Baldur's Gate 3 is nothing short of a gaming phenomenon, the kind of video game sensation that surfaces only once in a blue moon. The transition to the PlayStation 5 platform not only feels natural, but remarkably seamless. In their ingenuity, Larian Studios has guaranteed that you can simply pick up a controller and effortlessly traverse the vast realms of Dungeons and Dragons. Every button and option that once thrived exclusively in the realm of mouse and keyboard has been artfully translated to the controller, rendering BG3 a paragon of accessibility. Beyond the satisfaction of gameplay, the visual spectacle on display is nothing short of awe-inspiring. The user interface boasts vibrant icons that lend clarity to every on-screen element, ensuring that all options are discernible. In sum, Baldur's Gate 3 is an absolute essential for any PlayStation 5 gamer.
About a month ago, Baldur’s Gate 3’s full release made its grand entrance into the gaming scene, but initially, it was only available on PC. The Xbox version hit a snag, experiencing a significant delay, while PlayStation gamers patiently awaited their turn on September 6th. But my eagerness got the best of me, and I decided to invest in Nvidia Geforce Now just to get my hands on this game. And boy, was it worth it.
Right from the get-go, Baldur’s Gate 3 managed to capture my attention with its meticulous attention to detail. Every facet of the game world exuded a level of craftsmanship that was truly impressive. Playing with a trusty mouse and keyboard felt like second nature, especially given the game’s roots in the Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition. The abundance of options and controls felt more at home with the myriad buttons a keyboard provides, compared to the limited input options of a controller. I was concerned that playing on a PS5 might feel restricting, but I was pleasantly surprised by how well Baldur’s Gate 3 adapted.
This review aims to provide insights into the experience of playing Baldur’s Gate 3 on the PlayStation 5. Ben Sheene, has penned an excellent review of the PC version which delves into the story, game mechanics, and the overall brilliance of BG3. To avoid redundancy, I won’t reiterate his points. Suffice it to say, on PC, this game is a solid 10/10, but having experienced it on both platforms, I can confidently say that my experience was superior on the PlayStation.
Let’s talk about the primary movement mechanics. On PC, it’s the familiar point-and-click method using the mouse. Click where you want to go, and your character follows. On the other hand, the controller utilizes the left stick to move forward and the right stick for camera orientation, much like most 3D games. However, if you click the left stick, you can seamlessly switch to the point-and-click mode. This flexibility not only caters to personal preferences but also enhances the game’s accessibility. It is worth noting that you can utilize a controller when playing on a PC, but obviously, that is not the default setting.
Dungeons and Dragons is a game of boundless possibilities and choices. Even in the heat of battle, your agency remains intact, albeit with a more focused scope. You can attack, jump, throw, dash, hide, and more. The sheer number of options can be overwhelming, especially when translating them to a controller’s limited buttons. Larian Studios wisely implemented radial wheels for actions in the controller scheme, simplifying the experience.
At the bottom of your screen, you’ll find the action bar. It provides a clear overview of your available actions, bonus actions, spells, and more. The distinct and easily distinguishable colors help you quickly assess your options.
By pressing either L1 or R1, you access the action menu, which is presented in the form of a radial wheel, as previously mentioned. Here, you can access your character’s basic actions, as well as those unique to their race or class. Spellcasters, in particular, will find a wealth of actions at their disposal. As you level up your character, more actions become available, leading to additional radial wheels. These can be seamlessly cycled through using L1 or R1. The option to rearrange these wheels according to your preferences provides a welcomed degree of customization to streamline your gameplay.
Menu management diverges between the PC and the PS5 platforms. On the PS5 Dualsense, the act of pressing R2 summons a radial menu replete with options such as “character,” “rest,” “map,” and the like. In contrast to the PC, where these options are typically bound to specific keyboard buttons, the PS5’s radial menu dedicates a unique slot to each choice. This elegant design makes discerning and accessing all available options a straightforward affair, eliminating the need to commit keyboard shortcuts to memory.
Selecting the “character” option from this menu opens up your character’s inventory. Here, you can peruse and manipulate your inventory items with relative ease. Inventory management is notably user-friendly; the controller allows you to utilize R2 to select multiple items and reposition them to your liking. In my PC gaming experience, I became quite the organizer, often collecting backpacks or pouches from the in-game world to neatly house potions and scrolls. This level of organization is equally attainable on the PS5. When you pick up an extra bag, you can access it within the inventory menu and then employ R1 to unveil a supplementary menu on the right, facilitating the effortless transfer of objects between different containers.
It’s worth admitting that Nvidia Geforce Now, while a service of undeniable convenience, may not ascend to the pinnacle of gaming performance. Thus, it wasn’t entirely surprising that Baldur’s Gate exhibited superior visual fidelity on the PS5. What did catch me off guard, however, was the game’s commendable performance and visual splendor on the platform. While occasional instances of performance hiccups and the presence of some bugs did manifest themselves, none of these impediments significantly tarnished my gaming experience. Rarely did I find myself compelled to resort to reloading a save to rectify any issues. Comparatively, I had a lot more bugs playing on Geforce Now and often had to restart the entire game.
The ability to seamlessly continue my adventure after extended periods of rest mode was a welcome convenience. I encountered no noticeable performance degradation following prolonged rest mode stints. Furthermore, the integration of cross-saves posed no headaches. As soon as I embarked on my PS5 gaming journey, I seamlessly picked up where I had left off in my Geforce Now save. This synchronization has unquestionably enriched my gaming adventures, now affording me the flexibility to switch between the two platforms at my leisure.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is nothing short of a gaming phenomenon, the kind of video game sensation that surfaces only once in a blue moon. The transition to the PlayStation 5 platform not only feels natural, but remarkably seamless. In their ingenuity, Larian Studios has guaranteed that you can simply pick up a controller and effortlessly traverse the vast realms of Dungeons and Dragons. Every button and option that once thrived exclusively in the realm of mouse and keyboard has been artfully translated to the controller, rendering BG3 a paragon of accessibility. Beyond the satisfaction of gameplay, the visual spectacle on display is nothing short of awe-inspiring. The user interface boasts vibrant icons that lend clarity to every on-screen element, ensuring that all options are discernible. In sum, Baldur’s Gate 3 is an absolute essential for any PlayStation 5 gamer.
