What does Baldurʼs Gate 3 do so much better than Divinity Original Sin 2?
After a long wait, the highly-anticipated follow-up to Larian Studios’ Divinity: Original Sin 2 has finally arrived. Baldur’s Gate 3, like its predecessor, allows players to immerse themselves in an epic and richly woven fantasy world. But there is a significant difference – Baldur’s Gate 3, with the help of Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition rule-set, takes role-playing to a whole new level. From vivid environments to dynamic character interactions, from fresh combat mechanics to interactive world-building, it demonstrates how Larian Studios has learnt and improved upon its previous masterpiece.
Character Creation and Development
In terms of character progression, Baldur’s Gate 3 provides players with a far more comprehensive set of options than Divinity Original Sin 2 did. Besides the usual races and classes, you can shape your character’s background, decide their skills, and even mold their moral choices. This makes for a deeply tailored experience where every decision you make feels consequential and enriches the narrative.
Next-Level Interactions
Interaction in Baldur’s Gate 3 is not just about following scripts for conversation. The game utilizes a deeper, choice-based interaction system that forces players to consider their actions carefully as they drastically change the outcomes. With cut-scenes designed for each conversation, the game is intertwining character development with narrative unfolding, creating a more immersive player involvement.
From Tactical to Cinematic Combat
Combat has always been a crucial part of any RPG. Yet, Baldur’s Gate 3 takes it to the next level with a wider array of strategic options that make battles not just tactical but also cinematic events. It also makes use of the vertical dimension in ways that Divinity Original Sin 2 did not, allowing more dynamic and unpredictable combat events.
Visual and Technological Advancements
The world of Baldur’s Gate 3 is rendered using the Divinity Engine 4.0, a significant step up from the 3.0 version found in Divinity Original Sin 2. This results in detailed characters, atmospheric settings, and vibrant animations. Complementing this is the substantial leap in audio-visual quality, with the inclusion of fully voiced dialogues and meticulously crafted soundtracks.
Forging a More Realistic RPG
Baldur’s Gate 3 brings a great deal of realism into the world of RPGs. From nuanced dialogue options that take individual character traits into account to a vast and interactive world where every action has a reaction, it creates a world that is exceptionally alive. A world that goes beyond scripting and embraces the spirit of a true role-playing game, a character-driven journey where you influence and get influenced by the world around.
Dungeons & Dragons – A Game Master’s Dream
Perhaps the biggest leap from Divinity Original Sin 2 to Baldur’s Gate 3 is the implementation of the Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition rule-set. Larian Studios made the extraordinary stride of engineering a video game that can function as a D&D virtual tabletop game. This means you can not only create your campaign using the game’s assets, but also tailor-make rulesets and react dynamically to player decisions.
The journey from Divinity Original Sin 2 to Baldur’s Gate 3 is a testament to Larian Studios’ dedication towards pushing the boundaries of role-playing games. It challenges convention and redefines the genre, intertwining player agency, narrative divergence, character development, and dynamic combat in innovative ways, setting the tone for the future of RPGs. The burning question now is – what’s next on the horizon for Larian Studios?
