Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition

I own both the Classic edition and the Enhanced editions and I have to say, one you get used to the EE it's difficult to go back to the originals. You can get close to the EE experience in the classic versions if you are OK with taking the time to research the various mods and install them, but if you want to play right out of the gate I'd recommend the EE over the original. The Enhanced Edition isn't flawless however, I've noticed a strange bug in the interface with US Scaling turnd on in which there is a small section of the screen you can't click on. It's only really a problem with the level up screen preventing you from clicking the plus sign next to skills to add points to it. However, this can be worked around by turning off UI scaling when leveling up or just not using it at all. It's a minor thing since leveling only happens so often. Unless you are a die hard purist for the originals I'd say this is the way to go.

I can't say enough good about this, even though it's old its still supper fun to play. Some might have issues with the D&D 2nd edition rules (which i cut my teeth on), but aside from character creation it should not hinder anyone.

This game is now much better than the original, modding included. I have played both many, many times, and modded both, and I must say that using the EE starts you off with the best foundation, and in conjunction with the Big World Mod, you get everything, and nows so simple to have it modded. The Big World Mod auto installs most mods available, has all the latest patches, updates, and makes sure they work seamlessly together. This all works with the latest patch, and the has an active community of updates. The problem I had with modding the original Baldur's Gate, is that you always had to run around getting new updates, and one incompatible mod that clashed with another mod, would ruin your game entirely, and you would have to re-install and start all over again, being super careful of what mods would glitch out, or completely stop your game. It was a massive amount of time wasted. EE at least starts you off with widescreen, relative combat info, zooming function, easier UI functionality etc. You now only need to download the Big World Mod to have them all, and it makes sure that they all work seamlessly together, so they don't clash- this alone is a life saver. You also don't need BG2EE to run this mod, and can just start with this game first if you want. This is the first time playing, where I have zero glitches, it's modded to the teeth, and the game runs 100% smoothly. There has never been a better time to play Baldur's Gate, and it rivals, if not exceeds Pathfinder: Kingmaker, POE etc.

My first experience playing Baldur's Gate was from a multi-disc folio in 1999. I revisited the EE version in early 2020, and it has come a long way. I love turn-based RPGs with an emphasis on story. Baldur's Gate gave that, and I remembered it fondly, but never fondly enough to play the sequel. With EE, though, came Siege of Dragonspear. Oft-maligned, SoD adds a few things that finally made me start playing the sequel. First, it bridges the gap. When SoD ends, you are thirsty to find out what happens next. It not only resolves the story from BG1, but it makes the gear-erasing opening scenes of BG2 palatable by making them part of the story. Another thing SoD and EE bring to the mix is fresh new NPCs. I never cared for Minsc. But with Khalid and Jaheira, I was left to fill out my party with someone I just didn't want. EE gave me plenty of heroic options that brought a wealth of story. SoD scattered them to the four winds and made me hunt them back again, but I DID get them back; I still felt like I was playing "my group" by the end. SoD also gives an epic conclusion to the story of BG1. There's nothing wrong with the end of BG1, but the finale we get in SoD is epic by comparison. As a lifelong DM, it's the ending I would give my tenth-level party. Players may be nervous that there's been a lot of talk about a single transgender NPC. Take this: I read six paragraphs of a dwarf talking about how he needs new boots or he's just sure he'll die in his next fight. Then I read three paragraphs of a woman explaining how meaningful it was that I returned something to her. Both were explanations of the McGuffin hunt that I had just completed. Both were as meaningful to the story. The only way to be offended is to be offended that this NPC simply exists. The fact that mere existence was offensive to so many is the real story. For twenty years I went without playing BG2. Because of EE, I have begun and already progressed into the second chapter...and I have zero regrets.

One of the best RPG's I have ever played. If you love D&D, this is it.