Baldur's Gate 3 - Should you really play Early Access?

WolfheartFPS answers the following question:

Should You Really Play Baldur's Gate 3 Early Access?

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Thanks Redglyph!



More information.

nope.

I think I played too much of this EA…which regret now. I enjoyed it quite a bit at first, but doesn't really feel like D&D (still, after all the changes…having played Dos1/2 I can see why people see so much of those games in it). I thougt about trying again, looked at briefly, then just gave up and went back to playing Elex2. I am not sure it will ever feel like baldurs gate. Not to say it won't be enjoyable, but more as something independent of the old FR games. I suppose I have such good memories of PC games and P&P in FR, so I have quite preconceived ideas about how they should feel. Sadly.

For games where the story occupies a central place such as in this one, I won't play EA. I don't want to get the story spoiled on an unfinished game.

Originally Posted by booboo
I think I played too much of this EA…which regret now. I enjoyed it quite a bit at first, but doesn't really feel like D&D (still, after all the changes…having played Dos1/2 I can see why people see so much of those games in it). I thougt about trying again, looked at briefly, then just gave up and went back to playing Elex2. I am not sure it will ever feel like baldurs gate. Not to say it won't be enjoyable, but more as something independent of the old FR games.

This post was sounding like the typical "in my days…" RPGWatch granpa bullshit. But then…

I suppose I have such good memories of PC games and P&P in FR, so I have quite preconceived ideas about how they should feel. Sadly.

I applaud you.

I would say it'll pay off to leave those rosy retrospections where they belong, in the past. It's alright if it won't feel like the game it should be to you, but in that scenario you're denying yourself from having a great time, while everyone else is having it. It can't hurt to try to open your mind past those preconceptions and try to enjoy it the way it is.

Ultimately you will be the winner.

On the topic itself - No, not worth playing the EA, especially not for a single-player game with a heavy story and deep lore. You'll be just spoiling yourself and you'll be left hanging having to wait like an idiot for next chapter to be released to advance futher, all while suffering all kind of bugs and being under a "beta" build that doesn't even allow you to demand improvements. Unless you don't care about being spoiled, playing with gamebreaking builds and really all you want is to try different classes and stuff, stay away.

Wait for final release.

Originally Posted by vanedor
For games where the story occupies a central place such as in this one, I won't play EA. I don't want to get the story spoiled on an unfinished game.

Same. If a game is meant to be replayed over and over, like say a roguelike game or a strategy game I don't necessarily mind trying out EA if I'm really interested in it. But never for a story based RPG that I only ever plan to play once.

A bit late.

Originally Posted by fadedc
Same. If a game is meant to be replayed over and over, like say a roguelike game or a strategy game I don't necessarily mind trying out EA if I'm really interested in it. But never for a story based RPG that I only ever plan to play once.

And one of the points in the video is right, the first time we play is more "special" than any replay, with the initial discovery and all the surprises. If it has a lower quality in EA, it's some of the magic we give up for participating in the development.

The game can be played very differently so it has a good replay value, and some replay value for the story but you're right, not to the same extent (relationships with the companions, C&C later in the game). In any case, I'm not sure I'll replay it, just because of the length of the game. Players who can put several hundreds of hours in a game won't have this concern, so perhaps playing the EA is not such an issue.

Originally Posted by Redglyph
And one of the points in the video is right, the first time we play is more "special" than any replay, with the initial discovery and all the surprises. If it has a lower quality in EA, it's some of the magic we give up for participating in the development.

The game can be played very differently so it has a good replay value, and some replay value for the story but you're right, not to the same extent (relationships with the companions, C&C later in the game). In any case, I'm not sure I'll replay it, just because of the length of the game. Players who can put several hundreds of hours in a game won't have this concern, so perhaps playing the EA is not such an issue.

I agree with you: I want to be surprised in my first run. Plain and simple. As a general rule, the second time we play a game is hardly the same as the first one.

I'm avoiding at all costs the news and/or videos covering BGIII. I don't want to get spoilers in my face

Easy answer to the newspost title: no.

Don't pay (or volunteer) to beta test single-player RPGs.

Heck no, unless you're being paid to play, or simply a sucker for extreme punishment.

Originally Posted by Lolozaur
nope.

me too, nope. spending my time rather on something else

For me also a "no". There are enough released games to keep me occupied.

The only thing I would do is to play around with the character creator.

I think it doesn't necessarily need to be so black and white.

I found it fun to try out 3 characters for a few hours.

The idea is to get an understanding of the game's workings without delving too deep into the story.

I'm only interested in the Definitive Edition (available in ~2027?) so I second the 'nope' from the first comment in this thread .

Im here to say yes! Yes! I'll wait to buy this game until its released. Maybe I'll finally get through D:OS2 before this get released.

Originally Posted by Moriendor
I'm only interested in the Definitive Edition (available in ~2027?) so I second the 'nope' from the first comment in this thread .

So, only 5 years away then, for the Definitive Edition! Not bad at all!

Originally Posted by Arkadia7
So, only 5 years away then, for the Definitive Edition! Not bad at all!

Yeah, it will come about 2 years after the actual game releases 2027/2028 sounds like a reasonable guess at the current pace.

I played quite a bit of the EA when it first came out and wasn’t disappointed. EA doesn't ruin anything for me the first time I experience something is the first time I experience it. Doesn’t matter to me if its now or later or if I need to wait for release to play the rest. I’m flexible that way but not everyone is.