So last night I slayed the beast -- a large, troublesome dragon whose spirit had, annoyingly to the local townspeople, animated the corpse of a barbarian king -- and thus ended playing "Icewind Dale," another D&D game for the PC. Icewind Dale was the third such game that I've played from the folks at Black Isle Studios, including Baldur's Gate and BG2: Shadows of Amn. The basic set-up of all three is the same: you control a party of adventurers, hacking and slashing and maging your way through quest after quest. They've done a great job at turning the D&D rules into a very playable computer game.
So how does ID stack up? The major difference is that in the two Baldur's Gate games, you created one character, and along the way decided which of the characters you met along the way would join your party. In ID, you create the entire party yourself, deciding on your balance of classes and skills. For a challenge, I decided to play ID with only 4 in my party, instead of the allowed 6. This meant that everyone had to be a fighter, instead of the usual let-your-spell-casters-hang-out-in-the-back tactic. So I had The Lady Drimmere (Paladin), Xo Shaku (fighter / thief), Jibril Kohar (fighter / cleric), and Edomas (fighter / mage). There's a lot of swarming enemies in ID, so having only 4 was a fun challenge (hint: summon lots of undead). Unlike BG2, you don't go up against a lot of powerful mages, so not being able to cast many spells in the midst of battle wasn't too much of a drawback.
In the end, though, I'd say that ID is a good D&D game -- but it's not quite as much fun as BG2. Although you could only create one character in BG2, the NPC (Non-Player Characters) who join your party are quite fun. They have personalities, arguments, there's even romance. (See this run-down of the characters). And BG2 feels like more of a complete world -- there are many more side quests (some of them errands, really), characters, politics, etc. You can choose who to take with you, what quests to take on, etc. (Although there is an overarching plot, because of course You Are Destined Etc.) ID, on the other hand, is pretty straightfoward -- Quest A leads to Quest B leads to Quest C. Fun along the way, but I can't see replaying it again.
So, what's to play next?
Okay, I keep getting tempted to make one of these games the first game I've purchased for my computer in years, but I always find myself hesitating--not knowing which one would be the best one to buy and not being willing to experiment. Now I've got a recommendation: BG2. Great. Just want to make sure I don't screw it up, though: Do I need to by BG1 to make BG2 work? Do I need any special video cards or anything? Will it ruin my life because you can't leave it alone for a week at a time? If the answers to the above are "no" I'll run right out and get.
Comment #1 :: link :: February 11, 2004 10:25 PMNow I know how David Block felt when he saw the "what's up with the Prius" question.
I'm not going to confess the depth or breadth of my knowledge of computer games, because my reputation as a adolescent lunatic is no doubt already firmly entrenched, and requires no further development.
That said, I'd like to offer advice to both M E-L and Cebra and can only reassure you that my advice comes from experience.
Mike: Sadly, Black Isle is no more. They have been dissolved, and there are no firm plans for a Baludur's Gate III. Their final Baldur's Gate effort was a game called "Dark Alliance II," but it is only for the Xbox/Playstation 2, and is more of an action-rpg in the spirit of Diablo II. By the way, if anyone out there owns an X-Box and liked Diablo II, I highly recommend Dark Alliance II.
In my opinion, you really have three obvious options at this point. First, Icewind Dale also had a sequel, cleverly named Icewind Dale 2. It really is "more of the same," but since you liked ID 1, it would certainly be no stretch to say you'll like ID 2.
If you aren't in the mood for more hack n' slash, you might try another highly regarded series, Neverwinter Nights. It is published by Atari, but it was (like Baldur's Gate) developed by BioWare. It is probably considered the best D&D game out there.
But my real recommendation? Take a stroll in a different genre, and tackle 2003's Game of the Year, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. It is basically Baldur's Gate set in the Star Wars universe. Again, developed by BioWare (though published by Lucas Arts), it is simply awesome to develop a Jedi Knight instead of a Wizard. Funny dialogue, deep plot, and you can even build a double-bladed lightsaber to kick ass with. Uses the 3rd Edition D&D rules (feats and everything) and generally rocks. One caveat: I played the console version, not the PC version, so I can't speak to alleged high system requirements - you should check the box before buying. But I can assure you it was an amazing game.
Comment #2 :: link :: February 12, 2004 9:30 AMCebra:
It sounds like you don't do a ton of gaming, and probably don't have a computer all loaded up with high-tech gaming gear. For those reasons, I would steer clear of Baldur's Gate II as your first experience. Although you don't need Baldur's Gate I to play it, a lot of the backstory and characters are much more enjoyable if you have. Also, the rulebook is about a million pages long.
If you used to play D&D, then I would probably recommend Baldur's Gate I, along with its expansion pack Tales of the Sword Coast. Released in 1998/99, these games should easily run on your system with no fancy gear. You'll get the great Baldur's Gate experience, without feeling lost in the larger scale of the sequel. Plus, if you love it (and you will), you have Baldur's Gate II to look forward to (wheras if you start with II, there is very little reason to go back to the more primitive I).
Note, however, I'm not even sure I recommend that if you don't know D&D at all. Even Baldur's Gate I has a huge rule book (which you can basically skip if you know D&D). If the words "Magic Missle," "Bugbear," or "+2 Mace of Disruption" don't mean anything to you, you'll find Baldur's Gate has a bit of a learning curve that could scare off a newbie.
If you are a true rookie to computer gaming, but really want to try an role playing game, dig through the bargin bin for an old copy of the Might and Magic series (I think they are up to 9), or even an action/rpg like Diablo II (again, don't forget the expansion pack - Lord of Destruction.
If you really want to have some fun, go find a copy of (a href="http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/freedomforce/index.html">Freedom Force, one of the best RPG games you never heard of, that lets you control a team of comic book superheros. Amazing game and easy to learn.
Happy gaming!
Comment #3 :: link :: February 12, 2004 9:43 AMCebra,
I jumped into BG II without having played the first. It was a lot of fun, and no, it doesn't need fancy gear. Any PC purchased within the last 5 years should have the power to run it fine.
I did play D&D when I was young, although I don't know if that helped. The story is complex, and the game is amazingly so. It's incredibly non-linear, meaning that you have thousands of options. At some point mid-game I got frustrated, mainly because I kept getting slaughtered and couldn't figure my way out. I never did "finish", and it's been a year since I played. But it doesn't really matter if one "finishes." I got many, many hours of enjoyment out of the game. I loved the characters, loved the action. Fun, fun. Just take the time to do the tutorial. As for the manual that comes with it (yes, it's huge), read some, but otherwise keep it next to the toilet...that's a perfect time to flip through and learn something new. If the book doesn't help, you'll find all you need on the web.
I just hope you don't have 'better' things to be doing with your time. Like writing a dissertation or something.
Comment #4 :: link :: February 12, 2004 11:11 AMWell, I wasted the better part of my adolescence on AD&D. Rolling polyhedral dice, referencing the range of a "crossbow, light", debating the effects of chain lightning on a gelatinous cube--that's my nostalgia right there. Sounds like BG1 is a game for me.
Comment #5 :: link :: February 12, 2004 12:50 PMNot to discourage you from buying BG1, but I'd also recommed Grim Fandango. An entirely different genre, it's an adventure where you solve puzzles instead of killing monsters, and it's exceptionally well done. You play Manny Calavera, tour guide in the Land of the Dead, in a world that is part Dia de los Muertos, part film noir.
I will say that GF and others like it appeal to those members of your household who don't like games where you just go around killing things. And two people can sit at the keyboard and try and figure out the puzzles together. Awwww.
Comment #6 :: link :: February 12, 2004 2:25 PM :: homepageDiablo II -- then you can waste time with Mark and I online.
Comment #7 :: link :: February 12, 2004 4:53 PM :: homepageME-L brought up a good point: games that people can play together. Are there any PC (not game consol) games that allow two people to sit and play either against each other or as two characters in an RPG?
Comment #8 :: link :: February 13, 2004 9:45 AMIf you want to play an RPG socially, your best bet is probably one of the many MMORPGs that exist.
Everquest, Star Wars: Galaxies and Ultima Online are just a few of the more popular ones (there are many many others). World of Warcraft is the "hot new one" coming out later this year.
You basically need a good internet connection, the willingness to pay a monthly fee, and a lot of free time to kill. You can RPG solo or in groups, meet new people or plan to hook up with friends, kill dragons or make "fancy shirts."
If you want a more classic "D&D" experience, I again recommend Neverwinter Nights. One player can be the Dungeon Master and host an online game (including custom-designed maps and dungeons). Friends can role-play through the quest.
I don't know of any good RPGs that can be played in a "hot seat" method (where more than one person is using the same computer). Even in Grim Fandango, while it is possible to sit around as a team and muse on the puzzles (a la Myst), it is still a one-players game.
Comment #9 :: link :: February 13, 2004 3:38 PM
