I've been playing through a number of the D&D titles available on this site, and this one is probably the least engaging. It feels like an offline version of a former MMORPG. It bears a number of similarities to Dungeons and Dragons Online (although Neverwinter Nights has superior graphics). One thing I don't like about it is that I can only take one "henchman" (called "hireling" in DDO) at a time, meaning I can't form a real party. There seems to be no logical reason for this other than that's just the way the game is programmed. So I have to choose between having a fighter, a thief (for traps and lock licking), or a wizard. Additionally, I can't access the henchmen's inventory, so I can't change their gear, even if to upgrade it or have them learn new spells.
Do your eyes a favor and play this in the classic view. I played a good part of the game in the "enhanced" view, and it's really small and hard on the eyes. Fortunately, an unresolved glitch in the game forced it into classic view, and I enjoyed the game a bit more after that, since the characters are larger in the classic view. I get the feeling this is one of those "you had to have been there" games. I didn't play it when it was new. It reeks of the 1990s. It has a severe preoccupation with the macabre, which I never really understood in any medium. There's the sidekick who is perverted in a disturbing rather than funny way. The plot line is just awkward (not to mention the ending). It also has the feel of being unfinished. There are slots for armor in the character pages, but there's barely any armor in the game. As far as I can tell, there's none for the main character. There are also slots for arrows, bolts, etc., yet I discovered no range weapons in the game, which is kind of annoying. (Although I did discover some bolts nobody in my party could use.) I like the concept of of a game that utilizes D&D races other than humans, elves, dwarves, humans, halflings, etc. I understand the Blood War a bit better now. Still, I don't feel any desire to replay this game like I did Baldur's Gate. I played it through once, and now I feel I'm done with it.
Seriously, I think the amount of undead are excessive in this game. I'm still fairly new to the Infinity Engine games. I started with BG, then played BGSOD, BG2, and now this. Like everyone says, the play control is basically the same. Except you don't get xp for picking locks, disarming traps, or learning spells from scrolls like you do in BG. It kind of seems the programmers tried to make this game challenging to a fault; the dungeons can be obnoxiously long, and you might find yourself in a jam where you need to start the game all over because for some reason, your saves don't go very far back in time. Then there's the problem of containers not transferring from the first installment to Heart of Winter (the second installment of the game). I read that I could do this if I had just waited to the end of the credits after beating the end boss for part 1, but that took me a long time, and repeating that sort of thing can be boring. That's another thing: the ice theme makes this game rather sleepy and less-than-exciting at times. It's by far not the worst RPG I've ever played, but unless you have BG nostalgia, I suggest you buy something else. I think this game may have killed that nostalgia for me.
BG2 is fairly entertaining. At the same time, it is plagued by a number of annoying things. One of those, which is also used in BGSOD, is not allowing you to control how your party approaches a number of key battles (including the final battle in Throne of Bhaal, the second installment of the game). In those battles, you're just thrust into stupid, compromising positions that don't often allow you to draw upon the strengths you have developed throughout the game. What this does is make me have to annoyingly begin the game all over again in an attempt to gain enough power the next time to get through it. Disclaimer: My favorite two secondary party members from the first game are dead at the beginning of this one, so I was a bit annoyed at this sequel in the first place.
First, I'd say this game is just fun. For the most part, it feels like a genuine sequel, even if you don't have the same freedom to move about in the world in this game as in the last. One problem I have with this expansion/sequel is its length. It's far shorter than Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition. For that reason, I'm unsure why there is no difference in price between the two. There's also the issue that if any of your characters are permanently killed in the first game (blown apart, burnt to a crisp, etc.), they might return in this game. That kind of feels like a cheat, but it's not a big deal. I'm also a bit puzzled and annoyed by what Beamdog does with Imoen in this game.
Admittedly, this is the only version of Baldur's Gate I've played. I've played it for too many hours. I'm a big fan of old school RPGs, and this is one of the best I've played. The only problem I have is with the Black Pits. There's a rather common problem with the fourth level where the game freezes. I've contacted GOG a number of times over it, but it's never been fixed.
When I play the Black Pits, I can only use one of these portraits. If I use more than one, all Faces of Good and Evil portraits disappear and revert to one of the portraits included in Baldur's Gate: Expanded Edition (the Flash Gordon type one).
