Without this game series and the baldur's gate series nobody would know what crpg is. The term likely would not exist. This is the one d&d game that took a look at the pen and paper manuals then set out to make a video game and nailed it. I can literally spend all day making a character. Play it for 5 minutes. Then I roll another. Sure I've finished all the chapters, but the depth in character creation is what keeps me coming back time and time again. The only thing missing is the 4d6 option for rolling stats.
The first thing anyone buying this needs to know is it was unfinished at release and left to the fan community. It's a tragedy of Shakespearean proportion. This is one of maybe 5 games which every person who says they are a fan of RPG must play before they can even comment on the subject. Anything less is akin to a grade schooler giving peer review for a scientific paper. Of course you can play it and say it's dated, but i'll comment on that at the end. This game has one of the best character creation mechanics ever made. The choices in the character creator and how you develop in the game have a real impact on your game. The options in conversation are greatly impacted by you skills, which in turn may completely change how you approach a situation out of conversation or whether you need to even fight. As much as many other games say they do this, it truly is a rare thing. The story is good, but the NPCs are among the most unforgettable in any game, particularly the faction leaders. Give it a try. The game allows for a number of different approaches. Chances are with the characters being so diverse and having such deep background there's something in there for almost anyone. With that I'll leave you with the nagging question: WHY? How much longer do I need to ask myself that before I see a follow-up to one of the greatest games ever made. It's maddening. Is there some plot to bury all things great in this world like BSG and its possible spin-offs on tv or movies. GAH!!! WHYYY??? Is there a guy from the movie Idiocracy making decisions and saying "I like money," but then saying just not that much money. Seriously, though. If someone doesn't make a sequel to this the only reason to have the rights to it is so someone else can't make something better than the games they make.
