Let’s Play BG2 EE #182: Taking Back What Is Ours

Channel:

Kikoskia

Subscribers:

57,800

Published on December 28, 2019 9:30:04 AM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy1Hw4BzX6E

Game:

Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn (2000)

Duration: 27:18

1,801 views

117

There lies just one more test between Terri and Irenicus, one last tear that will open the door to the wizard who still possesses her soul. The tests have taken her strength and fortitude – both already beyond the limits of any normal person can achieve – and made them greater still. She’s gained innate resistances that are only otherwise achievable through the use of powerful spells or magic items. She uses heavily enchanted equipment the likes of which would strike terror into the hearts of her foes, cutting them down with unparalleled martial mastery but she doesn’t act alone, standing alongside her stalwart companions who had been with her through thick and thin, across Amn and the planes themselves. What person can stand against their combined might and think they can prevail? Only a fool or a being with power to rival the gods would stand a chance.

Today, we find out which one of those Irenicus is.

Baldur’s Gate II: The Shadows of Amn is a game near and dear to me, a favourite of my childhood and something that has stuck with me all these years. Playing through it again hast not only reaffirmed how much I like it, but doing so with a party completely different to how I normally play has shown me so many things I’d never experienced before. The story is engaging, the world full of rich, vibrant lore and detail. The mechanics are solid, the graphics pleasing to the eye and the soundtrack outstanding. I haven’t even begun to talk about the companions you can take with you, in part because I could be here all day going over how awesome they are. The game has so much content that there was still more for me to do in Amn, if you can believe it, a great strength as a weakness. I enjoyed the additional content added in the Enhanced Edition, especially the new companions that make an all evil party possible.

With all that praise, playing through the game again after so many years has revealed to me its weaknesses. The game has balance issues and many of the quests don’t have enough ways to complete them beyond ‘super paragon good’ and ‘overly cartoonish evil villain’. Then there are the bugs, something I’m fortunate I only encountered a few of during my let’s play. There’s also the fact that some of the writing – mostly from the original content – leaves a lot to be desired, lacking the subtle nuance that separates ham-fisted exposition and plot dumps from true conversation. Many are the flaws of Shadows of Amn but even with knowing all of them, I still love the game. It’s a game that had a huge impact upon its release and one that I’m sure I’ll return to many more times in the future. I encourage anyone who wants to play a classic RPG to give this one a try, both to experience all the things in that are great and see the flaws which future releases have improved upon.

So, what’s next? Considering that this has by far been the longest let’s play I’ve ever done, I think it’s time I do something quite a lot shorter. Many are the genres I could jump into, but I feel like playing an RPG, which leaves me the ever-present question: an RPG from what era? Will I play something old or new, complicated or simple? Often I have to decide between one or the other, but not this time. This time, we’re going to play a game that’s all of those things and yet… not.

See you next let’s play!

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