If you're fine with just playing it with the CD's then there's nothing new. With GOG Baldur's Gate there's no CD switching obviously, that's what I can think of.

I know there's a way to make it so you don't have to switch CD's with the CD version too, but I'm not sure how.

It does come with extras but it's mostly manuals and wallpapers, which can obviously be found online.

It's also worth it I guess if you were missing one of the expansions or anything like that.

As with (almost) any Digital Distribution re-release, your advantages are:

Potential access to extras you missed out on due to which retail version you purchased
Ease of install (double-click a .exe as opposed to swapping discs and typing in serials)
A back-up copy (I have never had a CD "stop working", but I also take good care of my discs. That being said, a lot of people end up with discs that no longer read, so worth looking into).


In your case, I would suggest waiting for a sale (we are due for a big-ish one in a month or two) and then considering grabbing it then. If you find yourself regularly replaying the games (but tend to uninstall to make room on your hard drive), give it a buy. Otherwise, I don't see a particular advantage.

Also, these are more likely to run on more modern systems since gog goes through the trouble of testing out the games and working out issues.

As others have said, the main advantages are no CD swapping and bonus content.

I'd also add that the GOG versions are much easier to install. You just start the exe, pick a directory, click next, wait a few minutes, and it's done. (As opposed to the traditional method of placing each CD in separately during install which for me was quite a pain.)

I believe the GoG versions also made altered versions of some low level spells -Armor, Chromatic Orb, and Sanctuary- making them more in line w/their original 2nd Edition AD&D interpretation in that Armor & Sanctuary can be cast on other people (not juss the caster) and Chromatic Orb has different effects from my retail versions.

I don't know if this is b/c of 1) the GoG versions, 2) Baldur's Gate the Original Saga and Baldur's Gate II Complete (the final retail versions of the games, which are the GoG versions; I own the original editions of the retail versions & the GoG versions), or 3) from a mod that I've installed.

I think its more the 1st 2 conclusions.