This is a remastered edition of a classic role-playing experience, originally released as Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn. Players are presented with a narrative where they are captured and subjected to experimentation by a powerful wizard. The central conflict revolves around the player's struggle with their own nature and destiny, offering a choice between heroic resistance and embracing a path of destruction. This edition brings the game to multiple modern platforms, including PC, Mac, iOS, Android, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, with updated presentation.

A World of Choice and Consequence

The game is set in the Forgotten Realms, a detailed fantasy setting characterized by intricate lore, diverse inhabitants, and a blend of political intrigue, ancient mysteries, and perilous creatures. The narrative is heavily influenced by player decisions, with choices directly impacting the story's progression, character relationships, and the ultimate conclusion. The game emphasizes a deep, branching storyline where player actions have tangible and lasting effects on the world and its inhabitants.

Core Gameplay Mechanics

At its core, this is a party-based role-playing game that employs a real-time-with-pause combat system. Players manage a party of adventurers, each possessing unique skills, abilities, and backstories. Character development is a significant aspect, offering extensive customization through a comprehensive class and skill system based on the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition ruleset. Exploration is a key component, involving travel through expansive environments, dungeon delving, and interaction with numerous non-player characters. Dialogue is integral, providing opportunities for persuasion, deception, and information gathering.

Enhanced Presentation and Modernizations

This remastered edition introduces significant updates to the original experience. Visual enhancements include higher resolution graphics, refined character models, and updated visual effects, contributing to a more detailed and immersive world. The user interface has been modernized for improved usability on contemporary platforms, with support for widescreen resolutions. Audio elements have also been refined, featuring updated sound effects and music. The core gameplay mechanics and the majority of the original content have been preserved to ensure a faithful recreation of the original game. New features include the addition of several new companions, each with their own quests and storylines, and the seamless integration of the Throne of Bhaal expansion content.

What Makes This Game Unique?

Deep Narrative and Player Agency

The game distinguishes itself through its exceptionally deep narrative, offering a level of player agency rarely seen in RPGs. The extensive dialogue, branching questlines, and the impact of player choices on the overarching story create a highly personal and replayable experience. The game also features a complex companion system, where party members have their own motivations and react to the player's decisions, adding another layer of depth to character interactions.

Strategic Combat and Character Building

The real-time-with-pause combat system necessitates strategic thinking. Players must carefully manage their party's positioning, spell usage, and item deployment to overcome challenging encounters. The intricate character building system allows for a vast array of potential character builds, encouraging experimentation and strategic planning to optimize party synergy and overcome specific obstacles.

Available Content

This edition includes the entirety of the original Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn campaign, along with the Throne of Bhaal expansion. This integrated content represents the complete package available for this edition.

Basic Game Information

Game Type: Remaster
Original Release Year: 2000 (Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn)
Remaster Release Year: 2013
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, Android, Mac, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Adventure