My Rating: 6/10

The TL;DR Summary: The first two acts are great, but the drop in quality in Act 3 make me not want to recommend this game, to avoid the same disappointment I felt. Especially if you're a fan of BG1+BG2.

The game has its pros and was a lot of fun, especially co-op. What worked, REALLY worked. That said...if you're a fan of BG1 and BG2, the treatment of certain former party members will leave a very sour taste in your mouth. And the flaws of this game, once you notice them, you can never un-notice, and your enjoyment will take a serious nosedive.

Act 1 is a solid start, a tutorial for people unfamiliar with DnD, and a fun warm-up for people who are. The story is decent, choices and exploration feel like they matter, and there is a good amount of development for your companions.

Act 2 is amazing, the true showstopper of this game. A stellar overarching story, a menacing villain, a chilling atmosphere, and the quests you solve along the way feel like they matter. If the game had ended there, I would have given it a 10/10.

Sadly... Once we get to Act 3, the quality of the game REALLY drops. You are overwhelmed and underwhelmed at once. The villains are a joke, quests and choices feel like they don't matter, plot lines get picked up then abandoned quickly, and the bugs...oh my god, the bugs.

Then there's the blatant attempts at railroading in Act 3. There's a clear order the game expects you to act in, and if you deviate from the DM's vision, quests and characters become nonsensical, buggy, or immersion-breaking. And sometimes, it's all three at once.

There are so many ways this game breaks your immersion that it can be infuriating. Just finished a difficult quest, and earned the gratitude and loyalty of an NPC who promises to ally with you? Then, moments later, a fatal misclick causes you to break a barrel of alcohol, and said loyal NPC now wants you dead? Frustrating, and so stupid.

And then there's the disrespect shown to past party members from BG1 and BG2.

Sarevok and Viconia were done very dirty, that it feels almost spiteful.

Sarevok, who can redeem himself at the end of BG2, is now suddenly a cartoonishly evil and incestuous Bhaal loyalist. I didn't feel any dread when I saw him, I was rolling my eyes like "seriously?"

And Viconia is suddenly an old hag who lavishly worships Shar; did the developers forget Drow (elves) age slower than humans do? And yet they made her face all wrinkled and haggard, and made her die a coward.

The disrespect really sours the experience, especially for someone who's a fan of both.

These flaws have greatly ruined BG3 for me. I love the game, and will play it to 100%. But I cannot say I'd recommend anyone actually play it. The disappointment is too great. I will say the story ended after Act 2 in my heart, and leave it at that.

My Rating: 6/10 The TL;DR Summary: The first two acts are great, but the drop in quality in Act 3 make me not want to recommend this game, to avoid the same disappointment I felt. [i]Especially[/i] if you're a fan of BG1+BG2. The game has its pros and was a lot of fun, especially co-op. What worked, REALLY worked. That said...if you're a fan of BG1 and BG2, the treatment of certain former party members will leave a very sour taste in your mouth. And the flaws of this game, once you notice them, you can never un-notice, and your enjoyment will take a serious nosedive. Act 1 is a solid start, a tutorial for people unfamiliar with DnD, and a fun warm-up for people who are. The story is decent, choices and exploration feel like they matter, and there is a good amount of development for your companions. Act 2 is amazing, the true showstopper of this game. A stellar overarching story, a menacing villain, a chilling atmosphere, and the quests you solve along the way feel like they matter. If the game had ended there, I would have given it a 10/10. Sadly... Once we get to Act 3, the quality of the game REALLY drops. You are overwhelmed and underwhelmed at once. The villains are a joke, quests and choices feel like they don't matter, plot lines get picked up then abandoned quickly, and the bugs...oh my god, the bugs. Then there's the blatant attempts at railroading in Act 3. There's a clear order the game expects you to act in, and if you deviate from the DM's vision, quests and characters become nonsensical, buggy, or immersion-breaking. And sometimes, it's all three at once. There are so many ways this game breaks your immersion that it can be infuriating. Just finished a difficult quest, and earned the gratitude and loyalty of an NPC who promises to ally with you? Then, moments later, a fatal misclick causes you to break a barrel of alcohol, and said loyal NPC now wants you dead? Frustrating, and so stupid. And then there's the disrespect shown to past party members from BG1 and BG2. Sarevok and Viconia were done very dirty, that it feels almost spiteful. Sarevok, who can redeem himself at the end of BG2, is now suddenly a cartoonishly evil and incestuous Bhaal loyalist. I didn't feel any dread when I saw him, I was rolling my eyes like "seriously?" And Viconia is suddenly an old hag who lavishly worships Shar; did the developers forget Drow (elves) age slower than humans do? And yet they made her face all wrinkled and haggard, and made her die a coward. The disrespect really sours the experience, especially for someone who's a fan of both. These flaws have greatly ruined BG3 for me. I love the game, and will play it to 100%. But I cannot say I'd recommend anyone actually play it. The disappointment is too great. I will say the story ended after Act 2 in my heart, and leave it at that.