Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn, Collector's Edition

by Black Isle Studios

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00004XOWL
• Media: CD-ROM
• Release Date: September 22, 2000
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #27,985 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

It's not easy being a child of a god. Your character quickly comes to this conclusion after being imprisoned and tortured by a wizard with an unhealthy interest in your parentage. So begins Baldur's Gate II: Shadow of Amn, an ambitious role-playing game based on the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game.

Shadow of Amn is not really a sequel to Baldur's Gate. Instead, Baldur's Gate was merely a prelude to Shadow of Amn. Shadow of Amn develops the plot lines, characters, and events introduced in the first game into a mature, genuinely interesting fantasy tale. Players who thought the original game shallow will be pleasantly surprised by Shadow of Amn's bold story arcs. Major events are afoot, and the characters' choices have a real impact on the Forgotten Realms.

In the same way, Baldur's Gate served as a proving ground for the refined game mechanics evident in Shadow of Amn. The game's artificial intelligence has been vastly improved, and players have many more choices for NPC AI scripts and party communication. Keeping with Shadow of Amn's more mature theme, the party interaction even includes possible love interests for your character.

Those who played through the original Baldur's Gate can import their character into Shadow of Amn, or can choose to create a new character. Character kits such as the Mageslayer and Swashbuckler add variety, and the game even includes the Monk, Sorcerer, Barbarian, and Half-Orc options from the new Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition rules. Whether you import an old character or create a new one, you'll begin the game as a fairly advanced character--unlike most RPGs, you won't have to spend hours slaying puny critters and instead are plunged into a high-stakes plot against powerful foes.

A strong plot backed by strong technology makes Shadow of Amn stand out as one of the best RPGs we've ever played. Fans of AD&D will love the classic AD&D feel, and fans of the popular Forgotten Realms setting will delight in the people, places, and politics found in Shadow of Amn. --Michael Fehlauer

Pros:

• High-level power gaming
• Quality voice work
• Improves the already great Baldur's Gate interface
• Character kits and D&D 3rd Edition races and classes add variety
• Advances the plot begun in Baldur's Gate

Cons:

• Based on obsolete AD&D 2nd Edition rules
• Character animations are stiff
• Player's character starts out less powerful than other party members

Amazon.com Product Description

Baldur's Gate II: Collector's Edition includes four custom CD-ROMs, featuring the complete Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn in a jewel case. Additionally, the Collector's Edition features a special bonus disc containing exclusive weapons and armor as well as tracks from the original game soundtrack; a cloth map displaying the Kingdom of Amn in vivid color; a set of eight collectible Character Trading Cards (one of two sets randomly distributed, 16 trading cards in all); and a Black Isle Studios writing tablet, all appropriately ensconced in a hinged, book-style serialized box.

In Baldur's Gate II: Shadow of Amn, you face an uncertain future, with a lineage that tempts the unscrupulous to use you, and the ignorant to fear you. You will face a foe that views you as no more than chattel and that toys with you at every turn, a villain whose goals go beyond a quest for power and who threatens to use a lost companion as a tool for unparalleled destruction. The choices to be made will not be easy, and you may have to align with the lesser of evils, even though all evils may seem equal. In the end, you will have mourned lost loves, celebrated new ones, and experienced adventures that profoundly shaped the Realms.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Please give my life back!!!, September 29, 2000

By 

Aung T Maw - See all my reviews

This review is from: Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn, Collector's Edition (CD-ROM)

Eeeee. I bought BG2 on Friday, Sep 22. From that day to this, all I was doing is playing this game. I got a "zero" in one of my projects 'cause I was fighting evil monsters instead of doing the project. :) Cavaliers do not need C programming, right? To get back to the game, it is the best!!! The graphics, the story, the battle system, the environment, all too good to be true. Even the music and voice acting are intriguing. If you think there is no such thing as a perfect game, wait until you've played this game. (It does have a lot of memory leaks though). I recommend that you get the Versus guide book 'cause the number of quests in the game might overwhelm you; you need the book to know which one is optional and which one is required. Now, let me go finish that darn game so that I could get my normal life back. (Minsc and Boo! Rangers and hamsters everywhere. Rejoice!)

38 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a role-playing game should be., August 27, 2000

By 

N. Robert Lee "Dardanarius" (TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn, Collector's Edition (CD-ROM)

If all you want to do is hack and slash through life (your character's life, that is) and wear out your mouse, go with other titles that can do that, and just that, well. However if you are a role-playing traditionalist who wants more then hack and slash, one who appreciates a deep non-linear story, one who wishes to lead an adventuring party and considers the consequences of one's decisions, Bauldur's Gate II is for you.

The great graphics doesn't hurt either.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Baldurs Gate 2, March 29, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn, Collector's Edition (CD-ROM)

I have been an avid gamer for 20+ years and have never before experienced a computer product as detailed and engrossing as this.Its amazing to me that Black Isle/Interplay were able to not only incorporate all of the D+D rules, characters, classes, items etc. but they also gave us that D+D "feel" that those of us who have played pencil and paper style with d20s lying around know what im talking about. Even if your new to the genre i'd strongly recommend this product. And for all you vets out there this comes from one hardliner to another: GO BUY THIS GAME!