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Yeah, its that good.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 11 / 11
Date: July 17, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Baldur's Gate II and its expansion pack may collectively form the best game that was ever created. Sure, the graphics are not the greatest. Sure, antiquated 2nd edition rules are used. Sure, some of the puzzles are corny. Sure, there are some annoying bugs. The game is not flawless, but it is infinitely replayable and almost as addicting. I don't know what it was in this game, but the moment that I beat it the first time around, I was immediately tempted to start another game with a radically different party and with radically different objectives in mind. Through this review I will try to identify what it is in the game that makes it so... um... good!

The story line is good. Now, many a gamer will say that story matters in gaming just about as much as accordions matter while hunting. I will say that those unfortunate souls are wrong as a good story is often the most important aspect of the game. For example, look to Icewind Dale II. The storyline was lame and so was the game. The story follows shortly after the first Baldur's Gate game, in which you as a child of the Lord of Murder must choose which path to pursue. Ok, it might not sound that great from here, but you're a freaking God in this game, thus you can do a lot of things that are pretty great. The expansion pack focuses even more on your divine powers.

The game is hard (especially if you play on insane mode, and downloaded various tweaks that made the game more difficult, as I did), but not too hard. Some battles will have you stuck for a little bit, but fret not. You can always go and do something else and gain enough experience to make short work of a formerly impossible battle. This is probably the greatest aspect of the game. You don't have to do most things in order and can do them whenever you feel up to the task. You do not have to follow the straight and narrow path, but can instead follow any path which will get you to where you want to go. And if you don't want to go into an entire area, then often you will not even have to do this.

Now, I already spoke of this game's addictive properties, but let me stress the intensity of the addiction. Every night when I went to sleep at 4 AM (playing this game of course, in this way, the game is a lot like cocaine because time just stops mattering), I would think about when I would wake up to play the game again (typically around 8 AM). When my friends would come over to hang out I would be angry that I would have to open the doors to let them in. Many of them threatened to format my harddrive and remove the game. But, the most dangerous element of the game is this. This game was not even on my computer, but rather on the computer of my brother who lives in a different state than I do. I would be addicted to it for a few weeks, then would return and face terrible withdrawal in my own state.

Yeah, its that good. If you are the type who thinks that graphics are more important than game play and everything else that makes computer games good, then I am sure that there is something better for you out there, but for the rest, I suggest playing this game.

My favorite computer game!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 10 / 10
Date: January 16, 2004
Author: Amazon User

This game is, without a doubt my favorite role playing game that I have played on a computer. I even think I like it more than the various and sundry Final Fantasy games I have played recently. Granted, those games have better stories and more detailed characters but there is something about Baldur's Gate that sets it apart and ahead of the competition, for me anyway. I think that it would have to be the ability to shape your won character. In a lot of console RPG's you seem to have very little control of your character. You only seem to be watching a movie that you happen to control and you sometimes don't seem to have much choice in the outcome, but this game allows you to choose many different paths and make many choices, some good, some evil.

My favorite part of this game is building relationships with the non player characters that travel with you. Not to mention all the various side quests that are in the game. Each character class has different quests that are unique to each. For example the warrior has an opportunity to inherit a keep and protect it from bandits and the wizard can inherit a tower and train apprentice wizards in the magic arts and then have them create magic items for him. Because of these many sidequests this game has much replay value. And that's without the expansion pack. The throne of Bhaal adds another level to the gameplay. I must confess that I still haven't beaten the expansion pack but I have gotten far enough to know there are many plot twists. Another cool addition that wasn't in the first Baldur's gate is the ability for your character to fight with two weapons at the same time.

In conclusion, this game is probably the best thing you could buy if you like old school rpgs. However, be prepared to save often. Like the first Baldur's gate this game is incredibly hard but that makes it all the more satisfying when you finally beat it.

Anything less would be uncivilized.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 12 / 14
Date: July 26, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Simply put, this is the best CRPG I've ever played. The only recent CRPG that comes close to is NWN:Hordes of the Underdark, and even then it's far too short an experience to make it the equal of BG2 and BG2:TOB. Words cannot express the beauty of this game and many hours I've spent playing it. I've beaten it many times, each time enjoying it. There are several decent mods on the net that add depth to it as well, the most polished of them being The Darkest Day mod, which really fleshes out the gaming experience. I love this game, I'd marry it if marriage wasn't a bankrupt institution and this wasn't a piece of virtual code on a computer instead of a human being.

Ultimate Computer RPG... EVER!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 9
Date: November 03, 2004
Author: Amazon User

This is without doubt, the best computer roleplaying game I have ever played - and I've played many over the years, including many since this one. For D&D fans or not, this game has some of the best plot, story, graphics, battles, and variety. The mage battles are the best, with the most amazing powerful spells rocking the scene and terrific sense of gritty realism. The game goes on and on; I played it obsessively for months, and it just gets better and better as your party get more and more powerful, and in turn take on more powerful and sinister opponents! This game is astounding value, when you consider how much enjoyment you get out of it - and especially now that the price is so low! I want Black Isle (the creators) to be successful so they'll write more games like this (maybe even another sequel??), so please support them! They are brilliant at everything from big action battles to the tiniest details and rich isometric backdrops and storylines. BUY THIS NOW!

Find an original copy

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 15 / 20
Date: January 13, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Baldur's Gate II is the best RPG I've ever played. That being said, this is an poor release. The original box came with a durable spiral-bound manual/reference guide; very useful in a complex D&D-based game such as BGII. "The Ultimate Collection" includes the same 263-page manual in PDF form on the game CD, which means you'll have to alt-tab out of the game every time you need to look something up, and deal with the awkward Adobe Acrobat software. I recommend buying a used copy of the original game off Amazon or eBay.

THE BEST RPG GAME EVER MADE

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 8
Date: March 28, 2006
Author: Amazon User

A sequel to the awesome Baldur's Gate...

I was addicted to this HARD CORE and could play it again and again. This game is excellent. One of the best I've ever played. You can travel with up to 5 companions making it a 6 party in all and with the HUGE modding community, well, as with Morrowind, this game is pretty much endless as well.

Even though it's an older game, it's probably the best for its time. No other game, not even Diablo II can top Baldur's Gate II for that year, no way! It was tops then and still is one of the best ever created.

More than just hack 'n slash here. You have a superb storyline where I tip my hat to the creators.

You start in a prison dungeon where your lil sis Imoen shows up, frees you. Then, you plan your escape and little by little, you seek and destroy the evil that so dared to mess with the Child of Bhaal!

For those with the gripes about the monsters being too powerful, well, you have to BUILD your character up ... try going as the Undead Hunter (no level drain) and give him a two-handed sword ... trust me, by levels 30, 40 and 50, he'll go through them like a hot knife through butter! Yes, you will be a GOD! :)

Any ways, SUPER GREAT game and worth every single penny...

FIVE STARS!

Three years after buying it I STILL love this game!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 8
Date: April 23, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Let's face it...most computer games you buy will present an interesting novelty for MAYBE a couple months at most before you get bored and retire it to the shelf or sell it used to someone else. Not so with this great game!! It's still novel even after owning it several years!

I can't think of any other game that has been on the market this long and still sells in software stores today for over $10. And for great reason! There are so many ways to play this game that even after three years of trying I STILL haven't explored every facet and possibility! When this game was released in 2000 I wrote it off as a bit too expensive and complex for my taste. The following year the price had dropped slightly and I was itching for a new game, so after reading all the great reviews, I bought it. Wow! I couldn't believe the combination of depth, entertainment value, variety, and graphics a single game could produce!

I can absolutely GUARANTEE that anyone who likes role-playing will love this game. While you only start with a single character, you pick up other NPCs along the way, each one with their own unique personality, race, goals and behavior pattern, splendidly illustrated by voice-over sounds, dialog, and portraits.

Just a few examples...there's Minsc, the bald and brusque ranger who takes all his best advice from a small space hamster Boo, and loves to give any evil a "good butt-kicking!" Viconia, a seductive, almost liquidic evil dark elf (aka drow) who thrives on subtle innuendo and lust for power. And Imoen, the sweet, the innocent, slightly naive but ever-supportive mage who has stood by your side as a sister since childhood. There are a slew of other characters just as interesting, some you can take with you, some to provide you with quest clues, and some who only want to kill you. And you can even romance some of the party characters based on your dialog choices. If you play a male, you can even go so far as to get one of the female characters pregnant! (I won't give away which one).

The many possible permutations of the game let your quests and sub-quests vary greatly, depending on factors such as who you have in your party, your alignment, your ability scores, your class of choice, who you might choose to romance, and in some cases even the items you carry. Change any one or more of these and you are presented with different plot lines and conversation choices for your many quests. But one thing in common with ALL plot lines is that none are boring, and many will make you laugh. In repeat play, I saved every 2 minutes just to explore the different possible quest and dialog paths.

I think I've played this game about 60 times now, and I'm STILL happily exploring it.

Another pleasant thing about this game, if you are an advanced computer hacker, is that it is relatively easy to modify...which, naturally, has produced PLENTY of unofficial expansions and modifications available on the web, providing you with even more ways to play (my personal favorite is a modification called "The Darkest Day", which you can easily pick up from any web search engine).

In a nutshell...I can't think of a better PC game investment than this one in terms of playing time, interest, entertainment, humor, and modifiability, than to buy BG2. Still going strong 4 years after release!

Best Party-based CRPG for the PC

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 9 / 10
Date: July 18, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Based on a hybrid version of 2nd and 3rd Edition D&D rules, this games allows you to create one character and pickup up to five others to round out your adventuring party. Unlike most games where the NPCs just do what you tell them, these will complain if quests aren't being done, or if they don't like each other (or your actions). There is also character romance between males and females (which can be turned off). In this regard, there is actual role-playing in this game.

The side quests are fun and some are very challenging. The landscapes and monsters are well done visually though much less of BGII is dedicated to wilderness adventures unlike BGI.

The main plot has a good story (and would have made a better movie than the one they made) and has interesting characters. The NPCs are characters that can (and will) affect you in several ways (good and bad).

I gave the game 4 stars instead of 5 based on 2 'issues' (unrelated to AI issues with NPCs getting lost) or interface.
1. At a certain point in the game, it becomes 100% linear. You have no more choices of what to do. Coming about halfway through an amazing game, that was disappointing to see).
2. Some encounters, as you become very powerful, become absolutely ridiculous in terms of how many monsters are present.

Overall a very fun game (it should get 4 1/2 stars). Much better than TOEE, Pool of Radiance 2, and Icewind Dale (all of whom are hack, slash, and repeat a naseum). If Bioware made a 3rd game in this vein, it would be very much worth getting based on BG and BGII.

Excellent game, especially if you enjoy 2nd Edition D&D

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 10
Date: June 01, 2005
Author: Amazon User

The Baldur's Gate line of games all use 2nd Edition Dungeon and Dragons rule sets. If you are a fan of 2nd Ed. you will definitely enjoy this game.

The review by Island Girl East is not accurate by any means. The "non-labeled' buttons she referred to are actually labeled. Simply hold your mouse over something you are curious about and after a second or two, a small text scroll will pop up telling you what the button does. It is very customizable, even to the point where you can tell the game how many or few seconds you want to have to hold the pointer over something before this text scroll pops up. I never once read the instructions and was able to figure out most of the game. All of the spells and special abilites have great explanations of what they do and how long the effects last. If you are unfamiliar with D&D, you may want to read up on things like how long a round lasts and what a saving throw is.

As far as the comment about the PC not being kind. You can customize the game to the extent where the game will pause after every turn, OR you can manually pause the game at any point using the SPACEBAR on your keyboard. While the game is paused, you can tell each of the characters in your party what action to perform. Once you unpause, they will all do what you told them while it was paused!

Overall, the game is great. It has a really good interface, is very customizable to different play levels, has great graphics and effects for this type of game, wonderful music and ambient sounds (which you can also turn up/down/off), the voiceovers and story is fantastic, and it is a great intro to the world of Dungeons and Dragons...the most popular RPG on the planet!

At the price being offered here, it is a BARGAIN!
Happy gaming. =)

One of the most lauded RPG games ever.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 7
Date: June 22, 2003
Author: Amazon User

After earning several Best (RP) Game awards in the past, this particular RPG series is still doing relatively well. At least it may be considered a big classic in the genre of fantasy CRPG. I don't need to rehash what others have said in greater detail concerning the quality of game play (not merely dungeon-hacking), but I will point out that ALL of the Baldur's Gate games (Baldur's Gate, Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast, Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn, Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal) work in Windows XP. Due to the complexity of the software (e.g. the original Baldur's Gate is 6 cd-roms, if I recall correctly), a number of other factors may render the game unplayable. I have all the BG games installed on my Windows XP machine just fine. Recommended: Patch the XP OS (SP1a minimum), make sure you have the latest game patches, check your DirectX, and so forth.

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