Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition

Baldurs gate 2 is the best Baldurs gate game and one of the absolute peaks of RPGs. I wouldnt call it my number 1 RPG because Morrowind, final fantasy 6, chrono trigger are still above it for me but BG2 is one of those games where almost everything comes together in a way that very few RPGs manage to do. Its not carried by one amazing thing, its not just the combat or the writing or the world. Its the fact that everything works together and makes the whole experience feel complete. Combat is probably the first thing that shows why BG2 is so good. From the outside it looks like some old system where u just click enemies and pause sometimes but thats really not what this game is. The harder fights are basically puzzles and the game actually expects u to understand how everything works. A mage isnt dangerous because he has more HP, hes dangerous bc he has layers of protection that completely change the fight. U cant just attack him and hope he dies bc ur party can get destroyed in seconds. U need to remove his defenses, choose the right spells and understand what the enemy is doing. The best part is that the game rewards knowledge instead of grinding. When u win a difficult fight it feels like u actually learned something and improved instead of just getting higher numbers. My favorite build is Sorcerer bc it shows one of the things I love about BG2. A Wizard can learn almost every spell in the game but a Sorcerer has to commit to every choice. U cant just change ur entire build whenever u want so every spell u pick actually matters. At first it feels limiting but later it becomes one of the most satisfying parts because ur character feels like something u created yourself. When ur spell selection finally works together it feels way better than just copying the strongest build from somewhere. The world is another reason why BG2 is still remembered. It doesnt need the biggest open world because almost every place has something interesting behind it. U can enter a random building and find a quest that becomes something much bigger than expected. U can get involved with the Shadow Thieves, fight vampires, explore the Underdark or find entire stories that some players might completely miss. A lot of games have side quests just because they need more content but BG2 makes them feel like they actually belong there. U are not just completing another objective, u are discovering something. The writing is probably where BG2 reaches its highest point. The companions dont feel like characters made only for the player. They have their own problems, beliefs and goals. Jaheira has to deal with loss and trying to move forward, Keldorn is a legendary paladin but his own family is falling apart, Viconia constantly fights against how people see her because of where she comes from. They argue with each other, they disagree with u and sometimes they leave because of ur choices. It makes them feel like actual people instead of NPCs waiting for u to click on them. Jon irenicus is also one of the best written villains in RPGs because he isnt interesting only because he is powerful. A lot of villains can be explained in one sentence. Griffith wants his dream, Aizen wants to stand above everyone, black goku believes in his own twisted justice. They all have interesting ideas but their motivations are simple to understand. Irenicus is different because his entire character comes from obsession, loss and destroying himself while chasing something he can never truly recover. He isnt just an obstacle on ur way to the end. He makes other characters question their beliefs and shows how thin the line between ambition and becoming a monster really is. The best part is that u dont have to agree with him to understand why he became like this. The extra content from the enhanced edition also makes the whole experience better. Watchers Keep is one of the best optional areas because it feels like the game testing everything u learned. Every part forces u to use the mechanics and think differently instead of using the same strategy over and over. Throne of Bhaal is not as strong as the original game but I still like what it adds because after spending so much time building ur character and party it finally lets u see what happens when u reach a level of power that feels almost impossible. I think thats what makes BG2 special. It trusts the player. It doesnt explain everything and it doesnt hold ur hand every second. U can fail, learn from ur mistakes and come back stronger. The more u understand the game the better it becomes. Baldurs gate 3 has better graphics, better animations and better presentation but BG2 has a different kind of strength. It has depth where every part connects with another. Combat makes u learn the mechanics, the mechanics make ur choices more meaningful and the writing makes u care about the world and the people inside it. Morrowind, ff6, chrono trigger are still above it for me but BG2 is still one of the absolute peaks of RPGs. Its the best Baldurs gate game and one of those rare games where after more than twenty years u can still understand why people keep coming back to it. [b] 10/10 [/b]