I've already got BGII, and am wondering if I should get BGI as well. Is it good?

I personally believe that it is one of the better games ever...few times have I found a game that I can keep coming back to over and over and still be pleased with it time and time again.

If you take it, you will be sorry you hadn't taken it earlier.
I vote against. :D :D :D :D

Definitely buy it. Though someone as a*al as me could never complete the second without completing the first, first. [img]graemlins/hehe.gif[/img]
Weren't you tempted to go in sequence?

BG 1 does have more than its share of pleasantries that make it a great game to play even more than once, but its kind of annoying once your used to the faster movement and stronger characters of BG 2. It all really depends on how much patcience you have.

defiantly I bought the BGII first and as soon as I finished I wanted the first one and its well worth it. I find the game is harder and harder to get so you might want to get it soon.

Playing BG2 beforehand, I'd say you'll be mildly disappointed by the gameplay. I would say, however, that if you plan to buy TotSC as well, then you should consider getting it. Durlag's Tower is a one of a kind that I haven't seen in any of the other Bioware games (I little biased statement, I've only played the BG series and a little of ID2 [img]tongue.gif[/img] )

The major downside will be that you will be used the abilities of your higher level characters from SoA & will be a little frustrated in BGI. *If you can ignore that*, though, BGI is actually a much better game than SoA, as far as non-linearity, character development, challenges, & plot.

With that said, if I feel like re-playing either one, I prefer to re-play SoA, 'cause I am used to my character(s) being powerful. If you can accept the fact that you must start at Level 1 & that , e.g, an Ogre can be a major threat, then play BGI! It is by far a better representation of the P&P game & is much more flexible in terms of the plot. It has far more join-able NPC's (though they aren't quite as interesting, individually) & side-quests (which are more interesting). Hey - the higher "threat-level" (see 'being killed by an Ogre') may inspire you by itself.

If I had to rate them on Realism (meaning to the P&P game, obviously [img]smile.gif[/img] ), Challenge, & Enjoyment (1-10), it'd be BGI-[7, 9, 5] ; BGII/SoA-[4, 7, 9] ; so, take that for what it's worth (i.e, I enjoy the less challenging game, for some odd reason)...

- Imrahil

I just gave away my BG1 to my little brother and, helping him get started I was constantly thinking "oh my god I can't believe it was ever this ugly !"
This of course refers to having to play it in 640x480 or whatever it is. everything is low res. I think once you start playing it though you will forget about that after a while, and it's a really good game.

Yea, In Icewind Dale, that took a little bit of getting used to- starting at lvl 1 instead of 7 like in BGII. But I got used to it, and it really isn't that much harder.

I love bg1. the story is great, I didn't like the expansion but i would get anyway(it substatially raises the xp cap, which is great for importing characters, and let's you use dsotsc). To truly understand Imoen you need bg1.

I can't believe you've never played this, Sir G.
*scratches head and thinks*
That's right you were shackled to that Mac for a while weren't you! :D

Everyone's pretty much covered it. I found BGII better from a power gamer standpoint, it's more of a hack and slash as compared to BGI, but from a pure roleplaying (for it's time) BGI is a far superior game than BGII.
Yep, the graphics are outdated and can only be run at 640 by 480 (which really blows on a 22" monitor) but the story is superb, and very non linear (compared to BGII)
It's a real pain to have to reload a few times to get past half a dozen kobolds, but it forces you to think more about tactics and using your NPC's in battle effectively.
On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd give BGII an 8, whereas BGI scores a 10!

bg has something, i dunno what but it stands above other rpgs, cant put my finger on it, i think it must just be because its superbly balanced gameplay, even the most supertanked cheat chars can still die horribly if they choose bad tactics in some fights or go into durlags tower unprepared, if you buy BG make sure you get the expansion as it improves it massively. I played and completed neverwinter nights just recently and started icewind dale so far neither of them has got close despite both being far more recent games.

Go get it + exp. set!

I played SoA, ToB and now BGI. It is .... good and cheap as well. Lot's of playing time. Go go go!

BG1 is more than worth the twenty bucks it takes to buy it. While it is annoying starting off so weak it makes you feel that much stronger when you finally do get your level up. It's never to late to enjoy a great game.

the good thing is that it balances it superbly so although your level 1 you dont have many challenges, and once outside candlekeep you can choose your fights and immediately start hiring some quality party members. Level 1 mage is nasty to get going, level 1 warrior is really easy, but once you got imoen, jaheira, khalid, montaron, xzar (quickest chars to pick up on the normal starting route) then you already got a party who can beat that ogre down.

You have not purchased Baldurs Gate 1 yet Sir G? :eek: Well go get a job and then purchase this game. :D It is enjoyable and a lot of fun. And play it through the first time WITHOUT the cheats, so then your encounters with integrated kobolds will be, shall I say, more interesting.

BGI, the best, better than the best. Better than SoA. Challenging fights, kick@$$ plotline, non BS guys, and lots of places to adventure.

hmmm and to that comment that bg1 looks ugly, no it doesnt! i think it still looks good and has aged superbly

It is great.. but BG2 has more everything (except npc´s, and that is a major letdown).

IMO, BG2 has better music, resolution -> graphics, AI, pathfinding, KITS, more spells, attributes, weapons, strongholds... SoA is a masterpiece.

But number one is still so close to the real thing (tm) that you shouldn´t die before you´ve at least tried it.

Starting as a level 1, saving every piece of gold to buy your first scrolls, being very happy to find a +2 weapon...Yeah, BG1 has something really magic [img]smile.gif[/img]
This game has an awesome..erm...atmosphere, you will really enjoy playing it.

And no, it's not THAT ugly yet, still very playable.

Buy it ! :D

I believe BG1 and ToSC are being sold together now. If so, get them. Otherwise, you *do* want to get ToSC. I found it separate on eBay.

Heck of a game, even though I've only played with my first party, Myself(archer, fighter), Khaled, Jaheira, Kivan, Xan, and Imoen(thief only).

I have BGII and Icewind Dale, but I haven't opened them yet. I suppose the next thing that I try will be DSoSC with an entirely different party.

one of the best games ever! true, you dont get even near as powerful as in BG2, but thats the fun part in the game. you start out a weakling, a regular wolf can kick youre butt. even in the very end youre not unbeatable. still a clever trap can kill you, or a large pack of kobold commandos can fry you. i give it a 10 on a scale from 1 to 10, BG2 gets a niner, IWD2 gets 7.5 and IWD1 gets 7.
(all excellent games, im just not into hack 'n' slash that much.)

go to the store and buy it ;)
I got BG2 before BG,so it was a bit odd to get used to the first one (less classes and everything) but oh-it-is-so-great-game! :D I do recommend it,it's pretty difficult too,but that makes it even better. [img]graemlins/biglaugh.gif[/img] probably hardest part is to choose who to take in your party! :D [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Yes, of coarse you should buy it, it is one of the best games ever made! (BG2 being the other one) You will really be missing out if you don't... It's weird that you played #2 first. I would never do such a thing, what interesting behavior.

Yeah me neither, I can't ever play a sequal first. Anything with 'II' in the title I leave on the shelf until I've played the prequal.