Baldur's Gate 1 Edwin and Jaheira are clearly superior. Like very much so. For Jaheira: BG1 Jaheira=Super sexy, super badass nature warrior Xena princess BG2 Jaheira=ET phone home I always switch to BG1 Jaheira. Always. For Edwin: BG1 Edwin=Super arrogant, super intelligent... love using it for my own mages BG2 Edwin=waaaay too old to still be having a "goth/punk phase". Needs Jesus and/or a new stylist. Piercings like that don't look right on middle aged men. He PIERCED HIS BEARD!!!!!!!!!! When I use Edwin (rare occasions since I don't often play evil) I use the first portrait, unless I am also playing a magic-user.
Imoen is too old in BG1 so I have a slight preference for her second portrait. However, I really like the one @joluv shared. His prices may be high but his taste in portraits is impeccable. Imoen's BG2 portrait is nice but she is too serious, even for post-Irenicus Imoen. I prefer a slier, more playful look for her.
Viconia's BG2 pic obviously improves on the fugly, psycho serial-killing ex girlfriend look of the first game, but she's... blue. Its a nice portrait otherwise.
BG2 Minsc gets bonus points for... actually looking like BG1 Minsc! Both are good. The first one shows his love for Boo, really displaying our bond as I give him life advice on how to be a hero.
However, the second portrait really captures my good side. I am actually facing the camera, and look as adorable as ever. I kinda like both equally if I'm being honest. BG1 has a better Minsc, BG2 a better Boo.
I'm kinda surprised how many people like BG2 Jaheira... she has BRASS RING CORNROWS people! She looks like she's either dating Predator or about to drop a sick verse on Lil' Wayne's next music video.
@Nonnahswriter - ah thank you for clearing that up for me.
Glad to know that i WAS right after all lol.
Even if Jaheira CAN equip plate, it doesn't really make sense to ever put her in something that heavy considering her strengths as a fighter/druid favour a dextrous style of battle.
Pretty tempted to simply vote for "Bg2 all the way!!" as the only portrait from bg1 I prefer is Edwin (he really ought to be bald, as mentioned earlier). Also, the Minsc pictures aren't really different enough for me to have an opinion; they both fit imo (maybe the the bg1 version is slightly nicer if I stare at them side by side, but honestly I never really noticed there was more than one picture of Minsc before).
As a disclaimer, I'd like to point out that I played bg2 first (and infact, had only gone through bg1 2-3 times before the EE versions. Tutu and BGT were nightmares bug-wise (for me anyway) and vanilla bg1 felt waaaaay too zoomed in) which introduced me to the characters, so meeting people like Jaheira in the first game was always a bit of a "who the crap are you?!" feeling.
In any case, I've also been swapping out npc portraits more and more in large part due to how many nice ones are floating around (in this forum and in general). I can only juggle so many Charnames at once!
main thing i don't like about BG2 is the colors and how everyone is just staring straight ahead doing nothing. I like how there was some personality in all the BG1 portraits, they all were in the middle of doing something that reflected who they are. So with a few exceptions I like BG1 better. Oh and the trick with BG2 Jaheira is to not look at her for too long or you realize Iranicus gave her a bunch of terrible plastic surgery.
Viconia - BG2 (although why does she look less 'elven' than Jaheira, a half-elf?) EDIT: I'll vote for the modified BG1 portrait @SharGuidesMyHand posted.
In general, I like the BG1 portraits more, except for Jaheira and Viconia, who have beautiful portraits in BG2.
I especially dislike Imoen's portraits in BG2, but it befits her personality in that game, being traumatized by Irenicus' experiments. But I miss the cheerful Imoen and cheerful portrait of BG1 when I'm playing BG2.
To complicate it further for BG1 I use Imoen's BG1 portrait, and for BG2 I use a custom one that improves the hair and coloration of the original stock photo. I guess when playing BG1 I use the stock BG1 photo mainly for nostalgia's sake. However the BG1 pic for Immy actually looks a little too old for her. I've sometimes used the custom BG2 protrait for her in BG1 but it portrays her a little too sad, hardened, and wearied (in the look in her eyes) to match BG1's story.
The custom version of BG2 Viconia below has always been my favorite for her. The BG1 version isn't even a drow. And although there are some good custom revisions, the BG2 one is appropriately more sultry for her.
Jaheira will always remain the BG1 version in my head, even in BG2. I know she's a bit too human looking but what the hey.
I like the BG1 versions of Edwin and Minsc just a bit more than the BG2 versions. The BG2 ones for them are fine, though.
Actually now that I think of it, I don't have a true original BG2 version among them. But I guess modified Imoen and Viconia count as BG2.
BG1 hands down except for Viconia. She looks ugly in BG but hot in BG2. The others in BG2 are suffering from the braid fetish. I like braids but not on every fraking character.
BG1: Jaheira. That lush brown hair. BG1: Viconia. Looks much more savage. BG2: Imoen. The pink hair makes her extra cute. BG2: Minsc. He looks more endearing with a smile. BG2: Edwin. He doesn't look as dirty and skeezy in BG2.
I'm surprised that no one here mentioned @Syntia13 outstanding BG1/BG2 hybrid portrait of Jaheira yet. In my humble opinion this is how that druidic half-elf should have looked from the start!
Finally Jaheira doesn't look like a 120% human, or some cosmetician who recently underwent plastic surgery. ;p
For my personal runs though, I switched Jaheira back to her BG1 armour. I have to blame nostalgia and too much freetime for that. >_<
Edwin was better in BG1, but he doesn't look at all malformed by his BG2 additions. Otherwise, they are all better. I figured I'd vote for 'all' though, as I never object to or change the BG2 ones on any of them. Jahiera looks soooo good in the BG2 one, you guys dunno what you're talking about :P
The only one from BG2 that I specifically like more is Imoen's. I agree with a lot of other's sentiment that she looks too old in her BG1 portrait.
Edwin and Minsc(boo) have better portraits in BG1 imo.
Jaheira and Viconia are the odd ones. I don't care for either Viconia portrait, I've been on the hunt for finding a good one to replace it with. There are parts of both Jaheira portraits that I DO like, but I can't stand how either look on their own. If they hadn't made her eyes look odd, I think her BG2 portrait would win for me.
I'm surprised that no one here mentioned @Syntia13 outstanding BG1/BG2 hybrid portrait of Jaheira yet. In my humble opinion this is how that druidic half-elf should have looked from the start!
Finally Jaheira doesn't look like a 120% human, or some cosmetician who recently underwent plastic surgery. ;p
For my personal runs though, I switched Jaheira back to her BG1 armour. I have to blame nostalgia and too much freetime for that. >_<
Syntia's portrait is very nice, but I feel that the expression in the original BG1 portrait perfectly captures the character's fierce and domineering personality.
Hmm this has become about modified portraits now it seems. Well I guess i will put up a few I like best.
I actually like this one more than i like the Bg1 version. I guess I just got used to her Bg2 one after seeing it so often and it seems weird to have it switched back to the old Bg1 version. This one makes her not look so weird to me for some reason.
Alot of people like her with real dark skin and purple cloak. I prefer this.
BG1 for Edwin and Jaheira, BG2 for Viconia. Imoen and Minsc I'm undecided on. Reasons below.
Edwin: The BG1 portrait just looks more like the over-ambitious schemer he is. Partially because he's younger, which isn't entirely fair. I also like his look of slightly-confused disdain, like he's thinking "how exactly could a person be this stupid?". It seems very Edwin, to me.
Imoen: The BG1 portrait clearly wins for BG1 Imoen. I just think it looks better, aesthetically. The BG2 portrait, however, has scars and that vaguely haunted look, which is perfect for BG2 Imoen. The problem is, I don't like it as much as a piece of art. So I'm somewhat torn on this one.
Jaheira: BG1, definitely. She doesn't inexplicably have pseudo-deadlocks for no reason, and she actually looks like she has Jaheira's inherent sass. BG2 Jaheira looks... I dunno, vapid? Not like Jaheira at all. It's actually probably my least favorite NPC portrait in all of BG2.
Minsc: I like the BG1 portrait better, aesthetically, but neither is particularly bad, and Boo is displayed more prominently in the BG2 portrait. So I'm happy with both of them, overall.
Viconia: Definitely BG2. She looks like a proud and dignified drow woman who wears a hood constantly because she's a drow on the surface. Her BG1 portrait looks less like a proud drow and more like the amazing technicolor fanatical cultist.
Edwin: Definitely BG1. All the piercings and metal things and . . . well, metal! are a bit much.
Imoen: Very much BG2. Her BG1 portrait isn't bad, but BG2 Imoen looks so much more likely. She looks younger and more innocent, whereas BG1 Imoen seems very mature and, well, seductive.
Jaheira: I could go either way, but I think I like BG1 a little bit more. Her BG2 hair seems a little off, but it's not ugly or anything. I think Jaheira as more of a brunette anyhow.
Minsc: BG1, but BG2 ain't half-bad. Not too much of a difference, really; it's more about the art style than the concept of Minsc in this one.
Viconia: BG2 all the way. BG1 looks really weird I think @Jarrakul put it well when he said her BG1 portrait looks more like a fanatical cultist. The only issue I have with BG2 is that her skin is too blue; I would imagine it's more black, but that might be just me.
I really like the bg1 portraits not only as in-game portraits, but as standalone art pieces I think they are very expressive and skillfully done. Also I was exposed to them as the faces of the characters at a VERY early age, so it makes sense that I would prefer them as character portraits. The bg2 portraits are just a little to cartoony and over the top for me. I don't really like the style and I don't think they represent the characters very well. I don't think adventures have much time to spend doing they're hair, especially when they're people like Jaheira.
I always wondered who that face belonged to. It's been staring at me from the manuals for so long but I never found it in game. Rather odd . I like this one, but not certain whether it will be my favourite for Edwin
Edwin - Both versions are appropriate, still I slightly prefer the BG1 version.
Minsc - Like with Edwin, both versions are ok.
Jaheira - Definitely the BG1 version, although she doesn't look elvish at all in that portrait. Her BG2 portrait, however just gives me the creeps. Her features appear unnatural and distorted. Nightmare fuel(Aerie is even worse).
Imoen - BG2 all the way. Like others said, she looks way too old for a 19-20 year old in the BG1 portrait. Also her looks just don't match her high CHA score(i.e not pretty enough).
Viconia - I'm in the obvious minority here, but I happen to prefer the BG1 portrait by quite a margin. Her BG2 portrait strikes me as a crossbred of a (80s or 90s)hair dye model picture and Smurfette. What I really like about hir BG1 portrait is its vividness. It is pretty much the only picture showing a character in action, depicting someone about to finish a job. Since Viconia revels in battle, I find it(and her wicked smile) very fitting. Also, her BG1 portrait resembles her actual class more than the BG2 version. In addition, her BG1 hairstyle simply meets my personal preferences a lot more, and -very important- it makes her look younger. Whenever I look at the BG2 portrait, I see a 30-something woman. The BG1 portrait provides her with some more girlish features, which makes her a more believable romance option for a 20 year old protagonist.
Comments
Well, if i'm wrong, I'm wrong. lol.
EDIT:
I should say wear them as insofar that those types of armour were the heaviest they could use?
For Jaheira:
BG1 Jaheira=Super sexy, super badass nature warrior Xena princess
BG2 Jaheira=ET phone home
I always switch to BG1 Jaheira. Always.
For Edwin:
BG1 Edwin=Super arrogant, super intelligent... love using it for my own mages
BG2 Edwin=waaaay too old to still be having a "goth/punk phase". Needs Jesus and/or a new stylist. Piercings like that don't look right on middle aged men. He PIERCED HIS BEARD!!!!!!!!!!
When I use Edwin (rare occasions since I don't often play evil) I use the first portrait, unless I am also playing a magic-user.
Imoen is too old in BG1 so I have a slight preference for her second portrait. However, I really like the one @joluv shared. His prices may be high but his taste in portraits is impeccable. Imoen's BG2 portrait is nice but she is too serious, even for post-Irenicus Imoen. I prefer a slier, more playful look for her.
Viconia's BG2 pic obviously improves on the fugly, psycho serial-killing ex girlfriend look of the first game, but she's... blue. Its a nice portrait otherwise.
BG2 Minsc gets bonus points for... actually looking like BG1 Minsc! Both are good. The first one shows his love for Boo, really displaying our bond as I give him life advice on how to be a hero.
However, the second portrait really captures my good side. I am actually facing the camera, and look as adorable as ever.
I kinda like both equally if I'm being honest. BG1 has a better Minsc, BG2 a better Boo.
Definitely the first one for me.
Glad to know that i WAS right after all lol.
Even if Jaheira CAN equip plate, it doesn't really make sense to ever put her in something that heavy considering her strengths as a fighter/druid favour a dextrous style of battle.
As a disclaimer, I'd like to point out that I played bg2 first (and infact, had only gone through bg1 2-3 times before the EE versions. Tutu and BGT were nightmares bug-wise (for me anyway) and vanilla bg1 felt waaaaay too zoomed in) which introduced me to the characters, so meeting people like Jaheira in the first game was always a bit of a "who the crap are you?!" feeling.
In any case, I've also been swapping out npc portraits more and more in large part due to how many nice ones are floating around (in this forum and in general). I can only juggle so many Charnames at once!
BG2-Imoen
BG1-Jaheira
BG1-Minsc
B22-Viconia
main thing i don't like about BG2 is the colors and how everyone is just staring straight ahead doing nothing. I like how there was some personality in all the BG1 portraits, they all were in the middle of doing something that reflected who they are. So with a few exceptions I like BG1 better. Oh and the trick with BG2 Jaheira is to not look at her for too long or you realize Iranicus gave her a bunch of terrible plastic surgery.
Jaheira - BG1
Viconia - BG2 (although why does she look less 'elven' than Jaheira, a half-elf?)
EDIT: I'll vote for the modified BG1 portrait @SharGuidesMyHand posted.
Minsc - Enkida's lore-correct Minsc (Rashemi are NOT bald and tattooed!)
http://enkida.deviantart.com/art/BG2-Minsc-Lore-Corrected-271729871
Edwin - Enkida's lore-correct Edwin (Thayvians ARE bald and tattooed!)
http://enkida.deviantart.com/art/Lore-Edwin-283054559
BG1 Imoen
BG1 Jaheira
BG2 Minsc
BG2 Viconia
I especially dislike Imoen's portraits in BG2, but it befits her personality in that game, being traumatized by Irenicus' experiments. But I miss the cheerful Imoen and cheerful portrait of BG1 when I'm playing BG2.
To complicate it further for BG1 I use Imoen's BG1 portrait, and for BG2 I use a custom one that improves the hair and coloration of the original stock photo. I guess when playing BG1 I use the stock BG1 photo mainly for nostalgia's sake. However the BG1 pic for Immy actually looks a little too old for her. I've sometimes used the custom BG2 protrait for her in BG1 but it portrays her a little too sad, hardened, and wearied (in the look in her eyes) to match BG1's story.
The custom version of BG2 Viconia below has always been my favorite for her. The BG1 version isn't even a drow. And although there are some good custom revisions, the BG2 one is appropriately more sultry for her.
Jaheira will always remain the BG1 version in my head, even in BG2. I know she's a bit too human looking but what the hey.
I like the BG1 versions of Edwin and Minsc just a bit more than the BG2 versions. The BG2 ones for them are fine, though.
Actually now that I think of it, I don't have a true original BG2 version among them. But I guess modified Imoen and Viconia count as BG2.
BG1: Viconia. Looks much more savage.
BG2: Imoen. The pink hair makes her extra cute.
BG2: Minsc. He looks more endearing with a smile.
BG2: Edwin. He doesn't look as dirty and skeezy in BG2.
Finally Jaheira doesn't look like a 120% human, or some cosmetician who recently underwent plastic surgery. ;p
For my personal runs though, I switched Jaheira back to her BG1 armour. I have to blame nostalgia and too much freetime for that. >_<
Edwin and Minsc(boo) have better portraits in BG1 imo.
Jaheira and Viconia are the odd ones. I don't care for either Viconia portrait, I've been on the hunt for finding a good one to replace it with. There are parts of both Jaheira portraits that I DO like, but I can't stand how either look on their own. If they hadn't made her eyes look odd, I think her BG2 portrait would win for me.
I actually like this one more than i like the Bg1 version. I guess I just got used to her Bg2 one after seeing it so often and it seems weird to have it switched back to the old Bg1 version. This one makes her not look so weird to me for some reason.
Alot of people like her with real dark skin and purple cloak. I prefer this.
Imoen i prefer bg1 style but i think the change in bg2 made sense roleplay wise
Jaheira in bg1 is just.... leas awkward
Minsc in bg1 is lean and mean (kind and kind of crazy). In bg2 he gained a lot of baby fat in his face.
Viconia... both are okay. I kind of like her smashing someone's face in rather than the pornpose
For bg2 everybody got either braids, scars or tattoos.... or combination thereof.... why?!?!?!??!
Edwin: The BG1 portrait just looks more like the over-ambitious schemer he is. Partially because he's younger, which isn't entirely fair. I also like his look of slightly-confused disdain, like he's thinking "how exactly could a person be this stupid?". It seems very Edwin, to me.
Imoen: The BG1 portrait clearly wins for BG1 Imoen. I just think it looks better, aesthetically. The BG2 portrait, however, has scars and that vaguely haunted look, which is perfect for BG2 Imoen. The problem is, I don't like it as much as a piece of art. So I'm somewhat torn on this one.
Jaheira: BG1, definitely. She doesn't inexplicably have pseudo-deadlocks for no reason, and she actually looks like she has Jaheira's inherent sass. BG2 Jaheira looks... I dunno, vapid? Not like Jaheira at all. It's actually probably my least favorite NPC portrait in all of BG2.
Minsc: I like the BG1 portrait better, aesthetically, but neither is particularly bad, and Boo is displayed more prominently in the BG2 portrait. So I'm happy with both of them, overall.
Viconia: Definitely BG2. She looks like a proud and dignified drow woman who wears a hood constantly because she's a drow on the surface. Her BG1 portrait looks less like a proud drow and more like the amazing technicolor fanatical cultist.
Imoen: Very much BG2. Her BG1 portrait isn't bad, but BG2 Imoen looks so much more likely. She looks younger and more innocent, whereas BG1 Imoen seems very mature and, well, seductive.
Jaheira: I could go either way, but I think I like BG1 a little bit more. Her BG2 hair seems a little off, but it's not ugly or anything. I think Jaheira as more of a brunette anyhow.
Minsc: BG1, but BG2 ain't half-bad. Not too much of a difference, really; it's more about the art style than the concept of Minsc in this one.
Viconia: BG2 all the way. BG1 looks really weird
The bg2 portraits are just a little to cartoony and over the top for me. I don't really like the style and I don't think they represent the characters very well. I don't think adventures have much time to spend doing they're hair, especially when they're people like Jaheira.
I like this one, but not certain whether it will be my favourite for Edwin
Minsc - Like with Edwin, both versions are ok.
Jaheira - Definitely the BG1 version, although she doesn't look elvish at all in that portrait. Her BG2 portrait, however just gives me the creeps. Her features appear unnatural and distorted. Nightmare fuel(Aerie is even worse).
Imoen - BG2 all the way. Like others said, she looks way too old for a 19-20 year old in the BG1 portrait. Also her looks just don't match her high CHA score(i.e not pretty enough).
Viconia - I'm in the obvious minority here, but I happen to prefer the BG1 portrait by quite a margin.
Her BG2 portrait strikes me as a crossbred of a (80s or 90s)hair dye model picture and Smurfette.
What I really like about hir BG1 portrait is its vividness. It is pretty much the only picture showing a character in action, depicting someone about to finish a job. Since Viconia revels in battle, I find it(and her wicked smile) very fitting.
Also, her BG1 portrait resembles her actual class more than the BG2 version. In addition, her BG1 hairstyle simply meets my personal preferences a lot more, and -very important- it makes her look younger. Whenever I look at the BG2 portrait, I see a 30-something woman. The BG1 portrait provides her with some more girlish features, which makes her a more believable romance option for a 20 year old protagonist.