Like many other RPG's that I have played (Asheron's Call and Ultima Online) I found that, although BG2 - ToB and all is a very good and enjoyable game, one thing lacked. Its length. I think it would be cool if the creators of Baldur's Gate released multiple patches which add new areas and quests to your game. (just like asherons call) Asherons calls patching advantage makes the game NEVERENDING therefore retaining replay value. Ever so often, Microsoft realeases a new patch increasing the world size etc etc.
This is one probelms with BG. It has no replay value. Once you hit maximum level or whatever and finish the game completely thats it! No replay value what-so-ever.
It would be a great benefit to the game if a yearly patch, or maybe even half yearly patch was released for the game making it more interesting and exciting, allowing your to become even more powerful.
Hopefully Neverwinter Nights will allow for this feature in the future.
Well Black Isle have just released a free downloadable expansion to IWD HoW - but I think the main reason might have been the fact that HoW was so short...
IMO, unlike IWD which is quite linear, the BG series does have a replay value. Just by trying a new class/alignment etc you can make it a different game.
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Originally posted by ReignsOfPower:
<STRONG><snip> This is one probelms with BG. It has no replay value. Once you hit maximum level or whatever and finish the game completely thats it! No replay value what-so-ever.
<snip></STRONG>
Well I don't know about this - I've replayed BG1 completely 2 times and restarted the game halfway through some 50 times.
As for BG2 I've replayed completely 3 times and restarted some 50 times also.
This is among the top 3 games series I've spent most time on totally. (Together with the Wing Commander series and Civ 1 + 2)
How can you object to the BG series' length? Compared to most PC offerings, the BG games are absolutely enormous. It took me weeks to complete the original Baldur's Gate, and even longer to play through Shadows of Amn. Even Throne of Bhaal, an expansion, had plenty of gameplay packed into it.
I also can't quite agree on the replay value aspect of the games. I've played through BG1 several times as different classes, and it's always been a signifantly different experience; ditto for BG2.
They aren't expansive like EQ or AC, but then, they aren't designed to be. The BG series sacrifices a degree of open-endedness for a tightly knit storyline, and I think BioWare pulled it off admirably. Ultimately, I think I prefer it that way; in Daggerfall, I could play indefinitely as a master thief, but I quickly lost interest.
As for releasing an expansion patch every year or so, well... BioWare has released a new game virtually every year since BG1's inception.
[ 07-06-2001: Message edited by: TheHellion ]
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I don't know how difficult it would be but I'd like to see some kind o patch that would allow you to use all the kits in BG2 including the Wild Mage in BG1, that way you can start fresh in BG1 with the character you want and take him or her all the way through.
You just have to understand that there are many ways that you can play this game. Play solo, play with two, three, four, five, six. Have a good party, neutral party, evil party or a mixed-alignment party. With a combination of 30+ character kits, the combination is endless. Each class has a class-specific quest and you don't need to spend that much time before you get it.
However, playing Chapter 1 more than twice is very annoying....
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IWD can have replay value, if you didn't go online and get the locations of all the quests, all the things to, all the locations of items, etc. Just go through with a different party.
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I'm with @Hellion: BG2 is a huge product, with too many options to be explored in one long game. By changing party members and professions you acquire new quests, and there are many paths to take at a variety of ethical crossroads. ToB adds still more variety to the mix.
There is a game available for download, however, that does what Reigns suggests: Siege of Avalon. It's a multi-chapter game, and you pay per chapter, buying them as they're developed. Problme is, they're way behind the curve on features, and the graphics are somewhat subpar, as well.
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