The Big One

Posted on 2010-11-15 07:25:43 by plasticvet:

More or less the pinnacle of mainstream RPG, this game packs everything your average gamer loves. Engage in countless epic fights and regular skirmishes, watch your characters develop incredibly powerful abilities and interesting relationships, follow the enthralling storyline or wander in search of gold, treasure and tons of unique items. All wrapped in wonderful visuals, sounds,read more and voice acting, virtually bug-free, with support for high-end resolutions. Many areas were in their time jaw-dropping and the art has lost very little of its original allure.

This game has aged extremely well. It has excellent pacing, looks well-polished, and presents enough challenge. Game experience will be very different with different parties, as all party members come with distinctive banter, side quests, and abilities. If you are the only RPG-lover on the planet who has not played this - do it now. Whatever today's RPGs attempt to do, BGII did it before them and, very likely, did it better.

A very special mention needs to be made regarding player freedom. While there is a storyline to follow with enemies who scale in prowess, one is still allowed to wander around a lot. Side quests unnecessary for game completion amount for at least half of the gaming time. You may walk into a basement with high-level enemies who may annihilate you in seconds well after emerging from the stating area. Dusty old houses with strange doors are not to be entered lightly.

The game world is huge and diverse, combat is fierce, dialogues are witty and fresh and the characters are amongst the most memorable you will encounter. Often imitated, never duplicated: BGII and ToB.