[andrewas]

All you need to know is:

It one of the best games of all time, on any platform. At least it is if your not addicted to fast action and care about the plot.

If you do plan on getting it it would be best to get the original first, some things will make more sense and you can get a slightly easier start in BG2, but its not essential to do so.

Other similar games are Planescape:Torment, which is much much darker and has a stronger empasis on characterisation than combat.

Thers also Icewind Dale which has less caracterisation and more action, but is (apparently, ive never played it myself) slightly inferior to BG and PS:T mentioned above.

Those ones are from Bioware who are exceptionaly good at this sort of game, there are many others that are equaly worthy of praise.