This game comfortably stands shoulder to shoulder with the previous entries in the series, despite being made by a different developer in a different era. Its narrative is strong, and I would comfortably say it has some of the most well depicted and written characters in the series. It's been nominated for awards for a reason.

I was very happy with its portrayal of old characters, and how it doesn't take many firm stances on the events of previous games. Do note that it still takes some hard stances on the events of previous games, such as the fates of certain party members, but that doesn't mean they are poorly depicted. They are in great effect used to enhance the story of the present characters.

The gameplay is a rock-solid variation of 5th Edition DnD, with liberties taken that will likely appeal to people who preferred versions of DnD with stronger characters and many magic items. Interaction with the world is not limited to just the dialogue box. Throwing things, failing dice rolls, and choosing explicitly not to do things produce varied effects on the story. Quests aren't check-boxes for XP and Loot, many of them you can follow your heart or character arc and still finish the game very strong and very well equipped.

The soundtrack is very high quality, and it's huge. It is firmly among the best of any Forgotten Realms game. However, I would strongly recommend playing this game without listening to it prior. The music enhances many scenes so well that if you listen to the songs without the context, it might not seem amazing. All elements work together in this game to make a really great product, for both long-time fans and new ones.

The game also has varied difficulties, so you can ride through the story and have fun, or play on the teeth-kicking mode if you like pain.

The multiplayer experience leaves a lot to be desired, for me personally. At the time I wrote this, it was prone to crashes. Additionally, I would say having two people make narrative choices can really break immersion. But, if your party has already played it or doesn't care for the narrative, it's like playing a DnD game with the computer being your GM. It can be VERY fun.

This game comfortably stands shoulder to shoulder with the previous entries in the series, despite being made by a different developer in a different era. Its narrative is strong, and I would comfortably say it has some of the most well depicted and written characters in the series. It's been nominated for awards for a reason. I was very happy with its portrayal of old characters, and how it doesn't take many firm stances on the events of previous games. Do note that it still takes some hard stances on the events of previous games, such as the fates of certain party members, but that doesn't mean they are poorly depicted. They are in great effect used to enhance the story of the present characters. The gameplay is a rock-solid variation of 5th Edition DnD, with liberties taken that will likely appeal to people who preferred versions of DnD with stronger characters and many magic items. Interaction with the world is not limited to just the dialogue box. Throwing things, failing dice rolls, and choosing explicitly not to do things produce varied effects on the story. Quests aren't check-boxes for XP and Loot, many of them you can follow your heart or character arc and still finish the game very strong and very well equipped. The soundtrack is very high quality, and it's huge. It is firmly among the best of any Forgotten Realms game. However, I would strongly recommend playing this game without listening to it prior. The music enhances many scenes so well that if you listen to the songs without the context, it might not seem amazing. All elements work together in this game to make a really great product, for both long-time fans and new ones. The game also has varied difficulties, so you can ride through the story and have fun, or play on the teeth-kicking mode if you like pain. The multiplayer experience leaves a lot to be desired, for me personally. At the time I wrote this, it was prone to crashes. Additionally, I would say having two people make narrative choices can really break immersion. But, if your party has already played it or doesn't care for the narrative, it's like playing a DnD game with the computer being your GM. It can be VERY fun.