My first play of Baldur's Gate II

[Chaosut]

Firstly, i just wanted to say that in no way am i putting down BGII, but this is just about my experience with the game. Recently i've been getting into RPG video games, however i'm not a die hard fan or a fanatic. I heard alot about Baldur's Gate II being the best RPG ever, and having played some other Bioware Games like Neverwinter Nights and KOTOR i thought i'd check it out, so i bought it on ebay for $15 (yeah, i like being a cheapass).
But it was dissapointing, just because the game just isn't really for me. Whilst i've played Neverwinter Nights and did alright at it, i've never had any experience with real life role-playing games or Dungeons and Dragons. I guess even after the tutorial and first mission i found it slightly overwhealming. I couldn't help but feel that maybe the game wasn't really geared towards people with little RPG experience or whom haven't played the original. I suppose also playing the game 9 or so years after it came out might not have been the best idea, but i wasn't aware of it's existence when i was younger and spent too much time playing Diablo 2 lol.
There were alot of points that i did like such as the great voice acting and the character creation freedom, but overall i've sorta given up on it. So anyway, i just needed to vent that out, but i was also wondering if anyone had a similar experience with the game.

 

[beholdmycape]

How can anyone not like BG2?
I've been playing games for twenty years and I'm not a massive RPG fan but Baldurs Gate 2 is the best game I've ever played.

 

[Chaosut]

How can anyone not like BG2?
I've been playing games for twenty years and I'm not a massive RPG fan but Baldurs Gate 2 is the best game I've ever played.

I know, i thought i'd really like it based on how highly it's regarded, but it's probably just not to my tates. Or perhaps there are other external factors, most notably that of only playing the game for the first time a while after it's release.

 

[elitecrewer]

So what you're saying is that you don't know anything about RPGs.. or Dungeons and Dragons... and now you're surprised that you didn't like it?

 

[Chaosut]

So what you're saying is that you don't know anything about RPGs.. or Dungeons and Dragons... and now you're surprised that you didn't like it?

Well, i guess i was ignorant enough to read the Gamespot reviews. But the impressions that were given was that it's the best RPG ever that everyone should play, rather than it's the best RPG game ever the real-life RPG and D&D fans should play. Had i known that it was focused more towards a particular audience, i probably would've avoided it. Then again, it probably serves me right for reading gamespot reviews.

 

[GloatingSwine]

BG2 is based on 2nd Edition D&D rules (mostly). They are an arcane and newbie-unfriendly set of backwards calculations and modifiers, but once you actually figure out the rules, the game is well worth the effort.

 

[UltimatheChosen]

BG2 is based on 2nd Edition D&D rules (mostly). They are an arcane and newbie-unfriendly set of backwards calculations and modifiers, but once you actually figure out the rules, the game is well worth the effort.

This is a pretty good explanation. Once you figure out Armor Class, THAC0, and saving throws, you'll probabl do much better.

 

[Neotericity]

it really does take a couple tries to get right

 

[WrongSprite]

So what you're saying is that you don't know anything about RPGs.. or Dungeons and Dragons... and now you're surprised that you didn't like it?

You shouldn't need a lesson to be able to enjoy a game.

 

[Biek]

Baldurs Gate 1 is even more unforgiving if your not familiar with the rules. But it gets easier once you get more powerful. Their both really good games.

If you get the hang of the battles you can also give Icewind Dale a try. Its the same as Baldurs gate but with more action, and you can create your own group of adventurers.

 

[stormcaller]

It was based on Dungeons and Dragons? I thought it was a great game but never owned it myself, I was young and liked making all the weapons bastards.

(that and I always went the barbarian with...what is it, heroes arm?)

 

[beholdmycape]

How can anyone not like BG2?
I've been playing games for twenty years and I'm not a massive RPG fan but Baldurs Gate 2 is the best game I've ever played.

I know, i thought i'd really like it based on how highly it's regarded, but it's probably just not to my tates. Or perhaps there are other external factors, most notably that of only playing the game for the first time a while after it's release.

Well, it is old sure but none of the things that make it good have become deprecated by age.
If the graphics seem a little twee and unimpressive remember that they weren't considered great even when it was first released. Personally I like the visual style but I accept that graphics are not it's strongest suit. It's an isometric top downer, only so much can be achieved graphics-wise within these constraints.

It is however one of those incredibly rare games that just screams 'This is a game made by a group of talented, creative people who genuinely tried to make every single part of it the best it could be'. It just oozes quality, subtlety and class. It's simply in a league all it's own and there hasn't yet been an RPG to come anywhere near it.

Of course you dont have to like it, But I would recommend giving it another shot as it sounds like you gave up on it fairly early and no doubt the game does take a little while to get into it's stride.

 

[Chaosut]

BG2 is based on 2nd Edition D&D rules (mostly). They are an arcane and newbie-unfriendly set of backwards calculations and modifiers, but once you actually figure out the rules, the game is well worth the effort.

Cool thx, so maybe i should try and stick with it for a bit longer. I guess it just seemed all a bit ovewhealming, but i'll try to be a patient (which i don't have much of unfortunately).

 

[Chaosut]

How can anyone not like BG2?
I've been playing games for twenty years and I'm not a massive RPG fan but Baldurs Gate 2 is the best game I've ever played.

I know, i thought i'd really like it based on how highly it's regarded, but it's probably just not to my tates. Or perhaps there are other external factors, most notably that of only playing the game for the first time a while after it's release.

Well, it is old sure but none of the things that make it good have become deprecated by age.
If the graphics seem a little twee and unimpressive remember that they weren't considered great even when it was first released. Personally I like the visual style but I accept that graphics are not it's strongest suit. It's an isometric top downer, only so much can be achieved graphics-wise within these constraints.

It is however one of those incredibly rare games that just screams 'This is a game made by a group of talented, creative people who genuinely tried to make every single part of it the best it could be'. It just oozes quality, subtlety and class. It's simply in a league all it's own and there hasn't yet been an RPG to come anywhere near it.

Of course you dont have to like it, But I would recommend giving it another shot as it sounds like you gave up on it fairly early and no doubt the game does take a little while to get into it's stride.

I didn't mean the graphics sry, they were fine. I just meant that maybe playing it so long after it's release might not give much of a feel for what the game did in it's time. But yeah, i'll give it another shot .

 

[Yankmy Armoff]

if you can get the blackadder/monty python sound sets that would make it more humerous while starting out

"BLOODY PEASANT!!"

 

[Slycne]

It might help to approach it with a slightly different mind set. Unlike the other games you mentioned Baldur's Gate II has almost a strategy/puzzle element to its fights. While some of the later games have fudged the rules a bit to make things simpler, there was a wrong way and a right way to do things in Baldur's Gate II. Don't have fire or acid, then you aren't killing trolls. Don't have the right spell to strip that Protection Against Magic Weapons, well then good luck killing the demi-lich.

 

[Jandau]

Baldur's Gate 2 is the best (or at least one of the best) RPG games of all times that every person claiming to know a bit about RPGs should play. Even after all this time the game looks good, sounds good and has a first class plot and characters.

However, it's 2nd edition DnD, which is quite unintuitive and tricky to get into. The problem is further compounded by the fact that you start the game with a mid-level party (level 7-8) and the sheer volume of info can be a bit overwhelming. Read the manual or a rules guide to help you with the basics.

As for BG1, it is an overall harder game but since you start from level 1 you are gradually introduced to the entire thing and not "tossed to the wolves".

All I can say is stick with it, it's well worth the trouble. In fact, I'm playing it now, for what is likely my 10th playthrough. I don't think many games can boast of such replay value.

 

[Xerosch]

When I started with BG2, I quit after two hours, because at that time the idea of a game being so huge didn't fit in my still tiny skull. I let it rest for some time and when I came back I had the epic proportions in the back of my mind. That playthrough was a hell of a lot better than the first attempt.

 

[pirateninj4]

Not to mention decent NPC characters

 

[Gashad]

Purely content wise I would put Baldurs Gate 2 above all other pen and paper rpgs I have played(And I think i have played most of them). However as previously said it is quite complex and unforgiving in the beginning(all mages are a massive pain until you learn to deal with them...). If you can get used to that however it is truly a great game(replaying then entire game as a solo sorceror and enjoying it atm).