When Baldur's Gate 1st came out, it was a big hit, and mind you it is NOT an "evolution" of RPGs , it is a whole new "Invention" . Why would I say it is not an evolution? If a game is evolving, there has to be a base for it to grow from but they have introduced a new engine for the game. Being an avid RPG gamer for so many years , my only fond memories for computer RPGs were The Eyes Of the Beholder 2, Ultima 6 and King's Quest by Roberta Williams. But not even these games came close to matching the superb gaming engine of Baldur's Gate. It was many silent years for RPG fans until Baldur's Gate came out, and when it did, we were so relieved. Similar to its prequel , Baldur's Gate II ( BG 2 ) uses the same turn based combat system, and there were some improvements over the 1st game. For example, the creators have decided to add in more character interaction with Non Player Characters ( NPC ), you will find that once in a while, some of your party members will automatically pop up some questions asking you about the future, your past, or he/she will state some reasons for disliking some situations. This makes the entire game a genuine adventure where your party members don't just sit and do whatever you order them to, they will sometimes give some rather pleasant remarks or some real harsh comments on your actions. In this context I have to say that BG2 has excelled. The graphics are very much the same as the prequel , but new lighting effects and shadowing makes the game look fresh from a certain angle. There are also more sub-quests and more twists to the plot compared to the 1st one and sometimes it leaves you to wonder: "who should I side with? The Vampires? Or the Thieves?" And player decisions are another vital element in this game, you have to decide and make many choices which will affect the story line, which makes the game highly replayable . For example if you are playing as a Paladin, you get to acquire numerous sub-quests from the House Of The Radiant Heart, and not forgetting to mention the ultimate +5 Carsomyr Sword that you will get in the end. Worth mentioning also is the fact that depending on the party members that you choose, you will get different quests and story lines as well ... In conclusion , the entire BG 2 world is so huge and so intriguing. End up with a bad party member and Ooops, the effects won't be pleasant, I assure you. I finished this game long time back , but I am writing this review because BG is simply the best computer RPG of all time ... looking at all the meticulous details that they have been implemented in the game, the grand BGM and music scores that they have included in the game, rich character generation and the improved AD&D rules ... Man I have to tell you , this is "Best Of The Best"
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