Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #15317 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Avalon Interactive
• Released on: 2001-10-19
• Platforms: Windows 98, Windows 95

Amazon.co.uk Review
It's not easy being a child of a god. In Baldur's Gate 2: Shadow of Amn, your character quickly comes to this conclusion after being imprisoned and tortured by a wizard with an unhealthy interest in your parentage. So begins this ambitious RPG based on the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game. Shadow of Amn develops the plot lines, characters and events introduced in the first game into a mature, genuinely interesting fantasy tale and you will be pleasantly surprised by Shadow of Amn's bold story arcs. Baldur's Gate served as a proving ground for the refined game mechanics evident in Shadow of Amn. Now major events are afoot, and the character's choices have a real impact on the universe of the Forgotten Realms.

The game's artificial intelligence has been vastly improved, and the player has many more choices for NPC AI scripts and party communication. Keeping with Shadow of Amn's more mature theme, the party interaction even goes so far as to include possible love interests for your character.

This double pack also includes the BG2 expansion pack, Throne of Bhaal. There are hordes more monsters to fight, a couple of new classes and kits to explore (the Wild Mage, for example), new treasures and artefacts, new quests and new dungeons and the ability to reach an unprecedented Level 40. Why wouldn't you want to meet strange new creatures, unleash strange new spells and listen to even more bizarre voice acting from the lovable Minsc? But the real reason to get this is to see the massive story finally reach a conclusion. There won't be a Baldur's Gate III and Throne of Bhaal lets you see the fate of the character that began as Gorion's young ward so many years ago in the original Baldur's Gate.

A strong plot backed by strong technology makes Baldur's Gate 2 and the Throne of Bhaal expansion stand out as one of the best RPGs you'll ever play. Fans of the AD&D game will love the classic AD&D feel, and fans of the popular Forgotten Realms setting will delight in the people, places and politics found here.--Kelly Harrode

Customer Reviews

Unbeatable value for money
The amount of time you will spend playing this game really will put to shame many PC games which cost a similar amount (not to mention PS2 etc. games which are more expensive!). I finally got round to buying the original Baldur's Gate last February and it took me over 6 months to complete, playing 3-4 days a week for an average of perhaps 3 hours a day. Early signs are that the sequel may take even longer: plus it should have more replayability value because the plot seems to change a lot more depending on the choices that you make.
I thought the original Baldur's Gate was brilliant. Before buying BG2, I read a few reviews saying that it was qualitatively better, and thought, "Yeah, a likely story!" Sorry to have doubted those reviews now - BG2 really is *much* better than its predecessor. They've put more emphasis on the role-playing aspect so it's now far more than just hack'n'slash. Some moments in the game are genuinely hilarious, especially when the NPCs are trying to start an in-game romance with you, or bickering amongst themselves. Nor can I overstate the addictiveness of plundering loads of loot and experience points from powerful enemies, which then further your own abilities so that you can plunder yet more loot and experience from even more powerful enemies!
I'm looking forward to progressing to the Throne of Bhaal expansion in time - I only started the main game a couple of months ago - as it promises to significantly expand the storyline (unlike the Tales of the Sword Coast expansion for the first game, which merely added a few extra dungeons).
If you've ever been remotely interested in the high fantasy genre of books/games/films, go out and buy this game - you will not be disappointed!

if only the rating went to 6 stars out of 5...
Wow. Anyone vaguely interested in RPG's buy this with one warning: you may not speak to anyone real for months. The reason being, this the most addictive and frankly best trilogy in the world. Ever. Especially these two-thirds in one convenient pack, that when i bought, i did not communicate with my family for an entire week, before realising i had to continue eating to continue playing. Basically the new abilities, classes, and NPC's make this one of the most in-depth games you'll ever play, really. And the storyline is unparralleled by any other, you get to see the humble origins of your character progress on a Hearts of Darkness style odyssey to the very ultimate ending. It's not all as deadly serious as i'm probably making it seem though, as there are moments of true hilarity, for example the level 1 party you unlock in Abbazignal's lair and send on a mission for you had me in tears of laughter dude. Plus there is the genious Big Metal Unit; an addition for die hard fans such as myself, of which you retrieve a third of the artifact in the form of metallic pantaloons in each third of the trilogy. If you do the whole thing with one character, combining the three pieces in Throne of Bhall, you recieve the ultimate comic artifact, basically a gargantuan groin guard designed by a man with an other worldly 'package'. Don't ask. Basically then, for the greatest tale to grace the Mac/PC buy this, and the endless detail and thorough design in this game will epitomise game brilliance and beauty.

Great game, I got a free strategy guide
Hi, this game is the best game i ever played on, i have played on it 9 times and still find great new stuff.
Access the link for the strategy and you are set. There are some great secrets that the average gameplayer would not have been able to find without it.
Well worth getting