Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn
- November 24, 2000 14:47 PM PST
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The folks at BioWare and Black Isle Studios have done it again, serving up another heap of RPG goodness in Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn.
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Set in the Dungeons and Dragons Forgotten Realms universe, Baldur's Gate II starts you off in a cell with little memory of where or even who you are. As you make your way out of your prison you catch a glimpse inside the mind of the man who imprisoned you - a demented and depraved mage named Jon Irenicus. It's up to you to track down your captor and put an end to his villainy.
Of course, you'll get sidetracked along the way. Baldur's Gate II is loaded with tons of side-quests and sub-quests (and sub-sub-quests) - so many, in fact, that it would be well nigh impossible to complete them all. This multitude of quests, which range from clearing out a troll-infested keep to infiltrating an evil cult, give BG II a non-linear feel without distracting too much from the main storyline.
The developers have concentrated on making story and character interaction an important element in BG II, and it shows. Battles are balanced with tons of dialogue, and party members will initiate conversations with each other, increasing the role-playing aspect of the game. The combat is often challenging - requiring a combination of strategy and raw strength - always rewarding, but rarely difficult to the point of being frustrating, since a change of tactics will usually get you through even the harshest of battles.
BG II is no Diablo-style point-and-click slashfest and novice players may find managing their party a daunting task at first, but once you get used to constantly pausing the action to issue commands, you'll appreciate the versatility of the game's controls.
BG veterans will applaud the many improvements from the original, especially the increased 800x600 resolution (higher resolutions are possible but unsupported) and an adjustable interface that now allows you to hide one or both side panels or completely remove the interface, allowing you to see more of the in-game action.
Though BG II doesn't use a high-tech 3D graphics engine with fancy buzzwords (it does support OpenGL for visual effects), the backdrops are stunning and the spell effects are impressive with or without 3D acceleration. The areas aren't limited to dingy gray dungeons, either; you'll traverse a wide range of richly colored environments, from seaside port villages to an elven city in the trees. The sound complements the picturesque visuals with a moving orchestral score backing up some of the best vocal talent in the business.
With its excellent graphics and sound, and massive amounts of addicting gameplay, the Baldur's Gate series remains unparalleled in the RPG world. If you're looking for the best RPG action the PC has to offer, look no further than Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn.
