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General discussionOld school RPGs for first timer: Classic or Enhanced?(47 posts)(47 posts)
(47 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted December 16, 2017
So I've been looking to play several of the older, well known RPGs like Planescape: Torment, Icewind Dale, Baldur's Gate, etc.

Quite a few of these games have or are looking to have Enhanced editions created for them.
Is there a general consensus on how those have panned out? Are they something that's only for people who played the Classic versions already or something that would be recommended even for first time players? Are they just simple QOL changes, have they fixed or ruined anything integral to the game mechanics? Stuff like that.
Posted December 16, 2017
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Lykul: Stuff like that.
If you already own a version of the games, play that version. If you don't own any version, buying the Enhanced Edition on GOG will give you both the Enhanced Edition and the classic one.
Most people say that you can get the majority of the EE changes by installing some mods for your game, so it all boils down to how much time and effort you want to spend there. I'd suggest installing and playing one version, and if you don't like it, install and try the other one. You will find complaints about both versions, so I'd say it boils down to what issues you can live with.
Posted December 16, 2017
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Lykul: So I've been looking to play several of the older, well known RPGs like Planescape: Torment, Icewind Dale, Baldur's Gate, etc.

Quite a few of these games have or are looking to have Enhanced editions created for them.
Is there a general consensus on how those have panned out? Are they something that's only for people who played the Classic versions already or something that would be recommended even for first time players? Are they just simple QOL changes, have they fixed or ruined anything integral to the game mechanics? Stuff like that.
Huge can of worms there, as there is some pretty strong hate against the enhanced editions from some quarters. Most of the enhanced editions contain new content, which is spotty at best (as far as fitting into the original material), IMO. So you may want to consider that.

My personal suggestion is to go with the originals. You get to experience exactly what was released (or as close to it as you can get) way back when. If you're looking for quality of life enhancements, there are a crapton of mods available for the originals that will do the trick.

My 2 coppers.
Posted December 16, 2017
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Lykul: So I've been looking to play several of the older, well known RPGs like Planescape: Torment, Icewind Dale, Baldur's Gate, etc.

Quite a few of these games have or are looking to have Enhanced editions created for them.
Is there a general consensus on how those have panned out? Are they something that's only for people who played the Classic versions already or something that would be recommended even for first time players? Are they just simple QOL changes, have they fixed or ruined anything integral to the game mechanics? Stuff like that.
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GR00T: My 2 coppers.
My one copper beats your two coppers. :P
Posted December 16, 2017
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tinyE: My one copper beats your two coppers. :P
Holy shit! I've never seen that before. Pretty cool.
Posted December 16, 2017
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tinyE: My one copper beats your two coppers. :P
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GR00T: Holy shit! I've never seen that before. Pretty cool.
there are larger ones up here but that was the best pic I could find.

sorry for the derail OP.
Posted December 16, 2017
It's been a while, but from what I recall I finished the classic versions of BG, IWD and Planescape with nothing more than a widescreen patch. And it worked great. I've never tried the enhanced editions.
Posted December 16, 2017
Personally, I can't think of any RPG that:
* is old school, and
* has an Enhanced Edition
(some have remakes, however, but I am not aware of any that is actually called an "Enhanced Edition".

To me, games like Baldur's Gate are too modern to be considered old school. Specifically, to me old-school RPGs are those from an era where, for WRPGs, turn-based was the norm rather than the exception, and for JRPGs, when they weren't heavily loaded with cutscenes.

To me, old school is something like Wizardry 1-7 (8, as much as I love it, is a bit too modern to qualify), Ultima 1-6, and Might and Magic 1-5, most of which are excellent games. Baldur's Gate is just too modern for me to call it old-school.
Posted December 16, 2017
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dtgreene: Personally, I can't think of any RPG that:
* is old school, and
* has an Enhanced Edition
(some have remakes, however, but I am not aware of any that is actually called an "Enhanced Edition".

To me, games like Baldur's Gate are too modern to be considered old school. Specifically, to me old-school RPGs are those from an era where, for WRPGs, turn-based was the norm rather than the exception, and for JRPGs, when they weren't heavily loaded with cutscenes.

To me, old school is something like Wizardry 1-7 (8, as much as I love it, is a bit too modern to qualify), Ultima 1-6, and Might and Magic 1-5, most of which are excellent games. Baldur's Gate is just too modern for me to call it old-school.
You'll note the OP never said 'old school', and specifically mentioned Baldur's Gate, Icewind Dale, and Planescape:Torment, though...
Posted December 16, 2017
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GR00T: My 2 coppers.
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tinyE: My one copper beats your two coppers. :P
That is float copper, right there! Probably from the upper peninsula of Michigan... Copper is one of my eccentric hobbies
Posted December 16, 2017
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GR00T: You'll note the OP never said 'old school'
Except that the topic title, which happens to be what I notice before I even see the initial post, explicitly said "Old school".
Posted December 16, 2017
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dtgreene: Baldur's Gate is just too modern for me to call it old-school.
Yes, thank you, we get it. Yeesh.
Posted December 16, 2017
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Lykul: Is there a general consensus on how those have panned out?
I've played classic BG tons of times, never played EE. My suggestion is:

If you plan on using lots of mods, go classic.
If you just want to install and play, go EE.
If you are an older gamer, you may prefer the familiarity and nostalgia of the older programming.
If you are a younger gamer, you may prefer the smoother GUI and functionality of the EE.

Side note. Having not played BGEE I can't say for certain, but I've heard they've replaced all/most of the cutscenes with new ones, which from what I've seen suck. Maybe I'm biased, but I strongly prefer the classic intro to the EE intro. /sidenote
Posted December 16, 2017
low rated
Baldur's Gate? Definitely Classic. Shame it no longer is available standalone (you have to buy the scammy "Enhanced Edition" at triple the price, original comes as an extra).

About the rest, whatever suits you. The real malarkey was inside Baldur's Gayte "enhancements" (especially the "sequel's").
Posted December 16, 2017
Enhanced.

More user-friendly, better compatibility, less bugs, improved modding. No nostalgia goggles to hold you back from enjoying the new content.
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Community
General discussionOld school RPGs for first timer: Classic or Enhanced?(47 posts)(47 posts)
(47 posts)