Remembrances of Games Past, Part #19 - Baldur's Gate

In my opinion, the original Baldur's Gate is the best game Bioware has ever released (with Mass Effect 2 coming in at a very close second place). BG1 features what at the time was a revolutionary "pause-based" combat system as well as a solid interpretation of the D&D rules, while thankfully lacking the pseudo-epic pretentions of the slightly overrated second installment in the series. Baldur's Gate 1 is a relaxing high fantasy romp through lush forests and dank dungeons with a party of low-level (i.e. not ridiculously overpowered) D&D characters, and it's no wonder that this fine game almost singlehandedly resurrected the Western RPG genre.

The nice thing about playing the Infinity Engine games (Baldur's Gate, Icewind Dale etc.) almost a decade after their initial release is that there is so much high-quality user-generated content available from the still active modding community. Apart from new side quests and NPCs, the technical modifications (such as EasyTutu or the more ambitious BGT-WeiDU) which lets you play the original Baldur's Gate from within BG2's improved engine are particularly useful; especially considering the low ative resolution of the original BG.

Great IE modding links:
http://pocketplane.net/mambo/
http://www.gibberlings3.net/
http://www.spellholdstudios.net/

Category:

Gaming

Tags:

• Baldur's
• Gate
• Bioware
• CRPG
• D&D
• Dungeons
• Dragons
• Isometric
• Bhaalspawn
• Remembrances
• of
• Games
• Past

[HardWarUK]

I cannot believe that you said you put Mass Effect a 'close second' to BG1!!!! Mass Effect to me is a multiformat 'Action-Adventure' - not a cRPG's like BG1 and 2, Icewind Dale 1 and 2 and Planescape Torment! After all, in Mass Effect, what would you call the tactical linear shooter quests other than 'Action' and what can you call the conversation system other than an 'adventure system' - thereby making ME an Action-Adventure. Gamers of the mid to late 90's seeing ME would have said that!

[Demiath]

@HardWarUK While I genuinely believe that Mass Effect 2 is a ground-breaking action/adventure/RPG hybrid, it's also worth mentioning that I don't consider BioWare to be as good a developer as many others do. Baldur's Gate 1 was revolutionary in how it handled party-based combat and also partly responsible for a great RPG revival ten years ago, but I'm not a great fan of anything the studio produced in the long period between BG1-2 and ME2. And as you know, PS:T and ID1-2 are Black Isle games...

[wonderboy2402]

@Demiath I am in agreement with you there HardWarUk. All I will add is that playing through BG1 just felt like a "Pure" RPG experience. The combination of cast, setting, plot and game mechanics just felt engrossing and perfect for its time. I still can play it today, and while the resolution is a challenge, I quickly get used to it...

[Demiath]

@wonderboy2402 Well put, I completely agree. And yes, you can definitely get used to the low resolution if you want to; high-res mods are a mere convenience.

[teldiron]

@Demiath But then, it's not all dark in the beginning. Aren't those pools with visions of other places or times in one of the caves not a nice touch and somewhat reminiscent of Planescape Torment? It gives the dungeon as well as the world some history, increases our yearning to be free, characterises our tormenter a bit (wants to hoard all useful as well as beautiful things). It's not the game's genuine maturity or depth but how well it's put-together. An illusion of many things going on.

[Demiath]

@teldiron I maintain that BG2's beginning is a mission statement of sorts by Bioware ("this shit is D-A-R-K, we're not into that kiddie crap anymore") which reveals a genuine lack of understanding for what maturity in narratives mean. And the only reason people believe that there's something compelling about the character of Jon Irenicus is because he happens to be voiced by David Warner. A veteran like him can make any line of dialogue sound a whole lot better than it actually is.

[teldiron]

@Demiath I wouldn't describe the beginning as "Saw"-like or contrived maturity (like more often nowadays). It's like a stage to inspire the imagination of some of the darker facets in a fantasy world. And the predictable self-righteousness of the antagonist had a certain pseudo-myth-like charm in its execution (not better than a generic fantasy novel, but with proper structure and all). Or perhaps it's just nostalgia for when I was more impressible.

[Demiath]

@teldiron To be honest, BG2 was the title which finally made me realize that narratives in games are not worth caring about for even a second; and that the only thing which matters is the quality of the gameplay. BG2's contrived "maturity" (evident right from its excessively dark, almost "Saw"-like beginning) and predictably self-righteous antagonist added nothing to the series. Better than most game stories? Sure. Half-decent enough for even a second-rate fantasy novel? Probably not.

[teldiron]

@Demiath I don't know any other game where the "epic adventure" thing was ever done so well as in BG2. It's like a blueprint for other games of that kind. It's still full of fighting, but usually within a context. And there are so many different contexts that it still feels relatively free. Also the bad guys are creative and complex and not the only evil force in the world...

[Demiath]

@teldiron Well, since it's precisely the "epic adventure" thing that I most object to about BG 2 and similar games I can't say I object to simply strolling through the woods killing orcs. Also, the overworld "vacuum cleaning"-style exploration of filler forests is only one aspect of the game, while spending time in towns and clearing dungeons are much more important parts of the gameplay experience.