Looking at a few Old-School Games, advice please

[Gnome Berzerker]

Definitely play Torment and Baldur's Gate 2. By far, they're two of the best CRPGs ever made, and you don't need a beefy system to enjoy them.

Do I need to play BG I before BG II?

 

[Ristamar]

Do I need to play BG I before BG II?

Hmmm. You don't have to, though it'd probably be for the best. It'll only add to your enjoyment of the game.

 

[Dark Jezter]

Do I need to play BG I before BG II?

The major parts of Baldur's Gate I are explained in the introduction to Baldur's Gate II, but I'd still highly reccommend playing Baldur's Gate I; not only will you be more familiar with the characters and storyline, but BG1 is a great CRPG that holds up well to this date (even though BG2 does improve on BG1 in nearly every aspect).

 

[orbitalfreak]

Let me add my hat to the ring of those professing the greatness of the Baldur's Gate line. These are quite possibly the best games I've ever played, and definitely stand the test of time. The storyline is really cool, too. And yes, you should play BG1 first. It adds so much to the game and story to experience it, instead of just hearing about it in BG2.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

I still play Hunt the Wumpus on my TI-99/4a every once in a while. Parsec, too.

Heh, I still have it on a C=64 disk. I remember typing it in on a TRS80 way, way.. Oops..

Arrr, I be a still 'avin it on me auld 64's black medalion! Aye an' the slavi o'er a hot keyboard to enter in to the grey buckey o' Tandy's machine! A bein' sent te redo a pile o errors in me wordin o' the commands o the blighted thing, arr!

The Auld Grump, 'oo almot fergot whot day it is, arrr...

 

[Gnome Berzerker]

I've decided to go with the Baldur's Gate line of games for a little bit.

I'm going to play BG I (with Tales of the Sword Coast) first. Then, I'm off to trying out BGII, Shadows of Amn. If I'm still into the game, Throne of Bhaal will wrap things up for me.


Thanks a lot everybody!

 

[Welverin]

If I'm still into the game, Throne of Bhaal will wrap things up for me.

Hah, like you won't be.

 

[Dark Jezter]

I've decided to go with the Baldur's Gate line of games for a little bit.

I'm going to play BG I (with Tales of the Sword Coast) first. Then, I'm off to trying out BGII, Shadows of Amn. If I'm still into the game, Throne of Bhaal will wrap things up for me.


Thanks a lot everybody!

You'll definately want to pick up Throne of Bhaal; it brings the Baldur's Gate saga to a thrilling conclusion, and includes almost enough new content to be a game in itself. In fact, I believe that it won Best Expansion Pack of 2001 from IGN.

 

[mmu1]

I've decided to go with the Baldur's Gate line of games for a little bit.

I'm going to play BG I (with Tales of the Sword Coast) first. Then, I'm off to trying out BGII, Shadows of Amn. If I'm still into the game, Throne of Bhaal will wrap things up for me.

Thanks a lot everybody!

Probably too late, but:

Planescape Torment is IMO the best D&D CRPG when it comes to story, atmosphere and character development - but rather weak in the combat department (when it comes to variety of weapons, armor, spells, and just the general tactical aspects of combat)

Baldur's Gate and Baldur's Gate II are the best D&D CRPGs out there. The first one is very good, but if you haven't decided yet, keep this in mind - the games are quite similar (in terms of gameplay and type of content) and there's not a single thing BG does that BGII doesn't do better, unless you prefer a lower level experience with much less powerful magic involved - BGII is magic heavy. Playing them back to back might be too much of a good thing for some, I think.

The Icewind Dale games use the Baldur's Gate engine for what is essentially pure hack'n'slash with next to no roleplay, and are by far the worst of the bunch. (still good, by and large, although IWD2 had a crapload of technical issues for a lot of people) Baldur's Gate and BGII each have easily as many interesting and meaningful combats as the IWD games, without the endless filler and meaningless slaughter.

 

[Ristamar]

Probably too late, but:

Planescape Torment is IMO the best D&D CRPG when it comes to story, atmosphere and character development - but rather weak in the combat department (when it comes to variety of weapons, armor, spells, and just the general tactical aspects of combat).

Even with Torment's combat flaws (which aren't bad, but the combat package isn't as robust as the BG series), it's the finest CRPG to date, IMO, largely due to its superb dynamic narrative which changes to fit the strengths, weaknesses, and personality of your main character, The Nameless One.

Unfortunately, Torment starts out a bit slow, and I often had trouble prodding my friends to keep playing until they started to delve into the meat of the story.