Which IE game has the most beautiful scenario design?

DJKajuru

Something that IE games did like no other were the flawless scenarios that contributed so much to the atmosphere of each game. Which one do you think that contributed the most ?

RedGuard

Can't judge all those games myself, but I do prefer BG2 to BG1. There's more variety and BG2 looks better overall imo.

GodKaiserHell

 

Mathsorcerer

IWD/HoW/TotLM. The look and feel of the game coupled with the music make this one the best.

DreadKhan

Iwd was downright gorgeous for its time. Also, the plot nugget, if examined, was often backed by interesting scenarios. The fate of Dorn's Deep and the Severed Hand hint at some good writing, nd the expansions IMHO were actually quite decent, in terms of plot, if brutally short without Trials. Blood Iron is still so kickass. Heck, I loved the unique items period, and the inane variety of treasure, especially the nifty lore for the unique items. Very appealing to the senses, but dull plot wise.

CoM_Solaufein

I was going to say BG1 but you had to throw IWD in there. Dorns Deep and just about everything else is perfect.

john_boy

IWD

Flashburn

I haven't played Planescape before, but my favorite one has to be BG1. Discovering the web of intrigue as you delve deeper and deeper into the Iron Throne conspiracy is something I'll never get to experience again and its beautiful.

The IWD series is good, but I dislike the amount of hack'n'slash there is between plot points. And that's coming from someone who enjoys BG1 and 2's combat. I simply ADORE IWD1 and 2's music though!

Djimmy

They are all awesome.

Mathuzzz

I wanted to vote for BG1, but IWD 2 had really atmospheric places to find.

elminster

I like the variety of Shadows of Amn/ToB. You get everywhere from the underdark to deserts, to a few large cities and to large keeps. Its really quite nice.

SionIV

Icewind dale without a doubt. Nothing like getting to warm kuldahar and after that having to go into the icy tombs to fight with the undead.

atcDave

I think IWD is technically "better", but it's just too desolate for my taste. I like the wilds and open landscapes of BG best.

Tetrapus

I'm a huge sucker for snow, but honestly all the wilderness areas in BG as well as Baldur's Gate... I don't know, it kinda reminded me of Canadian landscapes, and reeked of adventure

Quartz

Icewind Dale's atmosphere always gives me chills.

Anduin

BG1 as it set THE scene. BG2 built on it's very firm foundations.

Drugar

Icewind Dale has everything.
Snowy wastelands, followed by a warm green village under a massive tree, followed by dark and forboding ruins full of undead.
Dorn's Deep was amazing, the Severed Hand was awesome, the massive lavaflow in the fire giant's lair, the frozen aquarium with a massive whale on ice. No other game beats it when it comes to pure atmosphere.

Calmar

Icewind Dale is the only game I have experienced that manages to really engulf me with its atmosphere. The places are designed in such a detailed and moody way that it is easyily imagined to navigate frigid passes, explore chilly crypts, or return to the homely warmth of the great Kuldahar Oak.

I'm certain it is no coincidence that the game resembles, from box to cutscenes, a tome. The game is linear, yes, but I think that makes it age very well; it's like an interactive novel to me.

I love this game so much.

Moomintroll

My answer is to what I think you mean by scenario. IWD I will always think of as the most beautiful atmosphere and locations. But map+ monsters+ associated story that all come together as one thing (scenario, I suppose) has got to be SoA for me.

lunar

Bg2 has the best, most detailed and various areas. Te plot is much more engaging thanks to dream sequences, interesting npcs and a very succesful villain you'll come to love to hate. (in SoA, anyway)

BelgarathMTH

I've always thought that IWD had the most gorgeous art, graphics (such as the wood grain design of the interface), and mood of all the Infinity games.

If by "scenario" you mean "ingenuity of the combats and story progression through the modules", the award would probably go to SoA.

trinit

desolate, romantic snowy mountains with ancient secrets to find, IWD has excellent atmosphere and art. too bad linearity and lack of NPC's ruin it for me.

as a whole i consider SOA and planescape (even with sucky combat) much better games.

trinit

btw i'm really glad the rasaad's quest has similar art direction as icewind dale. (snowy) mountains always had very special appeal to me- calm, majestic and mysterious.

FredSRichardson

Icewind Dale for me. It was the first IE game I played. Dorn's Deep and the Severed Hand were really amazing. What the game lacked in party dynamics it made up for in atmosphere.

Lord_Tansheron

IWD is amazing in its atmosphere and setting. All the places you visit are iconic and impressive and fit the overall theme, from temples to glaciers to everything. The game certainly has its flaws in other aspects, but it's amazing in its terrain and atmosphere.

TJ_Hooker

The title and poll description ask 2 different questions. A scenario doesn't have to be beautiful to contribute to the atmosphere of the game. For PS:T it's quite the opposite; it's the bizarre and sometimes jarring nature of the visuals (and music) that make them so well suited to the unique story, characters, and setting of the game.

georgelappies

IWD with HoW no doubt. it has the following:

* Excellent interface design with the wooden borders.
* Excellent character portraits to choose from.
* Excellent Music, that tune that plays in Kuldahar makes me leave my party in town for ages. I actually like going to town to sell stuff.
* Character sounds, one of the best is the male dwarven one that just goes mmmgrgmmm and a variety of other mumblings. Perfect for a low intellect permanently pissed of dwarven fighter
* The voice acting of the NPC's one of the best being Kresselack

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-a5CwKKtuBc

FredSRichardson

While IWD's artwork and epic storing line was awe inspiring, PS:T really blew my mind. I think PS:T was by far the most imaginative of the infinity engine games I've ever played. Then again, in terms of "hours played" BG2 wins for me hands down. I found the BG2's open world, with an emphasis on character development and party interactions, to be deeply immersive.

So hats off to the original developers for coming up three game series that seem to each hit dead on on very different notes!

Malicron

@FredSRichardson I am in total agreement. Torment is the best IE game, BG2 is my favorite.

Rajick

I love the story of IWD2 plus I could roll a evil ranger which was awesome and still is since I bought it last night on gog. My favorite for role playing perposes by far. Yeah its not as open but every dialog has the opertunity of going really good in your favore or going haribly wrong and causing you to fight a horde of monsters well a lot of them any way

Messi

If I had to name the game with best music I'd probably say IWD. It's just that good!