Baldur's gate 2 is not just a game, it is a life changing experience!

User Rating: 10 | Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn PC
Baldur's Gate 2 is the single greatest video game in existence. Quite a claim? Of course, but I have never been more sure of a game than this one.

My story with this game is a bit strange. I picked it up about 6-7 years ago amidst raving reviews and a need for a good solid RPG. Back then, I was a bit more into JRPGS like old PS1 Final Fantasies, and a lot of Diablo 2. That was the depth of my RPG existence at the time. So, the first time I loaded up BG2 I was so overwhelmed by the complexity of the game that I quit and dismissed it off as boring. It took me about a year to try it out again, and boy am I glad I did. I was blown away by the sheer amount of detail put into every possible portion of the game that I could not beleive how I didn't absolutely love the game before. So, without further ado, I will list the things that make BG2 the best game ever.

1.) Storyline - The storyline in the game is fantastic, and this even being from someone who had not played the original game. The story focuses on your character who is a child of the god Bhaal, the god of murder in BG2's world. The story twists and turns hitting nearly every moral dilemma in the book as it follows the child of Bhaal on his journey to save his soul from a power hungry wizard.

2.) Companions - This is the big one and one of the largest reasons this game is so enjoyable. Never in a game have made up characters been so impressive. I came away from the game attached to my 5 adventuring buddies in a way that I can't describe. Some of the most impressive in the game: Jaheira the bossy half-elf who has perhaps the best video game romance ever, Minsc the spirited Barbarian who carries his loveable hamster boo into battle and shouts of some of the best lines I have ever heard, Jan Jansen the misunderstood Gnome who tells hilarious story after hilarious story, usually completely made up, and Edwin the "evil" spellcaster who tries so hard to be evil yet deep down inside you know the guy has a heart of gold. The companions are just all so great, and the game takes advantage of this strength with it's numerous banters and hilarious lines.

3.) Jon Irenicus - yes he gets his own number. This man is everything a villain should be. He is introduced from the start of the game, he kills off two of your friends from the outset to set his tone up (Not a spoiler becuase it happens at the very beginning!) and he spends the rest of the game attempting to steal your soul, but his depth goes deeper than that. He is not just a "cliche super evil guy" the writers went out of their way to develop Irenicus' back story to show how he was once a good man. They make you feel sorry for him. His voice actor is so well picked, that I cannot even think of someone who could play a more sinister Irenicus, and we are talking about a 11 year old game, good voice acting in a game was unheard of back then.

4.) Wonderful combat system - Yes, I know the games combat is based off of D&D so it's not entirely a video game creation. But it just works so well with the video game medium. Especially the spell system. The games spell system is insanely elaborate and it will truly make you feel like powerful by the time you get level 9 spells.

I cannot stress this enough if you enjoy RPGS, you NEED to play this game! It is just way too good. And don't make the mistake I made. If the game feels boring or overwhelming at first, just stick with it eventually the game will sweep you up into the story and companions and wonderful items and you just won't be able to stop. This is what an RPG should be, and I have never seen another game come even close to this one.