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Nice, but slow in OSX

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: November 09, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I had this for the PC, but when I got a PowerBook G4 550 to carry when I travel, I decided to get the Mac version of BGII. I was looking forward to a game which claimed to be able to run under OSX instead of having to boot into OS9, but under OSX, the multiplayer game is so slow it's unbearable...the mouse is jerky and the players walk pretty slowly. Under OS9 with the same settings, but running the OS9 version, it ran perfectly.

Other than that, the other reviews probably cover the gameplay...

The game is slow in more than one way

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 7 / 11
Date: November 28, 2001
Author: Amazon User

After playing a lot of Diablo II, I was looking for something that might require a bit more strategy and skill. (I used to play lots of RPGs.) While you will find this in Balder's Gate II, I found the pace of the game very slow. Perhaps Diablo II has conditioned me to expect a faster paced RPG. Just be forewarned. Also, Balder's Gate II was supposed to address some of the player's complaints about the slow pace of Balder's Gate I, but little has changed with Balder's Gate II.

Note, I've been playing Balder's Gate II with OSX 10.1.1 on a G4-450 with 384 MB of RAM and a 32 MB Radeon. The game is very sluggish, even when reducing the game resolution, etc.

Very addictive

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 12 / 12
Date: October 16, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I originally bought this game for my PC. Then, when I converted, I looked at all the games on the Mac. Dungeon Siege didn't have the same type of game play, and Icewindale was just too outdated. However, I loved Baldur's Gate so much...that I bought it again, only the Mac version. The graphics are not the latest and greatest compared to what is out now, but they are very attractive. The big thing for me is the gameplay. The newer games are designed around the user playing only one character. In BG2, I had more fun creating different parties and combinations on my own. The only complaint I had, really, was that this has an experience point cap, so you can't get all the highest level spells and abilities. But, if you buy the BG2, Throne of Baal, it removes that cap and adds even more spells. I recommend this to anyone who loves the original feel of the D&D game.

As good as it gets ...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 43 / 43
Date: March 26, 2002
Author: Amazon User

It had been a long, long wait for the original Baldur's Gate to come to the Mac, and when it finally did come, it proved to be a fine RPG, albeit with a few too many more or less empty areas to traverse (unless you consider killing wild dogs and wolves highly thrilling). However, where the game truly disappointed was in its buggy performance--unexpected quits were frequent before the first patches arrived, and during the exceedingly long save & load times you could basically go to the kitchen and fix yourself a sandwich (and eat it, too).

All of this has changed in BG II. Loading & saving is swift--if you are in a tough battle and have to try different approaches (or avert disaster), you will find frequent reloads fast and feasible. If you have enough hard disk space to perform a full install, these processes will execute even faster. The game is also blissfully stable, at least in Mac OS 9 (I was able to run it well enough in OS X, but didn't like the screen resolutions it offers for this game). Also nice is the option to play BG II at 800x600 resolution, making for a nice, wide view of the areas or battlefields. As far as gameplay is concerned, one very noticeable improvement is in the pathfinding--characters will now squeeze past their fellow party members to get to their destinations. No longer will your frail mages who happened to end up in the front line get pounded in tight spots, while the burly warriors are stuck in the back.

The game offers a very involved plot with plenty of subplots (although the availability of some of these depends on the kind of character you play), and the main storyline progresses a little more tightly than in the first BG. A very nice touch is the strong interaction with--and among--your party members. They will bicker, flirt, and even fall in love with you or one another. This is no mere atmospheric touch--when a character really doesn't get along with the others, you may have to consider sending them off on their own way because the infighting can get pretty ugly. Anyone who has had Viconia, Jaheira, and Aerie in their party will know what I mean. Alignment matters here in more than one way, as well: evil characters may have spells available that will specifically target good creatures (and they will in turn be harmed by some 'good' spells), so if you maintain a mixed bunch, you may have to avoid using certain magicks or some of your party members may get hurt more than wicked enemies!

Some quests are initiated by characters approaching your party members (in friendly or unfriendly ways) rather than you, although whether to accept the tasks involved is up to you--just be aware that some characters will leave if they have truly pressing business to take care off. The dialog and voice acting is superb throughout. All of this enhances the feeling of immersion in a complex world that happens all around you.

Magical items, including weapons, armour, rings, scrolls, and more, are by far more numerous than in BG II (but not as ubiquitous as in Diablo II), and after a while, your characters should have collected a choice selection of equipment.

What truly amazed me about this game is how many different ways often present themselves to deal with certain situations ... from clever magicks to brute force to diplomacy ... more than once, mercy and compassion are rewarded more than quick arrows, swords, and fireballs--making battle altogether unnecessary.

For those who feel that having equipment repaired by blacksmiths in Diablo was already a tedium, BG II may prove too fussy as far as character maintenance goes (not to mention that combat is also a pretty complex affair--the space bar, which pauses the action, will become your best friend) ... but if you think micro-managing a diverse party of adventurers with widely different talents is to die for, BG II will have you in a swoon. Oh, by the way, it looks pretty as the night sky in August, too!

Baldur's Gate: Bigger, Longer and Uncut

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 29 / 30
Date: September 28, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Forget about Sophomore slump; this is a game in which the sequel outdoes the original. Think Aliens, think Wrath of Khan, lump this into the category of second-hand genius.

I played this game a good way through on the PC before discovering that MacPlay was bringing it to Mac. Knowing that I would have a chance to experience Baldur's Gate 2 on my favored platform, I gave a friend the PC version and hunkered down to wait. From playing the original about 2/3 through, I can tell you the following:

* Character creation is fabulously deep, and the dialogue trees with the NPCs are hilarious. Your actions really seem to have repercussions, which goes a long way to making you feel involved.
* The number of FedEx quests (go get this thing and bring it back) have been greatly reduced, and those that exist have fun twists.
* Combat is much better. The auto-pause feature, if used wisely, will save you from a lot of savegame reloads.
* The management of high-level quests and adventures boggles the mind. It's an interesting dilemma: how does one make a super-high-level quest exciting? When killing orcs loses all challenge, how do you keep hitting the player with problems that seem both appropriate and dangerous? The Black Isle team manages quite well.
* The writing is not on the level of a good novel, but it's better than most films, and superior to 99% of television. People have compared BG2 to a novel, but I think they're responding to the length and immersive nature of the game. It's good, but it ain't exactly Charles Dickens.

On the downside (since I'm obligated to give at least one), this game has the potential to hurt your marriage, relationships, children, friends and/or pets. Try to budget your time when this hot little number shows up on your doorstep.

Perhaps the best Mac RPG ever

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 10 / 11
Date: November 24, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Dating back to the original Wizardry, Ultima III, and Might & Magic, RPGs have been my favorite Mac games since the beginning.

The original Baldur's Gate was a wonderful blend of strong storytelling, good old fashioned character advancement and party management, and unique, developed non-player characters. The sheer depth of the world was stunning, not to mention all the side quests culminating into the main driving story. It was a hard game to top.

Baldur's Gate II has clearly been able to do just that. The graphics are substantially better, the NPCs are even more developed -- including more interaction with your main protagonist -- and the world has that same sense of vastness and wonder. The game picks up soon after the original, but someone who hasn't played BG1 easily can get caught up to speed and dive right in. Jaheira, Minsc, and Imoen are just a few of the returning NPCs, and everyone has more more substance and the way you treat/respond to them has long-standing effects.

One of the best things about BG2 is that it is faster and more stable than BG1. As good as the original was, it tended to be buggy and load/save times were slow (at least on my G4). BG2 is faster in all respects and much more stable.

This is definitely a must-have for any RPG fans, and game fans in general. It uses all the most recent D&D rules, including 'new' classes such as monk and sorceror. I can't remember the last time I was this hooked on a game.

Not made for X

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 11
Date: November 28, 2002
Author: Amazon User

This game is incredibe, although it's game-play is a little slower than Diablo II, the story is rich and you have many choices, but be warned! When you play this USE OS9, NOT OSX. On OSX the movements become choppy and can slow down because this game was made for 9, not X.

Oh my God, the king of all games!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 7
Date: October 20, 2004
Author: Amazon User

This is my undisputed favorite game ever. A little frustrating at the beginning. However, once you get out of the initial dungeon, the fun begins. You play in a vast city where you are able to do what you want when you want. There is absolutely no order that you must quest in. You go from district to district picking up different quests and growing levels as you gain new powers. What you do effects your future in the game and each class has his or her own spicific questline. For example, if you are a rogue, you can join the ranks of the crime organization known as the shadow thieves and eventually become the leader of the chapter. If you are a wizard or sorcerer, you can take work in the wizard's guild and go on to own your own lab. If you are a cleric, you can join your church and become a minister. The list goes on and on. Although the game does eventually end, you can start the game over again with your same character at the same level so you can progress to yout max power. Greatest game ever.

This game is amazing

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 7
Date: May 04, 2004
Author: Amazon User

This rpg is based on Dungeons and Dragons. Though D&D requires alot of books and time. This game, which is based on d&d, has it all. The gameplay is indefinite, your options are unlimited, it is complicated, but you get used to it. The gameplay is overall amazing.

Heck Yeh

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 14
Date: August 03, 2001
Author: Amazon User

This game is mad fun the graphics are great it has a cool plot it's really fun to play It runs quite well, and it is a huge and captivating game world fill with fun and fighting! All this easlily compensates for the massive price tag!

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