Unleashing the Power of the Talking Brain in Baldur's Gate 3: A Gamer's Dilemma
In Baldur's Gate 3, players face a crucial decision right from the start: should they assist or destroy a talking brain? Make this choice wisely as the fate of your journey hangs in the balance
When beginning their journey in Baldur's Gate 3, players encounter a significant decision early on. They hear a high-pitched voice calling for help as they pass by. If they choose to investigate and take the elevator up, they discover that the voice belongs to a brain enclosed within a skull. The brain then requests to be freed from its confinement. This presents an immediate and peculiar moral dilemma. It is worth noting that this is just the first of many moral choices players will face in Baldur's Gate 3, and those who adhere to a strict code of ethics may want to ensure they make the right decision here.
What Is The Brain?
: Unveiling the Hidden Outcomes and Secrets that Await Gamers
The intellect devourer, known as the talking brain, can be identified as such through an automatic Arcana check when the character interacts with it. Within this universe, these beings are malevolent entities. The particular intellect devourer before us goes by the name of Us. A Paladin or Cleric, embodying pure goodness, might feel compelled to obliterate the brain without hesitation.
As players familiarize themselves with the Nautolids (the type of ship they're aboard), they will also become acquainted with this entity. This entity possesses the ability to communicate with other larval intellect devourers within the character's brain. Myrnath, the unfortunate individual whose brain has succumbed to the intellect devourer, is destined to face certain demise. Hence, one should not allow the decision to be influenced by a desire to save him.
Destroying The Brain
Destroying the intellect devourer yields little consequence as the character never engages with it or queries any information. Though certain dialogue options may alter, they do not significantly impact the overall narrative. Typically, it merely leads to other characters observing the creature, a sentient brain with ambulatory appendages, trailing the player's character. Moreover, obliterating the intellect devourer requires no special preparation or inspiration; it is effortlessly accomplished.
As previously stated,
Helping The Brain
can be an excellent option for individuals aspiring to uphold a virtuous moral code. Refusing to engage in bargaining, negotiating, or accepting aid from malevolent beings can provide a sense of fulfillment in denying any mercy to these abominations.
Releasing the intellect devourer grants players a temporary companion during the prologue. Despite being an evil entity, this combatant views the player as a friend, courtesy of the intellect devourer parasite dwelling in the player's brain. As a result, it willingly eliminates evil entities, providing support when players are unable to enlist the aid of friends for an entertaining experience.
The whereabouts of the intellect devourer remain unknown, as it vanishes at a pivotal moment in the story. Its malevolent nature suggests that it may become a new servant to mind flayers, potentially creating another minion for the enemy. However, it could also potentially become an ally in a dire situation later on in the campaign.
Players have the choice to disable the intellect devourer while removing it, rendering it weaker. This decision would make it a less reliable companion, but if it does turn into an adversary, it would pose a reduced threat in future encounters.
Baldur's Gate 3 is currently in Early Access for PC, with a release date of August 3rd, 2023. The PlayStation 5 version will be available on September 6th, 2023. The development of the Xbox Series X/S version is still ongoing.
