I was not one bit disappointed by TOEE. Many recent RPG's have been underwhelming at best, or just plain uninspired. But not this one, it kind of revisits the original Baldur's Gate's sense of high adventure. It is as DnD as you'll ever get on a PC and that is a very good thing. The gameplay although tried and true, feels very fresh by today's standards. It combines the greatness of the RPG's of old with the technical wizardry provided by today's technology. It all comes together creating a very immersive experience that plays almost as an ode to the original module, but still bringing it's own personality to the table. Turn based combat is the way to go in the world of DnD. It has been transformed into real time several times before and while entertaining, it can never match the strategic depth of true turn based. The options for combat open up considerably as higher levels are attained and strategic thinking becomes the norm as you tread halfway through the game. Diablo this is not. Visually, the game is beautiful. Many games rely on a strong graphical engine that displays all sorts of the "latest greatest" to immerse gamers in their worlds. while TOEE is strong in this area, with true 3D models, gorgeous particle effects, and very convincing animation, it relies more on the beautiful art that is seen all the way throughout the game to suck you into the world. Yes, there is the occasional bland screen, but overall, the world feels real and magical, crafted with a bunch of love=) Oh, and the cloaks rock! Some may complain about the fact that the plot is not a globe spanning quest in search of your father who resides in hell and wishes to bend the world under his rule. I am personally tired of these overly epic and very unlikely undertakings, and most RPG's seem to follow that path resulting in cheap attempts at grandeur. TOEE's plot is still very clichê, but it is more focused and straight forward, therefore keeping the overall objective clear since your humble beginnings at Hommlet, with a few expected little twists along the way. Just remember, this was the very first DnD module ever, the one that has inspired a legion of others in its wake. There is some variety worth mentioning in that your party's alignment sets the tone for how the plot will unfold. Very creative and definitely worth the effort. Aurally the game holds up well. The music is plain but atmospheric. I miss BG's tavern music, or IWD's epic score at times, but what is provided definitely sets the mood appropriately. The voice acting is inconsistent, while good and even great at times, sometimes it just sounds plain horrible. Sound effects are the best part of TOEE's aural presentation. Birds chirping, rivers flowing, swords clanging, and blood splattering, it's all very convincing and does a great job at lending credibility to an already appealing game world. I must say that if you are new to this kind of game it will be intimidating at first, but stick with it and you just might find one of the best RPG's ever made, right up there with any of Bioware's offerings. If you on the other hand know the genre well and pretty much understand the difference between a second edition THACO of -3 vs. a third edition (3.5 to be exact) AC of 3, then you'll have plenty to indulge in, and you might not want to leave your cozy dungeon for some time. Give the game a shot, it is probably the best DnD adaptation ever.
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