<font color="cyan">I've posted this here as I am a BG1 lurker more than any other board.

I've just decided to post my opinions on the three, as a lot of people are asking about them at the moment.

For reference:

I've complted BG1 twice, and IWD. I'm now playing through BG2.

Which is the best?

This is a hard question. BG1 I loved. Whenever anyone asked which was the best, I sprung to this. It has NPC's, and a great story. IWD you could make your own party, which was amazingly cool, although missing NPC's was sad. There was a lot of fighting in IWD, more so than BG1.

BG2 brought back NPC's, and the same quest feel of BG1. Character interation is much better in BG2 than one, and so are the graphics (they dont count).

BG2 doesn't have the feeling of being "lost"...everything is laid out on a map for you, which can be dissapointing.

Actually, I don't know where this is going.

Yes I do.

The answer to the eternal question, is they are all as good as each other. They just have strengths and weaknesses in different places. I've tried to list them above. Can someone try and elaborate on my forementioned mess.</font>

I can't speak on BG2 as my copy is currently on order, but I have finished BG and IWD/HoW.

The two games are similar, yes, but different enough to give differing sorts of gamers enjoyment. IWD I found to be very lineal, which actually appealed to me (after playing BG)...I knew I had to complete quest A before B and if I jumped ahead to D, I was in trouble (like cleaning out the barbarian camp before the Burial Isle...reload!)

BG is very non-lineal which appeals to others more. You can run (adventure) all over the place and as long as you do the key quests, everything will proceed relatively smoothly. The side quests can be completed--or not.

I must say I like the idea of having more control over the (creation of) members of my party, but by the same token, it is more realistic to have 'unknowns' (NPCs) join up.

Afer I get SoA (and play it with all its lovely quests and mods--which should take quite some while!) then I will be better able to address the eternal question. For now all I can say is....to each their own!

[ 03-12-2002: Message edited by: Garnet FalconDance ]</p>

<font color="cyan">I got the exact same feeling...

I loved BG1 for its non-linear line, but I loved IWD for its linear approach. It's weird really.</font>

The side quests in BG1 give it a non-linear feel, but in actuality, BG1 is VERY linear. You have to follow a prescribed path of events to complete the main story line. A true non-linear game would allow you to complete components of the main story line in a random sequence.

FWIW, IWD2 is supposed to have an increased number of "side quests" ala BG1 while retaining the "hack and slash" of IWD, so it looks like we are going to get the best of BOTH worlds!!! [img]smile.gif[/img]

i love the bg1 story and hate the fact theres no npcs on iwd who cares about createing your party you can do this on bg2+bg1 by going on multyplayer
games i like bg2 for its spells and items and the new levels overall bg2 is best the story is a lot bigger and all the chricters sub plots are fun as well

BG1's story was better in my opinion, but the NPC's influence on the story are far greater, making it more fun for me.
I prefer Baldur's Gate 2.

<font color="cyan">I do. It made a nice change, and I wouldn't play BG1 or 2 on MP. IWD gave you a chance to make a dream party, and it was good because of this.</font>