Remembering a classic

AnthonyPaulO

I remember when Baldur's Gate was first released and I opened the game box containing five cd-roms and the sense of anticipation I had as I was installing them one by one. My childhood was spent in the streets of East Harlem NYC so I never had the pleasure of playing a real Dungeons & Dragons game, but I knew it was out there and I had always wanted to play it since I am very much a fantasy role player at heart. Here was the next best thing and it was mine, all mine, purchased and paid for with my own hard-earned money. Playing it would be a ritual : I would close the door, draw the curtains, and turn the lights out as I prepared myself for a very, very long night. I remember my very first impressions of the game, marveling at the narrator's voice, beautiful graphics, amazing story and characters with their own personalities and voice-actors, immersive sound-track and sound-effects... everything added to the overall atmosphere and made me feel as if I was a part of this fantastic world where magic lives and adventure lay before me. I get chills down my spine when I remember the feeling I had playing this game, how it was such a welcome escape from real-life, how it was so well done and conceived that I have played it over and over and how today I am actually paying (and very happily I might add) to play this 15 year old game yet again. I am 39 years old now and my wife is about to bear me a son, and when he is ready I will set him down the same path I took 15 years ago and enjoy the game once again... through him.

loganultima

This is beautiful.

Kilivitz

Thanks for sharing that, it was moving. Congratulations on your baby.

howtofightaraptor

This is what it's all about ladies and gentlemen.

chickenhed

This made me a happy, happy man. Great stuff right there. Great stuff.

CoryNewb

I'm looking forward to long nights playing with my 15 month old baby girl in my lap...she likes to key-mash and I'm sure that it will get me killed a few times!

colonel_burger

I'm hanging out for having a kid so I can teach him/her/it (hey mustard jelly/human hybrids are a form of life too) the wonders of BG.

AnthonyPaulO

@CoryNewb : Let her keymash away! The bigger she is, the harder she'll hit! Aim for the keys Boo, aim for the keys!

CoryNewb

AnthonyPaulO said:

@CoryNewb : Let her keymash away! The bigger she is, the harder she'll hit! Aim for the keys Boo, aim for the keys!

"Squeek Squeek Squeek!"

AnthonyPaulO

Speaking of which, this is yet another fond memory and fine example of such awesome creativity... Minsc and his Boo and their memorable voice-acting/quotes. Whatever happened to this type of creativity and storytelling? This game was alive! It was so real you could feel it, taste it, breath it... everything else fails in comparison. I went on to Neverwinter Nights and thought it was good but it just never captured the same atmosphere or elicited the same feelings I had for Baldur's Gate. I suspect that the 3D engine might have contributed to it being a lesser version of BG.

reedmilfam

Nice, OP! I didn't have quite as big an entry to BG, as I played for first time about ten years ago. My kids loved watching though, and I got a gift for my oldest (she's in college) - who is going to Gather Her Party with a half-elven Bard (we think).

The adventure re-begins. CHARNAME shall rise...