BALDUR'S GATE 2: SHADOWS OF AMN
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Gaming goodness or piece of pap?

By WILLIAM BARKER

When Baldur's Gate hit the shelves, I was there, basking in their magnificent RPG rays of sunshine. It was a good time in gaming history. Lots of late nights and tomfoolery, lest we forget...

But I digress. In a jovial and light-hearted manner, albeit, as Baldur's Gate 2 is finally here. And, really, it's not a question of whether or not you enjoy the D&D; ruleset, or even RPGs to a certain extent. If you enjoy gaming and the art of storytelling spiced with fantasy then you will be in for one supremo ride with Shadows of Amn.

In the Forgotten Realms, Shadows of Amn is set to the music of all that is fantastic and mystical. The peat-covered moors of Faerūn (Fay-ROON) are home to many a hobgoblin, troll and even cursed beasts far more dangerous. Arr-arrr!

The story is an amazing tapestry that would make amateur fantasy writers quiver with subdued awe. But gamers will have to dig a little before unraveling even a brief idea of the plot, such is its enigmatic nature. Side-quests provide plenty of inbetwixt action and romance - most also yield a hefty experience bonus too.

The people who cross your path from places like Baldur's Gate and Beregost utter phrases such as, "'Twas strange your tongue would not part company with your lips - telling such lies is akin to sacrilege!" There is much to see and do in the world that Bioware created, but on top of this, there is plenty of character and much charm and this, in turn, goes a long way to making BG2 a joy to play.

"You point, I punch!" Comments Minsc after some idle exploration and a few crushed skulls. The characters you pick up on your journey will give the game more of a lively feel. They do much more than stand there and look pixellated. Like its predecessor, character creation is also really cool. With stacks of variables, players can go hammer and tong with this most excellent tool.

Gameplay is a convoluted swirl of colours and shades, ebbing and flowing in rhythm. Err, that is combat and exploration. See how easy it is to get carried away with the whole fantasy thing? Just goes to show how refined BG2 is. Combat is a simple case of point and click, where spells and special abilities are simply a button press away.

This brings us to the stylised visuals. Up from stock resolution, BG2 has been beefed up to deal with 800x600 and supports D3D and Glide APIs too. D&D; fans will be amazed at how detailed and intricate the realm of Faerūn looks. From small details such as tables and chairs, dungeon gates and weapon-spouting cadavers lying around, to massive forests, flowing rivers and huge citadels, BG2 is a prize to behold.

Spells, in particular, look great with the improved 3D acceleration. Players will delight to the explosions, sparks and huge twirling multi-faceted auras that leap forth from the fingertips of those skilled in the art of magic.

Character advancement will always play a huge role in RPGs. Trying to dissect the human involvement with this would be too time-consuming. Suffice to say that it brings part of the player right into the game. This makes playing all the more enjoyable. Shadows of Amn is a marathon game too. Spanning four CDs, hundreds of villages, thousands of skirmishes and quite possibly millions of items, it will last most gamers well into the new year. To describe all the goodness in BG2 would take way more than 500 words I'm supposed to stick to.

Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn is an astonishingly nutritious game. Take one bite and you will be forever hooked. Huge worlds, crafted visuals and humourous dialogue are ripe for picking! To make a really bold call, I could say that this is better than Diablo 2. And with that I must depart, my boss is furious. Nay tarry youth! Yon ogre lusts for food he would kill - run, run for the hills!

ORIGINALITY 85%
SOUND/GRAPHICS 85%
PLAYABILITY 90%
ADDICTION 75%
ENJOYMENT 95%