Lost Childhood: Baldurs Gate

When I look back at my childhood there are certain games that stand out. Certain bosses or puzzles that would infuriate and entertain. Some of these games you would tackle on your own. Other games would be even more fun when played with friends.

In this series of blogs I plan to take a look back at those games that I never got chance to play when they were released. I will play through the first hour or so then share my experience giving an honest account of what happens and my opinion on the game itself.

One game that I have fond memories of playing is Baldurs Gate Dark Alliance on the PlayStation 2. I would go round my brother in laws house at weekends and together we would slowly make our way through the campaign in co-op mode. It played like most RPG’s do now. You are in control of a single character as you slash, shoot and cast deadly spells against anything and everything that comes your way. However the original Baldurs Gate for PC was a very different game so I thought that would be a good place to start.

As soon as the game launches you are thrust into a stunning opening cinematic. One that demonstrates exactly what late 90s PCs were capable of.  

When we reach the Main menu we are greeted with a choice, single or multiplayer. As I am sitting at my pc on my own I unsurprisingly chose single player. Then I am given one of the greatest character creation menus ever and if you take a look at the picture to the right I am sure you will agree that Lord Fingers looks great.

The story will sound familiar to anyone who has played an RPG. You play an orphan who has no idea who his/her real parents are however you do know that there is something a little different about you. This is only reinforced by the odd manner in which your adoptive father, Gorion has recently been acting. After this short introduction Lord Fingers finds himself standing outside the Candlekeep Inn. Candlekeep is a stronghold, one which Lord Fingers has never had to leave although I am sure all that will soon change. 

Navigation in Baldurs Gate is fairly straight forward. You simply point and click on the area of the map you wish your character to move to. To move the screen to other parts of the map you move the cursor to the edge of the screen in the direction you wish the screen to move. A system that I am sure we are all use to by now. Whilst wandering around town I noticed that the background noise fit the situation perfectly. You can clearly hear the hustle and bustle of a busy town. There seems to have been a concerted effort to make sure that the player felt as immersed as possible in the experience that Baldurs Gate attempts to create.

There are monks littered around the town and in various buildings, each tells you a little more of how to play the game. Talking to these NPCs is also fairly straight forward in Baldurs Gate. You simply click on the person you wish to speak to. Dialogue starts and you can choose from various responses. These often lead to your journal being updated and more quests being made available. In Candlekeep Lord Fingers has chance to complete the ‘generic starting missions’ that come with most RPGs. He delivers a couple of items from one of the townsfolk to another. After being given a simple fighting tutorial he then clears out a cellar full of rats for a dwarf. After later being ambushed in the Priests Quarters and slaying the would be assassin Lord Fingers heads back to the Inn to rest and stock up.

You can rest and purchase items by talking to the Inn keeper. Equipping these items is easy. Right click your character profile which you can find on the right side of the screen then drop and drag the items into the weapon slot. While in battle you can cycle between these slots by selecting them in the hot bar at the bottom of the screen.  This hot bar changes depending on the situation. When your party grows you have a choice of various formations to put your party in.

So I now have the game basics down and I am ready to venture into the big wide world. Great timing because Gorion summons Lord Fingers to him. After a brief chat with him childhood friend Imoen, Lord Fingers is asked by Gorion if he is ready to leave. He whole heartedly replies with a resounding yes.

Unfortunately while on the road tragedy strikes and both brave adventurers are ambushed by a group on unsavoury looking characters who demand that Gorion hand over his ‘ward’. Lord Fingers manages to run away while his adoptive father is slain. In the morning Lord Fingers finds himself all alone until Imoen appears out of nowhere and joins him on his quest. Before Gorion was killed he informed Lord Fingers that if they are divided he should head to the aptly named Friendly Arm Inn. So that’s where they head. Along the way the party grows even bigger after picking up a couple of warriors who want us to investigate some mines to the South. I decide however that it is best if we head to the Inn and so the party heads north.

The party bumps into an angry wolf on the road. I of course assume that this will be an easy fight so send all four of them to take on the creature. Unfortunately the wolf focused all of his attacks against Imoen who was quickly slain by what seemed to be the world’s strongest canine.

So to sum things up; in only 45 minutes of gameplay I had not only watched as the man who raised me for 20 years was cut down before my very eyes. I also managed to get my childhood friend killed. And in this game once you are dead there is no bringing you back.

If you are like me and are picking this game up after playing more modern RPGs you may find that there is a reasonably steep difficulty curve. However the level of difficulty that I encountered within the first 45 minutes made me want to play the game even more. I want to learn how the battle mechanics work, and how to prevent my remaining party members being killed due to my stupidity.  When this game was released it was give between an 85% and 95% rating by most reviewers and I can definitely see why.

Baldurs Gate is immersive, detailed and challenging and considering you can pick it up for as little as a few pounds I would highly recommend to anyone that they go out there and buy it.