"Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast" Review

Genre:  RPG

Publisher:  Black Isle/Bioware

Summary:  You have been raised amidst the bookish halls of Candlekeep by your foster father Gorion, but upon leaving he is murdered by a mysterious figure in armor.  Can the current iron crisis somehow be connected?

Gameplay:  As a Dungeons and Dragons game, gameplay is naturally based on that system (3rd edition.)  You start at level one, and there is a real danger that a diseased gibberling might kill you with a sneeze.  With experience and knowledge, on the other hand, you can solo the game on the hardest difficulty.  Thanks to multiple difficulty levels and character classes, there is enough variety to satisfy many different play styles.

Style:  The isometric graphics are nothing spectacular, although some backgrounds are pretty.  The portraits for your party members are a nice way of showing character tiny sprites can't.  I also quite like the stone bars off bordering the sides and base of the screen which contain the buttons and icons.  I've seen lots of games that just have those floating in front of the action (or wherever you'd like to drag them) but there's a neatness to having them all off in their place with the main action in the middle I really appreciate.  And the overall style of written scrolls and stonework nicely matches the medieval feel of the Sword Coast.

Story:  The story for Baldur's Gate is actually somewhat complex, although easy enough to follow (too easy, in some places.  The game throws you multiple signposts when you first get to the city of Baldur's gate.  It's okay to just let us explore the new region for a bit!)

There are distinct chapters, each beginning with a dream.  These are surprisingly effective and eerie considering they're just narration and a still image.  They also change a bit depending on alignment and how some main quests were completed.

The Sword Coast is nicely spacious, with plenty of sidequests and other random encounters to stumble upon and explore.  I'm pretty sure, in over a decade of playing this game, that there are still probably a few quests I haven't done (to say nothing of the multitude of mods available that add more.)

Then there are the characters.  Bioware's famous quirky party began here, although this early on characterization is somewhat thin.  The villains also have some interesting shades.

Conclusion:  Despite its age, this is still an excellent roleplaying game, offering many opportunities for adventure and characterization, as well as a rich story.  And there are plenty of mods that add to the experience, as well.

The Longest Journey Prologue - Of Dreams and Dragon Eggs

The Longest Journey (and the Dreamfall games after it) begins with a prologue, so that's where my playthrough shall as well. Even this comparatively short bit of game is long on me rambling (especially with the pictures) so if you wish to read on, continue below the prologue title.

"A lion is in the streets"

"Ascension" Review

Publisher:  RinmaruGames

Website:  http://impqueen.com/ascension-123.html

Genre:  Visual Novel

Summary:  After investigating an ancient ruin with her friend Sky, Aida finds herself involved with political plots, assassins, and ancient magic.  New friends, revelations about her own past, and, possibly, romance await.

Gameplay:  The first chapter has occasional grab-with-the-mouse games that aren't required to proceed but give bonuses in the form of gold or the like.  Later chapter puzzles have similarly unnecessary rewards, but involve things like memory challenges and riddles.

Beyond this, gameplay mostly involves decisions.  Aida's responses can be diplomatic, clever, or mean, and sometimes success on a particular quest or at least method will require concentration on one of these methods over the other.  There are also plot decisions like who to romance, as well as minor choices like how to dress.

Unfortunately, the game is online-only.  It worked fine as far as I could tell (although I don't believe saved games will last if you close your browser), but I worry about websites disappearing someday.

Style:  I enjoyed the art style, and I really loved having options when it came to the protagonist and occasionally her friends' hair and clothes.  Everyone's expressions go well with their dialogue, and the occasional brief animation really adds to the game.

The spelling and grammar are horrendous and almost turned me off the game at the beginning.  Fortunately, they gradually improve.  Also, the music, while lovely, is often way too loud and I could find no way to turn it down.

Story:  Ascension is well-paced over its three chapters, each of which tells a complete tale while also being part of the overarching story.  I wouldn't say the story of Ascension is unique, but it did manage to surprise me at moments.

I also enjoyed the fantasy universe with copious races, legends, histories, and magics.  (I appreciate any game that has the option to read unnecessary setting details.)  And I liked all the choices in romance and quests and even outfits.

But the best part of the game for me was the overall snarky humor.  Not every line works, but there were still many laughs.  I really appreciate when I want to hear a sarcastic response and then I do.  Plus the humor doesn't undermine some genuine emotional moments.

Conclusion:  Ascension's weaknesses in design and grammar are fortunately outweighed by a long, entertaining story with choice, drama, and fun.