Posted November 30, 2014
Drilnoth: Having just played the Baldur's Gate series for the first time about a year back, they've held up really well. At least, Baldur's Gate 2 has. BG1 had a lot more rough areas, mostly because there just wasn't as much good character interaction, but I'd say that BG2 at least is still in the upper tier of RPGs out there in terms of gameplay and story. So it's not just nostalgia.
To be honest, out of the 2 I prefer the first one, because it had lots of open space/forest areas, something I just missed in BG2. And because you played at lower levels with weaker items, so you really learnt to appreciate that Long Sword +2 or 5th level spell (ToB was a Monty Haul towards the end. "So I found this elven chainmail +4 + 80 vs undead. I'll just toss it with the 20 others I already have."). And probably for nostalgic reasons. But yes, the NPC interactions, extra kits, class quests and stronghold... etc were way better in BG2.