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Senbar Flay
Learned Scribe
185 Posts |
 Posted - 04 May 2004 : 22:06:54
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I was wondering since I recently played both games witch one is beetter overall. Since each one has unique parts in it the other does not have.
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Edited by - Alaundo on 13 May 2004 18:10:51
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Sneaky Smurf
Acolyte
Australia
1 Posts |
Posted - 05 May 2004 : 05:34:32
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They are very differant.
Baldurs gate 2 doesnt offer you as many character options and Icewind dale 2, but Baldurs gate 2 is far more epic. The storyline is the best that I have ever encountered in any game ever, and it has great character interactions. By the end of the expansion its nice to be the most powerful mortal being in existance (thats even if you want to stay mortal!). Its also far longer, and you get NPC's to join your party with their own personalities and desires, instead of souless untalking things in Icewind dale 2. Baldurs gate 2 is also abit more mature. |
beware of black's black staff !!! |
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Winterfox
Senior Scribe
895 Posts |
Posted - 05 May 2004 : 09:16:37
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I think the general consensus is that IWD2 is the worst Infinity Engine game. If recollection serves, one of the developers actually said that he didn't even like it very much. IWD2 was a cash-in to the success of IWD, and that was about it. And it shows. Out-of-whack loot distribution, shaky story, and "tactical challenges" that consist mostly of "fill the screen with as many monsters as possible and throw 'em at the player."
The only thing good about it is the 3E-ization of Infinity Engine, I'd say. You can't even begin to compare it to BG2. |
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MuadDib
Senior Scribe
South Africa
442 Posts |
Posted - 05 May 2004 : 11:07:42
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I find myself in total agreement with Winterfox
I have yet to encounter any game that can even compare to Baldur's Gate II. Not often a game changes your life. Long live BG! |
MuadDib - Candlekeep Inn Barhand |
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Winterfox
Senior Scribe
895 Posts |
Posted - 05 May 2004 : 11:48:03
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| Eh, actually, I prefer Planescape: Torment and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic over BG2. But okay. |
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Narad Bladesinger
Learned Scribe
Finland
170 Posts |
Posted - 05 May 2004 : 14:38:21
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quote:
Originally posted by MuadDib
I find myself in total agreement with Winterfox
I have yet to encounter any game that can even compare to Baldur's Gate II. Not often a game changes your life. Long live BG!
I was thinking the same. Nothing (yet, I'm still looking) has ever come even close to BG2. The story, optional quests, everything.
I hope that there will be a game as good as BG2 (or better) but that's gotta be really GOOOD!
Icewind dale could be good, but I don't like the "You go there and do that, then you go there and do that, then you go there and do that..."
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Israfel666
Acolyte
Italy
37 Posts |
Posted - 05 May 2004 : 18:06:21
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I'll join Muad'Dib and Narad in the 'All hail Baldur's Gate II!!!' singing crowd. BG2 (including the expansion pack) is to me the best video game ever made, hands out. It is to RPGs what Unreal Tournament is to multiplayer FPS... an infinitely replayable classic that becomes the flagstone of the genre.
IWD2 is a nice hack-n-slash game (especially due to the excellent 3E-based engine), but nothing that stays in memory for long. Some tidbits of Realmslore here and then (I believe I've already read about the Lost Followers somewhere else, but I can't remember now where) make it a little more interesting. Oh yeah, and playing a cleric of Bane is REAL FUN - his/her answers are always impressive. I actually believe that IWD2 makes it easier to play an evil character/party than any other Infinity Engine game.
On an out-of-Realms note, I am looking forward to get my hands on Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic soon. From what I've read, the game structure looks promising, as it seems much similar to the BG saga (single-player only, a main character plus recruitable NPCs, D&D system, side-quests, non-linearity, etc...). |
Stat rosa pristina nomine, nomina nuda tenemus. |
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Chyron
Learned Scribe
Hong Kong
279 Posts |
Posted - 13 May 2004 : 16:58:03
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I’ll have to go with the majority on this one and say BG II is far better than IWD II...however the BG II expansion Throne of Bhaal has got to have the “cheapest” most cheating boss battle at the end. I really hate games where the premise where each time you beat the antagonist they somehow gain even more power and you have to fight them again and again without reprieve (and in ToB you are supposed to be a Bhaalspawn). (I even had done the Pantaloon quests for all three games and gotten the golem armor and I still got creamed.) This is Nintendo and Playstation formula…not D&D but I digress….
To me IWD II seemed to have an ambush at every zone. The process went something like zone to the next area….get ambushed…..die…..reload…..buff up the party….zone to the next area….get ambushed. 
I really hate that most games thrive now on the party being “buffed” before going into every room. That was not how we played PnP and with each generation of games it seems more of a necessity….thus feeling less and less like D&D. (but maybe it’s just me) 
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Just My Thoughts
Chyron :)
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Edited by - Chyron on 13 May 2004 16:59:10 |
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NightElf
Seeker
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United Kingdom
97 Posts |
Posted - 13 May 2004 : 18:38:10
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| My personal opinion is that Baldur's Gate 2 is the better game. The reason is that Icewind Dale 2, while it has its better parts, is much too restricted for my liking. I liked the original Baldur's Gate where the players could go where they wanted to at any time, not where the plot made them go. This happens in both Icewind Dale games but not in the Baldur's Gate. |
"Those who watch their backs meet death from the front" |
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Kaervok
Seeker
USA
63 Posts |
Posted - 18 May 2004 : 19:53:09
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| To me, this is a semi hard decision to make. I love them both dearly, but I'm going to have to say BG2. It was simply awsome. I acutally "got" into the story. The epic story line was fun. The music was good too! But the thing is, I'm a mage player and I loved the spells with a passion. Although then again, IWD had different spells, but they lacked timestop. :-( Also, Whats up witht eh IWD2 interface? What happened to the portraits on the side and stuff on bottom?? and Option on left side?? I liked that. Well Anyways, All hail BG and stuff, but I still love the FR. ^.^ |
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EcThelion
Learned Scribe
Norway
323 Posts |
Posted - 19 May 2004 : 09:06:32
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quote:
(I even had done the Pantaloon quests for all three games and gotten the golem armor and I still got creamed.)
The Golem armour sucks liberate ass. It only appears to be good, but in reality it is buggy, and, like, halves your attacks per round, and stuff like that.
No.... I say: Phear the Fighter/Sorceror!!!
BG2 - ToB rulz IWD:2, by the way. |
Ec'Thelion, formerly known as Forgotten One, now known as Ec'Thelion the Overpowered.
Currently not all that active. I'm preoccupied with Warcraft III for the moment. Bite me :P |
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Capn Charlie
Senior Scribe
USA
418 Posts |
Posted - 26 May 2004 : 22:03:35
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Baldur's Gate was the game that brought me back to DnD. I had went off and just plain given up on dnd as a miserable excercise in wargaming, and just split. How little did I know that the problem wasn't the genre, but my lack of a decent campaign setting, so I came back to DnD and became a devoted FR fan. To this day I still picture some of the beautiful scenery in the BG games when describing some places in my game.
I agree that BGII is indeed superior to IWDII. I preferred the bg style of having plenty to do aside from the main storyline. Unfortunately over time both my BGI and BGII games have been claimed by the ravages of heavy use and ill advised loaning, and all I have left of my collection is the IWD game.
As a side note however, I must disagree about Unreal Tournament. Tribes is and was the definitive FPS. BUt that is just my not so humble opinion.
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Shadows of War: Tales of a Mercenary
My first stab at realms fiction, here at candlekeep. Stop on by and tell me what you think. |
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Thelonius
Senior Scribe
Spain
730 Posts |
Posted - 31 May 2004 : 12:52:23
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Capn Charlie i started to live in the dnd world with bg saga too. And i must say HAIL TO BALDUR'S GATE.
Baldur's gate raises the icewind dale saga. The Baldur's gate saga is as sopmeone said before more epical and mature. I think, and i hope nobody get offensed, that icewind dale is an action RPG with a mistaken game system. I mean... is like Diablo saga but with baldur's gate fight system wich makes it difficult and, sometimes, boring.
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"If you are to truly understand, then you will need the contrast, not adherence to a single ideal." - Kreia
"I THINK I JUST HAD ANOTHER NEAR-RINCEWIND EXPERIENCE"- Discworld's Death frustrated after Rincewind scapes his grasp... again.
"I am death, come for thee" - Nimbul, from Baldur's Gate I just before being badly spanked
Sapientia sola libertas est |
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aragorn II
Learned Scribe
USA
101 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jun 2004 : 19:02:24
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| Baldur's Gate was also what got me started on AD&D and Candlekeep. |
There can be only one. |
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Capn Charlie
Senior Scribe
USA
418 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jun 2004 : 03:05:07
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quote:
Originally posted by aragorn II
Baldur's Gate was also what got me started on AD&D and Candlekeep.
quote:
Originally posted by Gion
Capn Charlie i started to live in the dnd world with bg saga too.
And they say that video games are bad for DnD.  |
Shadows of War: Tales of a Mercenary
My first stab at realms fiction, here at candlekeep. Stop on by and tell me what you think. |
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Sarelle
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
508 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jun 2004 : 14:04:10
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quote:
Originally posted by aragorn II
Baldur's Gate was also what got me started on AD&D and Candlekeep.
I actually played 2nd ediition D&D before either game was released, but Baldur's Gate 2 caught got me interested in D&D once again.
However, it was Icewind Dale II (bought in expectancy of a Baldur's Gate-like game), that reawakened my interest in D&D, by first introducing me to Wizards' site, then to the Fiend Folio and finally onto the 3E Realms books! |
Chair of the The Rightful Return of Monster Deities to FR Society (RRMDFRS)
My character, drawn by Liodain: Sarelle / Sarelle (smaller) |
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Talwyn
Learned Scribe
Australia
222 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jun 2004 : 03:16:44
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Like Capn Charlie, BG brought me fully into the realms.
I'd been using bits of the realms as inspiration for my own homebrew world but when BG came out in 1998, it just blew me and my friends away for is sweeping epic storyline and the amount of detail that had gone into the game. I say without reservation, that it is the benchmark for PC RPG's.
And I have to say, I literaly fell out of my chair, screaming with laughter, when I first heard Minsk's battle cry:
"Go for the eyes Boo!"
I still chuckle a bit from hearing it when I replay the game
I think that is what made BG special, the voice casting and dialogue that the NPC's often came out with was both enchanting and sometimes surprising, and that's the true esssence of good D&D.
IWD2 was just hack & slash and I didn't even bother to finish the game as it held little interest apart from killing monsters and buffing up your PC's. |
Over the centuries, mankind has tried many ways of combating the forces of evil...prayer, fasting, good works and so on.
Up until Doom, no one seemed to have thought about the double-barrel shotgun.
EAT LEADEN DEATH DEMON!
Terry Pratchett
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Edited by - Talwyn on 29 Jun 2004 03:19:08 |
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Sarelle
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
508 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jun 2004 : 00:42:35
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| Well whilst I said IWDII was what got me re-interested in the Realms, that has little to do with the game - which apart from the first chapter (not the prologue) was, as I said before, very very poor. Especially in comparison to BGII. My reawakened interest was more about being alerted to the Realms again, and it being the right time in my life. |
Chair of the The Rightful Return of Monster Deities to FR Society (RRMDFRS)
My character, drawn by Liodain: Sarelle / Sarelle (smaller) |
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Lauzoril
Seeker
Finland
71 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2004 : 19:13:55
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I have to agree with everyone else too that BG2 is better than IWD2. Only good thing about the IWD2 is the feat and skil system. I've wondered if the feat system would've been incorporated to BG2, it might've been even better.
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"Death to the enemies of Bane."
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Capn Charlie
Senior Scribe
USA
418 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2004 : 21:41:11
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Well, thing is, BG2 used the AD&D second edition rules. IWD2 used the 3e rules.
However, IWD2 did show that the 3e rules could be used wit hthe infinity engine. Which jsut adds tothe fire of me wanting to see that engine released to open source. If the people that have made soem of th4 better mods for Bg actually were able to get soem real resources, and access to the full code, mass releases of infinity engine games could become common place, wit hrepresentation of all settings, not jsut the realms. |
Shadows of War: Tales of a Mercenary
My first stab at realms fiction, here at candlekeep. Stop on by and tell me what you think. |
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Reefy
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
892 Posts |
Posted - 19 Aug 2004 : 00:30:59
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| BG brought me back to D&D and fully into the Realms as well. I still prefer BG to BG II but BG II is superior to IWD II in pretty much every respect, nice game as IWD II is. It's good at what it does but it's not exactly genre defining. |
Life is either daring adventure or nothing. |
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arilyn742
Seeker
Ireland
54 Posts |
Posted - 22 Aug 2004 : 02:08:30
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| I didn't think either of the IWD games matched up to their predecssors, though they were both gret games, and IWD", I'd say, would come out on top (for my justification, see "yawgmoth_742"'s - ie my - review of it on www.imdb.com). Each IE game has its own individual qualities and charm, and I would say Shadows of Amn is the best overall, closely followed by BG1, IWD2, and IWD (sorry, but I have yet to play much of ToB or IWD: HoW). |
Yonde iru, mune no doko ka oku de
Itsumo kokoro odoru yume wo mitai
Kanashimi wa kazoekirenai keredo
Sono mukou de kitto anata ni aeru |
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Grumpi
Acolyte
Bulgaria
6 Posts |
Posted - 01 Sep 2004 : 20:29:55
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I think every hardcore RPG fan would say that BG series is far more above the others. IWD2 is fine game, but thats all. BG is way of life!!
BG Rulezzz! |
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Icewind Dale 2 vs Baldur's Gate 2
