Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition

Developer: Beamdog
Release: Jan 16th 2013
Platforms:
Adventure
RPG
Nostalgic
Strategic
Immersive
Outdated
Technical Issues
Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition Poster

" Classic adventure RPG with deep tactical combat and rich story, but slow early gameplay "

Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition Review

Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition is a remastered classic CRPG that continues to captivate players decades after its original 1998 release. The game preserves the core Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition mechanics, combining strategic, tactical combat with a rich, immersive storyline set in the Forgotten Realms. The Enhanced Edition improves the experience with modern resolution support, quality-of-life tweaks, and additional content such as new companions and the Siege of Dragonspear expansion. Players praise the game's deep party customization, challenging combat, and memorable characters, despite some companions feeling underdeveloped compared to the sequel.

While the visuals are dated, the hand-painted backgrounds and stylized sprites retain charm, and the remastered soundtrack enhances immersion. The game’s pacing can be slow early on, but grows rewarding with progression and mastery of mechanics. Some technical issues exist, notably save problems for non-English locale users, but overall the game remains a beloved, strategic, and nostalgic RPG experience. It is highly recommended for fans of classic RPGs, D&D systems, and those seeking a foundational journey before Baldur's Gate II.

Highlights

Players consistently praise the game's strategic and rewarding combat system, which requires thoughtful party building and tactical spell use. The rich storyline and memorable characters evoke strong nostalgia and emotional investment, especially when continuing into Baldur's Gate II.

The Enhanced Edition's modernized interface and quality-of-life improvements significantly enhance playability without compromising the original's charm. The hand-painted backgrounds and remastered soundtrack also receive positive remarks for maintaining a captivating fantasy atmosphere.

Criticisms

Common criticisms focus on the game's slow early pacing and a somewhat unforgiving start, which may deter newcomers unfamiliar with AD&D 2nd Edition rules. Some players find the new companions and Siege of Dragonspear expansion less compelling and tonally inconsistent with the base game.

Technical issues such as save game problems for non-English system locales are notable and have persisted for years. Additionally, the graphics feel outdated compared to modern CRPGs, and the companion dialogue is limited, reducing character depth in the first game.

Pros

  • Deep, tactical combat rewarding strategic party and spell management.
  • Rich, immersive storyline with memorable classic characters.
  • Enhanced Edition adds modern UI and quality-of-life improvements.
  • Remastered soundtrack enhances fantasy atmosphere and immersion.
  • Strong nostalgia appeal for fans of original Baldur's Gate.
  • Bridges to Baldur's Gate II for a continuous narrative experience.
  • Expansions and new content increase replayability and freshness.

Cons

  • Slow and restrictive early gameplay may frustrate new players.
  • Save game issues on non-English locales remain unresolved.
  • New companions and Siege of Dragonspear lack original charm.
  • Outdated graphics compared to modern CRPG standards.
  • Limited companion dialogue reduces emotional depth.
  • Steep learning curve for AD&D 2nd Edition mechanics.
  • Some players find pacing and interface dated.

Rating Criteria

Story
Difficulty
Graphics
Duration
Stability
Worth the Price
Capsule image

The classic adventure returns! Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition includes the original Baldur’s Gate adventure, the Tales of the Sword Coast expansion, and all-new content including three new party members.

Release Date Jan 16th 2013
Publisher Beamdog
Developer Beamdog
Platforms

User Reviews

Very Positive (8,746)
93% Positive 7% Negative

Online Reviews

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Metacritic
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