The city isn't really that huge, it just seems that way because of the city is split into multiple sectors due to loading capabilities back in late 1990s. I just feel lost because the city is just there without any meaningfully divided sectors (things jumbled in everywhere) and I feel it's quite boring because I've already experienced all that with BG2.
How do you feel about the starting city in BG2? I assume you enjoy it more because it has meaningfully divided sectors?
I love the city. I think the reason a lot of people are overwhelmed by it is because they feel like they have to go into every single house or building looking for loot, and they try to do it all during their first visit.
Baldur's Gate was the first time I was ever truly impressed by a city in a game.
Yep, same here. I was very impressed with the city, and I thought the timing of it was great, because it gave you a break from the wilderness exploring for awhile.
And I definitely agree about that being the reason for the overwhelming feelings, because that's how I felt when I first started to explore. It was like, oh god, where do I start exploring this enormous city? Trying to remember which houses I've been in and which I haven't, etc. etc. But I found that just by relaxing and not worrying so much if I see *every* nook and cranny, I started to enjoy it much more.
It's still a very memorable moment from my BG:EE playthrough. Love that city.
The city was pretty cool the first time I got to it, but it always feels like a mechanical process of clearing it to me. I think it's a combination of late game content (how much does any of that really stick in your memory?), some fairly dull quests, and the fact that you've done so much exploring at this point.
I've always felt that this part of the game should have come a lot earlier, maybe after clearing out the bandit camp, or even after clearing the Nashkel mines; something to establish your street cred. By this point in the game it just doesn't feel right to be wandering around doing what feels like earlier game content. It fits into the more sandboxy, "real RPG" style of the first game, but the flow feels a bit off by this point.
See, I feel the change of pace of the city is exactly what's needed at that point in the game. I remember starting to feel a bit weary of exploring forests and wilderness areas, and I definitely didn't want to see any more mines..
..but I thought the city came in just at the perfect time and really revitalized the game flow at that point in time.
I remember my jaw dropping as I started exploring it. It was so huge and exciting. Definitely perfect timing, IMO.
I remember being overwhelmed by it. I also remember rushing through it during early replays because the first time was so overwhelming. However, by now I've reached a point where I know every location well enough to complete it all in a rather short amount of time, so it's really just a case of remembering what's what. It's really not that massive.
Yep, overwhelming feelings came when I first started exploring it, too. But as I said, once I relaxed and just went with the flow, it started to be a very rewarding experience.
My very first play through of BG2, Aerie was perma-killed about mid-way through. I was devastated and heartbroken but I continued on, with her grayed out portrait, hoping that I could find a way to bring her back to life. It was terrible coming to the realization that I could never bring her back. Haha… Looking back, I'm not sure why I didn't just reload, but I'm glad I didn't. That's a special memory.
That's awesome. I wish I was playing on those rules from the beginning of my BG:EE playthrough. I would have certainly loved to experience moments like that, and especially loved to have that feeling of "oh crap, someone can actually die for good, I have to be *very* careful" in the game. Oh well, next playthrough I will for sure use the core rules!
I was also very impressed with the city of Baldur's Gate. I still am. I still enjoy reaching it, but I also don't force myself to burglarize every home either. I just have to carry on with the knowledge that other people have stuff that I don't — kinda like real life.
Haha, good way to look at it! I burglarize every house, at least every house that doesn't have people walking around that will report you to the guards..