Read review 2. I really am starting to think that even mentioning THAC0 in the 2nd edition was a big mistake. Because seemingly ever since, a consistent number of gamers held it as a design flaw, forgetting, or not knowing, that millions of people had been playing AD&D for YEARS without ever having to think about THAC0!!! There are many good criticisms, and mods, of 1E/2E, but this one is almost totally irrelevant. And it sucks that the dude brings it up in the review. It's especially moot in the CRPG.
I also fault the review for stating that BG + mods is slightly better than BGEE, but doesn't say why he thinks this is so.
Hello. I'm the writer of the second review. Thanks for reading and giving your feedback.
As for THAC0, when compared to a modern game, it is a design flaw. It is unnecessarily complex and counterintuitive for the unfamiliar. Remember, this is a video game review, not an AD&D module review. The original had THAC0, and this one has THAC0 too, and that is - in a video game - mechanically convoluted. I get your point of millions being familiar with the system, however that was fourteen years ago. Even I was a little rusty on my THAC0. I think that, as a standalone criticism of a standalone modern video game, it is relevant for new players to know that it has a complicated mechanic.
As for BG+mods being slightly better, it is because the mods fix many of the problems already and add a swathe of new content above and beyond the content added in this version. It may not be as clear as I had hoped in the review.
BGEE is still a great game, and it's better than the original was at release, however, in the intervening fourteen years, the original has acquired a massive amount of bonus content, all available for free. If you're willing to work for it, the original is better value for money. If you want to just pick up and play the best version of the game no strings, then BGEE is it.
My two cents on the opening intro. I miss the opening line of dialogue from Nietzsche. The animated intro is missing some lines of dialogue from Sarevok which I think they shouldn't of left out. When the guy is flying through the air he looks like he's going to fall off the roof of the iron throne but then all of a sudden he ends up on the ground, then Sarevok chucks him off, the blood and the way the logo popped up in the old one was better.. I could go on about the opening.
Some of the other animations in the game however are really good. I was really surprised by the sleeping animation. If the opening for BG2 will end up like the opening for BG1 I would rather they just not touch the cinematics for BG2 and focus on more important things.
Overall though I'm enjoying the game, though it would be nice if they fixed the 30 FPS cap. It seems some old players don't even realize that you could change the speed in BG2 and a lot of players have modded their games since then so they never have to play BG1 at the agonizingly default speed.
@bigdogchris - You had a comment about the STR bonus not showing on THAC0 - mine character screen shows ZERO in this box, although it should have been +2. The actual THAC0 number was correct. Anyway, your comment said 'corrected in last build' - does this mean I should re-download/update game somehow? Anybody?
@bigdogchris - You had a comment about the STR bonus not showing on THAC0 - mine character screen shows ZERO in this box, although it should have been +2. The actual THAC0 number was correct. Anyway, your comment said 'corrected in last build' - does this mean I should re-download/update game somehow? Anybody?
The STR bonus shows for me so I figure they must of fixed it. I'm playing on build 1.0.2007, which is the one you downloaded yesterday.
The animation is solid? Is that why at 21 seconds in, the character stumbles about like a marionette on strings and that gravity seems to fluctuate between low and high with each awkward stumble? Or how at 25 seconds Sarevok floats and half-crouches while swinging his arms in a way that a real person never would? Or how at 40 seconds he makes a cartoonish gesture that would make Yogi Bear proud?
Again, this was all cool for 1998. 3D animation for gaming was still in its relative infancy. But if that cinematic were to be released with the exact same animations today, even with a high poly-count models and high-res textures, it would be laughed at by everyone in comparison to everything else that is out there.
It has not aged well. Does that somehow undo our past first experience with BG? Hell no. I loved it then, and I still love it today. But that doesn't mean I've fooled myself into thinking it holds up in today's cinematic world.
For how much I paid for this game, the new intro is neither more nor less than what I expected. I am fine with it.
In order: It's called stumbling and collapsing after fleeing Sarevok. Solid.
Sarevok does not "float". He comes through the door low so his horns don't catch on the doorframe. Then stands menacingly. Solid.
Nothing "cartoonish" about any of his gestures. Solid.
Today's 3D animations? You mean the obviously fake clockwork characters of the Mass Effect saga, perhaps?
For the record, I am bashing the new "cinematic" only. Not the game itself. I look forward to Dorn, Neera, and Rassad. I fully support this game. But I know an eyesore of an animation when I see one, and am not ashamed to point it out. This does not make me any less of a fan. It makes me an honest one.
Others have compred it to the SOA/TOB opening cinematics, which were not nearly as herky-jerky. Hopefully when BG2EE comes, they won't feel the need to sabotage those, as well.
BGEE is awesome. That "cinematic" isn't.
Fake clockwork characters of Mass Effect??? You can say many things about Mass Effect, but the animations and graphics were really high-quality most of the time. Moder animations truly aren't as bad as you think they are, but from your post it seems you don't even give them a chance. Also, the Beamdog team is still growing. Give them some time to grow, will you. This kind of attitude isn't really supportive.
Fake clockwork characters of Mass Effect??? You can say many things about Mass Effect, but the animations and graphics were really high-quality most of the time. Moder animations truly aren't as bad as you think they are, but from your post it seems you don't even give them a chance. Also, the Beamdog team is still growing. Give them some time to grow, will you. This kind of attitude isn't really supportive.
Pay attention to ME character body language. Stitlted, stiff, the human eyes obviously twitch. Then there's the painfully obvious neck seam.
And reread my post. I AM giving Beamdog a chance. I bought the game, I'm playing it, I'm supporting them. That doesn't change the fact that those cinematics are craptacular.
Comments
I really am starting to think that even mentioning THAC0 in the 2nd edition was a big mistake. Because seemingly ever since, a consistent number of gamers held it as a design flaw, forgetting, or not knowing, that millions of people had been playing AD&D for YEARS without ever having to think about THAC0!!!
There are many good criticisms, and mods, of 1E/2E, but this one is almost totally irrelevant. And it sucks that the dude brings it up in the review. It's especially moot in the CRPG.
I also fault the review for stating that BG + mods is slightly better than BGEE, but doesn't say why he thinks this is so.
Hello. I'm the writer of the second review. Thanks for reading and giving your feedback.
As for THAC0, when compared to a modern game, it is a design flaw. It is unnecessarily complex and counterintuitive for the unfamiliar. Remember, this is a video game review, not an AD&D module review. The original had THAC0, and this one has THAC0 too, and that is - in a video game - mechanically convoluted. I get your point of millions being familiar with the system, however that was fourteen years ago. Even I was a little rusty on my THAC0. I think that, as a standalone criticism of a standalone modern video game, it is relevant for new players to know that it has a complicated mechanic.
As for BG+mods being slightly better, it is because the mods fix many of the problems already and add a swathe of new content above and beyond the content added in this version. It may not be as clear as I had hoped in the review.
BGEE is still a great game, and it's better than the original was at release, however, in the intervening fourteen years, the original has acquired a massive amount of bonus content, all available for free. If you're willing to work for it, the original is better value for money. If you want to just pick up and play the best version of the game no strings, then BGEE is it.
Some of the other animations in the game however are really good. I was really surprised by the sleeping animation. If the opening for BG2 will end up like the opening for BG1 I would rather they just not touch the cinematics for BG2 and focus on more important things.
Overall though I'm enjoying the game, though it would be nice if they fixed the 30 FPS cap. It seems some old players don't even realize that you could change the speed in BG2 and a lot of players have modded their games since then so they never have to play BG1 at the agonizingly default speed.
Found another very positive and thorough review on incgamers.com:
http://www.incgamers.com/2012/11/baldurs-gate-enhanced-edition-review/
(potential 8.0 if bugs will be killed)
http://www.gamersglobal.de/test/baldurs-gate-enhanced-edition?page=0,2
http://mygaming.co.za/news/reviews/47891-baldurs-gate-enhanced-edition-review-pc.html
80%
[7] Baldur’s Gate Enhanced Edition review (PC) — on mygaming.co.za (11/28/2012) 8/10
http://www.golem.de/news/test-baldur-s-gate-pc-erstaunlich-wenig-gealterter-klassiker-1211-96038.html
http://uk.ign.com/articles/2012/12/01/baldurs-gate-enhanced-edition-review
http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/baldurs-gate-enhanced-edition
NOt so good one
http://www.gamefaqs.com/pc/663933-baldurs-gate-enhanced-edition/reviews/review-152577
http://www.pcgames.de/Baldurs-Gate-PC-209073/Tests/Baldurs-Gate-Enhanced-Edtion-im-Test-1038429/2/
And reread my post. I AM giving Beamdog a chance. I bought the game, I'm playing it, I'm supporting them. That doesn't change the fact that those cinematics are craptacular.
I'm delighted
Italian
[I1] Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition - Torna una leggenda — on multiplayer.it (11/29/2012) 8.5/10