Was Baldur's Gate considered popamole at release?

[santino27]

Whether it was good or bad, BG obviously was not popamole, given that it had no real cover system and was not a shooter, (and far preceded Gears of War, which helped define the term).

 

[Mrowak]

I wasn't a member of any of the CRPG forums around the time BG1 was released, so I'm not sure how it was received. These days, it's more or less considered a good game, but it obviously has its detractors. I definitely remember people and bitching about Icewind Dale, and masturbating over BG2, though.

Did the original Baldur's Gate get the same treatment Dragon Age and its sequel are getting around these parts?

Apart from these parts not existing back then, I have found BG deeply disappointing back when it was released. It was pretty much the Oblivion of its times, receiving a lot of praise, but boring, generic, railroaded and featuring derp combat, as well as derp exploration.
The difference is that BG can be played in vanilla state as long as you just grab a beer and let things roll, so it's by far a superior game to oblivious.

I felt the same way, even though at that time RPGs weren't my favourite genre and I was a very impressionable young lad back then. Maybe the fact that at that point I read 'Gambler' gaming magazine (very critical and unbiased... Hell, they even predicted the [and flopped ]) helped. I have to confess, I was pleasently surprised with BG2.

More importantly, since when did popamole stop meaning 'cover based shooter' and start meaning 'random stupid word for dumbed down crap'?

Since the of the .

Oh come on DraQ. Just look at DA2 for instance. It looks exactly like whackamole except you almost don't have to interact with anything. It plays itself. Hence popamole.

Can I put a whole topic on ignore? Codex will bash the living shit out of BG, it will break my heart.

Endure.
In enduring grow strong.

This.

 

[Awor Szurkrarz]

Fucking bringers of decline. Thanks for destroying the incline that Fallout has prepared for us.
But I'm glad that now your games are just a memory buried by even worse garbage.

 

[Roguey]

I think this is the third time in a month or so I've posted this link: http://www.rpgcodex.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=1587
Choice quotes for the lazy:

First would be the hype that they spew every time they open their mouth.
Second would be the crap pathfinding and other technical aspects of their games. For being "current", they sure do have some shitty AI and pathfinding. Hell, they had crap pathfinding for ten years previous to when Baldur's Garbage was released.
Then you have one of BioWare's twatwaffles go on cluelessly, showing exactly how poor their design ability tends to be.

And really, compared to the gameplay in Fallout, the Inbred Engine games are nothing more than a half-ass D&D rip-off flavoring in RT+pause. There's far less ability to roleplay a type of character in BioWare games than in Fallout, Fallout 2, or Arcanum, and they say they take great lengths to try and come up with better design, yet that too turns out to be hyperbole in design and often ridiculous with lacking balance or practical design.

Frankly, I find their work nauseating when compared to Gold Box or Silver Box. BioWhore's corny BS with the Star Wars license doesn't look any better than their D&D fare, either.

I can see how a person could be curious about all anti-BioWare sentiments here. My answer is simple. Considering that making games is a form of art, BioWare represents a corporate take on that aimed at mass market. As a result their games are intentially dumbed down and simplified, from character development to combat. As one avid BW fan said you can "just sit back and let the AI do the job when your brain isn't necessary." I love this phrase, I really do.

So while the masses may have a different opinion about BG series, NWN, its expansions, and upcoming KotOR, it's also clear why people who reside at a website called RPG Codex would dislike and have a problem with RPG games that have no role-playing whatsover. Does that answer your question?

His dig at the game playing itself is funny considering his praise for DA. Bioware, Bioware never changes.

One thing I really don't like about them is one of the reasons I don't like MicroSoft. They've basically made something inferior, it got popular, and the areas they're working in have been screwed because of this. Baldur's Gate certainly didn't advance the genre at all, and given Fallout came out a year before that, it's popular certainly set the genre backwards rather than the logical advancement of the genre.

I think my biggest irritation is the fact that every single time I read a press release, an interview or anything else from the dev's, it's this shameless black-slapping of how they're the greatest developers the world has ever seen, and getting better with each release. They then go into details and say that they emply the greatest coders/artists/writers, when clearly they're mediocre in most fields. That irritates me. If they actually believe the shit they spew, then there's no chance of them ever learning from their mistakes.

Which comes to my second point. I disagree with most game design philosophies that Bioware games exhibit. To me it seems as though they basically work exculsively in the world of "Wouldn't it be cool if?" and don't consider any kind of rationale behind the design choices they make beyond that. So basically you get a whole bunch of stuff that is poorly thought out, but maybe cool if you aren't too discerning with your games.

The third aspect of Bioware that irritates me is very similar to the first, and that is the fact that through whatever means, they're capable of manipulating a lot of gaming press to shamelessly fellate them, and spit out obvious falsehoods in the few moments when they can actually speak audibly around the thorny, multiheaded and gnarled member they're choking on.

In a nutshell, Bioware's way of running things makes me sick. It typefies so many things that have a negative impact on this once great industry.

My final point deals with the games themselves, and incorporates the above three points. The fact that Bioware release mediocre, poorly thought out games that receive rave reviews, undeserved sales on a wave of empty hype, means that the clueless imitators are going to be imitating other clueless imitators. It's the blind leading the blind, and that's never a good thing.

It's actually really funny. After FO1, Tim Cain and crew didn't want to do the same thing over again immediately after finishing FO1. So they would have been very happy making a D&D game and advancing the genre and such. Intead, they gave it to BioWare, who proceeded to make a derivative, linear game which set the RPG back a few years while Tim Cain, who was forced to make FO2, had to leave Interplay in disgust. I'd say Interplay's problems started right there, way back in 1998.

So yes, the Codex Elders hated BG quite a bit.

 

[sgc_meltdown]

Oh, BG was disliked by codex founders a long time before RPGCodex was created.

Really now, who do you think would be more likely to create a prestigious western rpg news magazine, fans from an old baldur's gate fansite or fans from an old fallout fansite?

No, it wasn't NMA. Vault13.net. The differences and merits of both games were much more discussed and well known by the community because there wasn't all this popamole business and you had the simple task of deciding whether the post apocalyptic one was better or this d&d one and whether that new bethesda game morrowind was going to be as sweet as it looked.

ps fuckoff newfags

 

[easychord]

BG didn't really have that many vocal critics at the time but also Bio didn't have the same deference from the press. In general their fans were happy with it and nobody could be bothered to troll it.

Got to say though, at the time, I thought the demo was really boring and cliché then just wrote it off until I couldn't ignore the praise and hype for BG2. Around the late nineties there were so many new good PC games coming out that I wasn't interested in it. Grim Fandango or BG, which one am I going to buy, decisions decisions, and then SMAC comes out.

 

[Exmit]

I had no internets in 97 so I didn't even know what i didn't know, i was much more happy back then.

but then kodex came and i had to obey the hivemind or i would be cast out and be alone once more.


Do I want to be free? Or do i want to have a position in fools paradise ?

 

[DraQ]

I can't believe you guys actually have the nerve to think Baldur's Gate was a pop-a-mole at release. Yes I'm being serious and no I'm not butthurt. Not only was Baldur's Gate successful both critically and commercially

You mean like Oblivion?

More like Morrowind

Weak troll is weak, try again.

 

[sgc_meltdown]

i had to obey the hivemind or i would be cast out and be alone once more. Do I want to be free? Or do i want to have a position in fools paradise ?

http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/index

See you back here in fifteen minutes bro

 

[Melcar]

I still have a couple of magazines that had rather long previews/reviews on BG. I don't really remember any serious dissent from the internet, but at that time I mostly kept to BIS and Interplay boards. I was coming out of my console gaming years, so any type of dumbing down that may have come from the game was lost in me.

 

[Azrael the cat]

More importantly, since when did popamole stop meaning 'cover based shooter' and start meaning 'random stupid word for dumbed down crap'?

+1. When used as a generic insult, it just sounds like a word a troll from the Bethesda forums would use to satirise the Codex - a sort of 'I've got no idea what this word means or why it is bad, but if I keep throwing it into sentences I'll look Kodex-Kool' term.

 

[LittleJoe]

So yes, the Codex Elders hated BG quite a bit.

To be fair, that was their opinion in 2003, post NWN when even BioWare fanboys were feeling a bit miffed.

It doesn't represent what they felt at the release of BG in 1998.

 

[sgc_meltdown]

I've got no idea what this word means or why it is bad, but if I keep throwing it into sentences I'll look Kodex-Kool' term.

popamole is just the codex's version of 4chan's weeaboo or faggot for the internet and real world

faggot is now anyone who you dislike
weeaboo is now anyone who knows and talks about japanese things more than you
popamole is now anything that isn't your favorite rpg

got that faggot

 

[sgc_meltdown]

It doesn't represent what they felt at the release of BG in 1998.

Proper communal hate needs time to build up. Besides, BG2 and the other D&D games and marketing campaigns for thereof certainly helped a lot in taking the slice of resources that sequels to Fallout 2 could have used.

Not that Bioware fans now really care about the integrity of their sequels of course. DA2 looks like it's going to be their Brotherhood of Steel and they couldn't be happier.

 

[Volourn]

"In the general gaming population BG received more love by far than the original Fallout.

To be fair a lot of that love was made up by one Volourn Honorblade, but it was still good for what it was."

Let's not forget the fact I lvoe the Fallouts as much as the BGs. And, i feel both the sequels are 100x superior to either original.

R00fles!

 

[sgc_meltdown]

R00fles!

I like BG2 more than BG too, Volourn. Which female romance is your favorite?

 

[Exmit]

Let's not forget the fact I lvoe the Fallouts as much as the BGs. And, i feel both the sequels are 100x superior to either original.

R00fles!

Part 1 - The Drama Unfolds
-------------------------------


I love NWN1. Everyone knows that. I thought the OC was good (around 75%ish); but everyone steadfastly believes I think it was perfect (ie. 100%, a rating I have given ZERO games). My expectations for NWN2 were really simple. I wanted more of Neverwinter that was updated for 2006. I wanted it to be better. I don't want comaprisons to DEAD games. This impression will have no referrals to DEAD games. Period.

Anyways, I originally preorder the LE; but release day game and my EBs didn't have it in stock so I switched to the normal versionthen threw the leftover cash on a preorder GOTHIC 3.

I hurry home excited as a kiddie, and that excitement ends up costing me $40.... shocked.gif


Part 2 - The Wait Is Almost Over
--------------------------------------

I tear the box to shreds (not really; but sounds cool if I say I did geek.gif ), and eagerly go to install the DVD (yes, DVD). That's when disaster struck. For the first time ever, I decide to use my arms as a baseball bat and swung around and twanked my glass holding pop right onto my keyboard (and, a little bit on my brand new mouse). I hurridly clean it up; but als it was to no avail. Mere hours later, my keyboard craps out and starts being stupid. The space button, for example, has to have the poo pounded out of it in order to work. I can barely play the game due to the lack of the mouse so I am forced to go AI with companions so I don't have to to use the spacebar. This problem is fixed today(on Friday) as I now have a brand new fancy $40 keyboard. Yay for me!

The install itself was easy as pie. It was over quick with no problems at all. I download the patch no questions asked.... and wait... and wait... I swear the patch took longer to download and install then it took to install the game even with Broadband. Owwy!

Meanwhile, I take a look at the manual and strategy guide for character stuff to pass the time. Many is solidly sized with relevant information. It has its share of errata but ah well. 'Tis is life. The strategy guide is cool. Over time 9while playing the game) I notice there isn't a section solely for joinable npcs. That would have been nice.


Part 3 - Character Creation
-------------------------------

It's NWN2. It's D&D 3.5. You get what you expect. It's set up pretty much exactly like NWN1 except with new classes, races, skills (and some shockingly removed, booo), feats, and so on. Everything is logially placed with solid detail much like NWN1. Very little complaints here. In fact, only one. Dwarven bears, are by and large horrid. Other than that, this part is absolutely beautifully perfect.

I made a dwarven male who is 88 years old. A fighter/cleric (well.. will be) of Berronar Truesilver. He's LG, and weilds a dwarven waraxe (duh!) and shield. feats chosen are Luck of Heroes, and WF. He is Devout as per his background. It kinda hurts his diplomacy and with his average charisma it makes it harder to make him the focused diplomat I want. The stats at start are S14, D12, C16, I10, W15, and C12.


Part 4 - Stability Issues
---------------------------

This is perhaps the most stable PC game I have ever played. It has never crashed, and runs smooth overall. There are some bugs like my attack bonus showing up incorrectly on the character sheet. this occured sometimes in NWN1 as well. Not much to complain about here.


Part 5 - Graphics, Music, & Other Frivilous Things tm.
-------------------------------------------------------------

Overall, graphics are good and crisp. I'm at max settings and the game still runs rather smoothly. Monsters are usually nice to look at, and character mdoels are cool. Not much clipping either. I'm not a big fan of the iventory icons as they simply don't appear clear enough to always determine exactly what it is. The FVX for spells are solid if not spectacular with some exemptions which look fantastic. Animations - battle or otherwise - are simply not up to par.

Music is good to great and a few crappy ones. Tgis is true for both the new and old music. Same with voice overs. Some of the voiceacting is really good; some not so good.


Part 6 - Control, Control, Control
-------------------------------------

For the most part it basically controls like NWN1. Point and click to go where you want. Right click on targets to get more options than the basic one. Key thing to note is make sure to use the option to speed the right click up or else you'll just waste time. Quick menu is like NWN1 but with more slots. It's too bad that unlike NWN1; you cna't put everything in it. I'd rather have spotaneous casting on my radial menu than 'quickspell'. Quick spell kind of annoys me. The mode bar is a very nice feature, and overall it works perfect. Things like power attack don't always seem to stay right. Minor annoyance though since it still is an improvement over NWN1.

Now for camera control. *shudder* Even with 4 different view options (two are complete poo); they still irk me. After playing the game as much as I have, I'm a little more used to it; but still.. not cool.

Combat control is easy. Basically point and click to target foes or allies for the most part. Combat is exactly like NWN1 except you have an option to control allies, and you should overall use. The AI is bascially at the level of HOTU. Don't expect much more functionality even with the tool 'Puppet Mode' options. LOL Obsidian. I still find that hilarious! :D

Another big beef is the inbaility to put duelweapons or weapon + shield pairs in a quick slot forcing you to enter mele to readd the second piece of equipment. Urgh.


Part 7 - A Mixture Of Stuff
-----------------------------

Inventory is alright. Outside of the item icons that is. Usuually easy to transfer things. I still think 4 inventory screens per character is way too much. One would should suffice. I had the same beef with NWN1. I like the fact that actual D&D encumbrance is now in as you get weighed down ebfore even before max as per the rules. I wonder if you cna't move at all if maxed out. I hope so.

Selling is fine, and I'm used to it. I just wish they wouldn't bother asking you if you wanted to sell soemthing. If I right clicked an object while at a store than click on sell; then duh of course it means I wanna sell it. What a wasted question.

Things I kinda miss is no discipline (the game handles fine without it though so not too bad). The lack of the called shot feats *is* NOT cool, however. It gives warriors even less options in combat. My biggest shock, hwoever, is the lack of animal empathy skill for druids and rangers. Urgh.

Tower shields are even uberer giving +4 ac normally not +3 as in NWN1. However, side thing (not sure if it's a bug or not), only warrior types get it as a feat. Why is the question. Weird. Some cool exotic weapons are gone mostnoteably the double bladed axe and sword. I also think the whip didn't make the cut. Gah.

I haven't tried crafting; but I intend to eventually. Heh. More on that later.


Part 7 - Prologue: It was good. It reminded me a lot of NWN1's. It bascially tests you at various skills you'll need in game (magic, combat, roguish, and archery) in a tournament to be cvowned best in town. You win (I did); you get a cup that lets you cast cure light wounds x2 a day. useful early in game. Not so much later. The townfolk are an interetsing lot. Dialogue skills pop up now and again; but nothing shockingly cool happens with them. Your mentor is a doof. I cna't believe this is the punbk that 'raised' my character. LOL The two prologue companions are pretty fleshed out despite being shorttimers. I'm actually disaapointed they weren't amongst the main joinables. I like them both espicially the girl. You gain 2 levels in this thing. Doesn't bother me; but I'm surprised more aren't whining about it like they did when the NWN OC did it. The thing with the pig was well done. LOL Enlarge spell. Kinda obvious though. I loved your 'archrivals' too. And, the mage (girlfriend's master) had some great lines as well. Overall, it was well done.


Part 8 - The Story: Nothing special. really, it reminds me of NWN1 (amongst other games). Your village/school/area is attacked; you are called on to play hero by everyone. I though Obsidian wasn't going that route; but you are pretty much chosen as the Supreme One from the start except by maybe a handful of people you are always complimented. In essence, everyone knows the base story. Big past war, mommy died, foster father raised you, shards split up, githyanki and goons attack village, girlfriend dies (sad), foster father tells you to get lost (seek out THA shards, my boy, seek out THA shards), childhood friend stays behind, constantly ambushed, find out the Shadow King is ALIVE (dun dun dun and doah) and still plotting Bad Stuff tm, arrive in NW and collect second shard. It's decently written; but not spectacular.


Part 9 - Companions: First off, I really loved the two companions who join you in the prologue as mentioned above. I wish they were with you forever.

Khelgar the dwarf is awesome, and wants to be a monk. He's all about violence (making him a poor potential monk). I nlove his flat out denials when you sadly inform him that monks aren't usually into wanton violence. Sadly, his alignment is NG so he seems to be out of luck. LOL Totally great character.

Neeshka is a whiney two bit slime bugget who I wish i never saved from the scum who wanted to murder her. Her skills as a rogue are sueful; but outside of that all she adds is a whiney attitude who whines about everything even others when they aren't even whining! Her cracked up voice over actress doesn't help neither. I hate her, and not in a good way. She frggin' whined when I agreed to find two missing children nbot that long after I pulled herbutt from the fire. Short term memory or selfish B? You decide. She's an Imoen wannabe but without the freshness, the coolness, or the sweetness. I wish I could give her the boot. For someone who whines about others jduging ehr based on their race; she certainly does it a lot.

Elanee is perhaps the best ever Elven druid I ever saw (just as cool as Jaheria but Jaheira was only half druid). She's courteous, cool as a cucumber, and sweet as heck. I loved her reaction when the subject of children came up. The interatcion between her and the PC (male only I guess?) is HYSTERICAL. I LOL just thinking about.

I've seen a couple of other joinables but they haven'ty yet offered to join up. Sand the Wizard is a friend of your 'uncle'. I like him thus far. He's an alchemicist by trade. The other, Bishop the Ranger, simply ignored me completely. R00fles! I'll ignore him too when the times comes... if I can...

Overall, not a bad lot. Pretty darn good minus the tiefling witch. Not too much to say about the influence system. It's just there like any game that does the same thing but doesn't have a fancy name. No weird quirks of it yet.


Part 10 - Quests, Choices, and Skill Checks
--------------------------------------------------

Quest ar eoverall cool even though the travel is limited. Even with the world map and optional areas (the lizard cave and bandits I think), the areas seem limited movement wise comapred to NWN1. It seems only a few paths to go on. It's double frustrating because the area seems to continue on even when it doesn't. Areas are also rather small. Smaller than most NWN1 areas to be sure or faster to cover. Hmmm.

Quests tend to have different ways to approach them. Usually by some form of diplomact and bluff). My favorite quests involve npcs that continually turn up (a certain couple and a certain merchant - no, not Deekin as I have not seen him. The war between the Rightful Commander of a fort and his replacement was nice too.

Skills are used alot, and usually matter. However, a few times, it doesn't seem to matter if you fail since you accomplish your goal anyways - ie. I tried to broker a truce between a lizardfolk tribe and a watertown. I failed both diplomacy checks yet I still managed to convince them to stop attacks on each other. Why bother with checks if it ultimately doesn't matter? Those are rare though, I THINK.


Part 11 - PhAt Lewt
----------------------

WOO HOO for ph@t lewt! At level 7, I have +2 waraxe, fullplate, and a tower shield +1 giving me 25ac. Pretty darn good. My other loot is good too espically the two shard I have found. One gives me +10 hit points, and the other 5 reduction vs two elements (fire and acid IIRC). They need to simply be in the inventory to take effect. My allies are similarily equipped. I got uopwards of 10k gold too. Potions are slightly less rare than NWN1; but still a lot. Not too surprising.


Part 12 - Combat!
---------------------

It works like NWN1 except with companion control if you wish. Go that way if you can (no keyboard problems, heh). Combat is cool. It is rather easy for me. I've only had a TPK occur once, and that's based on my foolishness tossed in with some bad luck. I got murdered by the Bandit Leader (NOT chief), and two bandits because I hadn't rested in like forever and they did something like a half dozen crits. Outside of that, it's been mostly a cakewalk. The stupid rogue ditz has fallen unconcious several times. My characters been close to falling under due to running over traps from time to time and I don't keep up with healing as much as I probably should since most enemies have a hard time even hitting me. Heh. Hopefully, the challenge picks up. The combat *is* fun *if* you like NWN1 + full party control though (even without playing like NWN1 it is fun and less time wasteful too). Good stuff.


Part 11 - Overall
-------------------

Don't read my post as being truly negative. Overall, I REALLY like this game. It's not without its fault. The story while not AWESOME is *still* good, and the character dynamics really make it worthwhile. Atmosphere is really good at times. The overall package is fantastic with great stability. I'd rate the OC (thus far) higher than NWN OC because of enhanced ally interaction, and better than KOTOR2 because of better combat (and possibly even KOTOR1 too). The NWN OC's story is on par (possibkly superior even); but the enhanced companions,and advanced skill useage gives NWN2 OC the edge. Good job Obsidian.


Part 12 - The Future tm.
---------------------------

I will continue to play the OC, and update my feelings based on that. I will also be doing crafting so I will finally be able to comment on that. I'll also try out the DMC, released toolset, and MP so I can give my thoughts on those. Hopefully, the toolset guidebook will make it to my EB store. I sure hope so. Expect future updates as well as my opinion on what should/could be added in future expansions, updates, and patches.


I will NOT apologize for spoilers or even length. I will, however, apologize for boring you with my 100 platinum pieces of my aberrant thoughts and opinions on this game.


Great game, Obs!


Volourn.



LONG LIVE NWN1! LONG LIVE NWN SERIES! LONG LIVE NWN2!

 

[Topher]

I don't see on what level they would be dumbed down compared to other RPG released around the same time. You might not like them for whatever reason, fine, but they're not simplistic or forgiving for a newbie.

Visit the Bioware forums nowadays and you'll find that none of their current games are "simplistic or forgiving for a newbie" either.

 

[Volourn]

LMAO What's this new thang of reposting my old stuff? LMAO


"Which female romance is your favorite?"

Jaheria.

 

[sgc_meltdown]

Visit the Bioware forums nowadays and you'll find that none of their current games are "simplistic or forgiving for a newbie" either.

Speaking of simplistic or forgiving I really don't know why Dragon Age took out the option to attack anyone that you had even in the BG games. I guess Neverwinter Night's immersive Non PVP Area style messages inspired them to introduce this extra bit of complexity.

 

[Volourn]

Nah. That's KOTOR's fault. That's when BIo (and others) went with the 'no option to kill people) crap. then again, even in BG series there were certain peeps you couldn't attack/kill. Hell, even in FO series...

 

[Exmit]

Nah. That's KOTOR's fault. That's when BIo (and others) went with the 'no option to kill people) crap. then again, even in BG series there were certain peeps you couldn't attack/kill. Hell, even in FO series...

 

[Topher]

Visit the Bioware forums nowadays and you'll find that none of their current games are "simplistic or forgiving for a newbie" either.

Speaking of simplistic or forgiving I really don't know why Dragon Age took out the option to attack anyone that you had even in the BG games. I guess Neverwinter Night's immersive Non PVP Area style messages inspired them to introduce this extra bit of complexity.

I don't know what's up with Bioware anymore and I showed up a little late to the hate party because I never bothered to play NWN, thought I did enjoy KotOR.

Anyway, Baldur's Gate, though I personally really enjoyed it, really isn't as complex as a lot of it contemporaries but at the end of the day I guess I'm just a sucker for it. BG is still a game that I go back to and play from time to time even though it didn't really push the genre foreword like some other series were at least trying to do but Bioware was a small studio at the time and I think they put out a solid product. It certainly got flaws, what game doesn't, I'd like I've mentioned it didn't really bring a whole lot of new or improved features to the table. It was a fun game and still is and I've never quite understood all the hate but I didn't grow up on the GB games or many of the other classics often talked about here, in fact BG was was of my earlier RPG experiences, though I'd previously played a few gems such as Fallout.

 

[Volourn]

Gb games are overrated - espicially on the C&C Codex. R00fles!

But, hey fighting billions of beholders at once is kewl for no reason. R00fles!

 

[sgc_meltdown]

Nah. That's KOTOR's fault. That's when BIo (and others) went with the 'no option to kill people) crap.

This just reminded me of a roleplaying improvement fan mod for Kotor 2. It basically gave your darkside characters a force choke that you could use on any npc and it would automatically put them in that animation and deplete their health until you toggled it off. Then it gave you a brief speech skill boost to reflect that you had intimidated them with your dark jedi powers.

If you didn't turn off the choke fast enough this would actually kill that character and break the game in some cases so the author didn't recommend that.