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How ‘Baldur’s Gate’ Saved the Computer RPG

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Re: How ‘Baldur’s Gate’ Saved the Computer RPG

#51

Oh to be a kid again. I've tried a dozen or so RPGs since my childhood and I can't get into any. It's hard to sink deep enough into a world when I have responsibilities. As a kid, the Christmas break or summer break was this magical time where I could do this. My hope is that when I retire I can become re acquainted with crpgs

Divinity: Original Sin 1 and 2 come very close to recapturing that Baldur's Gate magic. I highly recommend them.

Re: How ‘Baldur’s Gate’ Saved the Computer RPG

#52

Oh to be a kid again. I've tried a dozen or so RPGs since my childhood and I can't get into any. It's hard to sink deep enough into a world when I have responsibilities. As a kid, the Christmas break or summer break was this magical time where I could do this. My hope is that when I retire I can become re acquainted with crpgs

It's still possible. I have 3 kids a full time job and a 1 hour driving commute each way. Despite this in the past 6 years I've still managed to play through Ultima VI, Baldur's Gate 1&2 Planescape Torment, 1/2 of Icewind Dale (finally burnt out on infinity engine), Tides of Numenera, Pillars of Eternity, Torment, Fallout 3, Fallout 4, God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn, Zelda a Link to the Past, Zelda Wind Waker, Hyper L…

The most recent game I managed that with was Skyrim (years after launch, I think this was maybe 1-2 years ago) but with most other such games (and also Skyrim after a few cumulative hours) I just felt like I was wasting my time.

Re: How ‘Baldur’s Gate’ Saved the Computer RPG

#53

Oh to be a kid again. I've tried a dozen or so RPGs since my childhood and I can't get into any. It's hard to sink deep enough into a world when I have responsibilities. As a kid, the Christmas break or summer break was this magical time where I could do this. My hope is that when I retire I can become re acquainted with crpgs

I keep buying games thinking I'll have the time and desire to go in deep for some escapism, like the new game rpg game Kingmaker, a game based on the Pathfinder tabletop ruleset. But I just can't bring myself to care much when I have so many responsibilities and cares in RL. So games where I don't need to invest myself get played e.g. Battlefield 1 although just for a few minutes each evening in lieu of tv.

Re: How ‘Baldur’s Gate’ Saved the Computer RPG

#54

Oh to be a kid again. I've tried a dozen or so RPGs since my childhood and I can't get into any. It's hard to sink deep enough into a world when I have responsibilities. As a kid, the Christmas break or summer break was this magical time where I could do this. My hope is that when I retire I can become re acquainted with crpgs

Divinity: Original Sin 1 and 2 come very close to recapturing that Baldur's Gate magic. I highly recommend them.

I have played OS 1 and it has the best combat of any CRPG I have ever played (think X-Com with magic).

Plot, setting and characters I found quite unremarkable, though.

But still the best "traditional" RPG I have played in many years.

Re: How ‘Baldur’s Gate’ Saved the Computer RPG

#55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's still possible. I have 3 kids a full time job and a 1 hour driving commute each way. Despite this in the past 6 years I've still managed to play through Ultima VI, Baldur's Gate 1&2 Planescape Torment, 1/2 of Icewind Dale (finally burnt out on infinity engine), Tides of Numenera, Pillars of Eternity, Torment, Fallout 3, Fallout 4, God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn, Zelda a Link to the Past, Zelda Wind Waker, Hyper L…

Baldur's gate also comes as smartphone apps, it's not super convenient but works, finish an RPG on the loo! :)

Totally. I played them on a big iPad. Perfect device for BG 1&2!

Re: How ‘Baldur’s Gate’ Saved the Computer RPG

#56

Oh to be a kid again. I've tried a dozen or so RPGs since my childhood and I can't get into any. It's hard to sink deep enough into a world when I have responsibilities. As a kid, the Christmas break or summer break was this magical time where I could do this. My hope is that when I retire I can become re acquainted with crpgs

It's still possible. I have 3 kids a full time job and a 1 hour driving commute each way. Despite this in the past 6 years I've still managed to play through Ultima VI, Baldur's Gate 1&2 Planescape Torment, 1/2 of Icewind Dale (finally burnt out on infinity engine), Tides of Numenera, Pillars of Eternity, Torment, Fallout 3, Fallout 4, God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn, Zelda a Link to the Past, Zelda Wind Waker, Hyper L…

No Ultima VII? The pinnacle of that series, and still impressive in its scope, IMO.

Re: How ‘Baldur’s Gate’ Saved the Computer RPG

#57
post #4

If you want to play a modern game that takes you back to Balder’s Gate, definitely check out Divinity Original Sin 2. I never played the first, and I was skeptical about it living up to BG 1 and 2, but after the first couple hours I was hooked. It is very much worthy of the comparison.

I'd like to throw in a mention of Pathfinder: Kingmaker which is based on the Pathfinder tabletop ruleset (a D&D ruleset). Early reviews were plagued by bugs but a number of patches have since fixed most issues.

The game is incredible.

Re: How ‘Baldur’s Gate’ Saved the Computer RPG

#58
post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's still possible. I have 3 kids a full time job and a 1 hour driving commute each way. Despite this in the past 6 years I've still managed to play through Ultima VI, Baldur's Gate 1&2 Planescape Torment, 1/2 of Icewind Dale (finally burnt out on infinity engine), Tides of Numenera, Pillars of Eternity, Torment, Fallout 3, Fallout 4, God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn, Zelda a Link to the Past, Zelda Wind Waker, Hyper L…

The most recent game I managed that with was Skyrim (years after launch, I think this was maybe 1-2 years ago) but with most other such games (and also Skyrim after a few cumulative hours) I just felt like I was wasting my time.

Oh man I played that one as well, forgot to add it to my list. I probably got about 50% through the main quest and got bored. I really enjoyed Fallout 3 and 4 (despite the complaints) but Skyrim never felt as good to me.

Re: How ‘Baldur’s Gate’ Saved the Computer RPG

#59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's still possible. I have 3 kids a full time job and a 1 hour driving commute each way. Despite this in the past 6 years I've still managed to play through Ultima VI, Baldur's Gate 1&2 Planescape Torment, 1/2 of Icewind Dale (finally burnt out on infinity engine), Tides of Numenera, Pillars of Eternity, Torment, Fallout 3, Fallout 4, God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn, Zelda a Link to the Past, Zelda Wind Waker, Hyper L…

No Ultima VII? The pinnacle of that series, and still impressive in its scope, IMO.

I agree, Ultima 7 is in my top 3 all time games! I had one or two aborted attempts at replaying it in the past decade, but life intervened. The last time I played through the whole game was well before this era (maybe 15 years ago?).

Re: How ‘Baldur’s Gate’ Saved the Computer RPG

#60
Since I don't see it mentioned, another shout out to Arcanum, one of the few RPGs that made a good attempt at creating a compelling vision of a world where magic and technology coexist.

The game is not without its issues, but overall it's a solid cRPG from the same era as BGI/II

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