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Good game, bad performance.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 8
Date: December 21, 2000
Author: Amazon User

This is such a good game that even with all the performance problems i still have to give it 5 stars. for example, the computer i play on runs all my games perfectly with no lags or slowdowns. But BG2 expects way to much from your computer. After about 45 minutes of playing my comp is already lagging and slowing down, and then it does this extremely annoying thing where you speaking start buzzing and the voices become Distorted and repeat, about 5 or 10 seconds of this you makes you wanna throw your computer out the window. Other than those problems this is a great game, and i would recommended it to anyone with a powerful computer.

BGII is the best RPG I've ever played

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 8
Date: December 21, 2000
Author: Amazon User

This game is just beautiful. Usually when i finish a game I have no desire to play it any more, it gets put on the shelf with a certain amount of satisfaction depending on how hard it was and how much fun it was. Well BGII is more fun the second time around, I know whats going on and there are so many quests that I didn't get to do the first time, I know my way around and the world is just so big that I feel like I could live here forever. Well maybe thats over-doing it a little but this has never happened to me before.

I particularly love the combat system, there seems like an endless number of spells, I have counted close to 250 so far and I can be so creative with all of them. There is so many different layers to the combats and they aren't so hard that you can't just go through them sort of hack and slashing (with a few important preparations of course) but then I can go nuts with strategy and they almost seem too easy after a while, like when I discovered how to use skeletons to kill mind flayers..........

Anyways this is a great game, I highly recommend it, even if your one that really goes for the quests and the story, you won't be disappointed.

This is Very Cool with Few Flaws.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 5 / 6
Date: September 26, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Balder's Gate 2 is definaly a really cool game. I am a D&D player, and though I play 3rd Edition, I still see that this is a really cool game. There are so many things to do, and I love the way everything affects some of the story. Also, I love the way they allow you to create your VERY OWN character. There are a few problems, like the game freezes up after playing for a long time (you will be playing a long time, and I have a new computer, only a year old). Occaisionally it seems to take too long to level up, and there is not as much to do when you level up, unlike I would have expected from my D&D experiance.
Other than that, though, there is really no problems with BG2. It is a well rounded, fully engaging game. I probably should have given it 5 stars, but I kinda expect it to be PERFECT for me to do that. Anyway, if you're thinking about buying it, you probably should. I had the same thoughts myself, but I'm VERY glad I bought it.

Yo.

totally submersive and worth every cent!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: March 16, 2002
Author: Amazon User

The graphics are MINT, The gameplay is endless due to the virtually unlimited number of the characters and their specialties and strengths. Through skill and careful planning, you can guide each character you create to achieving high experience levels. The game has many features to customize it to your exact liking. Easy or hard. Through the add-on packs and the available editors you can download from fan sites, the possibilities are endless. I found an editor to modify the artificial intelligence of the non player controlled characters!
Buy all the baldur's gate games and play them through from the beginning for maximum fun. Also, don't forget to try Icewind dale. In fact, I recommend doing Icewind dale first if your new to RPG's because the story is more focused and shorter so you can learn the basics of RPG before you jump into something as VAST and ENDLESS as Baulders.

Best Game Ever

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: December 19, 2004
Author: Amazon User

If I could make ambrosia, If I could create the very divinity of all that ever existed in gaming, and if I could program, I would have made Baldur's Gate.
Even as someone who frequents First Person Shooter games, Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn, is still the best game I have ever played.
If you enjoy plot that actually matters, a game that ISN'T Completely hack&slash, a game where you can become a god (Well, in the expansion at least...) and if you enjoy games that will make you actually think, then BG2 is an awesome game for you.
And even if you don't normally enjoy those types of games, Get BG2 anyway.
While it is recommended that you play the first game before the second, it is not necessary. The first one was a bit on the boring side anyway.
You start as a captive in the dungeon of Jon Irenicus, an evil mage who has captured you to further his own cause, whatever that cause may be. You must escape his lair, to enter the city of Athkatla. And then? Then the game has only just begun.
Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn is a very open ended game, but the main plot is still quite evident, so you don't get too lost.
Some will be the Barbarian leader who captured a Keep by force, others will be a Sorcerer who took control of a Planar Sphere.
There are no limitations.

This game will blow your mind.

excellent game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: October 25, 2000
Author: Amazon User

I would love to just say that ponsolle has no clue how to play BG II. They say "Can't create your own party" but you can create your own party. You can even import your party from BG. They also said "No good save system and if you do save, your portal to the prior dungeon is destroyed when you return AND the entire dungeon has been repopulated." Now I am trying to understand what they mean. It is very simple to save and replay after you die. (and you will die, trust me) The dungeon will only repopulate if you restart it. (there are a few places that regenerate monsters but not many) I did not play the first BG so I came into the game cold but it has easy gameplay and it is just beautiful to look at. everyone is entitled to their opinion but..... whatever........it is a great game....

The best game ever made better

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 19 / 46
Date: June 29, 2000
Author: Amazon User

I have not yet played Baldur's Gate 2:Shadows of Amn, but if Baldur's Gate, TOSC, Fallout, and Planescape are any indication of what this game is going to be like, IT WILL BE GREAT! It will look much like Baldur's Gate, one of the best games ever, except everything will be improved. It will have many more spells, items, and monsters, and all will have improved graphics. If you loved Baldur's Gate, you will love this one even more. It is longer than the epic BG 1, and if you do all the side-quests, assuming you know exactly what to do, it can take three hundred hours without the expansion pack that it's bound to have. The great story that enveloped the BG 1 world will be nothing compared to this game. With old characters - Minsc and Boo, Jaheira, and Imoen - new features - strongholds, different sized monsters, and the improved Infinity engine - BG 2 will be the best RPG ever. It was all you loved in BG 1, plus much much more.

Good game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 19 / 50
Date: May 18, 2000
Author: Amazon User

I have seen other games and the last baldur's gate was good but this one is better. Better graphics. Better spells and even better areas. It's just better all around. Those of you who like bg one {and who dosn't) will love bg2. It's all u want and more.

Hunt down the bad wizard who stole your soul and kill `im.

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 13 / 30
Date: February 17, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Personally, I am very dissatisfied with the game's CONTENT. Sorry for the caps, but they help to emphasize the point that there is a vast difference is ratings because different gamers look at different aspects. Moreover, they also evaluate what they find according to varying criteria. Hence the disagreement.

Now, the reason I gave BG II three stars is because I'm rather happy with the game as regards its FORM. What I mean by form here are its graphics, sound, music (though I found the last rather too heroic and repetitive) and the sheer size of it (areas, quests and monsters), as well as the amount of detail. Those who say that the original BG looked, or sounded (with the exception of BG's very distinct "night in the city" theme, which is sadly missing in the sequel) better, need only to re-install that worthy predecessor and enjoy the brown-and-green drabness of it.

As for size, the bigger the merrier, or it would be so if I appreciated every minute of gameplay. Then I would want more and more of it, but, as it is, the length is mere annoyance. Details and textures of certain areas (Trademeet, for example, or the beholder lair template), are astounding. The game recycles a great deal (and I mean it) of the original BG or TSC material, down to NPC lines, which doesn't help it to look any more original. Indeed, as CGW has noted, you will instantly recognize the controls and gameplay itself once you start playing.

It is clear, however, that Bioware didn't aim at making the game into something drastically new, but instead wisely decided to give fans "more of the same, but better". Surely, the designers cannot be blamed for wanting to continue being able to provide bread and butter for their family tables? And I must underline that there is quite a lot of new material in BG II, most notably the monsters. Some creature types are rather surprising to see in what is after all a high-level character adventure, goblins for example, but overall monsters are well-animated, hard to defeat and, without a shadow of doubt, numerous.

As for quests, there are many, but more detailed consideration will have to wait until we can get to the game's CONTENT. I thus conclude my discussion of BG II's FORM (what is most obvious, graphics, sound and the variety).

Before I go further, two more points need to be made.

First, would all ye future reviewers (for certainly I'm not the last to touch upon the subject, wishful thinking aside) please stop comparing BG II to Diablo II. The games are clearly very different, and, just as the original Diablo, its sequel got labeled an RPG by mistake (or marketing calculation). It is almost pure action, total hack-and-slash, and it has nothing to do with Black Isle/Bioware games.

Second, technical problems you night be experiencing are irrelevant to the game's fun value. The idea being, *after* you manage to get the game going, and *assuming* you overlook slowdown problems and so on, would you recommend the game or not? Please don't go giving 1 star because of Interplay's poor technical support.

Those issues having been dealt with, I now turn to BG II's CONTENT. Again, I use the word loosely, referring to how intelligent, tasteful and "mature" the game is. Before I get to my own opinion, here is a classification of wows and boos for BG II, where FORM and CONTENT are of different interest to different people.

There seem to be three main groups of gamers.

1) The Diablo II group. What they want: faster and more combat, different monsters with special abilities, also useful combat abilities for classes and kits, spells made more powerful, etc. What they dislike: lengthy texts (I have yet to find those in BG II, though I have played it through), fiddling around with all the useless NPC interaction. Slogan: Let's Get Busy!

2) The Japanese-style RPG group. For those not in the know, Japanese-style RPG feature often involved but very linear plots, little effect of particular actions of the final outcome, great deal of interesting items and character abilities/attributes, and strong emphasis on action. (I thus call them "Action-Adventures"). What they want: more of everything, with quantity being of greater importance than quality - more items, weapons, monsters, quests, NPC, kits, areas, dungeons, etc. What they dislike: paying too much attention to any single aspect, e.g. concentrating on dialogues, or combat, etc.

3) Tweakers group. Can include something from the other two, but is mainly for improving technical aspects of gameplay. What they want: new engine, running feature, horses, more inventory/quick weapon slots, XP cap raised. What they dislike: balance and work vs. gain considerations.

4) Crazy geeks from Mars group. I include myself in this one. Concentrates on the brain-related activities - quests, NPC interaction, dialogues, non-linearity. What we want: better writing, subtler humor, rating other than Teen, more than three dialogue lines for an average NPC, non at all or flexible alignment system, occasional bit of philosophy, art or science. What we dislike: alignment being irrelevant, courses of action forced on us, detailed party NPC instead of *all other* NPC in the world, excessive fighting, plots that must end in the death of the bad guy.

Now you know what I meant by CONTENT. By why give yourself the preference, you might ask? Why not pay all attention to combat, for example, or items? My answer is, because it's not the right genre for it, and that will remain important as long as you have genre sections in stores. And RPG is a Role-Playing Game, and it means you are supposed to be able to do just that - come up with a character and then let him act as you see fit, within limits of course. This isn't a matter for an argument, because it is purely deductive. It's in the name. And while I'm fine with RPG having *extras* like lots of items or combat, those come only as a bonus. Therefore, BG II would be a good RPG if it had more CONTENT than FORM, but the situation is exactly the opposite. Hence, BG II is not a good RPG, though it may be a nice Action-Adventure.

Well Worth The Wait!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 7
Date: September 29, 2000
Author: Amazon User

Baldur's Gate 2, Shadows of Amn is everything a role-playing game was meant to be! One of the best features is the ability to hide the user interfaces and play the game full-screen. The Baldur's Gate engine has always been very immersive, but with the interfaces hidden, the player is almost drawn into the world of The Forgotten Realms, it is almost like playing a movie! The game's non-linear style provides the player total freedom to interact with the world in whatever way seems fit. Combine this with a great storyline, much improved graphics and complete environmental surround sound and we are talking RPG gaming! Bottom line- pick this game up and say goodbye to work, friends, and that suddenly pathetic game called Diablo 2, and enter the world of Baldur's Gate II, Shadows of Amn. Swords for everyone!

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