Baldur's Gate II is awesome.
Probably one of the greatest games ever made, and definitely one of my personal top 3 games alongside Deus Ex and Civilization.
The visuals don't hold up though... but the game is just amazing. Great storytelling with complex characters, and a fantastic world. The combat is just brilliant as well.
I've been playing RPGs since Quest for Glory, Wizardry, Betrayal at Krondor, and I'd say that Baldur's Gate II is the greatest RPG of all time.
It sold 2 million units at its time, which is incredible considering it is a hardcore RPG released only on the PC, and in 1999 when 100,000 was decent.
If you want to start, I'll help. It will take a bit of time, but it is totally worth it.
The charcters you meet in this game are quite fantastic. The world is just huge, and the creatures and the wonders are just so fucking imaginative... it is incredible.
The game is also on a 2D backdrop, which results in amazing detail and atmosphere.
If you are going to start BGII without having played BGI, I'll give you some quick details.
You started BG 1 as an orphan adopted by a wizard, who was killed infront of you when the game started. He left you a note, saying that you were being hunted and that you should hook up with two of his old friends, Khaled, and Jaheria, a husband and wife adventuring duo.
You meet them, and along with your sister Amoen, go upon a quest to discover why your father was killed. In the end you discover the person who killed your father was your biological brother, and that you both are the sons of the god of murder.
I know it sounds a bit ridiculous, but the second game is incredible heh.
When you start the second game, you wake up trapped in a dungeon, being tortured by what looks like a really evil mage named Irenecus. Why you are being tortured is a mystery, and it is all interrupted when Irenecus's dungeon falls under attack by unknown forces.
As soon as Irenecus departs to investigate, your sister Amoen (who is a thief class character) shows up and rescues you. With her, you immediately find Jaheria, who has this sexy older woman thing going on, and start to look for her husband Khaled.
You find other old companions, some who have been tortured to death. You come across an old companion Minsc, who is a bald beserker with a low IQ and a pet hamster.
As you make your way through this dunegon, you come across many wonderous creatures that have been trapped for experimentation by Irenecus.
This initial dungeon is the hardest part of the game, and it takes some will to solider through this.
Once you are out, you find yourself in a huge city... from where there is just amazing tons of content to discover.
In the outskirts of this city, you find all sorts of crazy and frightening areas. Areas that are infested by the undead like vampires... these areas really spark a true sense of dread... I can't even explain. I felt actual horror in these areas.
Other areas have dragons etc.
The cool thing is that the game would have been awesome had it just been limited to the dungeon and the first city (which is massive)... but this is just 30% of the game.
From here you travel to places like the the underdark, which is again imaginatively put together. It is also brilliant, and you get to the see the politics of the creatures that live underground. Again, it is horrific. That's one thing... the game really can be sick.
Aside from the underdark, you go to the sea, cities in the sea, the elven cities... you take part in the war between the elves in the city, and the creatures of the underdark. There are tons of other fantastic places you experience.
Then there are the amazing characters, some of which advanced character writing in games.
Jaheria, for example, is the first feminist character in a game. She is a complete arrogant bitch, and she is awesome.
Viconia, is a banished evil female dark elf (drow). The drows are of a society where the women are dominant physically, and you can change Viconia to be less evil.
Minsc is a bit of a cliche, but he is awesome. There is a reason why Shepard's hamster in Mass Effect 2 is called a "space hamster".
You also come across a talking sword that taunts its enemies as it slices, and loves the taste of blood heh.
It is just a landmark game overall, really. Dragon Age is a fine game, but Baldur's Gate II is in a class of its own.
Really, you guys should play this game... all of you. You have to do it once. I've finished it at least 5 times, I love it so much. Damn, I feel like playing again heh.
If you need help, I'll guide you. The first dungeon needs a bit of soldiering, because there is little narrative, and the game is tough early on... but it is so worth it.
