"A great RPG with an appealing storyline"

For those who don't enjoy thoughtful interactions, strategic planning and reading, this game is not for you. It takes a certain type of player to truly appreciate the games from the Baldur’s Gate series. Some parts of the game are very complex, and cannot be played “Hack and Slash” style, like many other RPGs. This game is all about feeling the experiences of the world, and enjoying the freedom this game presents you.

Gameplay: 8/10

Depending on whom you ask, this category could get as low as a 1, or as high as a 10. The gameplay (especially the battles) is very complex, and I strongly recommend the use of the Spacebar (Pauses the game) during play. Battle can be a very frustrating thing at first, but it’s worth mastering basic techniques, as it will help you win your battles much more constantly. You have control of up to 6 characters (Yourself and 5 NPCs) which can become a little daunting at times. There are so many options for each of your guys to do, you will be spending a lot more time paused giving out orders than actually watching the battles take place. Especially with spell casters, who have to be constantly kept under watch to ensure they do what they are supposed to do. Cast spells and stay out of combat. There are some custom scripts you can give to your characters, instructing them basically on what to do during an encounter. These scripts for the most part suck, and often they don’t work like they are supposed to. As mentioned, gameplay is very complex, and cannot be considered simple by any small stretch of the imagination.

Story: 9/10

The story of this game is fantastic. I really don’t want to say to much about this, to preserve the experience. You start out in a small cell, under the control of an evil man named Irenicus. You are approached by Imoen, and together (or alone) you set out to find your way out of the dungeon. The story starts slow, but there are many flashbacks / cut scenes etc. to build characters and stories. Read all info about each character, so you can get to know each character through their background history. It really adds a whole other aspect to the game. The “Romances” you can engage in are interesting as well, but don’t say the wrong thing, or you’ll anger your love interest. (Which can really get annoying when you attempt to court Viconia, she is very moody) The story progresses nicely, basically at the right speed, and there is even a point in the game where you make a vital decision that will vastly affect the outcome of your experience (no spoilers)

Graphics: 8/10

The graphics are enjoyable, but sometimes I will I could be a little closer to battle. You get an overhead-type view, much like the in the Warcraft games, and you can drag select your whole party the same way. The spells for the most part look nice, but compared to Neverwinter Nights and other 3D type games, it really isn’t much to look at. Graphics aren’t really a big part of an RPG anyways.

Sound: 9/10

The sound in this game is excellent, and the voice acting is superb. Listening to Minsc ramble on can get a little aggravating at times, but he adds a lot of humor to some of the more serious parts of the game. The musical scores are impressive as well.

Replayability: 10/10

I love games that can be replayed, especially if it is different from the last time. I guarantee you will need to play through ATLEAST 2 or 3 times to catch everything you missed. It is impossible to see everything one time through, due to a certain choice you have to make in the game. The world is vast, and for the most part, YOU chose what quests you want to pursue, and which quests are better left undone. Playing through once as a Good type character, and the next time as an Evil type character, can add new dimensions to the game. To seasoned veterans of the game, they might enjoy the challenge of soloing, which is trying to beat the game with a single character. I have tried this, and am still working my way through, about 40 hours into the game. There are also many mods and add-ons you can download, although most of them are sub-par at best. Some stand out however, expanding certain aspects of the game.

As I stated before, if you are the thinking type, or have enjoyed PnP D&D or other D&D based games, this is defiantly worth picking up. Its fairly cheap anyways, so even if you decide you don’t like it, you haven’t really lost a lot. I hope you enjoy this game as much as I did, its defiantly a good game in my eyes.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 12/13/03