their own subcategories to further customize your character to fit your vision, no two characters will be alike.
Plotline
There is not one exact plotline to follow. At the beginning of the game, you can pick from a variety of already-made characters with their own questlines for you to follow, or you can create your own. These custom characters are known as Tav’s, as that is the default name. There is also an option to play a “Dark Urge” character, which is essentially a custom character that is chosen by a dark god, Bhaal, to carry out his violent duties. You can choose to follow the dark god’s orders or fight against them. However, each character follows a similar plot.
Warning for spoilers past this point.
The game opens with a really entertaining cutscene introducing the main antagonists (or protagonists, depending on how you proceed throughout the story), a colony of Illithids, brain-eating squid people, battling a group of dragon-riding Githyanki, a race of green, pointy-eared monks. The ship that they are on crashes.
Cut to your character being released from a sort of organic pod after being infected by a parasite. The prologue is trying to escape the ship while giving you a tutorial on the controls. You meet a few of the characters on the ship to start your relationship with them.
After you escape the crashing ship, you meet the rest of the starting companions in the surrounding area, each being infected with the same parasite that you find out will turn you into an Illithid. So you band together to find a way to be rid of your unwelcome inhibitor, maybe defeating the beings responsible for your infestation.
Companions
Throughout the game, you will meet many characters who will assist you in your quest to free you from your parasite. Some you meet early on in the game and will stick with you until the end, others are powerful allies gained later throughout the story, and even a few past companions from Baldur’s Gate 1 or 2 will make an appearance.
The characters you choose to bring with you affect the main plot in their own way, as well as each having their own side plots that can affect your main plot’s outcome. Each character is fully thought out with flaws, conflicts, and goals that you can assist them with to boost their friendship level with you.
Each character is completely unique and portrays a wide variety of archetypes, whether it be a cynical acolyte privy to buff companions, a fiery, passionate, and loveable war veteran trying to escape her previous “employer,” or a sassy vampire who is prone to fits of mocking and violence, the cast of characters includes a fitting companion for all players to fall in love with and enjoy.
Speaking of love, each of the characters can be romanced throughout the game. If you find yourself charmed by the adoring and honorable son of a Duke, you are able to court him. Each character is different in this regard, leaving you wanting to replay the game again and again to explore each character individually and fully.
Gameplay/Controls
The first week the game came out, there were hundreds of players trying to complete all of the sidequests and different storylines. They soon realized that was a near-impossible feat due to the sheer amount of content that has been incorporated into the game. The first playthroughs were taking dozens upon dozens of hours to complete. Not because they were stuck at different points of the game, but because there is just so much to experience.
The controls are very easy to understand, even though there are so many. There is a dashboard at the bottom of the screen that gives you access to various actions, such as jumping, sneaking, dashing, and throwing objects.
There is a beautiful score that covers the entire game, varying with each individual boss battle, building, and areas that fully immerses you in the experience. It consists of flutes, violins, and jaw-dropping vocals that place you into the time period and general vibe of the game.
Replayability
As many players have found, the vast array of choices to make will completely change the trajectory of the plot. There is no one correct path to take, every choice unlocks near-infinite playthroughs. Through personal experience, I have had a very hard time restricting myself to one playthrough at a time, often running three different saves with different paths and companions on each one.
This game is an amazing contender for Game of the Year. Through its sheer size, quality, and community engagement, there are few games that could stand a chance of preventing this piece of art from taking the prize home. Even if it doesn’t claim victory, it is still worth playing.
