Baldurs Gate 2 - tell me...

[Vhite]

Well, i tried probably every classic PC RPG i know except this one so before i'll buy it i would like to hear whats so good about it? yeah i could just google some review but i think there's nothing better then hearing it from someone who really liked or disliked it so please, why i should or shouldn't buy it?

 

[juliett_lima]

Heya!

Did you enjoy the original Baldur's Gate? And the various Icewind Dales? If so, then it's definitely worth looking up. Story-wise, it brings the Bhaalspawn saga to a (kindof) conclusion, and it's a pretty fun romp. The introductory sequence can be painstakingly boring on re-runs though, but the rest of the game is ace.

Personally, I enjoyed the original BG more, even though BGII has much more variety and more locations, items and characters etc. Personal preference though - I can't think of any solid reasons.

As it stands, most modern western RPG's are really dumbed-down compared to the Glory Days of BGII, IWD and NWN and Fallout, so if they're more your thing, then this will be an eye-opener

 

[Jandau]

What's good about it? In a word, everything.

Its visuals were great for its time and the various areas you visit are still beautiful to regard. It's basically the height of 2D visuals and it has its greatest strenghts well in hand. The game's story is well written with some of the most memorable and iconic characters in the western RPG tradition. There's tons of good dialogue and plenty of quest to occupy your time. In fact, the game takes a heck of a long time to complete and easily tops Dragon Age's 40-60 hours (and that's before you get into the expansion). Character building and advancement options are varied, allowing you make your protagonist into all kinds of awesome. As I said, the game is almost flawless.

The one potential flaw of the game is that 2nd edition D&D rules that it uses might take a bit of getting used to if you haven't seen them before. However, there's plenty of material in the game manual and the varios FAQs/guides to get you started even if you haven't seen the ruleset before.

It's IMO the most important classic western RPG that you can play and it's a damn shame if you miss it.

 

[Amnestic]

Well, i tried probably every classic PC RPG i know except this one so before i'll buy it i would like to hear whats so good about it? yeah i could just google some review but i think there's nothing better then hearing it from someone who really liked or disliked it so please, why i should or shouldn't buy it?

It has an excellent main story with difficult challenges, varied environments, foes and intricate plotlines, a wealth of sidequests to do which will keep you occupied for hours upon hours, incredible characterisation and humour from the Player Character, the primary antagonist, your party as well as the minor characters who you may only bump into.

Decent to stunning voice acting, 2nd Edition AD&D ruleset, good music, good sound...I'm sure I've missed some stuff, but I can't think of anything now. I can't stress the humour enough. Some of the inter-party banter is absolutely hilarious, the kind of stuff you'd expect from Bioware. Jan Jansen is a genius.

Oh, you get to slay at least two dragons (possibly three) plus at least one extra in the expansion. Who doesn't love Dragon slaying?

 

[Vhite]

Thanks guys, sounds just like that kind of RPGs that i like, gonna get it as soon as posible.

 

[Jandau]

Oh, you get to slay at least two dragons (possibly three) plus at least one extra in the expansion. Who doesn't love Dragon slaying?

I thought it was at least two in the expansion (at the entrance to the lair and the boss inside)? Or is my memory failing me?

 

[Amnestic]

Oh, you get to slay at least two dragons (possibly three) plus at least one extra in the expansion. Who doesn't love Dragon slaying?

I thought it was at least two in the expansion (at the entrance to the lair and the boss inside)? Or is my memory failing me?

Ah, I had forgotten the one at the entrance. Unsure if he did go Dragon mode or if he just stayed in his humanoid (Monk class?) form.

 

[benylor]

Oh, you get to slay at least two dragons (possibly three) plus at least one extra in the expansion. Who doesn't love Dragon slaying?

I thought it was at least two in the expansion (at the entrance to the lair and the boss inside)? Or is my memory failing me?

Ah, I had forgotten the one at the entrance. Unsure if he did go Dragon mode or if he just stayed in his humanoid (Monk class?) form.

There's also two in WK, so four in the expansion - assuming you don't kill the extra one in the lair which makes it five. In the original game, there's actually four dragons, although one of them is usually not killed for various reasons.

Baldur's Gate 2 is the greatest game I have ever played. Ever. I've been playing since the Master System era, so I have around 16 years of gaming experience to draw from, and I have never enjoyed a game so much as Baldur's Gate 2. It's unbelievably good in every way, except for the ability to cheese it - which is left entirely to your discretion.

Just please patch your game, and please steer clear of NPC mods. I hear very, very bad things about Saerlith for a start, and I tried Tortured Souls - worst drivel writing I've ever read. I mean, seriously, if somebody thinks that "that is my past, present and future" is good writing, they need to be checked in at a mental hospital.

 

[Amnestic]

Oh, you get to slay at least two dragons (possibly three) plus at least one extra in the expansion. Who doesn't love Dragon slaying?

I thought it was at least two in the expansion (at the entrance to the lair and the boss inside)? Or is my memory failing me?

Ah, I had forgotten the one at the entrance. Unsure if he did go Dragon mode or if he just stayed in his humanoid (Monk class?) form.

There's also two in WK, so four in the expansion - assuming you don't kill the extra one in the lair which makes it five. In the original game, there's actually four dragons, although one of them is usually not killed for various reasons.

Baldur's Gate 2 is the greatest game I have ever played. Ever. I've been playing since the Master System era, so I have around 16 years of gaming experience to draw from, and I have never enjoyed a game so much as Baldur's Gate 2. It's unbelievably good in every way, except for the ability to cheese it - which is left entirely to your discretion.

Just please patch your game, and please steer clear of NPC mods. I hear very, very bad things about Saerlith for a start, and I tried Tortured Souls - worst drivel writing I've ever read. I mean, seriously, if somebody thinks that "that is my past, present and future" is good writing, they need to be checked in at a mental hospital.

I managed to leave my copy of Baldur's Gate 2 at home (Stupidly thought my university internet access would be more unrestricted than it is. I can't even play L4D or TF2 online! =_=), care to sum up what Saerlith and/or Tortured Souls are for me, if only so I can have a good giggle?

Also: I knew it'd be a good idea to put 'at least' when I was numbering dragons as I was sure I'd forget some

 

[pffh]

.Oh, you get to slay at least two dragons (possibly three) plus at least one extra in the expansion. Who doesn't love Dragon slaying?

Gah why do I only remember two dragons the red and the shadow dragon. Who am I forgetting?

 

[Amnestic]

.Oh, you get to slay at least two dragons (possibly three) plus at least one extra in the expansion. Who doesn't love Dragon slaying?

Gah why do I only remember two dragons the red and the shadow dragon. Who am I forgetting?

I remember a White(or Silver?) dragon in the underground, but I'm fairly certain she's optional depending on what quest choices you make for that section. There's also a Black dragon in the final area allied with the primary antagonist.

 

[Sneaklemming]

I really is an epic game, I'd recommend getting some of the resolution updates from the interwebs, and an unofficial patch that fixes dialogue n shit. It's reasonably old but fantastic.

 

[benylor]

Oh, you get to slay at least two dragons (possibly three) plus at least one extra in the expansion. Who doesn't love Dragon slaying?

I thought it was at least two in the expansion (at the entrance to the lair and the boss inside)? Or is my memory failing me?

Ah, I had forgotten the one at the entrance. Unsure if he did go Dragon mode or if he just stayed in his humanoid (Monk class?) form.

There's also two in WK, so four in the expansion - assuming you don't kill the extra one in the lair which makes it five. In the original game, there's actually four dragons, although one of them is usually not killed for various reasons.

Baldur's Gate 2 is the greatest game I have ever played. Ever. I've been playing since the Master System era, so I have around 16 years of gaming experience to draw from, and I have never enjoyed a game so much as Baldur's Gate 2. It's unbelievably good in every way, except for the ability to cheese it - which is left entirely to your discretion.

Just please patch your game, and please steer clear of NPC mods. I hear very, very bad things about Saerlith for a start, and I tried Tortured Souls - worst drivel writing I've ever read. I mean, seriously, if somebody thinks that "that is my past, present and future" is good writing, they need to be checked in at a mental hospital.

I managed to leave my copy of Baldur's Gate 2 at home (Stupidly thought my university internet access would be more unrestricted than it is. I can't even play L4D or TF2 online! =_=), care to sum up what Saerlith and/or Tortured Souls are for me, if only so I can have a good giggle?

Also: I knew it'd be a good idea to put 'at least' when I was numbering dragons as I was sure I'd forget some

Tortured Souls is a mod which expands on Yoshimo and adds a character called Kachinko (I think?) into the game. She's a Kensai/Mage, which is an already overpowered combo, who comes dual wielding two katanas (already a bad sign). She spins the whole damn game to be just about her - her writing is really bad, Yoshimo's character falls completely into her shadow, and, well, she just Mary Sues everything. Been a long time since I've tried her. To get an idea of how completely the mod centres the game around her, it even changes the damn menu screens to have a background of her.

And Saerlith? Ask DarthMordechai on the GameFAQs forums about her. I've not played her myself, but she's a 15-year old (and they make a point of stating that everywhere) who just so happens to know things about Alaundo's Prophecy that no other character in the game does, who comes onto CHARNAME really aggressively, and who at one point you have the option of attempting to rape. Apparently, her devs can't take criticism of any sort either. I can't remember what precisely is so horrible about her, having not played her, but seek the wisdom of DarthMordecai for more.

 

[Aitruis]

I would advise playing BG2 without addons. The game does more than well enough on it's own. As to the comment earlier that newer RPG's are dumbed down in comparison, they're absolutely right. The NPCs alone are worth playing through. Every single person that an join your party has a story to tell, and not just with you. NPCs in you party will roll, rock, ***** and slap their way through conversations that are unique to every character. None of that Character X asks "So how about the weather?" regardless of whether he's talking to character Y or Z crap. Every important NPC has their own deep personality.

The story is, well, amazingly deep. This game is before the "grind quest fad" so all the quests have story elements and a reason behind them. The overarching plot is excellent, and no matter what kind of character you play, the choices you make will have consequences beyond just, "I'm evil, so I con you out of more money or somesuch" like many newer RPGs.

The game does use an abbreviated set of AD&D rules. I wouldn't worry about it. Most of the number crunching goes on in the background, and if you can keep a few simple rules like how your Armor value is better the *lower* it is in the forefront of your mind, you'll be fine.

The only advice I can give is this: when you play through the first time, play as though you are actually making these decisions. Insert your own moral compass, whatever it may be, into your first playthrough. I can guarantee you will find the game experience so much more amazing if you do that the first time you play.

 

[high_castle]

Baldur's Gate 2 often gets hailed as one of the best RPGs ever. I go so far as calling it the best game. The story, characters, and gameplay are all perfectly balanced to create a rich, immersive world. There's a reason the game's modding community is still active today, about 10 years after the game's release. The engine is versatile, which means there's a wealth of fresh content for it. And even if you only play the original story line, you're still enjoying one of the best stories in gaming. BioWare is THE developer to flock to if you like games with compelling narratives and fleshed-out characters. Hands down, it's a must-play.

 

[Ganthrinor]

Why is BG2 good?

Elven Fighter/Mage. Cast Time Stop, bust out with Whirlwind Attack, and chain Spell Sequencer'ed Magic Missle.

 

[Abedeus]

Well, i tried probably every classic PC RPG

And you haven't played BG2? It's more classing than Baldur's Gate 1 and on par with Planescape: Torment.

 

[Ashtovo]

Oh, you get to slay at least two dragons (possibly three) plus at least one extra in the expansion. Who doesn't love Dragon slaying?

what i remember is technically two because i think you fight one of them twice. and the other is optional. unless im completly wrong

 

[Hiphophippo]

In my opinion, the Infinity engine is unbearably bad. Possibly the worst rpg engine ever created, which is a shame, because it's obvious that behind the shit is an amazing rpg.

 

[Firenz]

I may get shouted down here but: Dragon Age Origins is being hailed as one of the greatest RPGs of all time. All it is is Baldur's Gate 2 with nicer graphics and a less evocative story line.

Bioware are the gods of the RPG genre and Baldur's Gate 2 was and still is their best game.

I started out in isometric RPGs with Arcanum: of Steamworks and Magic obscura (or whatever the full title is). After completing that I asked some of the community where they thought I should go from there, they all pointed me towards BG without fail. When I asked whether it was going to be worth it having just completed a similar game one of them came back with "you've just completed a good game, however everything Arcanum does BG does better".

And the claim that you've tried "probably every classic PC RPG" cannot be true if you haven't played BG, meant in the nicest possible way as a reflection on the game not on you.

Damn it I think I'm going to reinstall BG!