Baldur's Gate Baldur's Gate 2 is vastly overrated

[Sarathiour]

What makes it even better is that the message before the thirteentuple-post austitic rage was some blind praise by another alt that has also been created in 2020 with less than twenty message.

 

[Blutwurstritter]

I like Baldur's Gate II. You sound like an aspiring video gaming journalist, do you need tips to beat it?

 

[anvi]

Baldur's Gate 2 is vastly overrated. It's a complete mess.

You know it is 20 years old right? I don't think it is overrated, most people playing games today would have never even heard of it. In neckbeard communities then yeah it is going to be popular but that doesn't mean much. The sad fact is though, RPGs are not that big of a genre even at the best of times. GTA gets $250m or whatever, and the next big RPG is getting a small fraction of that. And in the 90s especially, that was a really small budget with not great tech. TL-DR: RPGs are generally gimpy and cheap and crappy and under developed and under funded, but there are still some worth playing. I like the high level spells so there aren't many options for that in gaming.

Yet it's still praised to hell in almost all gaming forums.

I think most of the internet is bots. I've been banned from every forum I ever visited, probably 100. They only want bland yes-men comments.

 

[Verylittlefishes]

I would say BG1 is overrated.
It is also significantly less serious than the sequel.

It's actually more serious. You have a conspiracy to lead 2 nations into war. You have a bunch of underground Bhaal worshipping cultists, mining thugs and rengenade gnolls.
BG2 is all over the place with Beholders, Mind Flayers, Liches running amok in Athkatla and the cowled mages not knowing anything about it. It's almost like the Dragon Ball Z funny (where 2 punks can generate enough "Ki" to obliterate a planet)

Jesus, I wrote this 3 years ago.

i still consider BG2 (and especially Watcher's Keep) a peak DND CRPG experience.

 

[turkishronin]

So, why did Bald man's gay tale succeed while pillars of tranny failed

 

[Verylittlefishes]

So, why did Bald man's gay tale succeed while pillars of tranny failed

Because...i don't know how to put it properly...BG2 was a good game (even a GREAT one), while Pillows of Boredom was at best mediocre?

 

[Blutwurstritter]

So, why did Bald man's gay tale succeed while pillars of tranny failed

Pillars 1 is mostly gloom and doom with a downtrodden mood and pretty much nothing else. I don't think that is a good idea for a long game, even if it matches the themes. Even the soundtrack is as lively as a funeral procession. I remember just one tavern track that isn't a buzz kill, the rest was mostly somber, slow, melancholic. Baldur's Gate 2 on the other hand invites adventure, feels generally more powerful, boisterous, heroic and lively. That alone makes a large difference, to be honest. A depressive mood can work if its used temporarily or as a setup for a moment of joy or relieve, but it isn't a mood to carry on through a whole game. Pillars 2 is an improvement over its prequel in that regard but still felt somewhat reserved and inhibited, mostly due to its apathetic handling of the main plot line. I didn't find the PoE games engaging, while BG1/2 managed to do so in some way.

 

[anvi]

So, why did Bald man's gay tale succeed while pillars of tranny failed

Pillars 1 is mostly gloom and doom with a downtrodden mood and pretty much nothing else. I don't think that is a good idea for a long game,

That reminds me of Neverwinter Nights with the plague. It would have been fine but it really dragged on.. They even had a character make fun of it in one of the expansions.

 

[NecroLord]

i still consider BG2 (and especially Watcher's Keep) a peak DND CRPG experience.

Same thing here.
A lot of people like to draw comparisons between Baldur's Gate 1 and 2, saying which one is this or that, but I think they are both great, pure AD&D 2e awesomeness.
Baldur's Gate 2(Throne of Bhaal included) has a lot more content and is well known for being a "Monty Haul" campaign, really, REALLY generous with the loot and magic items. Perhaps more is not always better? Baldur's Gate 1 had a sense of exploration and wonder, the dangers and perils of being a level 1 nobody who can get killed by a simple xvart. It is also a lot more open ended than its sequel.

 

[Volourn]

If you died to a xfart you are playing lazy. Lmao
Anyways, bg and bg2 are awesome. Bg2 is the apex of all rpgs. Bg2, fo2, and nwn are top 3 rpgs of all FUKKIN' time

 

[kangaxx]

If you died to a xfart you are playing lazy. Lmao
Anyways, bg and bg2 are awesome. Bg2 is the apex of all rpgs. Bg2, fo2, and nwn are top 3 rpgs of all FUKKIN' time

You think that's lazy, when I replayed it a few years ago I believe I was one shot by the first wolf I saw.

 

[Nano]

Bg2 is the apex of all rpgs.

The apex of RPGs is RTWP combat, cringy companions, bland environment art, and being devoid of any C&C?

 

[Mr. Magniloquent]

 

[perfectslumbers]

So, why did Bald man's gay tale succeed while pillars of tranny failed

Pillars has way worse system design because of Soyers preference for balance. Your characters will never feel particularly exciting or unique or powerful compared to Baldur's Gate which uses 2e rules. This is the biggest advantage BG has, in my opinion.

 

[Volourn]

No. The apex of rpgs is fun and all time memories. And, making codexers cry. That's a bonus. Sorry larian fans, your game isnt at bg2s height. I was here when codexers were committing suicide because they couldn't handle bg2s awesomesauce.

 

[smaug]

whose alt is this?

and as always, BG 2 >>>>> BG 1

BG 1 is boring low level shit for half of the game

BG1 is low level done good.

 

[turkishronin]

I think CRPGs would be better today if not everyone just wanted to play reskinned BG2 again and again

 

[Gumar]

So, why did Bald man's gay tale succeed while pillars of tranny failed

Pillars has way worse system design because of Soyers preference for balance. Your characters will never feel particularly exciting or unique or powerful compared to Baldur's Gate which uses 2e rules. This is the biggest advantage BG has, in my opinion.

Nope. Pillars 2 has the bland and artifically balanced design. Not Pillars 1.
Pillars 1 has sufficient difference between the various characters.
BG2 takes it too far in one direction. Some classes are extremely under-powered, that they feel as sidekicks, not classes.
Balance is a tricky concept.
You have to maintain the relevance of various aspects all the while maintaining their uniqueness. Neither make it bland nor make it unrealistic.

 

[Gumar]

i still consider BG2 (and especially Watcher's Keep) a peak DND CRPG experience.

Same thing here.
A lot of people like to draw comparisons between Baldur's Gate 1 and 2, saying which one is this or that, but I think they are both great, pure AD&D 2e awesomeness.
Baldur's Gate 2(Throne of Bhaal included) has a lot more content and is well known for being a "Monty Haul" campaign, really, REALLY generous with the loot and magic items. Perhaps more is not always better? Baldur's Gate 1 had a sense of exploration and wonder, the dangers and perils of being a level 1 nobody who can get killed by a simple xvart. It is also a lot more open ended than its sequel.

Those who's Reticular Activating System, is desensitised (perhaps because of low intellect or perhaps because of peasant tastes or because of excessive stimulation) enjoy BG2's dopamine shitfest.
They can't appreciate immersion, balance and true creativity.

 

[Gumar]

Stay tuned for September, Chum

Nah thanks, they/them.

So you are one of those LGBTQ trannies?

 

[Gumar]

I like Baldur's Gate II. You sound like an aspiring video gaming journalist, do you need tips to beat it?

No thanks. You're profoundly mistaken if you think I'm in the same league as Anita Sarkessian. Her grave comments on masculinity have nothing to do with my critical evaluation of video game designs.

 

[Gumar]

So, why did Bald man's gay tale succeed while pillars of tranny failed

Pillars 1 is mostly gloom and doom with a downtrodden mood and pretty much nothing else. I don't think that is a good idea for a long game, even if it matches the themes. Even the soundtrack is as lively as a funeral procession. I remember just one tavern track that isn't a buzz kill, the rest was mostly somber, slow, melancholic. Baldur's Gate 2 on the other hand invites adventure, feels generally more powerful, boisterous, heroic and lively. That alone makes a large difference, to be honest. A depressive mood can work if its used temporarily or as a setup for a moment of joy or relieve, but it isn't a mood to carry on through a whole game. Pillars 2 is an improvement over its prequel in that regard but still felt somewhat reserved and inhibited, mostly due to its apathetic handling of the main plot line. I didn't find the PoE games engaging, while BG1/2 managed to do so in some way.

Pillars 1 isn't all doom and gloom. It's the very definition of dark fantasy adventure. The Endless Paths of Od Nua invites all sorts of energetic adventurers, not just the lonely depressed sages.
And honestly, it's tone is very similar to the Mask of the Betrayer, which again is highly praised (even more so than BG2).
Pillars 1 environment is much more authentic than BG2's. I truly feel I have been transported to medieval Saxony or Wessex. BG2 feels like a mixture of Lisbon, Cairo and Daggerfall.
It's also much smaller than BG2. So you're wrong again on account of it being a long game.

BG2 isn't lively. It's a shrill noise on the ears.
And although I agree that BG2's atmosphere is more "sunny" for the lack of a better word, it's most highly praised parts are the Underdark and Watcher's Keep, two areas which most resemble the mood set by Pillars of Eternity.

Pillars 2 is "sunnier" but a very incoherently designed game. It's main quest and ending was as bland as BG2 (and rightly reviled).

If you really want to experience a grand, cheerful and sunny adventure, try
DAO (Entire Game)
Divinity Original Sin (Cyseal area)
NWN2 (Act I)
Majesty : The Fantasy Kingdom Sim (RTS)
Age of Wonders (RTS)
Captain Claw (Side Scroller)


And one reason why such boisterous and "Sunny" games aren't that good is because it's Europeans/Americans making these games. And these guys can only make authentic "nordic" and "temperate" atmopsheres rather than tropical or desert ones.

 

[Nano]

And honestly, it's tone is very similar to the Mask of the Betrayer, which again is highly praised (even more so than BG2).
Pillars 1 environment is much more authentic than BG2's. I truly feel I have been transported to medieval Saxony or Wessex. BG2 feels like a mixture of Lisbon, Cairo and Daggerfall.
It's also much smaller than BG2. So you're wrong again on account of it being a long game.

This I agree with. Pillars 1 had many failures, but the atmosphere wasn't one of them.

 

[Feyd Rautha]

So that's why I could never get into BG2

 

[Verylittlefishes]

The Endless Paths of Od Nua invites all sorts of energetic adventurers, not just the lonely depressed sages.

lmao, "The Endless Paths" is just aping of "Watcher's Keep" from BG2. And a very poor one.