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Baldur's Gate:The Original Saga.......

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: January 09, 2003
Author: Amazon User

First of all, let me say that my introduction to the Baldur's Gate universe came by way of the PS2 with Baldur's Gate:Dark Alliance. After playing that game, everytime I walked by a Baldur's Gate game at a computer store or department store, I'd always have to stop and take a look at the box. Well, eventually, that curiosity got the better of me and I decided to get it. Boy, am I glad I did. Baldur's Gate:Dark Alliance was excellent, I must admit. But, the Original is the bigdaddy of them all. I'm in awe of the epic storyline, the hundreds of quests, and all the challenges and battles you take on in this game. The one thing I really like about the game is how you can create a character from 6 unique races and 26 different classes and subclasses. Graphically, this game is sight to behold, especially with all the spells and etc. Overall, this is a Role-Playing experience that will leave you more than satisfied. A game that will be one of your most treasured gaming moments. Trust me, this is a game you'll be clocking alot of hours into(and I do mean ALOT!). I highly recommend this game to everyone. If you started out on Diablo or Darkstone,it's time to give Baldur's Gate a try. As I've played the two previously mentioned(and am a fan of those games as well), it's my opinion that Baldur's Gate has the edge on them. Play it and you'll see why I say that. Baldur's Gate is awesome.

This game saved my life

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: December 07, 2004
Author: Amazon User

This game saved my sanity. Several years ago I was unemployed, living with my brother, and not having any luck with the job search. To lift my mood, one of my brother's friends brought this game over and suggested I play it to take my mind off of my "troubles". I had played the old Wizardy games as a teen geek but had not touched a computer game in more than ten years.

I fell hard for Baldur's Gate. It really opened my eyes to just how far computers games had advanced. Many people credit this game with saving the CRPG genre. I agree. What often gets lots in all of the commentary is the characterization. To this day I remember, "I serve the flaming fist" and "go for the eyes, Boo! Go for the eyes." Yes, this game has been surpassed. Some of the graphics and such has become outdated. Other games make inventory management easier. But I don't believe that for the pure joy of playing through a story any game since has beat this game. The only game that may have come close is Planescape: Torment.

After playing BG I went on to purchase BG II, Planescape: Torment, Divine Divinity, Wizardy 8, Morrowind, etc. Because of my busy life I have stopped playing video games. But there is always that touch of nostalgia.

I urge you to play this game. It is not perfect by any means. But it is the grand-daddy of them all and won a slew of awards for a reason. It is great!

The best

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: December 08, 2004
Author: Amazon User

This was the best RPG I had ever played when I played it the first time. Though it is lacking in technical sophistication by today's standards, it has the best storyline that I've encountered anywhere, which counts for a whole lot in my book.

The graphics are great by 1999 standards. The gameplay systems are fine, and combat is pretty good--not as action-packed as a first-person shooter, but great for a real RPG.

The storyline is where this one shines. There's motivation throughout the game, and your character is always central. I remember having quite a feeling of anticipation and excitement with this game--something unequalled in any other game, even for Baldur's Gate 2.

The game remains challenging--even hard--throughout, as well, which is also rather unusual. Of course if you powergame and read the guide, it's probably not so hard.

I give this game my highest recommendation. You'll easily understand why it's a classic if you play it. If you don't mind playing a slightly "old-fashioned" game engine, you'll love it.

I love it

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: February 04, 2005
Author: Amazon User

This is by far the best game I've ever played. This was my first rpg and I think it spoiled me. After playing all of the Baldur Gates for computer I looked for more games just like it thinking this was a standard for how rpgs are. This isn't, but should be. This is the kind of game you don't leave the computer for. I stopped eating so I could maintain focus on this game. In the second game I noticed they even tell people to rest a while and go eat. Obviously, I am not an individual in the fact that I stopped eating because I was so engrossed. You have to play this game.

Still a masterpiece

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: April 30, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I will keep this review short and sweet. The game is an absolute masterpiece. The fact that this was only the second attempt by Bioware to make a game (Shattered Steel was their first) is astounding. There isn't a single weak point to be found in the game. Everything, from the music, characters, storyline, to the well-paced action and RPG elements, have made this game a classic.

The reason I am reviewing this game now is because I picked it up again for old times sake. The game is as good as it originally was, if not better, because I am picking up on a bunch of details I missed the first time. The artistic graphics for this game still look fantastic, which is simply amazing when you consider how fast the graphics age for computer games.

In conclusion, Baldur's Gate is my second favorite RPG game of all time. Only the sequel is superior, as it should be (It's like comparing the first 2 Godfather films). If you have not played this game, you are not a fan of RPG games.

Oh my Mud

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 6 / 9
Date: September 03, 2003
Author: Amazon User

All right. One thing must be kept straight: This game is ADDICTIVE. I am glad I have a Laptop so I can play it wherever I go. That being said, now I must review this Extreme Monster.

First things First: This game is HUGE. I got this a long time ago and I still haven't finished it, but I've played enough of it to make a review out of it. The plot is a very good one, nice and original. You probably know all the Plot stuff already, by reading all these reviews...but it truly is the stuff that would make an English teacher scream with Delight...maybe. Combat is usually fun, but it gets repetitive sometimes. Fighting bosses is fun, and sometimes they require skill to win. With the added expansion included in this, it will be forever and a half until I finish it.

I really don't have much bad to say about this game at all, but it's not the best game ever, that's why I did not give it 5 stars, but you must play it if you like D&D and/or RPG's.

Bottom Line: Play if you dare to lose contact with friends and family for a long time.

Nice, but that's it

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 5 / 11
Date: January 02, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Hi there folks,
The gameplay here is much like others using the same engine: Planescape: Torment and Baldur's Gate II, for example - You're in control of a party, and you click around an area map for them to move around, or to issue orders in a combat.
Combat that can be a great fun, and that's a good thing, because you'll spend a great deal of the game in it. Personally, I'm more of a turn-based player, but the D&D rules system compensated in this point. It could be very boring, but as you're constantly achieving new powers and meeting different foes, it keeps up nicely to the end of the game.
Also, the loot you get from combat is fun to manage, as you may find a variety of magic items that will help you in combats, or which you may decide to sell in one of the MANY shops you'll find in the Sword Coast.
There are a lot of sub-quests, but one of the major flaws in the game is that it doesn't keep track of them for you, so you'll simply have to write down them by hand or remember everything for yourself. There is a 'journal' that's automatically updated, but I didn't found it very useful. The quests in themselves can be stupid sometimes, but most are rich in at least one aspect - be it humor (as trying to help a not-so-good mage to get back to it's human form), it's own 'story' or a nice, clever combat challenge. The non-obligatory sub-quests are what makes the game shine, in my opinion.
You can also do a lot of hack'n'slash dungeon exploring by yourself (I mean, that don't necessarily involve a sub-quest), and it's non-obligatory in the game. Not only there are a bunch of this kind of dungeons spread out in the game, as also every wilderness area map (and the game has a lot of them) has one or two interesting encounters, at least.
In my opinion, The story and dialogs is pretty stupid. But we warned I'm in love with 'extremal" games in this category: Like in-depth/filosophical games as Planescape: Torment or the ones with astonishing personality, as Fallout 1 & 2.
Graphics are not very impressive, even more now that's slighty out-dated, but sometimes your imagination can make up for it - being an RPG game and all, that's something wich shouldbe taken into account. An bonus in this category is that every single magic has it's own animation, and every single one is fairly interesting.

I did got a little tired of the game at half of it, but maybe that's because I tried to do as many sub-quests as I could, but in my case, that's a good thing - it's difficult for me to find a game that don't get me bored in a couple hours.
And I actually forced myself to go to the end of it, because it's a nice game, and I don't regret it - although when I finished the main boss and got teleported to the new town from the 'Tales of the Sword Coast Expansion Pack' I could stand no more of it, and turned down the PC.

Hope this help somebody, although it's not as well-written as I could/(should?) have made it.

A fantastic game for new, or experienced, RPG fan

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: December 07, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Other than playing RPG games with dice and paper in my teens, I haven't done much with the genre. Earlier attempts to bring RPG's to computers were weak. You either couldn't go many places or get into a redundant loop of similar situations.

Baldur's Gate has neither problem, at least for a while. Terrains are very nicely done, although the program does show its age here. Also, the sounds of each environment are very nice touches, as is the map which unfolds as you explore. Interactions with inhabitants also add a nice touch with many informative tips (and some humor) to be found.

Although the manual is a .pdf file, that should not be a discouragement in this case. The interface is quite simple and intuitive and the first mission includes a tutorial to get any player ready to stike out into the many places around Baldur's Gate.

The last HUGE plus is the unveiling of a bigger story surrounding the hero/heroine. All adventures include little pieces of that puzzle, adding even more enjoyment to the game.

The only reason I give it 4 instead of 5 is that it lacks the higher resolution and other bells and whistles that newer titles can boast (it needed to be able to be run on computers when 400 MHz was fast!). For the price, it will be hard to find as much enjoyment! A bargain and an excellent game all in one!

Excellent!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: July 20, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Baldur's Gate presents a solid, lengthy, and deep role-playing experience, coupled with an engaging storyline and downright hilarious characters. From Minsc, the sword-wielding berserker who has a pet giant space hampster to Tiax, the megalomaniac gnome who believes he will one day ascend to become the supreme ruler of all, Baldur's Gate remains totally hilarious in my mind to this day.

This may be old, but it still is a great game.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: December 29, 2003
Author: Amazon User

This old game is great to play. What else needs to be said, you have a great story line to follow when you want. And who said you have to follow the story line right off? You have many choices to make depending on what you have already done. Another great thing about this game is that after you have finished, you can take this character you have helped groomed and move him into the next game Baldur's Gate II.

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