gravitybear
Member
GAF, I am very LTTP on both of these, obviously. Never played either one. Got them both awhile back in a package deal from GOG.com. Which one should I start with?
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GAF Recommend: Fallout 2 or Baldur's Gate II?
- Thread starter gravitybear
- Start date
Bomber Bob
Banned
Have you played Fallout 1?
Demon Lizardman
Banned
whynotboth.jpg
Honestly, just try out BG2, best western experience of everyone's life except mine because I haven't played it yet.
Honestly, just try out BG2, best western experience of everyone's life except mine because I haven't played it yet.
Dragoon En Regalia
Member
Both: best version of Fallout 2's on Steam, best version of Baldur's Gate II (Complete, with none of Enhanced Edition's bugs and embedded mods) is on GOG. They're in the wings for me.
2's got more pop-culture humor, but II is a massive upgrade to high-level AD&D play from the original. Based on that, it might be easier to play the next Fallout, but the next BG might really impress you.
2's got more pop-culture humor, but II is a massive upgrade to high-level AD&D play from the original. Based on that, it might be easier to play the next Fallout, but the next BG might really impress you.
disappeared
Banned
Which of the predecessors did you enjoy more? Go with the sequel to that one, then the other at a later time.
gravitybear
Member
I have not played Fallout 1 or Baldur's gate 1, no. I will eventually get to both but my time is limited, just wanted to know which one I should start with as a ~70 hour game will take me a few months to get through.
loganclaws
Plane Escape Torment
Fallout 2 is less dense. I say go with that.
gravitybear
Member
that's probably what I'm looking for. Also I played the hell out of Fallout 3/vegas so that may help some, at least in turns of stats and understanding the world
gravitybear
Member
I played all the way through Arcanum. I assume these are pretty similar?
To carify, these games aren't rocket science. You can get the gist of the important systems with a ~15 minute overview.
I guess I'm disappointed that people now consider games that require even a short glance at a manual to be too complicated. Baldur's Gate in particular was lauded at the time for making AD&D so accessible.
Arcanum is like a more complicated Fallout so you should be good there.
If your time really is limited, you should actually start with Fallout 1. You can probably finish it in < 20 hrs
Though, actually, in terms of which series you should jump in first: do you want a solo experience with some dumb henchmen with nice choice & consequence (Fallout), or a party-based classic adventure (BG)?
Fallout 2 is another story in the world of Fallout, with some references to the first one. Baldur's Gate II is the direct follow-up from the first one, like one minute after the first ended. With the same characters, if you import your save. So much that there are mods to link both Baldur's Gate & II in a single game with a seamless transition between the two stories.
Not that you can't enjoy BGII by itself, but I think it's better if you played the first one instead of having it summarised in the intro of II.
Not that you can't enjoy BGII by itself, but I think it's better if you played the first one instead of having it summarised in the intro of II.
gravitybear
Member
Just checked on GOG, apparently the package deal thing I got also includes BG1 and Fallout 1. So it appears I need to start with one of those instead, is that the consensus? Leaning toward Fallout 1
hemtae
Member
Fallout 1 is definitely better than BG1 and is easier to understand if you aren't familiar with the AD&D rules.
Jerry Orbach
Member
Fallout 1 is easily the most enjoyable of the four games you've mentioned, and the shortest. It's also the most replayable, because it's the one in which your choices matter most.
shrapnelmagnet
Member
I don't think Fallout 1 is super important to play before Fallout 2... But when I tried to play Baldur's Gate II, I was turned off with the opening because it immediately assumes knowledge of the original.
Disclaimer: I still haven't played Fallout 1, but I tried starting Baldur's Gate I. I didn't get far (don't think I was fully in the mood for a giant classic RPG, so that was my bad)... I will go back, though
Suggestion: Fallout 2. I enjoyed it, a lot.
Disclaimer: I still haven't played Fallout 1, but I tried starting Baldur's Gate I. I didn't get far (don't think I was fully in the mood for a giant classic RPG, so that was my bad)... I will go back, though
Suggestion: Fallout 2. I enjoyed it, a lot.
Fallout 2 might be what you're looking for then. In my experience, I played Fallout 1 and then 3 (haven't gotten to 2 yet), and everything clicked well for me when I played 3, considering I had experience with Fallout 1 stats.
Robottiimu2000
Member
Baldurs gate (the first one) is still one of the best games I've played. I'd go with that.
But I guess it depends which you prefer right now: sci-fi or fantasy setting go with that
But I guess it depends which you prefer right now: sci-fi or fantasy setting go with that
FlyingSaucer
Banned
Baldur's Gate 2's interface is more polished, more pleasant to use - Fallout 2 already looked dated in 98.
Fallout 2 universe and story are more compelling, though. BGII's Forgotten Realms are your archetypical, run-of-the-mill AD&D fantasy universe. The visit to the Underdark is neat, though.
Fallout 2 universe and story are more compelling, though. BGII's Forgotten Realms are your archetypical, run-of-the-mill AD&D fantasy universe. The visit to the Underdark is neat, though.
Personally never played fallout 2, so guess that invalidates my opinion somewhat, but BG2 is still the pinnacle of western RPG's imo. That game is ridiculous with the amount of content stuffed in there (esp. with Throne of Bhaal expac)...and I found out recently that they actually had to cut content.
I definitely recommend Fallout 1 first. Preferably with mods.
KillerDark
Member
I've never played Fallout 2 so I can't speak on that but BG2 is awesome, I highly recommend it!
gravitybear
Member
nice thanks ill check these out
jim-jam bongs
Member
Fallout all the way. Then BG2 after you've got to the point where you can finish Fallout 2 in 15 minutes.
GOG with mods, imo. The unofficial patches make the game much better.
Not saying BG is too complicated, but he did say his time was limited. I just feel that BG is a game where you have to be in the right mindset for. At least that's how it is for me. Definitely not a game I'd play on a whim, I'd have to make sure I have some time for it and be in the right mood for.
I'm not sure I agree. If you don't have any experience with its D&D rules, it's going to be a bitch. Fallout's gameplay system is pretty simple in comparison.
BG2 can be very tricky to just jump into, though not tremendously so. An adjustment to learning the mechanics of the d&d system is necessary often requiring google searches to get more info on magic duels that occur constantly in the mid and late game. I think the EE edition is probably more helpful with more informative and better devised tool tips but it can get frustrating and tricky to suss out why certain spells don't break defenses properly or what is needed to do so without proper knowledge.
Lore wise though bg2 has a rough start with its strange tutorial dungeon and freedom of objective design in the early chapters, but not impossible to figure through. Events of bg1 make constant cameos which makes playing it first appreciable. All told its a great experience with the right mindset coming in.
Lore wise though bg2 has a rough start with its strange tutorial dungeon and freedom of objective design in the early chapters, but not impossible to figure through. Events of bg1 make constant cameos which makes playing it first appreciable. All told its a great experience with the right mindset coming in.
I replayed and completed BG a few months ago and am now in the middle of replaying BG2. I am actually still kinda amazed at how well those games hold up over the years and got just as sucked into them as I did when they first came out. I also tried giving Fallout 1 a shot but I felt that even with mods that the game was much more dated than the BG games. Personally I would say both BG games are worth playing, but then again I am bias because I always enjoyed real-time pause much more than turn based combat.
Also if you play any of those games and want something similar but with a total unique world then play Planescape Torment. Its probably the most story focused of all the infinity engine games, but its hands down one of the best games of all time
Also if you play any of those games and want something similar but with a total unique world then play Planescape Torment. Its probably the most story focused of all the infinity engine games, but its hands down one of the best games of all time
What? Are you talking about the re-release Bethesda made on Steam? Looking at this thread, they included the hi resolution patch and sfall, but I don't think anything from Killap's unofficial patch was added. I would still recommend installing that anyway and since it also includes the resolution patch and sfall (the newest versions too! - and you can download newer versions separately) there isn't any difference between GOG and Steam (since the patches work fine on both and overwrites what Bethesda did on their rerelease...).
I noticed you played Fallout 3 and New Vegas... Are you aware that Fallout 1 + 2 have a very different playstyle? Are you aware that many people from Obisdian who worked on New Vegas were part of the team that worked on Fallout 1 + 2 so chances are if you liked the writing of New Vegas you will likely enjoy Fallout 1 + 2.
I preferred Fallout 2 (you could probably tell by how much I talked about it in this post compared to BG 2
), but you can't really go wrong with either choice: do you want fantasy with orcs, elves, mages and the like or do you want post-apocalyptic mad max style world?It's been awhile, but I think you can probably beat Fallout 1 and 2 in the time it takes you to beat Baldur's Gate 2 (well it depends on how much you want to do...).
Fallout 2 can be played without playing Fallout 1. While Baldur's Gate 2 can be played without playing Baldur's Gate 1 I usually recommend that people play the whole trilogy (BG 1, 2, and Throne of Bhaal) because you will follow your character from a lowly level 1 pc to an almighty character by the end of Throne of Bhaal. Baldur's Gate 1 is a bit of drag though because of how weak your characters are.
Mods:
Fallout: I recommend Fallout FIXT. This mod basically combines every sort of mod you would need (patches, widescreen resolution). Just choose the version you want. I highly recommend you only choose Fixes only for you first time playing the game.
Fallout 2: I recommend either the unofficial patch (best for the first time/purists) or the restoration project. You can find the downloads at the bottom of Killap's post (the first one) here.
Baldur's Gate: too many to list really. I used BG Tutu to play the whole trilogy at once. It took me well over 100 hours and now I have no desire to play again for awhile...
DustyVonEric
Member
I prefer Fallout 2.
The combat and role playing freedom are tops.
BG2 with various character, rules, loot, quest mods though can be pretty special if you like that combat style.
The combat and role playing freedom are tops.
BG2 with various character, rules, loot, quest mods though can be pretty special if you like that combat style.