What's puzzling? That's the same with anything that lasts, and most of it one can analyze the same as anything or any game or musical style in this case.
Just compare the writing style with other games like DA:O (every character smug and smarmy) or modern Bioware. Or the fighting systems (no hybrid, and an "attempt" that works unlike other attempts to emulate most of it). It's also obviously richer and more diverse in content and plot (partly an overlooked advantage of the basic but often pretty technology). And so on and on. It's as simple as a review, only that one isn't blind to any dumb hype or what's supposedly "modern" (or more modern and now on ice) while just being a failed attempt compared to something that gave the guideline.
@Djas M Problem is that turn based isn't even the problem. BG3 doesn't capture the feeling of D&D5 setrules, where BG and BG2 made it shine. BG3 just feel like some generic high fantasy game. BG1&2 feel like the greatest hits of all of what D&D has to offer.
@kaseigunsou BG1&2 are among my all time favourite games, but I still like BG3 a lot even at its currently incomplete state. It's not supposed to offer a similar experience to the old ones, if someone wants this they can find it in titles of that time, like IWD. Evolution is inevitable, and the makers of this sequel are trying to make it great based on the (majority of) community's input. As far as adapting the 5th edition is concerned, I don't see the adaptation being that far off. Anyway, if you want to judge it fairly, I think you should wait until its finished.
I will just say: Best Game Ever. Not kidding. 10 years playing it. No mods. I think BG is a masterpiece, I dont want change nothing about it. It feels like use a brush on a Picasso.
"And what about Boo ? Well, what is Minsc without Boo ? The two would never be separated, and some say they are together still, up amongst the stars where hamsters are giants and men become legends" What is weird, the music also made Minsc's (quite funny) epilogue epic too :)
The fact you could import your character and watch him grow (and I obviously don't just mean 'Level up') though all chapters of that saga also conveyed so much epicness to the whole experience; not to mention seeing the evolution of some of your memorable companions. Ending that game really felt like leaving an old friend behind...I've gamed quite a bit but Baldur's Gate was an experience like no other. The closest one I've had was maybe Planescape...
I remember that moment when I finished the game for the first time. Reading the epilogues of my party members and listening to this track made me cry like a child. There was no other game ever after that gave me such a filling of sadness (because it's over) and fulfillment at the same time...
I'm 22 mate, and I've been playing this series since my oldest brother introduced me when I was ten. You're spot on about this game, it has something to it that I've yet to truly find in any other game.... and methinks I won't ever find it again. To everyone else: Treasure this game, and if you haven't played it, do so posthaste!
Possibly one of the best soundtracks that were ever made for a game that I see as the greatest game I've ever played. Baldur's Gate II is - even today - the benchmark of how an awesome RPG has to be. I've never played a game that got me so involved into the mood. In TOB, you had such an overwhelming feeling of hopelessness and lonelyness. I still get goosebumps when I think about it. And the pure epicness ... the beauty of the art-style, the dialogues, characters, story, soundtrack ...
Played for the first time this past summer with various mods (Unfinished Business, Ascension, Xan NPC, Quest Pack). Left me dead to rights. One of the best gaming experiences I've ever had, bar none.
You cant put into words how beautiful this game is, but I shall try. Baldur's Gate isn't like most games today, simply because it binds us with every character, place, & scene in the game. In Baldur's Gate there is infinite adventure...infinite possibility's...Infinite freedom. In Baldur's Gate you have your own decisions & failures to make. There can never be a game as great as this, which is why Baldur's Gate will live in our hearts forever more. I'm 14 & haven't stopped playing for 3 years.
awesome song, awesome game. No doubt. They sadly dont make today RPGs of such class anymore. Reminds me as song always somewhat to Conan the Barbarian. Though another great song, when you enter a Temple, either of Clyric, Lathander or Helm. Those Temples have great themes as well!
Only reason i didynt enjoyed Dragon Age as much as i probably could was because they dared to call it "successor of Baldur's Gate". For whole game i was looking for anything that would justify this, but it vain. DA was more similar to diablo than bg, and only think it had better was graphic. BG was, is, and (most probably) always will be, best cRPG ever made.
Yes, I followed Dragon Age since it was announced, 2003 or so I believe. The promises sounded great, sort of like the systems of Divinity Original Sins 2 (or even better), but the game itself less boring (as I think that game is about as boring as was always Larian's standard). Anyway, but Dragon Age got downscaled and less ambitious again and again, which is the reason for the "Origins" subtitle, by the way, because previously it shouldn't just be "Origins" but the whole game diverse, branching storyline (funnily The Witcher 1 came closer to that vision bevore DA:O's release). The mainstory turned out to be the most basic, straightforward standard stuff, quite linear and uneventful, the fighting was extremely dull, repetitive, areas felt small (aside from some dull repetitive dungeons), character writing was fairly annoying but as usual everyone always like annoying (even if it's flat). I liked the beginning, i.e. everything until the first major battle, it felt very atmospheric and free, almost like a successor to BG2 indeed.
This is actually Melissans theme but it does not take away from the epicness of it :) Cheers for the upload :D Melissan seemed like such a nice and caring character till you found out what she was really up to; then you suddenly realize this theme was only really there to make you think she was kind hearted . Heh and who says Villains always have to have evil themes? :D
It's poetic, it describes the path of the main character's life. This remarkable work they have done, is a piece of art. Wish they approached games design like this.
The fires have burn out yet the bells shatter as they call for mine last journey , as i take mine trusty sword knowing that this shall be the last of mine crusades i go... with no regrets, with a smile on my face the smell of far unknown calls forth.
It sad but I doubt there will ever be another Baldur's gate 1+2, Planescape Torment, Ultima 4-7, Ultima Underworld 1+2, Wasteland, Fallout 1+2 or any other legendary RPG or RPG series from the 80's and the 90's. Back then gaming was still non mainstream for the most part and so for these guys making these games it was like blazing a trail through a new frontier, they made the games they wanted to make, now they make the game they feel the mainstream audience wants and it seems they want crap.
A great way to fool everyone to be sure; usually music gives away what a characters really like but not this time; it masked her real personality :) . When I heard this I really thought Melissan meant well and infact before I got near the end of this expansion I was thinking Bhaal would be the last boss. I do recall on the back of the box it said something along the lines of "Should Bhaal rise again the earth itself will weep blood". Ah well :)
@Hamletfan It was bits like that which made this series one of the greatest RPGs of all time. That no matter what you might do for good or evil, if the Fates decreed it so, it would be. More importantly, though... it put the game on a more personal level, and made the ending that much sweeter. At least, it did for me.
I so hope that some day, someone is making a movie of the Baldur's Gate saga ... but that will probably never happen. And so it will hopefully rest in peace and never be forgotten.
I like that you'd rather be sad and think everything sucks than actually try to enjoy yourself with something more recent than 2001. That's kind of its own reward right there.
@Eaderbreca Me too! Just imagining the party walking through some wilderness... but by this point, in Throne of Bhaal, our characters have been through so much; now wiser and strong. Truly moving music for the final moments of a long, epic journey.
aaah I will never stop loving the baldur's gate saga :) the story is as brilliant as the music and gameplay! I love my grandfather for buying me this game when I was "little" (he thought it actually was a regular adventure-game ;] )
Brings back old memories, one of the best games out there, in my opinion of course, first time i heard this i actually shed a tear, especially at the end.
Oh the memories..Such a perfect proof of that developers of RPG's should not prioritize making nice graphics and effects but solely hire a good writer and a choir. Nothing more epic than chanting and strong drums and strings! COO!
When I heard this track, I remembered that once you get the chance to kill Yaga Shura, Saradush has fallen and everyone inside has been slaughtered... including the little boy and his father (if you resurrected him). :'(
I felt the same with all the original characters that you first met in BG1 (Imoen, Jaheira etc..) especially Minsc who more or less became a legend amongst his own countrymen because you the Bhaalspawn saga.
That would mean two things possibly: p2w, and shallow grinding instead of a great storyline/campaign. But if you say that because you want better graphics, there are still games like DOS II. Multiplayer is also an option i think (haven't tried it).
Minsc's ending is a TEXT ending...NO CGS. JUST TEXT. It is the greatest ending of any video game I have ever played. It goes to show you that graphics won't make a game. Characters do.
@Jared4242 Not to try and tarnish your otherwise great statement about the game, but i feel the real brilliance isn't from any sort of 'freedom' or 'infinite possibilities' because i find the game generally has one main route to follow, but it's the superbly brilliant and touching storytelling that really draws you so far into it. To the point where you genuinely care about every single NPC companion you ever meet and what happens to them at the end. Regards, fellow BG series mega-fan :P.
The weird thing about all that is that even today, if I had the chance to decide between a state-of-the-art Dragon Age or over 10 year old Baldur's Gate II with ToB, I'd still take the latter for the same amount of money. In other games I just 'control' the main character. But when I play Baldur's Gate, I feel like I AM the main character. I so wish I could just close my eyes and be inside the game just once ... all the feelings, all the beauty, all the epic moments.
I hope BGEE is really successful and they decide to make BG3. And then once they make #3 I hope it sells millions of copies just so BG can be remembered by another generation the way the originals were.
There is at least one mod that is worth installing: Ascension. It was created by people who originally worked on Throne of Bhaal. It redesigns the final battle to be something more like the creators had originally intended but were unable to realize due to time constraints. Also it restores some battles (such as the battle against demogorgon) to their ORIGINAL harder versions. These battles were toned down for the actual release because they were too hard. Really awesome mod imo.
@hurisija I remmber having romanced Viconia and feeling quite low for some days after having finished the game. That deep a game Baldur's Gate was. It really made you care about the characters.
@Jared4242 Heh... Baldurs gate sure is a legend in RPG games. From PSX games I think legends are Final fantasy 7 and Suikoden 1 and 2. Now days best RPG for PC are Fable 1 and Elder Scrolls 4. Rest of those so called RPG isnt an RPG any more what we used to love. Now its all about graphics... Not about music or story line... I miss old type of making games
just listened to the conan song... its different, and the melody is not the same at all... its only in the same key which leads you to believe the melodies are simmilar... but the use of trumpets gives the conan song a rather "heroic" feeling whilst this song is more of an epic but sad arangement.
Unless you are a crappy player that sucks at this game :-D Jokes aside, no they don't die. Though some of them will get killed after the end of game. It's written in the epilogues: Keldorn (dies on the battlefield, his god Torm descended and took Keldorn with him) and Viconia (if you romance her, she will get poisoned by a Lloth worshipper, kinda sad ending).
Rip off ? Are you talking about the flute part ? Don't be silly, this style hase been used in NUMEROUS soundtracks or songs ! Inon Zur made a good job with BG2 soundtrack !
@Hamletfan that made me so sad also. I absolutly DESTROYED yaga shura for that and made every other member of the five pay for everything and Mellisan oh you dont even wana go there...
Ok, in the real world we have radical religious fanatics and tsunamis and famine etc, but BG2 has Minsc so I would rather live there as long as this music plays
@Jared4242 My friend you started the same age I did... I'm 21 and still remember the long days and nights I spent in the Forgotten Realms just living in that world. Sure I play Dragon Age and Mass Effect now, but all they do is keep me satiated til I can plug in my laptop and bring out the old most amazing game ever made to set out on yet another adventure from Candlekeep.
your party members all die? please tell me more, i have played baldurs gates games many times but never come across this? Besides no one could kill korgan, or edwin
I agree. I've played Baldur's Gate 1 and 2, and I liked them. I can't tell you how many times I've replayed the first Mass Effect though. And it wasn't for the shooties or the blue boobies either.
