Baldur's Gate 1 & 2 Review

 Thus was redefined my criteria for 'epic'

When it comes to CRPGs, it can be hard to analyze them in the manner I usually like to for these little reviews. Where I normally enjoy giving small design insights, observations on ludonarrative related topics, or appreciation for a games themes or historical impact. Instead I find myself with a story spanning approximately 200 hours. Full of constant story, gameplay, growth, twists, expansions, reveals, choices, dilemmas, designs, alternatives, challenges, questions, delves into forum threads as old as the games themselves and additions from the Enhanced Edition that felt so natural it took me a while to learn they were new do you see why this is a hard nut to crack.

 I'll try to break this all down into something more digestible. But if you've read my reviews before you'll realize why I hesitate to separate the paragraphs by-

Story:

 A highlight so obvious it almost feels redundant to bring it up. Baldur's Gate 1, 2, and the addition of Siege of Dragonspear together make one of the greatest fantasy stories I've ever had the pleasure to experience. Filled to breaking point with memorable characters, fun moments, iconic scenes, and atmosphere and mood to back it all up. I shan't go into specifics, mostly because my answer is "if you like fantasy you already should play it." So instead I will point out that what the game does do is blend multiple genres in a manner somewhat reminiscent of CRPGs from the era. Where quest design feels like it's often inserted into the world as an addition, rather than something done to create a structured experience from start to finish. Bethesda games would be a good comparison if not for the extended focus on the story of said quests. Multiple adventures you go on in these games are completely standalone, and serve mainly to add life to the world and it's inhabitants. At the same time however they never feel wasteful due to the effective use of the AD&D system and rules. Loot, story, and experience points are all equal rewards in your quest and it's only together that they create such a compelling gameplay loop. Oh shoot hang on this is the story section and I've already started talking about the-

Gameplay:

If you wish to know what I would think of Infinity Engine gameplay in a vacuum, see my Icewind Dale review. It is fun, though, flawed, and in the same vein the flaws kind of make it even more fun. But in Baldur's Gate specifically it truly is the blending of story and gameplay that carries. Doubly so when the question of party members you wish to bring along, or the classic moral choice of good via sacrifice or evil via greed. It does, however, start poorly. Simply put the infinity engine is not suited to exploring open fields and that is unfortunately the overwhelming majority of the early game experience in Baldur's Gate 1, making it very easy to see why people would fall off the game. Combat can also be absurdly deadly and using and abusing high level abilities, spells, tools, and immunities are practically mandatory to make progress. However, all of this is helped by the fact that the game is also mostly consistent. All entities follow the exact same rules and effects, meaning that you can, and indeed have to, learn the system and what it means to turn your foes strategies against them. The only exception to this rule involves enemy monsters and non-human entities. However they all merely have effects tacked on top of this base ruleset, and are usually consistent about it. Plus, the game pretty openly encourages saving and retrying. Even a joke is made at it's own expense on that front, which tells me the devs understood that failure was a part of this loop they've created.

Actually, that's the vibe I get the most out of this whole series. Both from Bioware and Beamdog's enhanced edition efforts. For all the clear development issues or cut corners you'd expect to see of a project this large. It has a massive amount of creative spark, clever design choices, and clear love from the creators. Down to apparently adding several  minor characters based on forum users, or naming others after the same! Which god I don't care how cynical I'll ever get, that sort of thing always makes me smile.

It's not for everyone, and it's definitely a significantly higher barrier of entry compared to something like BG3. But if you are reading this, and you have the energy and drive to play a game using the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons ruleset, where you'll probably have to be ready to just google the answer to the occasional quest with a singular solution or know that in making any given decision you're locking yourself out of 5 others. Where you're reading about as much as a full novel and only getting the odd voiced line, if even a character portrait or sprite half the time...

Well, all I'm saying is if you read all that and aren't scared off. Baldur's Gate might be one of the greatest gaming experiences you'll ever have. Not a perfect experience, no, but an epic one nonetheless.

Ah we are all heroes, you and Boo and I. Hamsters and Rangers everywhere, REJOICE!

Squeak squeee

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