Baldur's Gate II Completed: My Take On It

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OK, I can't find a recently active review thread by glancing down the forum, and I hope this isn't considered too out of place by the mods/admin as it's own thread. Also I'd like to offer some opinions/suggestions as to what could have been done differently as far as I'm concerned.

Finally, for anyone else, from this point in I'll probably be throwing a few spoilers ino the mix as I write, so I suggest if you don't want to find anything out regarding how the game progresses please stop reading now.

Right, from a slightly earlier post you might have guessed, I have recently completed Baldur's Gate II. To start with a little background on my part, to introduce potentially some of the reasons for my feelings about aspects of this game and secondly it acts as a bit of a break so those who don't want spoilers don't get to glimpse any if they get a breif glance in the thread (they have stopped reading now I hope). There are two real background aspects for me:

Firstly, my roleplaying background, both computer and pen and paper based. I have played the more traditional pen and paper games, although admittedly by some standards not much. Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay being the main one, but do have some experience in AD&D. As for computer roleplaying games I've played, to the end, the first Baldur's Gate, Icewind Dale, Torment using the same engine (yet to include Heart of Winter). Other experience includes Ultima IV, Ultima IX, Daggerfall, Silver and Diablo II to varying degrees of completeness (although I do fail to see how the latter in particular counts as an RPG).

Secondly, my computer. It's what I have to use to play it at the end of the day. It even meets all the recommended system requirements on the box (K6 266MHz, 96Mb RAM, 32x CD, 16Mb Voodoo3, about 2Gb free HD space on the drive installed on, Win 98). OK, it only just meets those requirements, but as far as I'm concerned I at least should be able to play the game running smoothly for the vast majority of the time when I'm running on some of the lowest quality settings for the game. Not too unreasonable I feel, I don't expect that it should be faultless on max resolution with all the graphics options switched on for example. And indeed, trying to enable 3D support was quickly shelved.

To run through the game took me just over 110 days of game time, before Irenicus finally kicked the bucket for the final time. About the same length of time as in the first one in fact. And for the majority of those 110+ days I was indeed very impressed with it. Let's face it, if I wasn't the game would have been suspended relatively early on. The major plot running through the game has to my experience only been exceeded once in a computer game (RPG or not), not too surprisingly, that was Torment, although this did an increased feeling of freedom in relation to that particular title.

Graphics wise it looked great, even on the same resolution as the first game. I do like games to look the part, but not necessarily impressed by the fancy graphics that some games seem to hide behind. Baldur's Gate II can certainly not be accused of that count. The visual interface (when working properly, see later) does the job admirably in the most part, the odd minor quibble perhaps, but not really anything more.

Waking up in the dungeon, I knew some basic reasons as to why I was there, but not where the place actually was. The initial dungeon possibly wasn't one of the most inspired in the game, but did set it up quite nicely. And to arrive in Athkatla. In comparison to the city of Baldur's Gate, as implemented in the games, it was a great improvement. An end to having to explore what should be a reasonably safe and slightly familiar environment, and by separating out the locations it both succeded in giving a more city like impression in terms of correct housing, without ever having to suffer the problems of walking from one adjacent zone and having to align yourself in the right position so you'd appear in the prefered section of the screen.

Trying to gain the help of the shadow thieves guild proved a decent excuse to get me out and do some adventuring. Hurrah! Finally a half decent excuse for some money collecting in a computer RPG, being funny that characters in the P&P games never seem to be rolling in it. The strongholds made an interesting aside (as a Kensai mine became the de'Arnise hold).

Once fully involved with this, and then moving on to the Asylum, whereby the contrasting surrounding compared to earlier made for a welcome change, and Bodhi's Gaunlet was one of the more memorable dungeons I've faced. Yoshimo's treachery also got me past the decision of which party member to drop to get Imoen back. I do tend to favour getting a party together relatively early, so later met characters are out if I can help it. At the time Jaheira, Minsc, Anomen, Nalia and of course the aformentioned Yoshimo were in my party, at the time I was a little doubtful of Anomen and had I met Mazzy a little earlier than I did (chapter six) he'd have gone, but I needed a fighter like him, and how useful he was to become. But I do appear to be digressing.

The drow city was again fantastic, with interesting quests, as was the underdark as a whole for the most part. And do I wish I could have kept some of the equipment for later.

The quest allowed freedom to roam at times (generally something I prefer) and others had me hell bent on a particular path. They got the balance right too as well. The FMV's were well done,if short , as were the in game clips of Irenicus and Imoen earlier on, but something later on might have been nice.

I'm not going to go on too much about the good stuff, I've mentioned it briefly above, but it was mainly things as a whole rather than individual bits that all added up that kept me playing. If I may turn to those points, more list like now I'm afraid, that I wasn't so keen on and sometimes suggestions as to what I'd possibly preferred to be the case.

First up were some of the locations. Always looking good, just sometimes I felt they looked a little out of place. Notable such areas included both sets of hills, which never gave me the feeling of truly being out in the wilderness. Also the bridge district. Just what was that big wall doing, and on the wrong side from a defensive point of view. I know it may seem a little cliched, but docks would have probably been a more suitable option. Also given the pathfinding AI, wider doorways might have been helpful.

My biggest gripes though were in performance around loading/saving. It did take a little too long for my liking, ruining atmosphere a little, and is it just me or do they seem to take longer as the game goes on? Does it try and load everything? And if that's true, a kind of more selective load would have been good. The game also hung quite badly for a short while after quicksaving. Another save related idea would be that when resuming from an autosave, it gave you the choice of which location to visit. As a rule I'd generally want the one where I moved to, so invariably loading one involves loading two areas, an additional (and pointless save) rather than just one loading of the area.

Magic also affected the performance of my game. Particuarly in later encounters, the fact that *everyone* seems to be a mage of sorts can cause slowdown probablem as all these fancy spell effects go off. I'm tempted to suggest that when the system options are chosen the spells with these sort of effects are are frozen out of games created under these settings. That includes time stop, which itself by pausing the action was frustrating, but the inevitable rush of spells made it worse. I'm also not overly magically inclined, partially due to keyboard problems in the first game, only sorted by a new keyboard, although since then I've never had a problem with the old one either. Several times I've thought (sarcastically of course): oh goody, another mage.

Difficulty is another issue for me, particularly in it's relation to the P&P type games. On occasion (and I'm perfectly happy to admit), I had to turn down the difficulty level, and still found it very tricky. I do respect the differences, but surely that should be where the difficulty comes into play. I've doing my GMing in my time, and do the the penchant for occasionally bumping off a character when they come out with a really stupid plan, but would always find ways round killing them. I know that the computer can't neceassarily show reactions like that, and on higher difficulties (including normal) shouldn't do it. But on the easiest, it would be nice if things were different. There shouldn't be anything that can kill you instantly on that setting from full health, and nor should creatures be totally immue to damage from certain attacks, and maybe characters could get the occasional 'lucky break' in the way of WFRP fate points.

Slightly related to this is the game ending when the main character dies, or is imprisoned. I had two characters capable of ressurection, and two capable of the freedom spell through scrolls. So why did it have to end there, afterall for anyone else it would have been fine. Perhaps allowing the game to continue with the exception that the particular area cannot be left without the main character.

Party AI/pathfinding another gripe. I always turn off AI. Even by changing never seems to properly work, and some instructions could be added to it. Such as if a weapon (particular arrows) is ineffective, stop wasting the things please. As for pathfinding, outdoors it's fine. As soon as conditions become cramped. Forget it, turning back and going the llong way round as another character gets in the way through a narrow gap. Yes on occasion I've misplaced one and they've got into a little trouble. You have to mollycoddle them through.

Missile weapons another gripe, but this one really down to TSR. As I mentioned earlier I've played WFRP, and in respect to firing arrows into melee combat. Yes in BGII they never hit friendly creatures. In reality normal missiles should hit largely at random regardless of affiliation in melee.

Another thing I remember reading about was the removal of areas where basically you had to walk across, or those which had nothing to do with the main quest, but you could just search as the whim took you. I liked those in BG, they added atmosphere. Anyway, the reason for removal, to speed up play in travelling. A mistake as far as I'm concerned. Speed wise, and something that still reamins is the 'you must gather your party before venturing forth' which still got on my nerves, which inevitably happened as son as one character reached that point. Aside from being annoying, him constantly saying that, it might be nice if just went to the next area as soon as the first character makes it, provided no-one can see any enemies, if they can, then all must be within the proximity to the exit.

Trying to pass creatures secretly also fails if they have a conversation, after it's finished, even if they wouldn't have noticed you to start it, they are alerted by that. I don't like it at all. Conversation wise too I don't like the fact I have to follow it all the time, when really I just want to ignore the person - that should be written in.

Getting there now, and the fog of war (for a name anyway it'll do). The range of whats cleared can be increased, possibly not all of it being the moster visibity range bit, but according to line of sight, if at the top of a cliff (or similar) I should be able to see quite far.

A final point before I finish. The end fight. I don't like it. And was the first point I resorted to cheating to see the end. Sorry, but it's jerky on my system (see mages above), but from the first one too I can't get over the feeling that as soon as I see the final save (which in this case really needs to be after I place the fourth tear, not as soon as I touch the door) I'd be better off quitting there and then not to have it ruined by a stupidly difficult and uniteresting end fight.

I'll finish now. And please don't get the impression I din't like the game. Far from it. I've just emphasised some of the poorer points that I see, and might be tempted to add a few more at a later date. It *is* a great game, and all credit to those involved in the making, and I will be buying Throne of Bhaal when it's out in the shops, just it isn't perfect. What is though.

Am I mad, or just insane.

 

whoa! alot of writing! good thing i read until the part i was up to. i like the game too, so far.(im in the underdark)

 

Luan, nice review of your feelings about the game. I always find other people's rationale well argued views (as opposed to 'it was crap' type posts) interesting. I tried a similar post a few months back and will put the link below as it got some interesting and constructive responses.
http://www.sorcerers.net/ubb/Forum2/HTML/001760.html

 

What to say? Many of your complaints are valid, if minor. It sounds like you enjoyed the game, and that is what is important.
two comments:

* About performance on your system, that's the way that it is. When you read the "minimum requirements" on the box, add 20%. All game companies lowball the reqs. However, you stated that you were able to play the game to completion. So they weren't lying. I had a similar experience with BG1. My system just made the minimum. Game saves/loads took forever. Any heavy combat slowed the game to a crawl. I was still able to play it though. Twice. Basically, it is time for you to upgrade.

* on the final save.
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You believed that the final save should take place when the fourth tear is placed. I completely disagree. That is what quicksave or another save slot is for. The final save takes place when it does so you can go back and do it all over again if your alignment got flipped. They don't warn you that that will happen. I didn't know until I read it here. I would have been seriously pissed if I had finished the game and then found out that my character was now evil.

Anyway, congratulations on finishing and enjoy TOB (if you play it).

 

Jack, I kind of know about my system , it does need upgrading. And I certainly know about having to take mininimum system requirements with a pinch of salt. Although the result from various games can be quite different. Unfortunately I'm a postgrad and as a result affording a new computer is a little difficult, but hoping my next grant check might cover a new motherboard/processor. It's pushing it for most new games (certainly those worth playing).

Also please bear in mind that the final save was first triggered when I used the door. Had I visted all five pits first, then it wouldn't have saved so early (and indeed my quicksae is currently at that point).

Slappy: currently off to check your link.