Baldur’s Gate 3, the highly acclaimed RPG from Larian Studios, has taken The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’s crown – and is currently the highest rated game of the year on Metacritic. It’s worth noting that reviews so far are only based on the PC version – it’s coming to the PS5 next month – and only 18 appraisals have been aggregated to achieve its impressive 97 rating thus far. Nintendo’s latest and greatest has 145 reviews attached to its similarly outstanding 96 score.
But even if the score for Baldur’s Gate 3 does eventually fall, it’s clearly going to be one of the best games of the year by far. Sony appears to have lucked out here, as issues with the Xbox Series S version of the game mean it’ll be an unintended PS5 console exclusive when it launches on 6th September. Pre-orders on the PS Store have shot up in the aftermath of the acclaimed PC release, and it looks poised to be an enormous hit on the new-gen console.
It all sets up a blockbuster end to the year, with Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 due out in October as well. Will you be rolling with Baldur’s Gate 3 when it drops in a few weeks’ time? Play your way in the comments section below.
[source metacritic.com, via dexerto.com]
Comments 64
Is this getting a physical release on ps5
Has it surpassed the score of BG2 yet? Hopefully this game would show the other companies like EA and Bethesda that epic story filled RPGs can be done without the need of microtransactions, and not be filled with bugs that the players need to fix.
@KillerBoy Not atm unless you pick up the collectors edition. I literally just searched out the same info.
18 reviews vs nearly 150 for Zelda, that's no comparison.
Baldurs or SM2… hmmm
Anyone who played Divinity Original Sin 2 knew this would be the best game released this year 😀
I won't buy it D1. I am gonna wait for czech sibtitles that are in the works and will get into game. I wouldn't buy it D1 either way but still. I don,t have time to play game this big right now so maybe during vold days in winter
If its coming out on xbox then its not a console exclusive
Why is this story getting traction? I'm sure it will stay pretty high and in the mid 90's but right now it only has a handful of reviews compared to TotK. It only takes one or two 6 or 7 scores to see that score become lower and we all know at least one reviewer will do that for clicks.
@DennisReynolds feels like your rage knows no bounds on this subject
@Toot1st unintended ‘timed’ exclusive then.🧂
I'm definitely picking this up for PS5 day one, it sounds awesome!
Bit of a strange article. After only a handful of reviews, it is far to early to compare it to Zelda (for example) with over 140reviews. And then trying to frame it as a ps5 exclusive, when everyone knows its not? Grasping at straws comes to mind
How is the text displayed onscreen? As this game will be very text heavy it's going to need to be legible if you're sitting a few feet away from the TV. I've had games ruined before because I couldn't read the text onscreen. Can't buy it until I know I can read it
I’d be willing to buy this a second time if there was a physical release - It’s just that good.
I kind of fell off playing Zelda, despite really enjoying it, at first I was blown away, and I continued to be so. But then it got a bit samey, and the whole using your own ideas and creativity to solve things kind of faded away faster than expected, which was one of the main reasons it felt so good to play. Apart from in the shrines, mostly you just push whichever the Square button equivalent is lots of times, do the odd backflip and kill whatever monster is attacking you. Maybe once I push through Gerudo (I initially typed Garuda hahahaha) it will get back to what made it the most fun.
But if Baldur's Gate 3 nails it, it could be a serious contender for trumping TotK.
Also this is clearly just a hype article to generate sales, but who cares 😁😁😁
New-gen console? Push Square, it's been 3 years. Let it go, please.
I’m wondering if I should just wait if it’s just going to keep getting better and more polished with consistent updates. I do have a bunch of games to play already. But it’s so tempting :’)
Removed - unconstructive feedback
@NoToSheep Ah right you are! The collectors edition only includes a code.
My biases got the better of me.
Many people will love it, for sure. I have always wanted to like western isometric style RPGs, but they never clicked with me. I bought Diablo IV because many of my friends have it. Still no for me.
I don’t dislike all western RPGs. Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 were both great. It’s just the tabletop look and clicking on things that never worked for me.
I’m just a Japanese style RPG guy for life, I suppose.
@KaijuKaiser Copy and paste? Guess you never played TotK then. I mean by that logic Spider-Man 2 is copy and paste.
A PC game has a higher score on Metacritic than a Nintendo game.
Best write an article on a PlayStation News Website 😅!
@Sifi Seems like an article to build up hype. Not seen so many articles a day for the same game for while - Especially one that isn't even out on the PS5 yet!
@Toot1st it still console exclusive as ps will be only console u play it on because the Xbox version has been pushed back for the seen future.
It's interesting. I see this game get all this praise showered upon it constantly but every time I see it in action it just looks completely unappealing to me...and yet I still want to give it a fair shake anyway.
I don't think I've ever been more "on the fence" with a game than I am with BG3.
I've been playing the game on the PC, @Maaster89, I'm also nearly 60, and as such my eyesight has gradually worsened over the years. There is a fair amount of text as you need to read your replies in conversation, for example, before then responding. I have had absolutely no difficulty in reading what has been written. Hope that helps...
I know multiple people that want to play it on Xbox but aren't going to wait. I don't think this will be the last time the S holds Xbox back.
N.i.c.e. larian studio is one of the best in the video game business.yeah baldurs gate 3 is going to be really good.word up son
This is one of those games I couldn’t care less about a few months ago, but now has piqued my interest because of all the positive reception.
Still… the fact it takes a bajillion hours to complete will probably keep me away.
Zelda is some of the most over rated junk i player last year or so , and Baldur will destroy it more on ps5 release day🥳
I played Breath of the Wild a couple of months back for the first time, @Uromastryx, and I have to say, it was good, but I have played much more enjoyable games. I agree that that particular game was, for me, over-rated. It does seem that for some reason Nintendo games seem to get less scrutiny than either the PlayStation or the Xbox. Maybe it's because the Switch is seen as a more casual system, and the other two, more 'hardcore', and as such, it's games are not held to the same level. It certainly seems so. Were the likes of Zelda to come to the PlayStation or Xbox, it would be viewed differently, I feel certain of that. Indeed, on graphics alone, it would see a much lower score...
Sex sells. Hopefully they won't have an idiot who give it a 6/10 just to lower the score when everyone else agrees it is worth at least 9-10 like TotK.
@Fiendish-Beaver While I agree with you that graphics alone, Nintendo games would get killed if they looked like that on a Series X or PS5, but Nintendo also works in the confines of the hardware.
I would bet that if Nintendo had similar hardware spec as a Series X or PS5, Nintendo would be producing games with a level of detail that is more on the Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart level.
The Gamecube era being a great example. Nintendo produced some of the most beautiful games of that era because it had the hardware to push.
I think if Nintendo hadn't been ahead of its time regarding loading times and DVD (resulting in going with a proprietary optical disc that provided a more "cartridge-like" experience), I think that generation would have gone much differently for Nintendo.
I say "ahead of its time" because it took until this generation for load-times to get back to "cartridge-like" experiences. At the time Nintendo seemed to be behind the times, but Nintendo wasn't exactly wrong about its stance - loading times got atrocious.
Sadly, that also led Nintendo to stop producing the most powerful hardware because the company didn't see the value - not recognizing the fact that it was storage medium that hurt the Gamecube, not the hardware.
On topic: congrats to Larian Studios for their accomplishment! I feel these games are best suited for PC, so I am on the fence about getting it. While my laptop is more powerful than a Steam Deck, I'm still not much of a PC gamer anymore.
My concern is that I have a hard time when RPG mechanics get too deep in the weeds. I may get it one day, but probably on a deep sale so I don't feel like I lost money because the RPG mechanics were too much for me to grasp.
I do understand your point entirely, @GamingFan4Lyf. However, I do feel that there are double standards at play; games on the Xbox and PlayStation do often get marked down for their graphics, whereas the Switch gets a pass because it is a less capable machine. I guess my point is that comparing scores on the Switch to those on the Xbox and PlayStation is not a level playing field, and therefore a game that scores highly on the Switch is not necessarily of the same standard as a game that scores equally on the other two consoles.
This looks fantastic, truly. It’s so great to see it pay off when a team pours their collective heart and soul into a project. Wish I had the time to properly invest in this (despite not being head over heels with 5th edition). Congrats to Larian!
@Fiendish-Beaver
I would like to add though that these games are not just revied on graphics alone or the capabilities of the machine they are played on. I know that some people would rate the original FFVII for PSone much higher than the remakes on PS4 or PS5 even though the graphics and capabilities of the later versions are lightyears ahead of tech from the 90s.
@Sifi How many PS5 games got delayed because of the PS4 version wasn't ready?
No, I absolutely agree with that, @MikeOrator. I was just using that as an example. Often games on the Switch have simplified mechanics compared to games on the other two consoles. It could just be me, but I just don't think that games are reviewed to the same standards on all systems. Things that would be overlooked on the Switch, are marked down on the other two, more powerful consoles. I'm simply saying that I don't think it is easy to simply look at a review score and say that means the games are of equal standing. It is, however, a mark of the quality of the game on that particular system...
@Sifi well there's people who buy cute they want, then there's people who buy on hype and then curious ones, however the combat system here is a "abit odd" hard to say how it will perform, I think it will do well though, current stats show that overtime and come to other platforms will outsell apparently nearly every game last year or so 😱
i get the feeling this game has been sensationalized a fair amount. i remember when 10s used to mean something. very few games over the past 4 decades deserve a score of 97 — i would assume bg3 is one such game.
@Porco now 10s are handed out like candy to classic remakes. Like really what is the point.
I was reading the old reviews of Lollipop Chainsaw today (the game was never very good) just to satisfy why I didn't like the game. I read a few. They were critical, much more critical than most writers today. I find reviews largely meaningless today - outside of the technical aspects.
My assumption is because games are becoming like movies - incredibly stale and uninspired. A tiny handful of decent games (like movies) a year. People are starting to clamor for remakes, treating them as if they are original games, because they have so little to look forward to. [please don't respond with your boring list of ho-hum 2024 releases they are as boring as the copy pasted list]
It has been sensationalised, @Porco, but only because it is sensational. The game is simply stunning. Massive amount to do. Massive amount of different NPCs and a good number of different classes and skills etc. Huge replayability, and it looks fantastic too. Honestly, the game deserves all the praise it is getting. It may no be something that interests you, and that is fair enough, but that does not mean that it is not a superb game...
@Fiendish-Beaver Maybe. Not sure what to tell you there. I mean, I personally think Tears of the Kingdom looks phenomenal given the hardware. In fact, most of Nintendo's output has looked incredible given the hardware.
That being said. I don't think a game should be "knocked down" for graphics at all when it's a basis of artistic choice and/or hardware limitation decisions.
If an entire game is made of up cheap Epic Store assets, I'd say it deserves ridicule for lack of effort. But, from a technical level, I'd much rather reviews simply knock a game down for not meeting performance targets and bugs. The rest of a review should focus on the game itself.
I am sure there is a bias based on expectations. No one expects 8-year-old mobile hardware to look the way Nintendo makes them look, so they get higher marks. While everyone expects PS5 and Series X to be these limitless machines with no compromises and if they aren't the most realistic-looking games on the planet, they lose points.
It's all just silly. Some of the best games on the market aren't graphical powerhouses.
Sorry, but native 4k/60 just isn't a thing on these machines unless it's something like Ori and the Will of the Wisps (which is actually 6K/60 or 4K/120) or The Touryst which runs at 8K/60 or 4K/120.
The more visual flair getting added, the more native resolutions will drop into the 1080p and lower range as reconstruction techniques like FSR and DLSS get better and better.
Now, I am in the Tears of the Kingdom is amazing boat. That game has stuck with me even after finishing the main story. I want so much to go back and play it, but I also don't want to leave my backlog on hold. I have so much left to do in the game.
I wish more games had the level of interactivity and creative that Nintendo put into Tears of the Kingdom. With the hardware Sony and Microsoft have, they could even exceed what Nintendo has done: more memory, more cores, more graphical power. Apply all that power to do more than window-dressing.
I know I will get blasted for this but Final Fantasy XVI is basically PS2/PS3 gameplay with a PS5 coat of paint. While there is nothing wrong with that - there is always room for spectacle - it's not breaking any new ground.
Not saying everything needs to be a sandbox, but I'd love to see these new machines get used differently.
There are idiots.on Nintendolife pretending they've 'never heard of the game', and even 'its a Diablo clone' 🤣
Switch owners don't need to worry about what BG3 would look like on their potato anyway, so back to totk for them.
@everyone
So...when the PC master race bashes us for our console choices we fight back and call them names but then we turn around and do the same thing to a fellow console player when it comes to Nintendo.
Sometimes I feel that Nintendo gamers are the truly Hard Cores out there as they get all these meticulously crafted, uncompromised, exclusive power titles that sell really well for full price well into their life cycle. Then they play them until they have uncovered every game system and every little secret that can be gleaned. They have more active LOYAL fans than any other system out there.
Mario, Zelda, Pokemon, Metroid, Mario Kart, Animal Crossing, Super Smash Bros, and even Xenoblade. These are all game series that still are considered classics from ANY AND ALL GENERATIONS of gaming from NES to Switch.
The Switch came out in 2017, has never had a price drop, and still sells like crazy.
Not really sure if I will convince most of the folks on here that Nintendo and their fans don't deserve most (if any) of the s**ting on that they get.
Very well put, @GamingFan4Lyf...
I don't know whether your last comment was aimed at me, @MikeOrator, but I never mentioned Nintendo users at all. I was speaking of, my view, that games on the Switch are reviewed to a differing standard than those on the PlayStation and Xbox. I was not having a dig at Switch gamers, or even the Switch, at all. Indeed, I am one myself...
@MikeOrator I think the PC master race thing is just a meme to get under the skin of complete weirdos. It has worked for well over a decade.
Imo, the Switch is easily the best of this generation. It really isn't very close. Even the sub is better than Microsofts really - for the fact you get classic, truly timeless games, that don't leave the service, that cost half as much (Sony's sub doesn't even register it is the worst of the pack).
Switch enthuiasts enjoy when they get bashed. It is ridiculous and reeks of some strange jealousy.
cheers everyone have a great weekend of gaming! Only a few weeks until the truly big hitters arrive!
@Cashews oh, i agree with you 1000% there. these days, most highly anticipated, big budget releases in the gaming industry get away with a lot. faults get easily overlooked or reviewers turn a blind eye and do not state how they REALLY feel about the game in many cases. this can be attributed in part to the review codes they receive from the publishers. they want to maintain a certain relationship with said publishers going foward so that they do not lose access. it is a balancing act. there is an underlying feeling that as a critic, you should not be overly harsh towards a major game release, even if it is deserved. also, many reviewers are concerned about being outliers and would rather be in-line with what the general concensus has to say about said game so that they don't lose "credibility" or become victims to the toxicity that would ensure from the so-called community and its "fans".
compared to the ps1/ps2/ps3 era of gaming, this is certainly the most uninspired, risk averse and stale the AAA industry has ever been. unfortunately, this is not going to change and we now need to resort to indie publishers to fill the void that the AAA space has left behind. that is unfortunate since most indi developers simply do not have sizable budgets to play with (if large scale spectacle is what you are looking for), but they at least do provide some refreshing approaches to game design philosophy that is now all but lost in the AAA space.
as for lollipop chainsaw, at the time of its release, i scoffed and didn't pay it much mind. but over the years, i have been more open minded towards "b-level" games including shadows of the damned etc and i got enjoyment out of them. lollipop chainsaw has many faults and is rough around the edges, but i would give it a solid 6.5 all things considered since it oozes with charm and stuck to its absurd vision in a way that we don't see very often.
but yes, i believe thoughtful and honest critique has been lost in the gaming industry, generally speaking. now it is primarily about marketing and hype culture dictating what the quality of the game will be, even before it releases and people play it. there are some exceptions of course, but generally it feels like people are on cruise control and have lowered their expectations as to what a truly great game should be (something that is original, influential and redefines expectations among other factors).
@Porco I played Lollipop. Back in those days if it was weird and available in North America - I'd usually buy it.
Grasshopper, while I like the direction they were going with the whole 'gaming is punk!' thing, always seemed like a poor reflection of Clover Studios/Platinum. Cool ideas and characters - but the play wasn't very tight at all. I liked the characters but it always seemed it was trying to be over the top with sex and violence to capitalize on a GTA addled fanbase. At the end of the day it just wasn't all that good.
This post would probably be better in the Lollipop thread
@KillerBoy No they said they're not. Even the collectors edition has a code. Im pretty bummed about it.
@Fiendish-Beaver i have no doubt it is a special game that we don't see everyday but a 97 rating really needs to be reserved to something truly sensational — game of a generation territory. but we'll see how this pans out and whether it becomes a classic deserving of the early praise it has received.
@a_brave_new_geek even the collectors edition is just a digital code though
@Cashews no doubt suda51 has the creativity and vision to match kamiya, but his games lack the polish in pretty much every way haha. they often times feel half-baked. i don't know how much of that is attributed to the budget and resources at his disposal versus his design philosphy and "feeling" he wants to convey... but there is no doubt that clover/platinum games "play" much better and have aged quite well over the years. a collaboration between the two auteurs would be pretty awesome though!
@Fiendish-Beaver
No not you...lol...not anybody really. But Nintendo and specifically Zelda was being unfairly bashed in this comment section by a few people that I really don't think understand the relationship Nintendo has with their fans and other supporters. Nor do they understand the artistry and world-building that go into any of their games.
However, I hope I didn't come off too aggressive as this is just a hobby after all and there is really no need to be angry about it.
The console/PC wars thing is really kind of, as @cashews put it, a tired meme anyway...lol...
@Porco except for No More Heroes!!! Good series.
@MikeOrator ....very well said. I don't understand if you're a 'gamer' how you can bash Nintendo. Like you say, they truly cater for hardcore gamers. To me, Nintendo IS gaming.
I love PlayStation, Xbox, PC..I have them all - I'm not interested in great consoles, or great publishers, I just love great games. Of which there are plenty on EVERY console
@KingPev that's all fair enough, but Nintendo shouldn't get a pass for using potato hardware and ending up with games that have to run at 30fps and 540p or lower sometimes as a result of that penny pinching decision.
And its SteamDeck verified 😎
I’m definitely picking this up for SteamDeck. What a treat for gamers!!
What time on September 3rd can we start playing with early access?
@Slayer25c exactly its coming to xbox so its not exclusive
@Genghis_Schlonng I'm off to Japan next month - the physical comes out in December. Hopefully it has the English voice over.
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