What's in a Name

Baldur's Gate was perhaps the most unique, most in-depth game since Fallout, and has indeed set the stage for the RPG revolution we've experienced this year. It seems like almost yesterday that there were hundreds of shooters in production, and it was rare to find a good deep RPG to keep you going. This year as seen a complete turn-around, and RPGs have stolen the show. It should come as no surprise, then, that the sequel to Baldur's Gate would be among them. The forth in a series of AD&D (Advanced Dungeons & Dragons) games published by Black Isle Studios, launched by Baldur's Gate, and including Planescape: Torment and Icewind Dale, Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn picks up where Baldur's Gate left off. Literally.

Main title screen	New graphics, and flowing water	Annotated area map	A villa deep in the forest

NOTICE: The following paragraph contains a glimpse at the beginning of the storyline. If you have not yet beaten Baldur's Gate, and still intend to, you may want to skip the next paragraph.

The story opens with you having been kidnapped by an unknown assailent on your way back home after gloriously defeating Sarevok and foiling his plans to become the Lord of Murder. Your captor is running odd experiments on you in his dungeon, and keeps referring to your potential as a child of Bhaal (in case you were unaware, you find out in Baldur's Gate that you were Sarevoks brother, one of hundreds, and are also the son of the the Lord of Murder. You are freed by Imoen, and she starts talking about a magical battle, and shows you to Jaheira and Minsc who are trapped in cells behind you with no keys. This is an RPG, so I will not tell you anything about the story beyond that point. Sort of unfortunate that I can't, while most of that happens in a little three or four minute in-game movie (in the game engine) as soon as you start a new game, there are a few other plot twists that occur shortly after that, in my opinion, really make a big difference as to the mood of the game, and the events to come, but it's better to find things out for yourself. Just know that one thing leads to another, and you find yourself not in Baldur's Gate or Candlekeep, but in Amn, not all your friends from Baldur's Gate survive, you'll meet new friends along the way, and along your travels you may encounter a few more old friends.

Character stat screen	A typical level up	New indoor lighting	A waterfall with moving water

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