In our last article, we showed how Baldur’s Gate 3 is bringing us our first taste of next-gen storytelling. A compelling narrative hook and some excellent writing make this dynamic experience a memorable one. This experience translates well into the mutliplayer environment and fits nicely into Stadia’s game streaming niche. After just over a week in Early Access there have already been various patches and hotfixes rolled out to stabilize the build we’ve been given to further explore the surprisingly deep first act. With these only adding to the charm, the limits are still very visible and more than a few glitches still linger about.
Gather Your Party
The multiplayer of Baldur’s Gate 3 is fun and interesting. With each character being controlled by a player the dynamic nature of the game is cranked into overdrive. While one need not truly worry about items or inventory between players, the game can be quite a different one as roleplaying organically grows. Secret conversations with NPCs or breaking away from the party can lead to an organic role-playing experience for those who have not checked out the breadth of its storyline beforehand. While it is perfectly possible to play as a united front, debating on decisions and treating each NPC meeting as a group meeting is entirely optional while playing. When someone learns of a huge revelation, however, attention is called to one another.
This creates an immersive experience that allows the players to truly act as their own with unique motivations in a greater scheme of things. Perhaps while your party spoke with some Tiefling refugees you focused on interrogating their Goblin prisoner, netting you some valuable insight on where to find her tribe. The ensuing discussion with the party could change the dynamic of the game, creating alternate paths or methods for achieving the parties’ goals. This doesn’t detract from the impact of the storyline, however, and the layers of depth behind the choices in it still alter the outcome the same way as in the single player campaign. This is all represented in-game through the dialogue system, revealing that each player character is fully voiced.
The quickened pace of the combat allows for these moments to shine even more. Though this doesn’t mean it is easier or less costly. Fortunately, two heads are better than one and making big plays with your friends is nothing short of spectacular. When it all comes together it feels great and gives not only an authentic sense of triumph but adds to the legendary Dungeons and Dragons charm.
The Stadia Experience
Currently, the best place to play Baldur’s Gate 3 is on Stadia. When compared to the Steam version, Stadia’s build was substantially more stable and fully-featured. This is of course depending on the stability and speed of your own internet connection but when played under optimal conditions it works exceedingly well.
The main differences are the availability of public multiplayer lobbies and Youtube streaming integration. While the streaming integration itself mirrors Twitch’s, there are substantially less crashes and glitches overall while playing on Stadia. However, this does not mean it is free from Stadia’s shortcomings. Lag can cause issues when playing on the streaming platform beyond simple visual hiccups and while the turn-based nature of the game keeps combat in line, out of combat you may find you’ve lost control of your character.
This is especially apparent while using the Stadia controller. There are times when my character ran on some sort of pre-set path rather than conform to the Mass Effect style controls taught to me. While the game is up-front about the unfinished nature of the controller integration, this leaves the early Stadia adopter with a sub-optimal method of play. This is becomes most problematic when your connection begins to falter in multiplayer and cause problems during key moments. You never want to be the guy who forces a reload.
The Final Verdict
There is no reason to not be playing Baldur’s Gate 3 Early Access right now. It is packed full of content and has already had hotfixes and a patch that added in even more customization options and bug fixes. The game is already incredibly stable right now and has an absolute ton of replay value and multiplayer fun. Even in its early access state, this is one of the best titles of the year and is easier than ever to play thanks to Stadia.
