The Dark Urge

Last updated

The Dark Urge
BG3-TheDarkUrge.png
The default appearance of the Dark Urge in Baldur's Gate 3
First game Baldur's Gate 3 (2023)
Created bySwen Vinke [1]
Designed byBaudelaire Welch [2]
Voiced byNeil Roberts [2] [note 1]
Amelia Tyler (narration) [3]
In-universe information
Race White Dragonborn [note 1]
Class Sorcerer [note 1]

The Dark Urge is a character from the 2023 video game Baldur's Gate 3 , a Larian Studios roleplaying game set in the Forgotten Realms universe of Dungeons & Dragons . Designated as an "Origin" character the player can select to play through the game from their perspective. Unlike other Origin characters, the Dark Urge's appearance, voice, gender, and class can be customized if the player chooses, and by default they are a male White Dragonborn Sorcerer, voiced by Neil Roberts.

Contents

Conception and design

The Dark Urge was a character concept lead developer Swen Vinke had wanted to put in a game for some time, and was planned at the start of Baldur's Gate 3's development. [1] Added to give players a choice, allowing them to be completely evil if they so chose, though with the caveat that by the end of the game they would be alone. The addition was in part inspired by interactions with another character in the game, who players would need to commit heinous acts to gain the trust of, and if they rescued her later would question why they committed the act in the first place. Vinke acknowledged while very few players played evil characters, he felt the addition was worth it for those that chose to. [4] Originally, the was intended to be a Paladin, however they found they found this made things difficult from a narrative standpoint. As a result they allowed players to customize the character and make the choice of class themselves, and not make it the default option as it made roleplaying as the character difficult. [5]

Throughout the game's early access period, the character's addition was kept secret, with Swen only hinting there was a big secret he had in regards to the game during the initial announcement. [1] Lead writer Adam Smith noted when the character was first revealed, he worked hard to encourage that the character was not intended as "the evil run" for the game. He further argued that the character had the potential to be the most heroic character in the game, through resisting their urges and instead being shrewd, adding "those very urges may be what allows you to seal the deal on a good ending." [6]

Writing and voice

The character was written by Baudelaire Welch. [2] The character was written as a "dark counterpoint" to the main storyline, and intended to ask the question why players were compelled to do evil acts in a video game. They wanted players to enjoy playing as "the bad guy", but also have room to play as a hero if they chose. [7] Though the character is customizable, Welch chose Neil Roberts to provide their default voice. Roberts, whose voice lines were intended to fit Rogue class characters, also provided the opening narration for the Dark Urge. He enjoyed the positive reaction it had received, and acknowledged fans comparison of the monologue to Shakespeare, stating that he wanted to maintain that character dilemma, and portray the Dark Urge as someone not knowing where they were from but with an overwhelming feel of something they had to fight. He added "it’s confusion, and almost like a child not quite knowing what to do. And so we veered into that.” [2]

The game's narrator, voiced by Amelia Tyler, was used to give a voice to the character's bloodlust as well. Tyler considered what the character represented, and portrayed it as "feral, visceral, animalistic, want to tear the world apart with your teeth". She utilized her background in animal studies to characterize its behavior, wanting to portray the character's internal urge to kill akin to an animal pacing in its cage yearning to be let out, a primal need "to kill and not even really knowing why". She didn't want it to feel like someone else's voice, however, but instead a part of the player's character they may not like. [3] She additionally stated that "You so rarely get a character that you can just sink your teeth into like that", and that one of her favorite lines she provided to the game, a dark chuckle after committing a brutal murder, was her favorite line for the character. [8]

Appearances

The character was first introduced in a community-based browser game, Blood in Baldur's Gate. In it, players were tasked with solving murders within the city of Baldur's Gate. The killer is revealed to be the Dark Urge, who kills the players' character at the end of the game. [9]

Critical reception

Polygon 's Cass Marshall compared playing as the Dark Urge to the Independent New Vegas option of Fallout: New Vegas or playing as a Malkavian in Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines , due to the freedom it gave the player and helped enrich the story from a different point of view. While they acknowledged that playing a villain or anti-hero in the game was viable without needing to play as the Dark Urge, "the constant battle against intrusive thoughts", and the ramifications of them if not prepared, added some depth. They further found it "delightful taking the time to peel back the layers and explore Baldur’s Gate 3’s branching paths", and enjoyed how the community had taken to portray the character as "an adorable scamp" as they dealt with their internal struggle. [10] Madeline Carpou of The Mary Sue meanwhile shared Marshall's Malkavian comparison, illustrating how significantly the game and player perspective of it changed due to the mental issues presented to the player, and presented aspects of a player's character to them that they may not completely comprehend. [11]

Cat Bussell in an article for TechRadar praised how the Dark Urge affected the concept of the game as a whole, undermining the sense of control and player agency usually provided. In particular she cited the bard's death as an example, and how in the aftermath the player is forced to try and reason how to deal with not only the body, but their companion's discovery of the murder. She added that no matter what response the player chose, "it’s an upsetting experience, on par with what you might expect from some of the best horror games", and helped establish a sense of dread in the player as to whether they will lose control again. Bussell gave additional praise to how ever presented the presence of the urges were throughout the game, either through dialogue options "that veer from the darkly amusing to the genuinely upsetting", or the presence of Sceleritas Fel. She closed with stating that "knowing that you are only a bad dice roll away from turning into a blood-hungry serial killer offers a distinctive kind of horror", appropriate in particular for the Halloween season. [12]

Jasmine Gould-Wilson of GamesRadar+ praised the depth that was added to the game's story when playing as the character. She argued that the character's intrinsic links to the game's plot helped the player feel more like the protagonist of the game, and the most "canon": "You're not just another everyman hero with a worm in their brain, but a true stakeholder in the outcome of a long, perilous journey." She additionally described being able to play as a homicidal maniac "who still has a merry band of best buds" made for a unique roleplaying experience. She compared the role of Withers to a chorus member of a Greek tragedy, and alongside the expanded dialogue and involvement with the game's villains provided "an inexplicable weight" to the character's decisions. [13]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 These are the default options for the character.

Related Research Articles

<i>Baldurs Gate</i> Franchise of fantasy role-playing video games

Baldur's Gate is a series of role-playing video games set in the Forgotten Realms Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting. The series has been divided into two sub-series, known as the Bhaalspawn Saga and the Dark Alliance, both taking place mostly within the Western Heartlands, but the Bhaalspawn Saga extends to Amn and Tethyr. The Dark Alliance series was released for consoles and was critically and commercially successful. The Bhaalspawn Saga was critically acclaimed for using pausable realtime gameplay, which is credited with revitalizing the computer role-playing game (CRPG) genre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drizzt Do'Urden</span> Fictional character from Dungeons & Dragons

Drizzt Do'Urden is a fictional character appearing in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Drizzt was created by author R. A. Salvatore as a supporting character in the Icewind Dale Trilogy. Salvatore created him on a whim when his publisher needed him to replace one of the characters in an early version of the first book, The Crystal Shard. Drizzt has since become a popular heroic character of the Forgotten Realms setting, and has been featured as the main character of a long series of books, starting chronologically with The Dark Elf Trilogy. As an atypical drow, Drizzt has forsaken both the evil ways of his people and their home in the Underdark, in the drow city of Menzoberranzan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volothamp Geddarm</span> Forgotten Realms fictional character

Volothamp "Volo" Geddarm, created by Jeff Grubb, is a fictional character of the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.

<i>Baldurs Gate: Dark Alliance II</i> 2004 video game

Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II is a 2004 hack and slash action role-playing game for PlayStation 2 and Xbox developed by Black Isle Studios and published by Interplay Entertainment, with distribution handled by Vivendi Universal Games in North America and Avalon Interactive/Acclaim Entertainment in Europe. It is the sequel to the 2001 game Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance.

<i>Baldurs Gate II: Shadows of Amn</i> 2000 video game

Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn is a role-playing video game developed by BioWare and published by Interplay Entertainment. It is the sequel to Baldur's Gate (1998) and was released for Microsoft Windows in September 2000. Like Baldur's Gate, the game takes place in the Forgotten Realms—a fantasy campaign setting—and is based on the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition rules. Powered by BioWare's Infinity Engine, Baldur's Gate II uses an isometric perspective and pausable real-time gameplay. The player controls a party of up to six characters, one of whom is the player-created protagonist, while the others are certain characters recruited from the game world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minsc</span> Fictional character from Baldurs Gate

Minsc is a fictional character in the Baldur's Gate series of Dungeons & Dragons role-playing video games developed by BioWare. He originated from the pen-and-paper Dungeons & Dragons sessions held by the lead designer of Baldur's Gate, James Ohlen, and was expanded upon by the game's lead writer, Lukas Kristjanson. His video game debut was in Baldur's Gate as a companion character who can join the player's party. He also appears in the sequel, Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn, the expansion, Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal, the 2015 game Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear, the 2023 game Baldur's Gate 3, as well as in promotions relating to the titles. Minsc is voiced by Jim Cummings in his original video game appearances, and by Matt Mercer in Baldur's Gate 3.

<i>Divine Divinity</i> 2002 video game

Divine Divinity is an action role-playing game developed by Larian Studios and published by cdv Software Entertainment for Microsoft Windows, which was released in September 2002. It has three sequels, Beyond Divinity, Divinity II, and Divinity: Original Sin II. It also has a prequel, Divinity: Original Sin, and a spin-off, Divinity: Dragon Commander. The game was released for Mac OS X on 15 November 2013.

<i>Baldurs Gate</i> (video game) 1998 video game

Baldur's Gate is a role-playing video game that was developed by BioWare and published in 1998 by Interplay Entertainment. It is the first game in the Baldur's Gate series and takes place in the Forgotten Realms, a high fantasy campaign setting, using a modified version of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (AD&D) 2nd edition rules. It was the first game to use the Infinity Engine for its graphics, with Interplay using the engine for other Forgotten Realms-licensed games, including the Icewind Dale series and Planescape: Torment. The game's story focuses on a player-made character who travels across the Sword Coast alongside a party of companions.

<i>Baldurs Gate: Dark Alliance</i> 2001 video game

Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance is a 2001 action role-playing video game developed by Snowblind Studios and published by Interplay Entertainment subsidiary Black Rock Studios for the PlayStation 2 and the Xbox consoles, with High Voltage Software handling the GameCube port, and Magic Pockets developing the Game Boy Advance version. CD Projekt was developing a version for Microsoft Windows, but was ultimately cancelled. In 2021, a 4K port of the game was released for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch and PC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Larian Studios</span> Belgian video game developer and publisher

Larian Studios is a Belgian independent video game developer and publisher founded in 1996 by Swen Vincke. Headquartered in Ghent, Belgium, Larian focuses on developing role-playing video games but has previously worked on educational games and casino games. It is best known for developing the Divinity series and Baldur's Gate 3.

<i>Neverwinter Nights: Darkness over Daggerford</i> 2006 video game

Darkness over Daggerford is a premium module for BioWare's Neverwinter Nights role-playing video game. It was released for digital distribution on August 16, 2006. Considered a user-made mod, the game was created by Canadian company Ossian Studios, headed by former BioWare employee Alan Miranda. It was remastered and released as an official premium module on June 1, 2018.

Baldur's Gate III: The Black Hound was a cancelled role-playing video game developed by Black Isle Studios for the Microsoft Windows platform. Announced in 2002 under the codenames FR6 and Project Jefferson, it was planned to be the third main entry in the Baldur's Gate series, utilizing the Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition ruleset. The game was set to use a 3D graphics engine developed for the game, rather than the Infinity Engine used for the developer's previous games.

Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition is a remaster of the 1998 role-playing video game Baldur's Gate, developed by Overhaul Games, a division of Beamdog, and published by Atari. It was released for Microsoft Windows on November 28, 2012, with additional releases between 2012 and 2014 for iPad, OS X, Android and Linux and most recently for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch on October 15, 2019. The remaster combines the original game, Baldur's Gate, with its expansion Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast, retaining the original elements from both, while including additions, a separate arena adventure entitled The Black Pits, and a number of improvements some of which were imported from Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swen Vincke</span> Belgian video game designer, programmer and director

Swen Johan Vincke is a Belgian video game designer, programmer and director. He is the founder and CEO of the video game company Larian Studios, where he has led the development of the Divinity series and Baldur's Gate 3.

<i>Divinity: Original Sin II</i> 2017 video game

Divinity: Original Sin II is a role-playing video game developed and published by Larian Studios. The sequel to 2014's Divinity: Original Sin and the fifth main entry in the Divinity series, the game was released for Microsoft Windows in September 2017. The player controls a "Godwoken", a Sourcerer who can harness and use a powerful magic known as Source, and becomes a pivotal figure in the fight against the Voidwoken, monstrous creatures who wreak havoc in the medieval fantasy world of Rivellon.

<i>Baldurs Gate 3</i> 2023 video game

Baldur's Gate 3 is a 2023 role-playing video game developed and published by Belgian game developer Larian Studios. The game is the third main installment in the Baldur's Gate series, based on the tabletop fantasy role-playing system of Dungeons & Dragons. A partial version of the game was released in early access format for macOS and Windows in October 2020. It remained in early access until its full release for Windows in August 2023, with versions for PlayStation 5, macOS, and Xbox Series X/S releasing later that year.

<i>Baldurs Gate: Descent into Avernus</i> Tabletop role-playing game adventure

Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus is an adventure module for the 5th edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It serves as a prologue to the video game Baldur's Gate III. Christopher Perkins, Dungeons & Dragons Principal Narrative Designer, described the module as "Dungeons & Dragons meets Mad Max: Fury Road".

Divinity is a role-playing video game series developed by Larian Studios. The franchise was introduced in 2002 with Divine Divinity. The franchise received more mainstream attention following the critically and commercially successful release of Divinity: Original Sin (2014).

Minthara Baenre is a character from the 2023 video game Baldur's Gate 3, a Larian Studios roleplaying game set in the Forgotten Realms universe of Dungeons & Dragons. Voiced by Emma Gregory, she is a drow Paladin in service of the game's antagonist, and acts as a central villain for the game's first act. Depending on the player's actions, she can be recruited as a companion in the game's second act, and can be romanced if the player chooses to do so. Outside of video games, she has appeared on cards for Magic: the Gathering.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Why Is Everyone A Druid Now? w/ Swen Vincke from Larian Studios!. Dropped Frames. July 23, 2023 via YouTube.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Cole, Jason (December 7, 2023). "There's 'an awful lot of Shakespeare' in Baldur's Gate 3's Dark Urge". Polygon . Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  3. 1 2 Randall, Harvey (November 8, 2023). "Amelia Tyler, Baldur's Gate 3's narrator, talks putting a voice to the Dark Urge's 'feral, visceral, animalistic, want to tear the world apart with [its] teeth'". PC Gamer . Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  4. Jankowski, Leya (July 9, 2023). "Wenn ihr der ultimative Bösewicht sein wollt, hat uns der Chef-Entwickler eine Anleitung gegeben, wie ihr das in Baldur's Gate 3 machen könnt". Mein MMO (in German). Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  5. Kat, Bailey (December 15, 2023). "Baldur's Gate 3 Developers Explain Its Controversial Endings, Beloved Characters, and Making the Best RPG of 2023". IGN . Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  6. Martin, Lauren (August 17, 2023). "Baldur's Gate 3's chaotic Dark Urge origin is 'potentially the most heroic playthrough,' says lead writer". PC Gamer . Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  7. Welch, Baudelaire (July 18, 2023). Baldur's Gate 3: Baudelaire Welch about The Dark Urge . Retrieved January 17, 2024. – via Twitter
  8. Bussell, Cat (December 5, 2023). "Baldur's Gate 3's narrator has a favorite line from the Dark Urge and it's one of the most chilling". TechRadar. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  9. Romano, Sal (July 7, 2023). "Baldur's Gate III details Dark Urge, Orin the Red, character identity, and romance". Gemastu. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  10. Marshall, Cass (October 26, 2023). "It's absolutely worth playing Baldur's Gate 3's Dark Urge campaign". Polygon . Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  11. Carpou, Madeline (August 9, 2023). "What 'Baldur's Gate 3,'s 'Dark Urge,' and 'Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines' Have in Common". The Mary Sue. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  12. Bussell, Cat (October 6, 2023). "I'm doing a Baldur's Gate 3 Dark Urge playthrough for Halloween, and so should you". TechRadar. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  13. Gould-Wilson, Jasmine (October 2, 2023). "Dark Urge is the canon story of Baldur's Gate 3 and I can prove it". GamesRadar+ . Retrieved January 20, 2024.