Review: Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn (PC)

Graphics- 9/10
Sound- 10/10
Gameplay- 10/10
Replay Value- 10/10
Overall- 10/10

Baldur's Gate 2 is quite a RPG. It has all the ingredients needed for a great role playing game- lots of depth, lots of action, lots of exploration, and A LOT of character choices.

I remember picking up Baldur's Gate 2, I was very interested in it as it is one of THE best RPGs out there. First off, don't worry if you haven't played the first Baldur's Gate as most of it is explained to you in the first part of the game. This is one of the most notable features of Baldur's Gate 2- the conversations. Sometimes characters will walk up to you and talk to you, and the rest of the time it's up to you to talk to people. Once the conversation starts, you'll choose what you want to say to the character. These choices will branch out the conversation into many different directions, some good, some very bad. This in turn effects the entire game, which is a very nice feature that really sucks you right into the game. As well, the choices can have a personal effect on you depending on your class. Here's an example: you choose to be a paladin (think very good knight who deals out justice "efficiently"). Along the way you're looking for answers from someone, but they're not giving them to you. You lose your cool and you choose to hurl insults and threats at the character. This isn't very paladin like, you can't forget that you're a warrior of honor, so there are penalties for this. This system works very well to keep the player in character and in the game's fantastic world. Of course, events like these depend on your class, of which there are many.

When you first start the game, you go through a rather deep character creation process. First off, you choose your gender and portrait (a picture that represents your character in the menus). These choices don't really effect the game, so choose what looks good. After that, you choose your race. The races are quite interesting: humans, dwarfs, elves, half- elves, half orcs, gnomes and halflings. The variation is nice and effects your character's appearance in the game. More importantly though, each race has certain classes it can be and various talents that can either aid you or hold you back in certain areas. All the races have pros and cons, so choose carefully. Next up are the classes, each one will heavily effect the way you play the game. There are plenty on options including paladins, warriors, bards, wizards, rangers and more. Even then, there are a couple specially customized versions of every class, or you can customize the class you choose yourself. This includes attributes such as strength and dexterity. For attributes you receive a certain number of points which you choose how to disperse. Afterwards, you choose which weaponry you're skilled in, for which you get points as well to spend as you see fit. After that, you choose the physical appearance of you character such as hair and skin color. But this is as deep as the customization for your appearance goes. Even still, you've just gone through a lot of choices, these is all before you actually get into the game! And all these choices will really effect how you play the game.

Once you actually start the playing, you'll meet some old friends and, if you choose, you can work together to escape a sort of prison you're stuck in. You should definitely keep the friends you make, you'll need them. Once you unite with others, you have full control over them along with your character. The game is in an isometric view with prerendered graphics and 2D character models. Although the game looks aged for it's time, the colors and details of the world and characters are wonderful, pulling you into this huge fantasy adventure. Your control over the main characters is some what like in a strategy game. You have a cursor with which you select what you want to do: you can click on a character to select them or you can click and drag to select multiple characters, you click on enemies to attack them, you click where you want your characters to go, you click on various items to use or activate them, and you click on the various icons on the side bars to do various actions. The icons available to you do various actions: on the bottom right the formations, which you use to control in which order your characters stand in; on the right are the portraits of all the characters in your party which can be used for quicker character selection; on the bottom left and bottom center are the many actions your characters can do, such as spells and skills, and boxes used for quick item access (such as health potions); and on the right side are icons used for things such as journals and inventory. All these icons are used throughout the game in various ways to help you along your huge journey. When you encounter enemies you click on them to have your selected characters attack. As well, you will make use of the items, skills, and spells your characters have in battle. Because there are so many actions your characters can do in the midst of battle, fighting can get very complicated- from selecting which characters you want to use at a certain point in the fighting to select the enemies you want to attack and which actions you want to do. For this reason you have the choice of making use of the pause and play system. This system basically a turn based feature. You can either choose when the game pauses (such as when an enemy is sighted) so you can select what each character does. As well, you can use the space button to pause the game at any time, allowing a more free formed style of turn based action. And, of course, you can play the game in real time. These options can be selected at any time, seamlessly. But believe me- the game can get very deep and complex during fights. Although, these is the beauty of the game- having plenty of choices even in fights, and lots, and LOTS of depth. This makes for a very classic RPG feeling.

As you journey and fight your character will gain experience points which you use to level up and get stronger. Leveling up gives you plenty of options in which areas you want to get stronger, increasing the amount of character depth and choices available. As well, you'll find and buy many weapons, armor, and items which strengthen your character and, in terms of weapons and armor, change the appearance of your character. This game is very deep. There are plenty of options from your conversations to your battles with epic fantasy creatures. The game big, there's plenty to do and tons of things to see. As you journey on, a wonderful soundtrack surrounds you with an epic fantasy world. As well, the movies have some of the best voice acting ever. All of this is packaged in a deep, complicated, involving, and VERY enjoyable and memorable game. This is a classic RPG to the core- all I can say is that this game is HUGE and unbelievably involving.

Pros: A lot of choices in all that you do, and there is a lot to do. The world is big and full of classic fantasy and memorable creatures and environments. The conversations and battles are very deep. The game is overall a classic and wonderful RPG with great designs throughout.
Cons: The graphics could be better.

Review: Vedran