It's not perfect and the imperfections are clear to see, but somehow you don't care when you get to playing. Actually, the longer you play, the more you love the game. The world is huge and you just tumble into it. Immersive is one way to describe it. I can't help but think this is how MMOs should have been designed, because this game is how MMOs should certainly feel when you play! I had fairly low expectations when I started playing, but I was very pleasantly surprised. I personally love the soundtrack. But it's the whole package that really sells this game. I've jumped straight into the mouth of the lion playing as a Mage my first time through. It's worth noting that while this Profession can be the most challenging it's also very rewarding and fun, which is saying a lot. I actually feel bad for Bethesda: I gather they are somewhat embarrassed by this game because it was their first essay into The Elder Scrolls, but they should be proud of this one! Imperfect though it is, I will be playing this again and again.
One of my favorite TBS games of all time! You wouldn't think it judging the book by its cover, but the ratings for the game don't lie, and those who have played it don't either. I have no idea how this game pulls it off, but the simplistic graphics belie what's in store. One of my favorite features is in the fact that it doesn't nerf power. It's hard to beat gathering a massive army and city building as you roll over cities and conquer your opponents. Quite a good deal to get all the expansions in this one pack, completely worth it, particularly because there is a random map generator feature; that takes a spectacular game and makes it even better. Don't let the appearance fool you, you'll love this game.
I was blown away at what this game offers. My Youtube channel has a PC XLP for it. There aren't many games that let you enter a new world just by turning on the game, but this is one of them. It was a milestone in games in its time, which is easy to see as you watch or play it. And it's infinitely better than Skyrim because it doesn't have a Mature rating. Obviously that makes it superior.
While some features I wanted to carry over from the first game didn't, this game is fantastic in it's own right. The story for the game and all of it's expansions are much better than any D&D game after, especially the Dragon Age games. The quick cast spell menu is a great addition though issuing voice commands can interrupt and fizzle a spell you are casting if you don't time it right. The expansions are magnificent adding many great features and Mask of the Betrayer is an outstanding addition with a marvelous and ominous story introducing mystical locations such as the Astral and Shadow Planes, and the ability to define party AI with a relatively straightforward radio button menu so that you don't have to constantly micromanage all party members and can run a party more efficiently. It also includes an extremely fun feature known as The Hunger which compels you to feed on spirit energy from your enemies or be consumed by Hunger. Storm of Zehir adds even more features and entirely new play modes. It lets you build a custom party from the start including previous exported characters, and introduces an overland travel map with random but visible monster parties which spawn battle maps a la JRPGs. Also NPC mobile parties which appear on the map and of course locations of interest. Robust and active modding community with many add ons and persistent world servers for MMO style play. DMing features also available for table top style games. Character export features available though restricted from the first game and if you aren't careful you can run into some bugs like quest items you can't drop stacking in your inventory. Otherwise, a fine game and very fun and compelling to play.
There are so few games I would rate as being perfect and though this one isn't completely perfect, it is really really close. I have not stopped playing this game since I first got it. There is probably no game I have played more than this one. The first two retail expansions are certainly worth getting because of their added content and story lines and because they allow easy and quick leveling depending on how you play them. The fact that you can export your character into or out of any saved game or module at any point is an extremely valuable and compelling feature. I have always loved D&D games and I would have to say that with a few exceptions this one allows you all the fun of Baldur's Gate or Icewind Dale games without as much difficulty. I would have liked having a full party, but henchmen are possible. The fact that you can mod and use the intuitive and user friendly creator tool to make your own adventures with drag and drop and quick snapping of objects is fun as well as exciting. The modding community is still active for this game and there are many mods and paks available as well as persistent world servers so you can play it like an MMO. Multiplayer over LAN and direct connect or server connect is still functioning though matching services have been discontinued. DMing features are available as a play mode allowing a table top simulation are priceless! Definitely recommend this game!
I have played the first game in this series in the form of two of it's console ports, and it is a fine game. I would have to I prefer the GBA version best since more is added including a tactical battle system and merchants with whom to buy and sell, though I would have liked random battles and respawn for enemies better, which is in the PC and SNES versions. I am currently playing through the SNES version on my channel, mithrswd, on Youtube under the name "Eyeful of the Beholder." The controls are a bit finicky and I dislike having to move the mouse about to each button to perform actions I would have thought to need more intuitive activation, ie combat or spell casting, and the spell casting is a bit encumbered since the menu is capricious in how it keeps your place, and since spells generally require something like three buttons minimum to cast. But the fact that you can load up all of your characters not on the front row with missile weapons with ammo that you can recover and use again is a very handy feature. And beyond all this it is a tremendously fun game.
