“Praise to the Exclamation Mark in Baldur’s Gate 3!”
By Cass Marshall on August 3, 2023 11:30 am
Baldur’s Gate 3, the highly anticipated RPG game from Larian Studios, is gaining praise not just for its gameplay, but for its clever organization and attention to detail. One tiny yet impactful feature that players have come to appreciate is the exclamation point.
After the tutorial ends and the adventure begins, Baldur’s Gate 3 bombards players with a plethora of information. With numerous party members to recruit and countless quests to tackle, it can be overwhelming to keep track of everything. However, Larian Studios has ingeniously incorporated a feature that aids in organization: the exclamation point.
In Baldur’s Gate 3, players have the choice to embark on their journey alone or with a select few allies. However, if players prefer a more sociable experience, they can quickly gather a group of RPG companions. Bringing along all the allies at once might seem like a chaotic endeavor, so the game allows players to bring only three friends on their current quests while the rest stay at camp.
Heading back to camp becomes a frequent occurrence, whether it’s to catch up with the colleagues left behind or simply to rest. This camp mechanic is reminiscent of Mass Effect’s Normandy spaceship, but with an added improvement. Players are now able to tell when their party members have something new to say, thanks to the exclamation point floating above their heads. While this may seem like a small detail, it saves players from potential headaches and makes conversations with party members more efficient.
The exclamation point serves as a cue for players to engage in meaningful dialogue with their party members. This is especially important in RPG hubs where players are tempted to talk to everyone in hopes of uncovering new dialogue or reactions. In the previous example of Mass Effect, players would often approach an NPC multiple times only to hear the same line of dialogue repeated. This annoyance is alleviated in Baldur’s Gate 3.
In the game, players can progress the story naturally by resting for the night or by actively engaging in conversations. While some party members may take the initiative to start a conversation, there are instances where they simply contemplate by the campfire. In these moments, the exclamation point serves as a signal for players to interact and engage with their party members. These conversations often yield the best role-playing moments in the game and provide opportunities to foster friendships or even potential romantic relationships.
The combination of these clever mechanics and the sheer amount of adventures to undertake in Baldur’s Gate 3 has players enthralled. Larian Studios has received praise for their elegant organization and attention to detail. The contribution of the simple but mighty exclamation mark has not gone unnoticed by players, and it continues to enhance the overall experience of Baldur’s Gate 3.
Read more: [Link to the source article]