1990's Games - Baldurs Gate

 

Buldur’s Gate is a fantasy RPG game for the PC based upon the Dungeons and Dragons’ Second Edition rules. It runs upon a modified ruleset of the rules updating it for a gaming experience rather than the true complexity that the table top Dungeons and Dragons. The game was created using the Infinity Engine created by Bioware. The game, along with the game Diablo, is recognized as not only revitalising the RPG genre upon the PC but as being the true creators of the genre they defined.

The story is set within the Sword Coast, a location within the Dungeons and Dragons’ fantasy setting Faerun, and is based upon the journey of the Player Character who is an orphan; the story focuses upon the player finding out their true past and heritage which leads to a final confrontation and large boss battle at the end of the game. The story is twisted, covers many cities and locations and is by far as epic as any fantasy novel ever created.

The game can be played in a numerous amount of ways which can include the player pausing time and setting up their actions, before unpausing combat and continuing; or the game can be played as a true real time combat game with players making choices on the fly rather than sitting and thinking about their actions.

The interaction, amount of character development, and the true scope of gameplay and options means that almost every single play through of the game, though leading to the same plot points, can be completely different; with each combat situation, each social encounter and side quest being played out in a different fashion and tactic.

The games interactive feature with Non-player characters, combat and their choices that effect not only the way character react to them in the game, but also the outcome of situations, creates an immersive game play environment and entertaining game in which players feel their actions truly reflect upon the environment.

While the graphics were never the best, and the pseudo isometric view left it very difficult in terms of camera angles and the controls felt a little clunky the depth of the game, story and choices meant that it had many redeeming qualities and remains as a staple and notch in the history of gaming’s bed post.