GameBanshee Forums

Noo you have taken boo he must reclaimed

Hi there.

Here is the opinion of a novice who has gone through BG1 and BG2 just once.

BGII was my first RPG and AD&D as well. No idea how one was supposed to play a game of that sort, not to mention clever choices and tactics allowing you to win without taking much pain (okay, you can stop smiling now). However ignorant I was, I proceed fairly satisfactory for a novice, and after trial and error managed to finish the game. I was surprised and overwhelmed; I found myself being definitely addicted to BG, but there had been many gaps in my knowledge of the events preceded BG2 and all the literature of my own past. And here comes BG1, which I have just finished –at last!
I’m quite sure that BG2 is a more subtle and complete game in many aspects. NPC’s, for one, are more interesting, mature, and therefore appealing, feeling like real individuals: each one lifts the burden of his/her own past, of which you are aware of, and that’s a big difference from BG1; in other words, they are round characters. Even Minsc’s voice has lost its previous heavy and kind of “slouchy” tone –anyone noticed?

Dragon battles? Ah, I think they are superb! You have to think and plan carefully if you want to stay on your feet and win. Even the battle music sounds so epic and inspiring that I could go back for just fighting the dragons and only. (Even the music of BG2 is much much better than that of BG1.)

And what about those nasty Liches (Shangalar and Kangaxx come to mind) or the terribly annoying Mind Flayers, or even the freaking vampires? How can they be compared to all the Kobolds and Ogres of BG1?

As for the wild areas, my only problem is the slow movement of my party. Toooo slow (*yawn*). Even with the Boots of Speed you feel that the wearer is going just a bit faster than the rest of your party. No comparison with BG2.

Bag of holdings, scroll cases and potion bags came too late, I think. What about all these stuff we were forced to leave behind us in Durlag’s Tower –as we were trying to mark our passage for a safe coming back? Even for those of us who had originally bought BG2 without the expansion pack, the stocking of goodies had been a nightmare there, too.

What I think stands out in BG1 is the story line and the intrigue of the plot. It’s more real and touching, even for a Bhaal spawn like myself Saverok is an original dark, mean figure that you have to deal with eventually. John Irenicus, on the other hand, wasn't that impressive. Just a lunatic whom you had to fight. Even Bodhi was more genuine and more challenging for that matter.

Durlag’s Tower and Watcher's Keep are both monumentally difficult, and hold a real challenge for any gamer who respects him/herself and wants his/her powers and abilities tested.

Coran is still one of my favourite NPC’s. When in Durlag’s Tower I had him leading the party, he said, “I think my new responsibility will be a great deal of fun.” And a few seconds later, “Luck is always on the side of the romantic.” (!?) Kalessia, in Iron Throne headquarters is quite funny: “Touch me not… You are unclean.”

Concluding, I'd say that BG2 is better developed and advanced than BG1. So far I’ve loved both games, but I wouldn't say no to a combination of both games' virtues in a single one

P.S. Any ideas where has the Saverok's essence descended to? What was that hall full of statues?


Cheers,
Aubrey

Aubrey, your experiences with the game are a lot like mine and I agree with most things you said (... especially the Bodhi-thing... she's far more interesting than Irenicus).
Still, there's something to be said for the freshness of BG1. And exploring the wilderness may have been disappointing at times, sometimes there were also real and totally unexpected surprises.
I remember running into Viconia for the very first time, being ambushed by angkhegs... ah, those were the days... sniff, where's my hanky?

Coot:
sometimes there were also real and totally unexpected surprises.
I remember running into Viconia for the very first time, being ambushed by angkhegs... ah, those were the days... sniff, where's my hanky?

I know what you mean. And if you have played SoA & ToB first, like myself, you would have been also surprised by the damage those bloody Kobolds were doing to your party --unlikely to those in SoA. The decay of the next generation, I suppose

Cheers

Many of you played BG2 before BG1.

In my case, I have BG1 first before BG2. I didn't finished BG1 because I was not motivated by the story in BG1. Gorion was killed, and the iron mine has stopped. I have no idea what's the relation with me. So i just stopped after I entered Baldur's gate.

Then I read reviews that BG2 is the best RPG. So I give it a try, and I'm really starting to like it. In tutorial, my mentor introduced back my old friend Imoen, Jaheira and Minsc. Imoen is a mage/theif and I like her. Besides she look more beautiful then last time in BG1. So the game started with my captured. Curious to know how am I being captured makes me want to played BG1 again.

Instead of most people played BG2-BG1
I played BG1-BG2-BG1

Originally posted by THE JAKER:
<STRONG> I like both plots, but I love the early stages of BG1, where you don't know what's going on yet, you just know that someone wants you dead! That's such a weird feeling.
</STRONG>

Only one word: Planescape:Torment
(oh that were 2 words )

[ 12-13-2001: Message edited by: Nordom'The'Modron ]

I just finished BG1 for the first time. To be honest, the 'ending'(how Sarevok died) was a little surprising and slightly disappointing for me, though quite funny considering how powerful Sarevok is supposed to be. A summoned war dog killed Sarevok for me while my pc and npcs were fighting a Battle Horror. Considering how much fun BG1 is, I can't wait to play BG2; though I'll have to since I won't be able to get it until Christmas at the earliest.

@ SailorSaturn,

Good luck in BG2. if you're a student, drop out now if you're going to start playing. The game is evil and addictive. How have you resisted the temptation of the BG2 forums?

Originally posted by Ned Flanders:
<STRONG>@ SailorSaturn,

Good luck in BG2. if you're a student, drop out now if you're going to start playing. The game is evil and addictive. How have you resisted the temptation of the BG2 forums? </STRONG>

School is part of the reason why I just now managed to finish BG1. I'd be playing IWD now, but I've got 16 homework assignments to do within the next 6-8 hours or I fail the class. *should have been working on these yesterday instead of playing Baldur's Gate*

Oh, and I think I have posted in one of the BG2 forums, but I don't remember for sure.

I got BG2 for Christmas and I've imported my Ranger from BG1. So far, BG2 is...different. It is hard to compare BG2 to BG1 because it is so different. One thing that upsets me is the fact that Dynaheir is dead. I miss her. I do like Aerie, though. After I rested in the circus tent after freeing Aerie, Aerie began flirting with Jaheira who immediately chewed her out. It was hilarious. I'm definitely looking forward to the rest of BG2.

Originally posted by Akubi:
<STRONG>Many of you played BG2 before BG1.

In my case, I have BG1 first before BG2. I didn't finished BG1 because I was not motivated by the story in BG1. Gorion was killed, and the iron mine has stopped. I have no idea what's the relation with me. So i just stopped after I entered Baldur's gate.

Then I read reviews that BG2 is the best RPG. So I give it a try, and I'm really starting to like it. In tutorial, my mentor introduced back my old friend Imoen, Jaheira and Minsc. Imoen is a mage/theif and I like her. Besides she look more beautiful then last time in BG1. So the game started with my captured. Curious to know how am I being captured makes me want to played BG1 again.

Instead of most people played BG2-BG1
I played BG1-BG2-BG1</STRONG>

I played it like that i remember going thru it trying to gain lvls then i played BG2, WHAT HAD I MISSED!! so i complete BG2 and replay bg1 then do bg2 ToB now BG1 again, i love it!

Saying the second is better seems to me like saying Street Fighter 37 or whatever they're currently up to is better than Street Fighter 2 because the graphics are better, there are more options, and the control is cleaner. Games that are great and redifine genres need to be valued for more than their individual parts.

Both games have different things to like, it really all depends on what kind of things you like, I personally love to acquire new and interesting items, and I love minor quests. My pros and cons are as such:

BG1/ToSC
Pros:
-Wilderness areas: Lots of fun to look in all the little caves and under all the rocks to find little quests that are fun, or all the easter eggs (eg LArry, Darryl and Darryl) that all have no meaning in the story but somehow enrich the storyline, so you can forget the story and do some mercenary work thats completely unrelated, just for fun.

-IN the towns and cities, I love going into loads of different houses, terrorising the locals and nicking off with their property, or finding hidden quests and great items (eg the house witht the helm of glory, its a good item and looks good, but the house just looks like a common house and you eye passes over it to Ramaziths tower or the Duchal palace)

-The wonderment of first starting the game and having basic weapons, yet thinking they are great, and then working gradually up and getting your first '+1' weapon and shouting whoopee! At your cat or something.

-The story line is unpredictable and there are some thrilling twists.

Cons:
-Have to find an inn to regenerate while resting, cant do it in the wilderness

-the blandness of the characters, no interaction, just doing whatever you say.

-The unblancedness of healing: when my entire party was level 6 and my PC had 68hp, even with full heals on a cleric i would have to rest twice after a hardish battle to get him fully healed again (he has not been full health since nashkel! and im nearly finished in Baldur's Gate the city!) and it could be solved if i had cure medium wounds!

-No pausing on inventory...grrr

-No AoE spells that dont hurt your own party

BG2:
Pros:
-Labelled map

-NPC interaction

-Decisions that really change the storyline, and you dont have to follow the same path

-bags: O god how i would have loved BG so much more if i had had just ONE gem bag, ONE scroll case and ONE potion case. On BG2 i had 8 of each!

-Lots of riddles, i love riddles.

-Big little quests: ie finding the paladin's kidnapped daughter/son from the red dragon: a reasonably deep quest but absolutely nothing to do with the story

-Strongholds: a really great idea, which also throws some more agony into PC choosing

-Alliances, when you go back to all the people you have helped to get them to aid you with Bodhi (as if u need it, but still good fun )

Cons:
-NO wilderness: this made me stop playing the game for a month actually, i got out of Athkatla and i could move straight to wherever i wanted and that really cheezed me off.

-unbalanced item distribution, in BG1 you had people thrown at you with a good item or two all the time, and got bad items along with good ones, but one dungeon or one house had all the best items in one place in BG2, and it was kinda boring

-you cant get Drizzt's stuff =( hehe

-Bad NPCs: there is only one paladin in the entire game and he needs to be shot. There are NO pure thieves in the entire game, and too many mages.

And thats all i can think of =)

It would seem that I like BG2 more then, but BG is also an amazing game

Just my very long winded 2 ccents

I think that BG2 is heaps better, with more character creation possibilties and more special abilities, more of everything actually. However, it takes yo something like three months to get from level 7 to level 20. Drizzt is only level 16 and he is about a few hundred years old and trained by the best swordsman of the underdark! Soon you'll be able to kill a dragon with a "venom dagger +800" x "12" backstabbing, X a further 2 for critical hit.
You will become so powerful that you can kill 8 gods in one blow!
You practically get xp for breathing!

I like SoA/ToB better than BG1/TotSC.

There were more mods for SoA/ToB than the latter which made it more interesting, eg TDD, NPC additions, ToB Ascension, etc. BG1 made me think back on those days when I was just a puny errand boy.

For me, I would rather play God.

My two cents.