Baldur's Gate and Its Influence on All Bioware Games

Bioware is a powerhouse for creating engaging worlds, and many influences can be traced all the way back to Baldur's Gate.

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[lakishajenkins]

Beg to differ about the graphics, I thought they were beautiful and immersive compared to the crappy 3D graphics that were around at the time (and for even a decade after). I prefer the Ifinity Engine in Baldur's Gate 2 to Neverwinter Nights.

[Xaeravoq]

the sense of adventure that you get from baldurs gate is like no other. the music is also amazing.

[TaekoHikeshi]

Baldur's Gate is one of the best games ever! My dad played it in the 90s when I was a baby and he introduced the game to me when I was 15 which was 5 years ago and I have played it 3 times, it is a great game!!! :)

[logankrog]

This is just my opinion, but BG1, 2 and the expansions are BY FAR the best story every told in a video game.

[BonesAlexander]

I believe that rp games today wouldn't be anywhere without Baldur's Gate.

[ImUpsetThatYouStoleMyUsername]

There was a certain feel to BG1 that I would say is arguably more satisfying than the second in the series. It's kind of like a gem in the rough, but as it's polished, you see a lot of the beauty that you missed, maybe even in the first play-through.

[forgetfulstranger]

Baldur's Gate damn, the intricacies are unmatched. BG 2 is the better of the 2 but Durlag's Tower is the best dungeon I've conquered, it had such a deep background story behind it

[anishak]

All I can say is "go for the eyes, Boo, go for the eyes!!"

[blueskin]

Bioware formed in 1995 and their first game was Shattered Steel. Published by Interplay.
Baldur's Gate was their second game. Although development started in 1995 it came out in 1998. Published by Black Isle, an Interplay division iirc.

[dlobom]

To this day I still jump if I hear the name Jon Irenicus, most evil bastard of any media ever.

[klumpos]

Guy on the left 'does that mean it was a licensed d&d game?' Why is he on a panel talking about baldurs gate if he doesn't know it's a d&d game. Honestly these mainstream game 'journalists' never fail to out themselves as hacks with those kind of statements

[ThomB]

BG influenced the first Dragon Age and the second and third games of the Mass Effect Trilogy. Outside of that EA took over Bioware's creative decisions, and Bioware was never the same.

[OceansBane]

You don't need a powerful computer to run Baldur's Gate. That's what makes it great

[slurwin]

Baldurs Gate 2 Shadows of Amn is much better than the original. I highly suggest playing it and its expansion Baldurs Gate Throne of Bhaal. Hands down best rpg game and expansion of all time.

[TALON-]

The game hooked me! And there was mods to voice and portraits you could install. Gave the game extended game play.

[johanrosenberg]

It never felt like they touched on how it influenced future games, just that it did.

I would have enjoyed some more concrete examples, and perhaps less talk about your experiences with BG.

[IsraelSmithD]

Still doesn't hold a candle to Baldur's Gate II

[nunyobiznez]

5:12 No blue aliens? The Baldur's Gate series has the Drow, which are even better :-)

[ShadowQuickpaw]

I have the EEs of both games in this series, but haven't gotten into them yet. I'm having difficulty getting used to the old systems I think (which is my fault, not the games') Like many people, KotOR was my first Bioware experience which probably set my expectation bar for video games too high.

Oh, btw: Bioware did a mech game before Baldur's Gate. Shattered Steel.

[Ian-iyeg]

"RPGs were bleak in the late 90s except on the consoles" Are these people game journalists?!?!?!!