Worth without playing BG 1 + 2?

[Kaito]

Hi,
just a short question: is it worth buying / playing if I know nothing about BG 1 and 2?

[Yojo0o]

BG1, 2, and their respective expansions constituted a completed saga. They're great games and worth a look, they show their age a bit at this point though.

The exact depth of connection BG3 will have to the franchise isn't quite clear yet. It's taking place well over a century later, and doesn't have the same protagonist character. We know there will be some returning characters, some thematic similarities, and of course the titular city of Baldur's Gate, but beyond that it's hard to say how connected this game will be.

All that to say, this is a perfectly good jumping-in point. The devs would be foolish to expect that players would first play some twenty-year-old games to understand this one. Having BG1-2 experience will undoubtedly give you some added context on certain elements, but that's about it.

[RACHMANOVSKI]

I think you should play both BG1 and especially 2.

3 probably has nothing to do with 1 and 2 but 1/2 are fantastic games to play even today.

I'd recommend to buy it on GOG, you'll get the classic version too.

[IgnatiusJ.Reilly]

It really depends on your experience with the genre. BG 1 and 2 are classic cRPGs that can be punishing and don't hold your hand. I'm sure more than a few modern gamers booted in up only to killed by the first gibberling they met, ultimately rage-quitting.

[Coldhands]

Originally posted by Kaito:

Hi,
just a short question: is it worth buying / playing if I know nothing about BG 1 and 2?

We've only seen the first act, but so far you really don't need to know anything about BG1 or 2 to play BG3.

[cl656]

beings that you have another 9 months until the release of this game, it couldn't hurt to play them.

[Dragon Master]

I would say they are worth playing, if only because they are classics that were among the first to do things like romanceable companions, choices that matter and on. Well, BG2 mostly.

It may be hard to get into though because it is dated and is based off of AD&D 2nd edition rules so it uses a lot of systems that D&D has long since abandoned.

Only humans can play every class but they can't multi-class but they can dual-class (and yes, there's a difference) and they are the only ones who can dual-class.

THAC0 is a thing. It basically means "To hit armor class 0" so it calcuates what you would need to hit an enemy who has an armor class of 0 so you want it as low as possible, in the negatives if you can get it there.

BG1's companions also are just there for you to have a full party. There are dozens of them so if one of them dies you can relatively easily get another one.

[everybe2]

You can play them if you like bad graphics.

[Townsendvol]

Loved BG 1 and 2 but it is kinda hard to go back to play them. Graphics don’t hold up well today and lots of quality of life things missing that newer games have that they don’t. But if you’re willing to deal with that they are well worth the effort. I love them. Wish I could go back and experience them again for the first time.

[Яeplicant]

Originally posted by everybe2:

You can play them if you like bad graphics.

Where games nowadays shine in the graphics department, they lack somewhere else. It's almost like priorities shifted over the years.

As for OP, I don't think you have to play them but if you're wanting the "full" story, if it's at all related to BG3 in whatever way, it might just be worth it. Plus, they still hold up today, especially BG2.

[everybe2]

Originally posted by Яeplicant:

Originally posted by everybe2:

You can play them if you like bad graphics.

Where games nowadays shine in the graphics department, they lack somewhere else. It's almost like priorities shifted over the years.

As for OP, I don't think you have to play them but if you're wanting the "full" story, if it's at all related to BG3 in whatever way, it might just be worth it. Plus, they still hold up today, especially BG2.

Its hard to go back from BG3 to BG1, BG2.

[RealDealBreaker]

In general, yes. However in order to really answer your question you need to be clear what you want/think playing them will provide. If you want fun or to appreciate two games that were critically and commercially successful and that influenced a generation of games and their designer, then clearly they are worth playing. If you think they will give you insight into the setting and background story for BG3 then the answer is somewhat (ultimately depends on how much BG3 connects back to BG1&2 the narrative - you would have a little better understanding of the history of the setting and might catch/notice more lore bits). If you think that doing so is required to enjoy the story or to understand the game system, then the answer is a resounding no since Larian has been pretty clear that this is its own story that can be enjoyed without previous experience or knowledge of past games and because BG3 uses a completely different rules system than the older games.

[Lame]

Originally posted by IgnatiusJ.Reilly:

It really depends on your experience with the genre. BG 1 and 2 are classic cRPGs that can be punishing and don't hold your hand. I'm sure more than a few modern gamers booted in up only to killed by the first gibberling they met, ultimately rage-quitting.

Yup. That was my experience as a kid. I don't even think I got to the jibberlings initially. I was swarmed by rats in the tutorial :P I came fresh from Diablo and I couldn't figure out BG's UI and I knew nothing about D&D or Forgotten Realms at that time. Thac0? Well obviously that number needs to be as high as possible! Thankfully I came back to it a decade later and played both of them with a bit more patience and knowledge. Glad I did.

At the OP:
I can't guarantee that it'll be easy, nice looking or intuitive but I would still say that if the whole thing were on sale - go for it. It's a fun ride.

[Heu, Iterum Id Feci]

Originally posted by RACHMANOVSKI:

but 1/2 are fantastic games to play even today.

...if you can stand their god-aweful rtwp combat... :P

That said: In Lore more then 100y have passed since the event in those games and a bunch of other campaigns have happened in the universe in and around Baldurs Gate. Most importantly Murder in Baldurs Gate wrapped the last remaining threads up around the main story in BG2, wich was a D&D4e campaign. And then there's the 5e campaign Baldurs Gate: Descent into Avernus. BG3 follows up immediately on that Campaign, so if there's anything you should get informed about the events in that campaign, maybe even look for a TTRPG group for it, otherwise I've seen Videos summarizing the events floating around.

[Яeplicant]

Originally posted by 76561199085937781:

Originally posted by Яeplicant:

Where games nowadays shine in the graphics department, they lack somewhere else. It's almost like priorities shifted over the years.

As for OP, I don't think you have to play them but if you're wanting the "full" story, if it's at all related to BG3 in whatever way, it might just be worth it. Plus, they still hold up today, especially BG2.

Its hard to go back from BG3 to BG1, BG2.

Really depends on the kind of person, I guess. Having grown up with older games, I personally don't have any issues with that. Now that I think about it, I rarely play newer titles or could just be because I've been working on my backlog for a while now.

[CoffeeBro]

Originally posted by Kaito:

Hi,
just a short question: is it worth buying / playing if I know nothing about BG 1 and 2?

Very much yes. But I for one like knowing something about the history of characters and environments.

Outside of playing the games BG1&2, you have the option of reading the books "Baldur's Gate 1 and 2. The books aren't exactly like the game, but well done I found.
Drizzt Do'urden books are also helpful in getting you acclimated to the BG series. So popular is this Dark Elf, he made a cameo in BG2.

Larian Studios is doing an amazing job. Minsc alone as a supporting character is mind blowingly amazing. Very excited for the full release in August.

edit = bokks to books