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The one that started it all, at least for Bioware, that is. This RPG not only started Bioware's lasting series of masterpieces,
but it also started the Baldur's Gate Trilogy. The game starts off in Candlekeep, where you are a humble apprentice and foster child
of Gorion, a sage & wizard who has been looking over you for many years. One day, you and Gorion leave Candlekeep, only
to meet Sarevok, your evil half-brother with malintent for the country of The Sword Coast. Sarevok murders Gorion, leaving
you to fend for yourself in the dangerous wilderness. You travel to Gorion's good friends Jaheira and Khalid in the Friendly
Arm Inn, and from there, your grand adventure begins to find Sarevok, avenge Gorion's death, and find out what he is trying
to do. Eventually, you come to the truth that your true father was Bhaal, the God of Murder, and that Sarevok is attempting
his ressurection by causing a war between the Iron Throne and Amn.
The game features many strong points, and few low points. For example, the beginning brings many frustrations which could
cause you to restart. What I'm talking about is that it is too easy to find characters at the start, and by joining with them,
the experience you receive is diluted to the point of uselessness. This is obviuosly avaoided by being patient and not getting
them immediately, but for the impatient, this game will get hard fast. Besides this, and the incredibly slow combat (at least
until the game progresses) the game is virtually flawless.
This masterpiece gives choice a plenty in comparison with todays so called RPGs such as the awesome but lacking Final
Fantasy VII (not bad at all, mind you). I'll get to that later as it's major, but first some other things. The main enemy
Sarevok is quite possibly the best, but that's just my opinion, and this is because of his menacing look with that rather
kick-butt (no Minsc pun) armour. His violent nature and intellect, with interesting character augment him, but you really
don't go into detail with his character until Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal. The character development and creation is
beaten by none other. You get to choose all sorts of things: class, voice, appearance, portrait, etc. Which never interfere
with the excellent novel like chapter story telling.
Technically, there are no problems with the game other than some small bugs which were already fixed in a patch.
At today's standards especially, you needn't fret about technical requirements as this game has low requirements. The form
of art that was chosen to display the game's environments was especially intriguing when I learned that the backgrounds are
actually paintings! I know of nothing that is this original, like the game itself. Warning RPG fans, you'll be stuck to this
for hours to come! At least until its expansion and/or sequel!
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