Product description
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2001 BLACK ISLE STUDIOS CD-ROM
.com
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BioWare's Baldur's Gate II is the game that keeps on giving.
Already one of the most massive role-playing games in
memory--especially if you add the original Baldur's Gate and
Tales of the Coast expansion pack--the Baldur's Gate series
has provided, easily, 300 hours of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons
Second Edition role-playing genius. Now, just when you've got
your life back, and, maybe, finished BGII, the company goes and
releases the new BGII expansion pack Throne of Bhaal.
BGII is already so huge one might wonder why you would need or
want an expansion. Is it because there are hordes of additional
monsters to fight, a couple new classes and kits to explore (the
Wild Mage, for example), new treasures and artifacts, new quests
and dungeons, and the ability to reach an unprecedented 40th
level? Well, yes, those are pretty much the reasons why. Why
wouldn't you want to meet strange new creatures, unleash strange
new spells, and listen to even more bizarre voice acting from the
lovable Minsc? But the real reason to get this one is to see the
massive story finally reach a conclusion. There won't be a
Baldur's Gate III folks, and Throne of Bhaal lets you see the
e of the character that debuted as Gorion's young ward so many
years ago in the original Baldur's Gate.
This is an expansion, not a sequel, and thus the game mechanics
and animation are pretty much the same as in Baldur's Gate II.
With no new animation, save the new spells, and only a handful of
new beasts, this game doesn't innovate--it adds to the overall
experience. Naturally, it's fully playable in multiplayer mode,
and you can start anew with one of the new classes or continue
with your old character. --Andrew S. Bub
Pros:
* More, more, more of the bestselling Baldur's Gate experience
* A fitting conclusion to the epic story line Cons:* Same
tried-and-true gameplay, which makes it feel dull at times
* After 200 hours of BGII, do we need more?
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Review
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When Bioware founder, genius and all-around great guy Dr. Ray
Muzyka stops by to show off Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal,
you damn well pay attention and get the preview done that day.
That said, let's get down to the nitty-gritty details
The expansion is really two parts, an add-on and an add-in. The
add-in can take place any time, prior to finishing BG II or after
starting the new section of that game. It focuses on Watchers
Keep, a massive dungeon. During the 20 or so hours of gameplay
inside the dungeon you'll come upon various interesting creatures
and people, though the most interesting should be the Machine of
Lum the Mad. Created so long ago no one knows its origin, the
machine has amazing abilities that you'll eventually get to toy
with. Press the red button, pull the blue lever -- every time you
interact with the machine something's going to happen. There are
more than 20 different results that can randomly happen every
time you interact.
The add-on game picks up the story after Irenicus; apparently the
Children of Bhaal are getting ready for a hoedown. The Child of
Bhaal story will come to a conclusion with Throne of Bhaal. While
Ray wasn't giving away final details, we do know the remaining
children of Bhaal have gather around a prophesied city. Some are
running, some are sieging; you're going to walk right in there
and kick ass. We're going to do some speculation here -- we
figure that you'll end up killing all the children of Bhaal and
guess what, take... his... Throne. Similar to the add-in, the
add-on will also take roughly 20 hours to complete.
What's new? Several dozen new creatures. Experience cap of
8,000,000 points or roughly 40th level. Only the insane will
actually reach this level, because you'd have to go through the
game multiple times. A new class kit has been added, the Wild
Mage. These mages don't necessarily have the greatest control
over their magic. The downside is misfiring, wrong spells and
general calamity; the upside is spells with more power. Doesn't
sound like something you want to experience? Too bad -- there are
areas in Throne of Bhaal that will recreate this effect, and
there are also areas that will douse down all magic. Better have
a few tank characters with you. Over 100 new items, many of them
craftable. All characters are getting high-level abilities,
similar to the abilities the child of Bhaal has been receiving
from time to time throughout the series; high-level characters
will get skills tailored to their class -- for instance,
Whirlwind Attack for the fighters.
Surprises? Servok is coming back -- at least, you've got the
chance to raise his dead ass and have him join the party. Did we
mention that you'd get this option from your fortress on the
Abyssal Plane? Hello! You are the child of Bhaal. High-level
spells that will blow your mind are also going to be in full
effect -- Dragon's Breath conjures up the head of a Red Dragon
and rolls out 20d10 worth of damage. The proper response for that
spell is -- HOLY CRAP. Globe of Blades will conjure a, er, globe
of razor sharp blades; just walk into your enemies and it's
Cuisinart time. Be sure not to get too close to your friends
though; razor blades don't discriminate.
Ray was specific: Bioware wants this to be the best part of the
series so far -- at a minimum as good as BG II, but with the goal
of being better in every way. Look for Throne of Bhaal sometime
in Q2 2001. -- DailyRadar Review
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