Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn

"This is THE game. It changed my outlook on game playing forever, and officially made me an RPG fan."

Out of every game I've played, I think Baldurs Gate 2 has made the greatest impact on me. This is truly a miracle of gaming technology. The plotline sucks you in, the mechanics are easy to understand, and it's a wonderful challenge. There are so many ways to play this that you will be busy for years. I know I still am.

But of course you're reading this because you need to be convinced. therefore I will endeavour to convince you, good reader.

First of all, we look at the story aspect.

Shadows of Amn follows the adventures of a young Bhaalspawn, who has been driven from his home and left adrift with his cursed heritage. The game begins with a bang, throwing you into a dungeon to be tortured by a mad mage. When the mage's enemies attack you have your chance to escape with some companions from the first game. And once you actually escape, you are stranded in a strange city. You only know that the mage is still out there and will be back so you have to make the first move and find him. The plot thickens considerably as you progress but I won't ruin the rest for you.

There are also nonlinear story elements too. Your companions will have lives and opinions of their own, and they won't necessarily agree with everything you say and do. You also get the chance to help them overcome their own life obstacles. Help Aerie see that life isn't all cruel and harsh. Show Valygar that magic can be a force for good. Save Mazzy's sister from the evil poisoner. And there's much more to see and do in Amn. You won't be borded for lack of plot, I tell you this.

Second, we come to the visual/audio aspect.

Considering that SoA was made in the 90s, the graphics are pretty good. It's no Halo or Grand Theft Auto but it's not bad either. Besides, what do graphics matter to an rpg after all? Some of the sprites are kind of weird looking but the detail is very nice. You can see rain coming down, and pick out individual weapons and armour on people (type: if the enemy is carrying a big, glowing weapon that means it's magical), and each character comes with a portrait so you can see how they look up close. And if you hit someone hard enough, they even burst into chunks of blood and flesh.

Sound? Well that is also good. Except for the annoying "You must gather your party before venturing forth" line I have no complaints. Each character has their own voice for better or worse (I HATE Anomen's voice) and you can hear everything that goes on around you. Birds chirp, wind blows, monsters snarl, and the crowds bustle. Nothing is cooler than slaying a dragon (yes they have dragons) and hearing its deathcry through your speakers.

And finally, gameplay.

There are over 15 different NPCs. That leaves a lot of different combinations for gameplay. You can have a team of all fighters or one of all mages. Or you can skip all NPCs and go it alone. (I've been meaning to do this, but I haven't worked up the guts to.) And of course there is specialised equipment for basically every class you can be.

You're going to need that equipment because there are a lot of scary monsters out there, and they can all kill you before you have time to scream. And that's the beauty of it. They CAN kill you. When a lich casts Wail of the Banshee, it doesn't matter how high your level is. If you fail that saving throw, you are dead. When a thief backstabs you, you WILL take heavy damage and probably die unless you've protected yourself. And when someone like Glaicus hastes himself and ginsues you, you had better do something quick.

Combat aside, you can do pretty much anything you want. Do good deeds and earn everyone's good will. Slaughter innocent townsfolk and get the authorities on you case. Or do a little of both. Your party members will start bugging you if your reputation isn't to their liking, and the best way to keep them happy is to be neutral. I prefer doing good deeds and then killing the occassional peasant if people threaten to quit ^_^.

So, in conclusion.

Baldurs Gate 2 is definately worth buying (or borrowing if you're cheap). It takes a lot of work to play but the rewards are great. Whether good or evil, you will find your tastes met in this game. If you like long, involved plotlines with a lot of space to explore, then you must have this. In my expert opinion, I give it an outstanding 10/10.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 02/10/06