Simply one of the best cRPGs and indeed one of the best computer games ever created. A plot that builds from the shattered innocence of the tutorial area to brush up against countless NPCs leading independent lives to expose a civilisation threatening plot driven by the spawn of the gods themselves. Argued by many to be better even than its successors, Baldur's Gate 2 and 3, the admittedly ageing sprites do not diminish the beauty of the unique and hand-crafted backdrops that stretech out like an oil painting across every map area as you wander aimlessly, discovering the adventures to be had in Faerun before returning to the central plot and entering Baldur's Gate itself. The game is expansive, with the widlerness being equalled in scale and exploration by the City of Baldur's Gate, as your enemies move on you towards the end of the game and threaten you with destruction. With its successors, this is a game I come back to again and again. Like the great RPGs of later yeras, Baldur's Gate offers a huge range of characters adn near total freedom in how you approach it and which direction you meander through the map and a diverse range of potential party members, some good, some neutral, others decidedly evil. Both good and evil are play are rewarded in different ways, so you are free to enjoy yourself in any way you prefer. A perfect place to test the cRPG genre that balances tactical combat with roleplaying and story driven adventure. And for RPG officionados and fans of The Forgotten Realms (now the default D&D 5e setting), revisiting the roots of the D&D genre is a must!
