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Off-Topic Discussion => Gaming Discussion => Topic started by: Grizzly on June 10, 2008, 05:06:14 am

Title: The Bioware Role Playing Games!
Post by: Grizzly on June 10, 2008, 05:06:14 am
As some of you may have noticed, I came in possesion of a few Bioware RPG's in the time that FS was banned from my computer.
And if you wonder what is the reason I have not worked on RealFlight yet... It's in the topic title.

Indeed, I am kinda addicted. Especially to the Baldur's Gate game series. It has a brilliant storyline, and equally brilliant characters (for example Minsc (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minsc) and Viconia (http://www.viconia.de)). And as the game is very mod-friendly, I am going to be quite busy for the next... decades.

Just curious. has anyone else here played any Bioware RPG's? (Or any RPG's at all?)
Title: Re: The Bioware Role Playing Games!
Post by: Fury on June 10, 2008, 05:30:44 am
Bioware and Black Isle Studios are the best combination ever happened in PC RPG industry. They developed some of the most legendary games, including Baldur's Gate series, Fallout Series, Planescape Torment, Neverwinter Nights series, Knights of the Old Republic, Jade Empire and now Mass Effect.

Ironically the games up to Placescape were published by Interplay. Interplay also laid off the whole staff of Black Isle Studios before their own eventual demise.

Can't help but wait for Bioware's upcoming MMORPG and see if they can top the competition.
Title: Re: The Bioware Role Playing Games!
Post by: karajorma on June 10, 2008, 05:32:36 am
I was a huge fan of Baldur's Gate. Even now it calls to me to play it. BG2 left me cold though. I hated the railroad plotl line right off the bat and thus could never get drawn into the game play.

I quite liked Icewind Dale though.
Title: Re: The Bioware Role Playing Games!
Post by: Fury on June 10, 2008, 05:35:19 am
Never liked Icewind Dale myself, it felt dull and boring after BG1, BG2 and Planescape Torment. :)
BG1 storyline was great though, and I might even play it again after I discovered this; http://www.gibberlings3.net/widescreen/
Title: Re: The Bioware Role Playing Games!
Post by: zircher on June 10, 2008, 09:48:01 am
Let's see.. play Neverwinter Nights 1 and 2 several times from beginning to end, played KotOR 1 and 2 from beginning to end, played a little bit of Jade Empire (need to get back to that), and I've completed nine playthroughs of Mass Effect.  Uh yeah, I guess I'm a Bioware fan boy.  :-)
--
TAZ
Title: Re: The Bioware Role Playing Games!
Post by: redsniper on June 10, 2008, 02:46:28 pm
I LOVE Neverwinter Nights. User-made campaigns FTW!
Title: Re: The Bioware Role Playing Games!
Post by: Colonol Dekker on June 10, 2008, 03:24:47 pm
My little bro is mad on all of them. I just know there's a group of flaming fisters or something. I made a quick NWN tileset a while back. It involved a whole campaign against the evil badger hordes. I might have to root through my old cd's. :lol:
Title: Re: The Bioware Role Playing Games!
Post by: Galemp on June 10, 2008, 08:29:49 pm
Let's see.. play Neverwinter Nights 1 and 2 several times from beginning to end, played KotOR 1 and 2 from beginning to end, played a little bit of Jade Empire (need to get back to that), and I've completed nine playthroughs of Mass Effect.  Uh yeah, I guess I'm a Bioware fan boy.  :-)
--
TAZ

Uhm... same here. Though I'm only on my first playthrough of Mass Effect.
Title: Re: The Bioware Role Playing Games!
Post by: achtung on June 10, 2008, 09:40:04 pm
I really do have to question why FS is banned from your computer.
Title: Re: The Bioware Role Playing Games!
Post by: General Battuta on June 10, 2008, 11:18:26 pm
I was a huge fan of Baldur's Gate. Even now it calls to me to play it. BG2 left me cold though. I hated the railroad plotl line right off the bat and thus could never get drawn into the game play.

I quite liked Icewind Dale though.

KARA.

You are missing the best part of the Baldur's Gate series. Easily.

Just get a 'dungeon-be-gone' mod to remove the opening dungeon. An hour or so into your playtime, it opens up into a free-for-all roamer that's pretty much as good as BG1, and in many ways much better.

Isn't it worth one more try?

(I agree that the opening was really dark, unsettling, and alienating after BG1 -- but please, give it a shot. It grows on you.)
Title: Re: The Bioware Role Playing Games!
Post by: Grizzly on June 10, 2008, 11:23:28 pm
I really do have to question why FS is banned from your computer.
Because I played FS instead of doeing my homework.
Title: Re: The Bioware Role Playing Games!
Post by: CP5670 on June 10, 2008, 11:40:40 pm
I definitely want to play Mass Effect once I upgrade some hardware in a week or two. It seems like the sort of game I will like, from what I've heard my brother say.

I haven't played any of Bioware's other RPGs. One reason I've never gotten much into RPGs in general is that most of them have the same tired old medieval fantasy setting, which I could never really warm up to, and conventional PC RPGs also have boring combat in my opinion. Mass Effect on the other hand seems closer to shooter/RPG hybrids like Deus Ex, which is one of my favorite games of all time.
Title: Re: The Bioware Role Playing Games!
Post by: Spicious on June 13, 2008, 06:46:20 am
And to think Neverwinter Nights was originally planned to have a good plot (http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=community_news.Detail&id=2700).
Title: Re: The Bioware Role Playing Games!
Post by: Rand al Thor on June 13, 2008, 08:24:58 am
Yep, Bioware and Black Isle (RIP) rock. Baldur's Gate (still have to finish Throne of Bhaal), Fallout 1 and 2, KotOR are all class. On my playlist are Planescape and Mass Effect.

I'm not interested at all in their MMORPG. It'll have to go against nearly all established genre trends for me to give it any attention.
Title: Re: The Bioware Role Playing Games!
Post by: Galemp on June 13, 2008, 09:19:03 am
The only MMO I would ever play. (http://universe.lego.com/en-US/default.aspx)
Title: Re: The Bioware Role Playing Games!
Post by: Vidmaster on June 13, 2008, 11:29:04 am
bioware rpgs = the best

 :nod:

as simple as that. I played every single one. EVERY game.
Title: Re: The Bioware Role Playing Games!
Post by: Sarafan on June 13, 2008, 05:04:09 pm
Yeah, Bioware's RPGs are the best, Baldur's Gate 1 and 2 are easily the best RPG I've played till today, the one I didnt like much was Throne of Bhaal, it had somewhat of a good idea but it seemed much more like a rushed expansion than a fitting end to the whole saga.
Title: Re: The Bioware Role Playing Games!
Post by: Vidmaster on June 14, 2008, 12:51:01 pm
sure? To my mind, the ending is perfect. How else could it have ended?

Remember Sarevok in BG1 Intro? I will be the Last and you will be the First...
There is no other way but conflict, one must claim the throne of Bhaal :rolleyes:

However,
Spoiler:
you can also stay human (and be with your loved one) if you desire, you don't need to become a god.
Title: Re: The Bioware Role Playing Games!
Post by: Sarafan on June 14, 2008, 03:39:57 pm
sure? To my mind, the ending is perfect. How else could it have ended?

Remember Sarevok in BG1 Intro? I will be the Last and you will be the First...
There is no other way but conflict, one must claim the throne of Bhaal :rolleyes:

However,
Spoiler:
you can also stay human (and be with your loved one) if you desire, you don't need to become a god.

Oh, the ending was nice but it could've been better, the game felt too small, it was only about you killing your brothers/sisters, if they had done a bigger game like a BG3 then that would have been perfect.

Title: Re: The Bioware Role Playing Games!
Post by: karajorma on June 15, 2008, 09:49:55 am
KARA.

You are missing the best part of the Baldur's Gate series. Easily.

Just get a 'dungeon-be-gone' mod to remove the opening dungeon. An hour or so into your playtime, it opens up into a free-for-all roamer that's pretty much as good as BG1, and in many ways much better.

Isn't it worth one more try?

(I agree that the opening was really dark, unsettling, and alienating after BG1 -- but please, give it a shot. It grows on you.)

I tried it at least 3 times and it just never managed to grab me the same way BG1 did. I managed to get well past the first dungeon and out and about in Amn but eventually I always gave up cause I simply wasn't having much fun.

I absolutely hated the rail road plot (as a pen and paper GM one of the first rules of Dungeons and Dragons I learned was not to do that). I hated the fact that by the time I'd get round to rescuing Imoen she'd be so low level compared to everyone else in my party she wouldn't be worth keeping. The various sub plots came at me with such a bewildering variety that I found it almost impossible to decide which ones were even slightly worth doing.

Sooner or later I'll give it a try again but BG1 is probably going to get a replay first since I really loved that one.
Title: Re: The Bioware Role Playing Games!
Post by: Vidmaster on June 15, 2008, 01:36:39 pm
I did not really like BG1 (played BG2 first) because of the lack of party dialogues (all were flat characters :sigh:) and the story was not exactly gripping. Just running around in forests most of the time  :blah:

you see? opinions differ  :)
Title: Re: The Bioware Role Playing Games!
Post by: phatosealpha on June 15, 2008, 01:52:31 pm
Meh, I couldn't get into BG1 at all simply because I realized just how ****ing awful Hack and Slash with low level DnD characters was back on the gold box games.
Title: Re: The Bioware Role Playing Games!
Post by: General Battuta on June 15, 2008, 08:40:02 pm
KARA.

You are missing the best part of the Baldur's Gate series. Easily.

Just get a 'dungeon-be-gone' mod to remove the opening dungeon. An hour or so into your playtime, it opens up into a free-for-all roamer that's pretty much as good as BG1, and in many ways much better.

Isn't it worth one more try?

(I agree that the opening was really dark, unsettling, and alienating after BG1 -- but please, give it a shot. It grows on you.)

I tried it at least 3 times and it just never managed to grab me the same way BG1 did. I managed to get well past the first dungeon and out and about in Amn but eventually I always gave up cause I simply wasn't having much fun.

I absolutely hated the rail road plot (as a pen and paper GM one of the first rules of Dungeons and Dragons I learned was not to do that). I hated the fact that by the time I'd get round to rescuing Imoen she'd be so low level compared to everyone else in my party she wouldn't be worth keeping. The various sub plots came at me with such a bewildering variety that I found it almost impossible to decide which ones were even slightly worth doing.

Sooner or later I'll give it a try again but BG1 is probably going to get a replay first since I really loved that one.

All right, that's legit.
Title: Re: The Bioware Role Playing Games!
Post by: NGTM-1R on June 15, 2008, 10:03:25 pm
Just for lulz, let me state I've never played a single one of the Baldur's Gate games in my life. So there. :P
Title: Re: The Bioware Role Playing Games!
Post by: Fury on June 15, 2008, 11:16:47 pm
I did not really like BG1 (played BG2 first) because of the lack of party dialogues (all were flat characters :sigh:) and the story was not exactly gripping. Just running around in forests most of the time  :blah:

you see? opinions differ  :)
Flat characters?

"Go for the eyes, Boo! Go for the eyes!"
"Squeaky wheel gets the kick!"

"Let us save ourselves the effort and just lie down and die!".
"We're all doomed,"

I love Minsc and Xan. :D

Meh, I couldn't get into BG1 at all simply because I realized just how ****ing awful Hack and Slash with low level DnD characters was back on the gold box games.
True, once I realized that ranged weapons were much better than any melees, I just equipped all toons with bows, slings, etc and the game became a whole lot easier.
Title: Re: The Bioware Role Playing Games!
Post by: Ransom on June 16, 2008, 04:02:48 am
Flat characters?

"Go for the eyes, Boo! Go for the eyes!"
"Squeaky wheel gets the kick!"

"Let us save ourselves the effort and just lie down and die!".
"We're all doomed,"

I love Minsc and Xan. :D
Minsc and Xan are fun, but I don't think anyone can argue their personalities aren't two-dimensional.

I think BG1 is the game with the better gameplay (I actually enjoy the low level game, myself), but its story is pretty uninventive. And, yeah, it has a real lack of interesting characters - more than anything, Sarevok just isn't an appealing antagonist. Irenicus on the other hand almost singlehandedly carried BG2 for me.
Title: Re: The Bioware Role Playing Games!
Post by: Grizzly on June 16, 2008, 06:25:16 am
Yeah, Bioware's RPGs are the best, Baldur's Gate 1 and 2 are easily the best RPG I've played till today, the one I didnt like much was Throne of Bhaal, it had somewhat of a good idea but it seemed much more like a rushed expansion than a fitting end to the whole saga.

Try the Semi-Offical Ascension mod. TOB as it should have been.

And Karajorma. Why don't just try... Say... EasyTutu (BG1 on the BG2 engine) with some mods (ESPECIALLY the BG1 NPC Project, which adds BG2-like banters to BGtutu?).

Mods rule ;).

My party in BG1: Minsc (Makes you forget all the things you have been trough), Coran ("Life is adventure or nothing". He is so damn right), Viconia (My kind of character. Hated almost everywhere, and somehow I just did the most difficult romance in BG2 without any retry...), Imoen (In the BG1NPC project mod, she regurlary pulls of practical jokes with other party members. Poor Ajantis!), and Dynahier (She is such a good invoker in BG1.. I haven't "tried" her with the BG1NPC project yet, but I am going to).
Title: Re: The Bioware Role Playing Games!
Post by: karajorma on June 17, 2008, 02:23:16 am
I've always been tempted to try the mods actually.
Title: Re: The Bioware Role Playing Games!
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on June 17, 2008, 05:42:11 am
Oh yea, EasyTutu rocks. I'm slowly playing through BG1 again using just my lone kensai with Imoen tagging along. Quite challenging, since there are practically no great items for a kensai in the game. Deals loads of damage but really can't take any punishment.
Title: Re: The Bioware Role Playing Games!
Post by: Vidmaster on June 17, 2008, 06:23:33 am
I don't have the English versions, so no easytutu for me. Have to use standarttutu  :)
Title: Re: The Bioware Role Playing Games!
Post by: Rand al Thor on June 23, 2008, 11:43:41 am
Fury, was that an Ender's Game reference? 'toons'?
Just been reading those books. Great stuff.

Sorry to derail the thread!