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BG1 vs. BG2

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Which one do you like better?

BG1 (incl. TotSC)
8
23%
BG2: SoA (incl. ToB)
27
77%
 
Total votes: 35

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Moleman
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BG1 vs. BG2

Post by Moleman »

Here's the ultimate question; which one is better? And I hope to see some reasons and opinions of why you voted as you did.

I made the poll following the KISS-rule (Keep It Simple, Stupid), and only but two options in there. I know that some people would vote for a tie, but I'm sure everyone has some preference between the two games.

BTW I know this topic has been discussed here before but I'm sure new people have joined board after that (including me). And I think this question is of so big importance that I doubt you will fed up to it easily. Besides, I didn't see anyone poll about it before...

And, the reason I'm posting it on SYM forum, rather than on BG1 or BG2 forums, is that I wanted it on neutral ground, either having this on BG1 or BG2 forums would certainly have some effect on the outcome.
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Post by Vicsun »

no! not another poll! Please let the pollism stop!

edit> I voted for BGII because I haven't played BGI. :D
Vicsun, I certainly agree with your assertion that you are an unpleasant person. ~Chanak

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Post by Moleman »

Originally posted by Vicsun
no! not another poll! Please let the pollism stop!
Hmm, perhaps I should make a poll: Are there too many polls?. Vicsun, thanks for the idea!!! :cool:
-moleman-

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Post by Tamerlane »

You miss practically a whole day and return only to find the forum littered with polls and tests. :p ;)

As for your question. Well you wanted a neutral ground, and I'm a neutral voter. ;) Cannot decide which is better. :o
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Post by Moleman »

Originally posted by Vicsun
edit> I voted for BGII because I haven't played BGI. :D
In that case you should definately go and buy yourself copy of BG1. Now. I recon it is sold pretty cheap nowadays. What are you doing here anymore? Go go go!!! :)
-moleman-

Mom said not to talk to strangers. I asked her what that meant and she said "anyone who looks stranger than your relatives." Except Uncle Sue. I guess. - A boy in Baldur's Gate
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Post by Vicsun »

Originally posted by Moleman
In that case you should definately go and buy yourself copy of BG1. Now. I recon it is sold pretty cheap nowadays. What are you doing here anymore? Go go go!!! :)
Well I'm playing TheDarkestDay right now.
Vicsun, I certainly agree with your assertion that you are an unpleasant person. ~Chanak

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Post by Moleman »

Originally posted by Vicsun


Well I'm playing TheDarkestDay right now.
Ok... but you will get BG1 after that, yes?
-moleman-

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Post by Moleman »

I like both games, and each of them have their pro's and con's. So it is hard decision, but I voted for BG1. And here's why:

First of all, when starting the character from level 1, the development feels more concrete and is much more rewarding. In BG2 character is pretty good already from the beginning. Levelling up from lv 1 -> 2 feels much more meaningful than from 7->8. The same goes with the equipment; getting my first long sword+1 was much more exciting than getting first long sword +3... during BG2 you come around *tons* of magical weapons. In BG2 magical trinkets suffer from inflation.

BG1 was more of an adventure. IMO it was great fun to survey all those wilderness maps in BG1. And after those the city of Baldur's Gate really felt like something. And there too was much to discover as many unmarked buildings had small mini-quests or just baddies with interesting equipment. In BG2 you get all the city maps uncovered, and even important locations are already marked at the map - even before you actually receive quest that is related to those locations.

Sure BG2 has many things better than BG1 - many technical improvements such opt to choose higher resolution (why that was missing from BG1?) and intercation with NPC's in BG2 is great. But still, I like BG1 best.
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Post by Vicsun »

Originally posted by Moleman
Ok... but you will get BG1 after that, yes?
Nope. After that I will buy ToB. :D After that I hope that NWN and WC3 will be out and I'll buy them. And after this I will buy BGI :D .
Vicsun, I certainly agree with your assertion that you are an unpleasant person. ~Chanak

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Post by humanflyz »

BG2 is much better in terms of technological improvements. It has 800 by 600 resolution, some 3D acceleration, etc. Also, to me, BG2 is much more accessible than BG1. In BG1, you have to do insane amounts of exploring with really, little ties with the over-all story line. To me, all those forest areas could have been much better populated.

BG2 has labeled important locations on the map so that people new to the game or the RPG genre could easily enjoy the game just as much as some who had previously played BG1. The NPC interaction is very enjoyable, and BG2 had way more replay value than BG1.

People who played BG2 first and then BG1 would probably think BG1 pale in comparison to BG2. But people who played BG1 first will get a much deeper appreciation of BG2. Overall, each game has its own pro's and con's. But BG2 is a big improvement over BG1, and that's why my vote goes to BG2.
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Post by fable »

Quests, writing and NPCs were made for an expected early teen market in BG1. When PS:T did relatively well (which is why I'm still annoyed Interplay killed the idea of a followup), the Bioware development team decided to review their intended audience's age group. As a result, BG2 was done with an older person in mind, used to puzzles, complex challenges, and more in-depth (at least, such as games can present) characterizations. All of this is missing in BG1, from my perspective. BG2 has it all.
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Post by Georgi »

I played BG1 before BG2, but my vote goes to the latter, simply because I prefer the more in depth characterization. But they both have their pros and cons, and I bought BG2 because I enjoyed BG1 so much- so they're both good ;)
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Post by Demis »

BG1 is a legend game and i will not forget how i felt the first days of playing in. It might have had some draw backs but this is where BG2 comes. After doing an extensive research on what was not good and what would make bg2 better Bioware managed to not only stand to the high of BG1 but to expend in further with BG2. BG2 had everything that was missing from BG1. So i really enjoyed bg2 too but i cannot say which is better (i didn't vote) since i consider both to be part of a "greater game" and I’m thankful that i played BG saga in its right order. I think i could never enjoyed BG2 so much if i didn't played BG1 first and that's the reason maybe that every time i fell i want to play a BG game i start from BG1. :D .
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Post by Ode to a Grasshopper »

BG2, if only because BG1 lacks my all-time favourite spell-Polymorph Other!
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Post by Eerhardt »

@Ode to a grasshopper: in ToTSC "Polymorph Other" is implemented as well IIRC.
As far as the poll is concerned, perhaps there should have been a 3rd option: equally good. In BGII a lot of stuff made life easier on the player (potion bags, Tab feature in ToB,...) and the Bhaalspawn story was developed in-depth, but I don't think the enjoyment I got from the game changed significantly: running a relatively low-level character in BGI also had its merits. I think it speaks for the replayability of the entire series.
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Post by humanflyz »

I think that people who didn't play BG series in order would probably enjoy BG1 less since BG2 greatly improved on BG1. Then it's an unfair judgement because these people can't appreciate BG1 as much as others who played the games in order. This is a general statement, not meant to say that EVERYONE thinks this way.
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Post by Ode to a Grasshopper »

I've yet to play Totsc, but I did play BG1 long before I discovered BG2. Overall I found BG1 to be a great game, but there were a lot of little frustrations that for me took the edge of the enjoyment I got from playing it. BG2 fixed most of those minor annoyances and has given the NPCs a lot more character (pity about the lack of a good thief), but IMO the story wasn't quite as good and with ToB you do end up way too powerful to properly enjoy the game. I did like the way the romances added a lot more depth to at least some of the NPCs(good work "Bubba" :D ), and the kits add a bit of variety to the classes, even if they're not always improvements.
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Post by Maharlika »

True enough.

I voted for BG2 simply because I hadnt played BG1 and I assumed that BG2 would be a marked improvement compared to BG1. However that doesnt stop me from getting a copy of BG1 since I am interested in playing a "different" story. :)

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