lackblogger
SasqWatch
- Joined
- November 1, 2014
- Messages
- 4,781
An interesting PoV there blob, however, from my PoV the only drawback to HotD is the fact that you can't control companions. As far a quality companions go you have a completely different criteria to me as you think IWD is, effectively, only playable with the companions mod, so when you bring combat into the discussion it seems a bit odd that you can only fully appreciate a game once companions are invented, suggesting that you only really have one overriding criteria for your games, companions.
In terms of dungeon design, I found HotU to have better pacing and an overall greater coherence of structure. BG2 spends an awful long time trapped in a big city at the beginning before slowly submerging you into dungeons which, combined with constant respawn random encounters while moving between locations, makes everything a bit more stop-start and disjointed compared to HotU's in at the deep end approach with small hubs and large and distinct multi-layered dungeons. Also, there's plenty of spectacular in the second chapter.
I would say its a case of the two being different enough to gain equal merits from different aspects, depending on what you're in the mood for that day, but I commend your dedicated BG2 fandom knee jerk reaction to take the line "I'd say, aside from BG2 (and possibly including BG2)" and come back with a direct "I have a bit different opinion to lackblogger. BG2 is far more superior in every level" when my opinion was that HotU is not a better game than BG2, but has the credentials to make a case for it/compete for that title.
The main point of the post was not to compete HotU with BG2, but to highlight the fact that lots of people put BGs and other Bioware titles in their Top 10, but HotU remains unplayed by a surprisingly large number of dedicated RPG fansters, when HotU is one of the best games Bioware ever made, one of the best RPGs ever made, as if its some kind of hidden gem oddity instead of a niche must-play landmark. I don't necessarily like some of the great RPG landmarks (such as Ultima 7 or Fallout) but I at least tried them and gave them a fair shot.
In terms of dungeon design, I found HotU to have better pacing and an overall greater coherence of structure. BG2 spends an awful long time trapped in a big city at the beginning before slowly submerging you into dungeons which, combined with constant respawn random encounters while moving between locations, makes everything a bit more stop-start and disjointed compared to HotU's in at the deep end approach with small hubs and large and distinct multi-layered dungeons. Also, there's plenty of spectacular in the second chapter.
I would say its a case of the two being different enough to gain equal merits from different aspects, depending on what you're in the mood for that day, but I commend your dedicated BG2 fandom knee jerk reaction to take the line "I'd say, aside from BG2 (and possibly including BG2)" and come back with a direct "I have a bit different opinion to lackblogger. BG2 is far more superior in every level" when my opinion was that HotU is not a better game than BG2, but has the credentials to make a case for it/compete for that title.
The main point of the post was not to compete HotU with BG2, but to highlight the fact that lots of people put BGs and other Bioware titles in their Top 10, but HotU remains unplayed by a surprisingly large number of dedicated RPG fansters, when HotU is one of the best games Bioware ever made, one of the best RPGs ever made, as if its some kind of hidden gem oddity instead of a niche must-play landmark. I don't necessarily like some of the great RPG landmarks (such as Ultima 7 or Fallout) but I at least tried them and gave them a fair shot.
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2014
- Messages
- 4,781