Support NeoGAF

[El_Victor]

The best RPG ever been released. I am, of course, talking about;

The past 5 years there haven’t been a single RPG that has even been even close of achieving what BG2 once achieved. It pains me a lot since RPG’s is my favourite genre, but I have high hopes for Bioware’s next PC RPG (Dragon Age).
So how can you celebrate tis' games 5th anniversary better than with a wholly new interview, just because it’s been 5 years since the games release? You can’t, hence this link.
http://www.gamebanshee.com/interviews/bg2fiveyearanniversary.php

GB: What specific aspects of Baldur's Gate II do you feel attributed to the game's major success?

Kevin: Well first off, it was enormous. We could guarantee that we had something for everyone simply by the amount of content, which also contributed to the replay value. I started at BioWare only a few months before Baldur’s Gate hit shelves, so I wasn’t involved with the core design of the series or the engine. I would like to take this opportunity to toot BioWare’s horn without tooting my own. The real-time pause combat system on top of the deep roleplaying game is one of the best things that has ever happened to the RPG genre. That extra element of tactics from the realm of games like Warcraft II or Starcraft really opened up the combat experience of the game, and I think it also drew some of the really cool elements out of the AD&D system while keeping combat fierce and action-packed. Any success I’ve had with the engine since then I owe to the core concept pioneered by the Baldur’s Gate team.

Balur’s Gate II is awesome, awesome is Baldur’s Gate II - there is nothing to discuss here really, so use this thread to whatever you like.

 

[Deg]

Ever heard of WOW? Thats an RPG too.

 

[Bog]

Ever heard of WOW? Thats an RPG too.

And a shitty one at that.

 

[bjork]

The best RPG ever been released.

Phantasy Star II came out in 89, didn't it?

 

[PhoenixDark]

Phoenix Dark approves of this thread.

Baldurs Gate>all

 

[El_Victor]

Consoling Age indeed.
Haters begone - you simply hate fun. Aaand another article I missed to post;
http://www.gamebanshee.com/editorials/bg2fiveyearanniversary.php

 

[Acosta]

Ever heard of WOW? Thats an RPG too.

I love WOW, but don´t compare it with Baldur´s Gate 2 please, they are not comparable.

I won´t say is the best, but certainly one of the best, a massive game full of content and excelency. A great reason to be a gamer.

 

[Red Scarlet]

What's it like? Last PC RPG I've played that I enjoyed was Ultima 5.

 

[GhaleonEB]

Phantasy Star II came out in 89, didn't it?

AMEN, QFT, etc.

 

[Grug]

How similar is Baldur's gate to Neverwinter Nights?

I played a fair bit of Neverwinter Nights and found it lacking in style and personality.

Will I dislike Baldur's Gate for the same reason or is it different?

 

[El_Victor]

What's it like? Last PC RPG I've played that I enjoyed was Ultima 5.

Godlike?

Take for instance, the relationship between Korgan (the "evil", yet sometimes father-like dwarf) and Aerie (the young, sweet and innocent good-aligned elf). Throughout the game, Korgan made it a point to harass young Aerie at certain times in the adventure, to the point of her... well, actually issuing the party an ultimatum if you didn't get rid of him. It didn't happen right away, and she certainly worked up to her decision, however when she left the party, it hit me like a slap in the face. Poof, she was gone. She made good on her promise and, despite mine (and I'm sure many many other's) refusal to believe she wouldn't come back - after all, the game wouldn't do that, would it? - it just did not happen.

It was gigantic, at over 200 hours of gameplay, with tough completely optional battles (Kangaxx the Lich comes to mind) and an optional personal stronghold quest for each class.

 

[Red Scarlet]

It was funny in U5 if Blackthorn captured you; he'd permanently erase a character from your party. :lol

 

[golem]

How similar is Baldur's gate to Neverwinter Nights?

I played a fair bit of Neverwinter Nights and found it lacking in style and personality.

Will I dislike Baldur's Gate for the same reason or is it different?

NWN's single player campaign was quite terrible... BG2 is alot better

 

[Yusaku]

I support this thread.

 

[Date of Lies]

I still remember the trick to get 2 Rings of Gaxx

 

[DSN2K]

still yet to open my copy :lol

 

[Aika'svyse]

so is Baldurs gate dark alliance good?

 

[Date of Lies]

so is Baldurs gate dark alliance good?

no

unless you haven't played BG1 or 2, then it just becomes a subpar button-mashing dungeon crawler.

 

[elostyle]

I only played BG 1, how do they compare?

 

[Tony HoTT]

BG2 kicked ass but that Dungeon you start out in is so goddamn annoying that it puts me off from ever playing through the game again. I do love the feeling of emerging from the dungeon and seeing daylight though.

My personal opinion is that BG > BGII even though I like all the skills and rules from BGII better. I just thought BG seemed more of an epic journey.

I hate D&D shit but these games are definitely classics.

 

[RevenantKioku]

I never played BG2 but it would have to improve on the BG formula a lot to be a "good" game, never mind the best ever.

 

[Sathsquatch]

BG2 kicked my ass and took my name. Anyone that does not finish this game will die unhappy and incomplete.

Definitely the greatest RPG ever!

 

[Excess Poo Flakes]

Baldur's gate? More like Baldur's worse game ever

 

[djtiesto]

Thread needs more talk about Phantasy Star 2, less about Baldur's Gate II (sorry folks but that's the way it's gotta be)...

 

[El_Victor]

Thread needs more talk about Phantasy Star 2, less about Baldur's Gate II (sorry folks but that's the way it's gotta be)...

I've played the Phantasy Star Collection on GBA, and if that is any kind of indication of Phantasy Star 2.. well, then it doesn't even deserve to smell BG2's crap. If you said Ultima IV on the other hand.. but whacky jappy game doesn't cut it.

I never played BG2 but it would have to improve on the BG formula a lot to be a "good" game, never mind the best ever.

It pretty much did?

 

[Culex]

Best western RPG? Maybe.

Best overall RPG? Not a stinking chance.

I'll throw in my vote for Phantasy Star IV, with an honorable mention of Ys III remake.

 

[Speevy]

Best western RPG? Maybe.

Best overall RPG? Not a stinking chance.

I'll throw in my vote for Phantasy Star IV, with an honorable mention of Ys III remake.

Well that was elitist.

Many of the best RPG's (and in fact the first one) are WRPG's.

 

[Culex]

Well that was elitist.

Many of the best RPG's (and in fact the first one) are WRPG's.

...and I'd agree with you. I've never been a fan of western RPG's.

 

[ToxicAdam]

I love BG2, but I was not crazy about the combat system. I like the traditional turn-based style that most PC RPG's have. I like to have the time to think without hitting pause over and over.


I still like Icewind Dale 1/2 better though. Those games grabbed me right away.

Although BG2 is in my top 10, other games like Pool of Radiance, Wasteland and Ultima 5 were more satisfying for me.

 

[RevenantKioku]

It pretty much did?

I'm just saying, since it's the same series, I'd wager there are some similarities, and BG was pretty damn mediocre. Maybe one of these days I'll get around to BG2, but there is just so much more that I plan to play first.

 

[HooDoo]

Planescape Torment says the thread starter is wrong.

 

[El_Victor]

Planescape Torment says the thread starter is wrong.

That's not even a game, that's an interactive novel.. made by God, true, but I don't see it as an RPG.

 

[GaimeGuy]

Speaking of BGII, I'm just about to start the game..

from what I've read, the Wild Mage sounds like the best class.