Zelda_fan
08-01-05, 11:03 AM
I got bored so I replayed Baldur's Gate II w/ the ToB expansion back, and I have to say, looking back on it all, Baldur's Gate II was the best RPG ever created. Other RPGs might have better graphics and fancier engines, but BGII perfected what RPGs are all about: the story, characters, and atmosphere.
The story? When I say story in BGII, I mean with the ToB expansion. ToB basically ties up any loose ends in the game, and IMHO is required to fully enjoy BGII. To be honest, there is a VERY short list of games who's story can hold my attention. It goes something like Gothic I & II, Legend of Zelda series, NWN HoTU, Mario RPG, Thief I, and BG I & II. Notice how most of those games are old school. It's been a good long time since I've played a game with a solid story. Today it seems like all the focus is on makeing a more photorealistic engine, which is great, but I think RPG makers need to get back to their roots.
Characters. No other game remotly touches the characters that were in Baldur's Gate. Minsc? How can you not love that lunatic Minsc and his hamster! Korgan Bloodaxe, Aerie, need I go on? And the romances are a very nice touch. They are deep and well developed, as opposed to the sex minigames that exists in other games I'm not going to mention.
Atmosphere. Every area of BGII is hand crafted. Every area is unique. It may only be 2D, but it's about the best 2D I have ever seen, and puts a lot of 3D games to shame. The areas and music in that game set the atmosphere perfectly. You really feel like you're on an adventure, which is what makes the game so much fun.
Now I look to the future and see where the RPG market is headed.
Oblivion is going to rock the socks as far as graphics and game mechanics go, but I am worried that it will have a poor story and characters. The trailer LOOKS promising, but Bethesda has a history of only focusing on the atmosphere and game world and that is it.
Neverwinter Nights 2 could be a hit or miss. With HotU Bioware proved they could make an excellent RPG useing NWN Style gameplay. Hopefully Obsidian will learn from this and make NWN2's official campaign more like HotU style.
Gothic 3. Gothic I and II were great games, and I expect the third one to basically be the same with an updated graphics engine and a bigger game world.
Dragon Age. Ever since I replayed BGII I have gotten really excited about Dragon Age. BioWare has stated that DragonAge will be a "spiritual successor" to all of their games. That basically means a few things: party based combat, good story, good characters, good atmpshere, and basically everything else that made BGII the greatest RPG ever (my opinion).
The story? When I say story in BGII, I mean with the ToB expansion. ToB basically ties up any loose ends in the game, and IMHO is required to fully enjoy BGII. To be honest, there is a VERY short list of games who's story can hold my attention. It goes something like Gothic I & II, Legend of Zelda series, NWN HoTU, Mario RPG, Thief I, and BG I & II. Notice how most of those games are old school. It's been a good long time since I've played a game with a solid story. Today it seems like all the focus is on makeing a more photorealistic engine, which is great, but I think RPG makers need to get back to their roots.
Characters. No other game remotly touches the characters that were in Baldur's Gate. Minsc? How can you not love that lunatic Minsc and his hamster! Korgan Bloodaxe, Aerie, need I go on? And the romances are a very nice touch. They are deep and well developed, as opposed to the sex minigames that exists in other games I'm not going to mention.
Atmosphere. Every area of BGII is hand crafted. Every area is unique. It may only be 2D, but it's about the best 2D I have ever seen, and puts a lot of 3D games to shame. The areas and music in that game set the atmosphere perfectly. You really feel like you're on an adventure, which is what makes the game so much fun.
Now I look to the future and see where the RPG market is headed.
Oblivion is going to rock the socks as far as graphics and game mechanics go, but I am worried that it will have a poor story and characters. The trailer LOOKS promising, but Bethesda has a history of only focusing on the atmosphere and game world and that is it.
Neverwinter Nights 2 could be a hit or miss. With HotU Bioware proved they could make an excellent RPG useing NWN Style gameplay. Hopefully Obsidian will learn from this and make NWN2's official campaign more like HotU style.
Gothic 3. Gothic I and II were great games, and I expect the third one to basically be the same with an updated graphics engine and a bigger game world.
Dragon Age. Ever since I replayed BGII I have gotten really excited about Dragon Age. BioWare has stated that DragonAge will be a "spiritual successor" to all of their games. That basically means a few things: party based combat, good story, good characters, good atmpshere, and basically everything else that made BGII the greatest RPG ever (my opinion).