I've already played through the Mass Effect and Dragon Age series. I figured I might go back and play some of Bioware's older titles that I've never experienced. But I don't know where to start. I've heard good things about Baldur's Gate and NeverWinter Nights, but I'd like some honest fan feedback before I decide.
Baldur's gate was too outdated for me to be enjoyable, but I can't speak for neverwinter nights.
I've already played through the Mass Effect and Dragon Age series. I figured I might go back and play some of Bioware's older titles that I've never experienced. But I don't know where to start. I've heard good things about Baldur's Gate and NeverWinter Nights, but I'd like some honest fan feedback before I decide.
NeverWinter Nights has excellent gameplay and good amount of story telling. But voice acting quantity is low, so you should read all those small lines. Still better than BG in this aspect.
NWN 1 with expansions is really better than most of the famous games released in 2014.
Guest_Oxidized Sports Coach_*
BG1 > Throne of Bhaal > BG2 > KOTOR > NWN: Hordes of the Underdark > NWN > whatever is left
Personally I prefer the BG series over both ME and DA:O, which are kind of watered down (especially in the case of DA) versions of BG and D&D concepts generally, so I'd definitely play them. I don't care too much about HD graphics or whatever so that kind of stuff doesn't bother me.
As for KOTOR it's similar, just with Star Wars instead of D&D.
I also liked Neverwinter Nights, just not as much as Baldur's Gate. I think Hordes of the Underdark kind of took it to another level, was a fun and satisfying expansion I played multiple times. My only concern about NWN was the engine was kind of weird and sorta blander, but on the whole I think old Bioware > new Bioware so I think you really can't go wrong, as long as you avoid Sonic Brotherhood and possibly MDK2 (never played either). I don't know about Jade Empire but I guess people like that one.
I played them all when they came out more or less so it's a bit complicated but I've replayed at least some of them I think as recently as like 2008/09.. maybe even 2010.. and was still enjoying myself.
Thanks guys. Then I might start with Baldur's Gate 2 (since the first one might be too outdated) and Knights of the Old Republic. Will I understand the story-line in BG2 if I skip BG1?
Guest_greengoron89_*
EDIT: Nevermind about the Enhanced Edition.
Word is the Winter Sale begins today on Steam so you can get KOTOR for like a $6 or less depending on how much they slash the price. Go with that.
It's meant to stand alone if you want, it's directly continuing the BG story technically though..
Like the first dungeon is filled with characters from BG1 but they kind of do the whole.. remember its me, I'm the so and so and kind of explain everything anyway.
I guess I should warn though some people have said the game itself was very punishing relative to the norm... the bigger issue isn't story-line but D&D mechanics, such as having mages memorize spells and only retain them after rest and a dozen other things like that, as well as managing 6 party members at once. There's no like trinity type system (tank, healer, dps), and for instance, characters can permanently die, and your starting stats are extremely important despite nothing really indicating this.
However, you can still rely on things like quicksave, pause, and auto-attacking in ways that mean with some patience and diligence I feel like it ends up playing more like games of today. You can also just kind of ignore some of the really crazy stuff like the Demi-Lich fight. If you quicksave a lot but lose a character to perma-death you can just re-load and try again. Plus you start out with simpler stuff it's only later in like the Illithid lair that things can get really hairy.... Infinity engine games are definitely a different style. For some people though that's all kind of part of the appeal though.
NWN is kind of a slightly more accessible version but it's still pretty heavily D&D, and building your class/perk stuff among the many options can be daunting.
The closest thing to this all is probably pre-first patch DA:O. Personally I found the Inquisitor sub-class of Paladin to make the game the easiest overall...
Knights of the Old Republic without a doubt. The Baldur's Gate games are fantastic too but personally I think KoTOR was the peak of Bioware story telling.
Guest_Master of Gundams_*
Knights of the old republic is awesome.
Buy it you shall or I will commit intervention.
Knights of the old republic is awesome.
Buy it you shall or I will commit intervention.
Yes sir! *salutes* It will be done as soon as the Steam sales commence.
Jade Empire.
Sir Roderick Ponce von Fontlebottom the Magnificent Bastard commands you!
KotoR had a great story and character, but in my opinion has some of the worst combat in a BioWare game. It's good to play it at least once, though.
I'm currently playing through Jade Empire and enjoying it a lot.
Guest_simfamUP_*
All of them save for DA2 and ME3.
But you should probably play them too for continuity's sake.
You can skip NWN, but it's a really solid game in terms of gameplay and the mods for it are awesome.
Guest_simfamUP_*
Oh, just for older titles then?
All of them xD
My personal recommendation would be Baldur's Gate, 2 and then TOB.
But if you're not used to old games then it might be hard to get into.
KOTOR. It's a lot like DAO.
Jade Empire is good too. Best "action RPG" game by Bioware.
Will I understand the story-line in BG2 if I skip BG1?
I played Shadows of Amn (SoA) before I played Baldur's Gate 1. The story of the first game isn't that complicated, and the intro cinematic of SoA pretty much sums up what the first game is about.
Click if you want to watch the cinematic.
Neverwinter Nights is defo my favourite. But opinions on this one differ quite alot... It's an acquired taste I guess? Another option woulld definitely be Jade Empire! Lovely game with good gameplay (If somewhat repetitive), good storyline and beautiful scenery (imo), give it a go.
Jade Empire is good too. Best "action RPG" game by Bioware.
I'd say that award goes to DAI, but JE was definately BioWare's best action-RPG that was marketed as such at least.
JE's storyline and characters beat out DA:I.... IMO. The combat is fun but repetitive as someone mentioned above but it does have a lot of flavor! I thought it was really interesting how you learned different fighting styles throughout the game and I liked that they made you chose between them at various points in the story.
Obvious answer is the BG series with mods like sword coast stratagems, ascension, ect...
Unless you're a complete news**t casual and can't do gameplay
Knights of the Old Republic. Do it now.
I'll concur with this.
I liked Baldur's Gate, and still get a kick out of playing it, despite the "oldness" of the game. 
I realize it may be a bit too much of a throwback for some people, but I'm okay with it.
I'm trying Jade Empire, and I'm finding it... okay. I'm not so far into it, yet, but it's not really living up to the hype. I wish I'd tried it on console back when it originally came out (I had several opportunities to, and I regret not doing so.)
If you are more used to the more modern presentation of Dragon Age and Mass Effect, you may want to go with KotOR and Jade Empire. I found them both very enjoyable (played KotOR on the iPad recently and that works really well).
I am not quite sure why you would start with BG2 because BG1 is too outdated for you. To me, from a technical point of iew, they are very similar games, so you might as well start the series from the beginning. Use mods for them!
Haven't played much of the NWN series at all, so I don't have much to comment there.
BTW, if youa re not strictly limiting yourself to BW games, but are just looking for good story-heavy RPGs, also consider looking at Obsidian titles. They made the sequels to both KotOR and NWN and they also made an original RPG (and a personal favorite of mine), Alpha Protocol.
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