Game: Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn
System: PC
First off, I must admit - I have not finished this game. That is because, apparently, it is very long. However, I have played it more than enough to tell you that, indeed, it is an awesome game. Those of you who have never played computer-styled RPG's are in for a surprise - this game is much less linear (in parts) and gives you much more options than a normal Final Fantasy-style console RPG. If you want, you can attack ANY person, including cats, cows and damsels in distress (although it's not recommended.) The game uses Dungeons and Dragons rules, and the game can be quite confusing until you get used to it. Once you do, however, you're in for a great time. The battle system is excellent - there are countless different strategies and possibilities for each battle. For example, one time I defeated an enemy by luring it onto lava while my characters had fire resistance spells. Other times, I put my fighters in the doorway and blocked the monster while my other characters all used long-range weapons. This freedom comes from an ingenious device combining the realism of real-time games and the strategy of turn-based - you can pause, at any time, and give orders while it is paused. Thus, you can have every character be doing something immedietly, and do several completely different actions simultaneously as you click on each character and tell them what to do, then unpausing.
As mentioned above, the game is non-linear at times. Although the game has many, many optional quests (many of which are fun and rewarding). However, there is a large emphasis put on the main quests than in games like Morrowind. It works on a chapter-by-chapter basis - there maybe many things to do in a chapter, but often you can't go back to where you were once you've moved up. The game's story is compelling, but I think I personally would've wished for more freedom.
Topic: The Ultimate Good Games List! (Read 17149 times)
