Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition

When BG2 was released 20 years ago it changed everything: no other game had the scope, the impact, the variety, the depth or the appeal. BG2 may not be the pinnacle of writing, but it is the first computer RPG to get every single thing right: exploration, adventure, interaction, dialogue, storytelling, tactical combat, all wrapped up in a serviceable implementation of AD&D 2.0. BG2 was for many years the measuring stick of cRPGs and I think in many ways it still is. Years later the game required several mods and patches to run in modern systems, and it was possible to get a decent but less than ideal experience. At first the EE seemed like a cheap cash grab but I am glad I gave them a chance. After playing both BG EE and BG2 EE, I can honestly say these are the definitive editions and despite some questionable choices, Beamdog managed to give these games at least another decade of life and potentially introduce them to a whole new generation of gamers. As of 2020, this is the most polished, smooth and stable version of BG2 I ever played. It also comes with some quality of life modifications (larger item stacks, quick loot bar, etc.) and the graphics scale beautifully even in high ultrawide resolutions. I have found zero technical issues and apart from some cosmetic changes and new menu screens, the game is the same I played back then. I do not care much for the new Enhanced Edition content, but at least the new companions are not terrible. The difference in writing and style is noticeable in the new content but it doesn't stand out horribly. You can however easily skip all of that and just play the game as before. Despite its age, BG2 is still as engaging and fascinating as ever. It has that special *something* that makes it unique, even if in some ways it does feel a little dated. This here is a rejuvenated version of a timeless classic that is still relevant - and a must play - in 2020.

If you laugh (and you should - that is the proper reaction) when people tell you that FF7 is the pinnacle of RPGs, then you may already have this on your list. But, if not, then this is a simple review: best RPG ever made. Top 3 PC games ever made. I really enjoyed Beamdog's EE, but, if you don't, it includes the classic, original.

Ad&d is completely different from modern d&d which made the beginning incredibly confusing.. BUT once i understood the rules / AC/ Thac0, turned on auto pause upon encounters and put it down to story difficulty its fun. Shockingly good voice acting - Jahiera and Minsc are the same as bg3 and everyone does a really good job especially considering when this came out. Similar enough to bg3 to where if you enjoyed 3, youll likely really like this !

This is one the games I loved as a kid, and I'm glad it's been remade to play on modern machines. If you like D&D, you'll like this. There's a lot of little extra quests you can do and a few fun options while trying to complete the main story line, which allows some freedom to play your characters the way you want to. My only non-review comment is for Linux owners. Modern Ubuntu and even Debian cannot run this without libssl_1.0.0_32-bit/libssl_1.0.0_64-bit. You'll have to find a way to install this to run it.

Despite not being set in the city that gives it its name, Baldur's Gate II is a huge step up from the first game... which was already pretty good! While BG1 was a mostly linear and predictable succession of short fetch quests and combat encounters, its sequel is more elaborate in its storytelling. You're constantly presented with complex situations that not only do you often get to solve in different manners, but also involve memorable characters, deep lore, well-written dialog and amazing set pieces. Overall, this game a lot more lively and memorable than its predecessor: the places you visit and the situations you're involved in are stranger and more creative, and your companions are more fleshed out and will often talk to you directly and give their thoughts during conversations – sadly, they only level up when by your side, so you'll want to stick to a small selection of them for most of the game to have more competent allies... It's still pretty solid gameplay-wise. The battles are strategic, and you have even more spells and items to play with. The difficulty is what you'd expect from an actual DnD campaign with a less-than-forgiving GM: it's more “dungeon-crawly” than BG1, and the game often pits you against groups of tough enemies, expecting you to be fully shielded against their strengths and aware of their weaknesses. I'm not a fan of it personally, but I'm sure a lot of people out there wouldn't have it any other way... This version still carries some flaws of the previous “enhanced edition” and does not fix as much problems as it should, but at least the original cutscenes are there, and the new quests and characters are integrated more organically. In short: this is one of the best game of its era, it fully realizes the potential of the saga, and it's a classic adventure that has aged fairly well. If Baldur's Gate felt like a generic fantasy RPG to you, then you will probably find its sequel a lot more interesting. Pick it up without second thoughts.