Indulging in an early access is a hit or miss. Waiting for the next big hit can feel never-ending and hopeless, but when a demo or early access appears everyone’s wallets start shuddering. An early access is everything gamers want and everything they know they shouldn’t have.
Baldur’s Gateis an old, nostalgic, and classic Dungeons & Dragons franchise that shook little gamers hearts. It stands tall, being one of a kind. Will the third game live up to its brethren? Will the game ever fully be released? Will the early sneak peak ruin the hype? There are various points as to why people should and should not get Baldur’s Gate 3 while in early access.
10 SHOULD: Large Portion Of Game Available
Usually early access games contain small versions of a full game yet to be completed. This means players won’t get to experience a large portion of the game and this can affect the pricing. Baldur’s Gate 3 provides the entire first Act of the game which includes various different optional choices to make and optional battles to confront so that the player never feels like there isn’t more to do.
9 SHOULDN’T: Bugs & Crashes
Because the game is in it’s early working stages and not complete, there are the inevitable technical difficulties. Players will find bugs that make cut-scenes look odd and crashes that stop the game completely and cause the player to lose progress. This can greatly hinder the experience.
8 SHOULD: Constant Hot-fixes
Though the game has technical issues, the staff at Larian Studios are constantly working hard to fix issues as the game chugs along. There have been timely hot fixes and corrections to crashes. In the games launch window there’s a second option to load the game up if the player experiences crashes to ensure stable gameplay.
7 SHOULDN’T: Price Tag
Sometimes early access games can be more on the pricey side which can turn off customers for valid reasons like why pay full price for a game that isn’t finished? Baldur’s Gate 3 comes to gamers at a whopping 60 bucks in American dollars making it 80 Canadian.
This can sour the choice to dig in or not. Some people speculate that they priced it high to ward people that they don’t have to play it in early access.
6 SHOULD: Next Level RPG Graphics
A noticeable feature for this game is it’s graphics, particularly during dialogue. In turn-based RPG’s, the most players usually get is a zoom-in rather than a full-blown HD cutscene of banter. This is a positive upgrade, putting it next to the likes of The Witcher 3 and Dragon Age. It is a next step forward for the genre and offers a more immersive and grand experience.
5 SHOULDN’T: A Long Wait For A Finished Product
Even if the player decides to purchase it in early access with all the content it has to offer, they would still have to wait who knows how long for the finished product. Players might end up forgetting their character exists and detaching from the emotional or immersive moments after it’s been years in waiting for the finished game and a continuation of what early access has to offer.
4 SHOULD: Let’s Be Real, There Aren’t That Many Good Open-World RPG’s Out There
Most mainstream games are singleplayer FPS’s or singleplayer action like Call Of Duty, Red Dead Redemption, Uncharted, The Last Of Us… The list goes on. There are many similar games that offer the same excitement. There are very little fantasy RPG’s that incorporate modern characteristics and challenge.
Most decent and memorable RPG’s are dated, have low graphics, or are missing details in gameplay that can take it to the next level. Baldur’s Gate 3 is working towards this upgrade and change in the RPG world.
3 SHOULDN’T: If You’re Expecting Old BG Feel
This third installment has a lot to live up to and if the players aren’t open to too much change from their classic favorite, they may not be happy at all. The game stays true to the dice rolling, challenging combat known in Baldur’s Gate and Dungeons and Dragons but it opens doors to interactive story with focus on companions, relationships, and visuals much like Bioware does. The gritty, old-school graphics and nostalgia found in the older games won’t be found here.
2 SHOULD: If You Liked Dragon Age And Mass Effect
Speaking of Bioware, Dragon Age and Mass Effect fans love these franchises not for the challenge and tactics but for the journey and friends made along the way. Players can get this feel with the dialogue cutscenes and romance often found in those games, here in Baldur’s Gate 3. It’ll just be tied in with turn-based challenge that can become frustrating to some.
1 SHOULDN’T: The Game Will Always Be There
To buy or not to buy. No matter the choice, the game will always be sitting here waiting. Players can save up the money or simply wait until the game is done. Even if they purchase the early access version, the game is still being actively worked on regardless and will be fully available soon. There’s no need to make an impulsive decision! Everyone wishes they could have full games before the general public gets their hands on it like YouTuber’s and Streamers do but the developers won’t forget about us normal folk!
NEXT: 10 Reasons to Play the Baldur’s Gate Franchise
