Baldur's Gate 3 is just as bloody, daring, and brilliant on the PS5

Baldur's Gate 3 is finally available for the PS5. As someone who has already upgraded their PC to enjoy the role-playing game, one might assume that I would dismiss the console version and finally join the master race faction. However, I am a simple individual who merely wishes to play my video games while relaxing on my couch, without having to concern myself with graphical settings or the fear of my device crashing in the midst of a crucial dice roll. By the way, that has happened several times already.

When the opportunity finally arose to take the PS5 version for a test drive, I seized the chance and immediately lost myself for hours on end in Larian's masterpiece. While the implementation may not be flawless, it stands as a worthy translation of the PC experience, boasting impressive visual effects, decent performance, and controls that transform the initially complex tabletop mechanics into something more easily digestible. Baldur's Gate 3 is a demanding game, and there is no doubt that thousands of new players will delve into the console version without ever having touched the PC variant. They have nothing to fear, despite the colossal scope of this role-playing game.

Let's begin with the cross-save process and how easy it is to transfer your characters and game progress from PC to PS5. I feared that this would be excessively cumbersome or would outright refuse to function prior to the general release. I was mistaken. After signing in with my Larian user account and activating a switch in the options menu, which is easy to overlook but otherwise straightforward enough, the automatic download of all my game saves commenced.

A few minutes later, I resumed my gaming session as a Wood Elf Ranger without any concerns. Each new game save is automatically stored in the cloud, eliminating any issues when transitioning between platforms. You won't even suffer from fall damage. This makes the PS5 version all the more appealing for players who have already delved deep into the world of Faerûn. Designed for multiplayer runs and diverse characters, it is a blessing to know that I can carry over all my progress and characters.

However, in order to make a comparison, I decided to start a new playthrough, utilizing both a custom character and an origin character, to see how the creation tools measure up and how the experience of crash landing the Nautiloid and subsequently defending the Grove fares on the console. Those accustomed to playing the PC version with maximum graphical settings and resolution will notice a loss in texture and character details. Even on a 4K screen, things won't particularly stand out, indicating that certain aspects have been scaled back to ensure solid performance. However, it is by no means a deal-breaker, and your eyes will soon adjust to the absence of small details present in Shadowheart's armor or Karlach's fiery muscles. The differences I noticed never detracted from my enjoyment of the game, even if I sometimes missed the gleam of my sleek gaming PC.

As for performance, there are two modes to choose from: Quality and Performance. The latter is enabled by default and, in my opinion, the best way to play. It runs at a consistent frame rate of 60 frames per second at a resolution of 1080p, which is upscaled to provide a better representation of a 4K output. In Quality mode, the frame rate is reduced to 30, but you gain a higher resolution and visual accuracy, making it a reasonable way to play since Baldur's Gate 3 is not a game that requires razor-sharp reflexes.

However, you will notice some shortcomings in the more dramatic cutscenes and combat encounters, and the rapid camera switches between characters during conversations result in a somewhat noticeable texture delay, especially with outfits and armors, which do their best to load on demand. Currently, the PS5 version feels good but is just a few steps away from being a great way to enjoy an otherwise fantastic game.

However, it can be buggy, even more so than on PC during my time with it. In several battles, I found myself in an uncomfortable state of uncertainty, issuing a character's command to perform an attack or spell, only to discover in the next round that nothing had happened. Then, seconds later, the delayed attack suddenly unfolds with a clumsy series of jerky camera movements and animations. It's as if the engine needed time to process everything and then decided to execute each action all at once to catch up. Moments like these, as well as scenes where dialogues unfold slowly or subtitles fail to keep up with the conversation, also occurred a few times - all minor issues that I hope Larian can address shortly after release. Once they are fixed, there is hardly any reason not to enjoy Baldur's Gate 3 on the PS5.

Since I played the majority of my playthrough on PC with a controller, I may not be the best person to compare it to mouse controls. You will use radial menus to access your character sheets, inventories, and journal - while spells and items best suited for a particular situation are generated in combat on each character's radial menu, which can also be customized by players to their individual preferences. You also move with the joystick instead of clicks, which is more reminiscent of Diablo 4 on console or Larian's earlier games than something more strategic. It works, although it requires some getting used to and can be cumbersome at times due to the multitude of options available.

If you have been waiting for the console version of Baldur's Gate 3, I am delighted to announce that your patience has paid off. At least on the PS5, the gaming experience is comparable to the PC version, with powerful graphics and performance, and there are only a few remaining bugs to contend with. Larian will undoubtedly continue to improve things with additional updates in the coming weeks and months, so you are in good hands whether you are already excitedly playing or not. What remains is still one of the best role-playing games of recent years and a game that you should at least take a look at.