Info about Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition:

Official game description:
Gather Your Party
-----------------
Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition is a story-driven 90s RPG set in the world of Dungeons & Dragons.  
Customize your hero, recruit a party of brave allies, and explore the Sword Coast in your search for adventure, profit… and the truth.
75+ Hours of Adventure
----------------------
The Enhanced Edition contains over 75 hours of gameplay, including the original campaign, the classic Sword Coast expansion, plus brand new challenges in the Black Pits arena!  
*   **Classic Campaign:** The Original Baldur’s Gate Adventure  
*   **Expansion:** Tales of the Sword Coast expansion  
*   **New Challenges:** The Black Pits, arena style battles  
*   **New Difficulty Setting:** Story Mode allows players to focus on story and exploration, rather than combat and survival  
*   **Paid DLC Expansion Available:** Siege of Dragonspear is a brand new chapter in the Baldur's Gate saga!
Epic Characters
---------------
*   **11 Playable Classes** plus dozens of subclasses  
*   **Recruit Classic Characters** like Minsc and his brave hamster, Boo!  
*   **3 New Recruitable Heroes:** Neera the Wild Mage, Dorn Il-Khan the Blackguard, and Rasaad yn Bashir the Monk  
*   **New player voice sets** to customize your hero  
*   **Story-driven gameplay** means character choices matter
Classic Gameplay
----------------
*   2-D isometric graphics  
*   Real-time-with-pause combat  
*   Adapts 2nd Edition Dungeons & Dragons Rules
Enhanced for Modern Platforms
-----------------------------
*   Over 400 improvements to the original game  
*   Native support for high-resolution widescreen displays  
*   The 1998 Classic, enhanced for modern Windows, macOS and Linux players!
Story-Rich Gaming Experience
----------------------------
Forced to leave your home under mysterious circumstances, you find yourself drawn into a conflict that has the Sword Coast on the brink of war.  
Your view of the world has been limited to the heavily fortified walls of Candlekeep. Your foster father, Gorion, has done everything in his power to protect you, and keep you out of harm’s way. All that is about to change...

Release date: Jan 16, 2013

Categories: Role-Playing Game, Real-time with Pause, Character Customization, Story-driven Gameplay, Tactical Combat, Exploration, Party-based Combat, Isometric Action-RPG

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 10; verdict: Fair; summary: The game does not employ predatory monetization practices such as microtransactions, battle passes, or pay-to-win mechanics. The primary issues raised by users are related to gameplay and DLC content, which do not significantly impact the overall fairness of the game's monetization.
- Wiki: score 50; verdict: Needs Significant Improvements; summary: The primary user complaints revolve around the lack of in-game explanations for mechanics, quest guidance, and stat explanations. This forces users to rely heavily on external guides and wikis, significantly impacting the user experience negatively.
- Steam Deck: score 50; verdict: Good with Room for Improvement; summary: The analysis of user feedback reveals a generally positive experience with the game, particularly noting native support for various platforms and enhanced user interface features. However, there are significant technical issues related to game stability and cloud saves, especially on Linux. Users have also shown high engagement and interest, particularly with the Steam Deck. Performance issues and control preferences were noted as areas for improvement.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $5.00 - $20.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence suggests that users find the game worth its full price of $20 due to the extensive gameplay hours it offers. Additionally, many users mention purchasing the game on sale for around $5 and considering it a good deal. The frequent sales and the reasonable full price indicate that the community finds the game valuable within this price range.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 120.0h
  - Story completion: 40.0h
  - Session length: 2.0h
  - Endgame: 30.0h
  - Reasoning: The evidence provided includes several user reviews that mention specific playtime metrics. One user spent 120 hours on Baldur's Gate 1 alone, which suggests a high total playtime for game completion. Another user mentioned finishing Baldur's Gate 2 and its DLC twice, indicating significant investment in both the main story and additional content. The reviews also highlight the depth and complexity of the game, suggesting that players spend considerable time on both the main story and endgame content. The mention of spending hours on character builds and learning game mechanics supports the idea of long session lengths.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game has a steep learning curve and early-game challenges that deter many players, but those who persist find a rewarding and in-depth role-playing experience.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: Overcoming the initial learning curve and early-game challenges
  - Time to anchor: 1h 0m
  - Friction: Steep learning curve; Complex combat mechanics; Poorly explained tutorials; High initial difficulty
  - Unlock drivers: Investing time in learning the game; Overcoming early challenges; Exploring the game world
  - Conditions: Patience and persistence; Willingness to learn complex mechanics; Enjoyment of deep role-playing systems
- Player Archetypes:
  - Build-Crafter Grinder (buy)
    - Motivation: Character customization and tactical combat
    - Playstyle: Creates diverse character builds and enjoys tactical combat.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: RPG enthusiast; tactical gamer
    - Reference games: Diablo; Dragon Age: Origins; Baldur's Gate 3
  - Story-First Explorer (buy)
    - Motivation: Immersive storytelling and roleplaying
    - Playstyle: Focuses on story and roleplaying, enjoys tactical combat.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: story lover; roleplayer
    - Reference games: Diablo; Dragon Age: Origins
  - Newcomer Learner (sale)
    - Motivation: Learning and accessibility
    - Playstyle: Uses guides and easier modes to learn the game.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: new player; beginner
    - Reference games: Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous; Pillars of Eternity
  - Nostalgic Veteran (deep sale)
    - Motivation: Nostalgia and historical appreciation
    - Playstyle: Enjoys the game for its nostalgic value and historical context.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: deep sale
    - Labels: veteran gamer; nostalgic player
    - Reference games: Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous; Pillars of Eternity; Wasteland 2; Divinity: Original Sin


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Exceptional Storyline (weight 0.44): The game features a highly praised storyline with extensive writing, engaging plots, and well-developed characters and villains. Players highlight its depth, twists, and overall quality as standout elements.
- Classic RPG Experience (weight 0.3): This game is celebrated as a masterpiece of the RPG genre, offering core RPG elements and a classic isometric CRPG experience. It is particularly noted for its adherence to AD&D rules, making it a favorite among CRPG fans.
- Enhanced Edition Improvements (weight 0.26): The Enhanced Edition brings significant improvements, including better stability, interface, graphics, and quality-of-life changes. These enhancements make the game more polished and easier to play on modern computers.
- Memorable Characters (weight 0.22): The game features memorable and well-designed characters with unique personalities and motivations. Players love the character design and complexity.
- Tactical and Rewarding Combat (weight 0.17): The combat system is tactical and requires strategic thinking, offering a challenging yet rewarding experience. Players appreciate the depth and intricacy of the battle mechanics.
- Extensive Quests (weight 0.15): The game offers a large number of interesting quests, including extensive side quests that can be solved in many ways. Players appreciate the variety and depth of the quests.
- High Replay Value (weight 0.15): The game offers high replay value with many adventurers, choices, and flexibility, making it endlessly replayable. Players appreciate the hours of gameplay and additional content.
- Exploration and World-Building (weight 0.13): The game invites exploration with an interesting and pleasant world to discover. Players enjoy the freedom to explore various locations.
- Stable and Well-Performing (weight 0.1): The game is noted for its stability and lack of bugs or crashes. Players also praise the excellent graphics and performance.
- Variety in Game Elements (weight 0.1): The game features a great variety of NPCs, maps, enemies, armaments, equipment, items, magic, and classes. Players enjoy the diverse and interesting elements.
- Adventurous Feeling (weight 0.08): The game captures the feeling of adventure, providing a more adventurous and enjoyable experience. Players appreciate the sensation of adventure.
- Meaningful Choices and Consequences (weight 0.08): The game features meaningful decisions and consequences, with short, medium, and long-term impacts based on player actions. Players appreciate the depth of choices.
- Good Voice Acting and Sounds (weight 0.08): The game features good voice acting, sounds, and translations. Players appreciate the quality of the voice-acted dialogue and sound effects.
- Engaging Dialogue Options (weight 0.08): The game offers good dialogue options with branching choices that augment conversations. Players appreciate the detailed dialogue and choices.
- Positive Reception of Siege of Dragonspear (weight 0.08): Players enjoy the Siege of Dragonspear DLC, finding it an excellent addition that elevates the overall experience. The expansion is well-received.
- Great Music and Narration (weight 0.08): The game features great music and narration, with players expressing their love for the music and theme. The sound design is praised.

Common complaints:
- Outdated graphics and visuals (weight 0.21): The game's graphics are frequently described as outdated, primitive, and unrefined. Many players find the visual style to be obsolete and in need of improvement.
- Clunky and difficult gameplay (weight 0.13): Players report that the gameplay feels clunky and outdated by modern standards. The combat system is particularly criticized for being poor and difficult to navigate.
- Outdated and confusing rules (weight 0.12): The game uses the 2nd Edition Dungeons and Dragons ruleset, which many players find outdated and confusing. This can be a barrier for new players trying to understand the game mechanics.
- Frequent game crashes (weight 0.12): The game is plagued with technical issues, including frequent crashes and problems with launching the game. These issues significantly hinder the gameplay experience.
- Companions lack depth (weight 0.11): Companions in the game are criticized for lacking depth, interesting dialogue, and narrative contribution. This makes them less engaging and fleshed out.
- Steep learning curve (weight 0.1): The game has a steep learning curve, making it less accessible for beginners. New players may find it challenging to get into the game due to its complexity.
- Unusual and challenging combat mechanics (weight 0.1): The combat mechanics are described as unusual, challenging, and non-intuitive. Players find the mechanics difficult to understand and master.
- Poorly explained mechanics (weight 0.09): The game suffers from poorly explained mechanics, with a lack of in-game descriptions for some systems. This can make it difficult for new players to understand and enjoy the game.
- Unbalanced difficulty (weight 0.08): The game's difficulty curve is poorly balanced, with some players finding it too high or uneven. This can lead to frustration and a less enjoyable experience.
- AI pathfinding issues (weight 0.06): The game has problems with AI pathfinding, particularly for group members. This can lead to frustrating and inefficient gameplay.
- Confusing THAC0 mechanics (weight 0.06): The THAC0 and Armor Class mechanics are confusing, particularly for new players. This can make combat and other gameplay elements difficult to understand.
- Janky and outdated experience (weight 0.06): The game is described as old and janky, suffering from severe old-game jank. This can detract from the overall enjoyment and smoothness of the gameplay.
- Cloud save issues (weight 0.06): The game has issues with cloud saves, including problems with document folder settings and conflicts with antivirus software. These issues can hinder gameplay and cause frustration.
- Unoriginal and unengaging story (weight 0.06): The story is described as unoriginal and paper-thin, failing to engage players and provide a compelling narrative experience.
- Poor translation and port (weight 0.06): The game's translation is poor, and the port is described as horrible. This can lead to a subpar gaming experience.
- Poor quest design (weight 0.06): The quests in the game are criticized for being annoying, poorly designed, and feeling like chores. This can make the gameplay experience less enjoyable.
- Repetitive exploration (weight 0.06): The exploration in the game is described as repetitive and pointless. This can make the gameplay experience feel monotonous and less engaging.

Gameplay feedback:
- AD&D rules adherence (weight 0.31): The game strictly follows Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (AD&D) 2nd Edition rules, providing a classic and complex rule system that adapts the mechanics from the tabletop game.
- Rich story and quests (weight 0.23): The game offers a well-balanced experience between story and combat, featuring a main storyline with freedom to explore and complete side quests. It includes complex story and lore, along with NPC storylines.
- Real-time-with-pause combat (weight 0.21): Combat in the game is conducted in real-time but includes an active pause feature, allowing players to strategize and issue commands during combat.
- Exploration-focused gameplay (weight 0.16): The game emphasizes exploration, offering a non-linear and open-world experience that rewards players for discovering new areas and secrets.
- Tactical combat system (weight 0.16): Combat is tactical and turn-based, incorporating elements like the THAC0 system and requiring strategic planning and execution.
- Deep character customization (weight 0.14): Players can create and customize their characters with a variety of options, including deep character creation, class selection, and progression systems.
- Adjustable difficulty (weight 0.12): The game features adjustable difficulty levels, allowing players to tailor the combat and overall gameplay challenge to their preference.
- Unique companions (weight 0.11): The game includes a variety of companions with unique personalities and worldviews, enhancing the roleplaying experience.
- Challenging combat (weight 0.07): The game features a challenging and unforgiving combat system, requiring players to strategize and adapt to survive.
- Strategic spell usage (weight 0.06): Spells play a crucial role in combat and exploration, requiring players to use magic strategically to overcome challenges.
- Roleplaying options (weight 0.06): The game offers extensive roleplaying options, allowing players to engage deeply with the story and characters.
- Balanced tactics (weight 0.06): The game requires players to balance their tactics and party composition carefully to survive and succeed in combat and exploration.
- NPC interactions (weight 0.06): Interactions with NPCs are a significant part of the gameplay, featuring dialogues and relationships that enhance the story and gameplay experience.
- Quick save and load (weight 0.06): The game includes quick save and load mechanics, allowing players to save their progress and load previous states easily.

Performance notes:
- Poor graphics quality (weight 0.13): A number of players criticized the game for having terrible and outdated graphics, which detracts from the visual experience.
- Frequent game crashes (weight 0.12): Several players reported issues with the game crashing frequently, which significantly impacts the gameplay experience.
- Technical problems and hardware issues (weight 0.08): Players have encountered various technical problems, including issues related to different hardware configurations and integrated graphics.
- UI and quality-of-life improvements (weight 0.06): There have been UI and quality-of-life improvements, but some players also reported UI scaling issues and bugs.
- Frame rate limitations (weight 0.05): The game is locked at 30 FPS by default, which can feel choppy, although it can be improved by editing the .ini file.
- Controller and multiplayer issues (weight 0.05): Some players noted that the game is not well-suited for controllers and experiences bugs and crashes in multiplayer mode.
- Zoomable camera issues (weight 0.04): The zoomable camera feature has been noted, but some players mentioned that sprites do not scale well with zooming.
- Sound and music issues (weight 0.04): Players have reported annoying music and monotonous combat sounds, which affect the overall audio experience.

Recommendations:
- Highly recommended for RPG fans (weight 0.28): This game is frequently recommended for fans of classic RPGs, traditional RPGs, and CRPGs. It is seen as a must-play for both enthusiasts and newcomers to the genre.
- Recommended with some conditions (weight 0.23): The game is often recommended but with certain conditions such as having patience, being willing to learn the rules, or playing on easier modes for story and adventure.
- Use guides and mods (weight 0.16): Players are advised to use guides, watch beginner videos on YouTube, and use mods to enhance their gaming experience. This includes using cheats, playing with mods like the NPC Project mod, and using guides to understand the game mechanics better.
- Worth it for D&D fans (weight 0.14): Fans of Dungeons & Dragons and D&D-style systems are likely to find this game worth playing. It is recommended for those who enjoy the genre or specific systems like isometric RPGs.
- Technical and gameplay tips (weight 0.07): Various technical and gameplay tips are provided, such as changing UI options for resolution, playing with friends, and using specific mods or packages for a better experience.
- Nostalgic and historical value (weight 0.06): The game is recommended for its nostalgic value and as a piece of history leading up to Baldur's Gate 3. It is suggested for those who have played it before or are interested in the history of the series.
- Purchase recommendations (weight 0.06): Recommendations on purchasing the game include buying it on sale, getting the Complete edition for first-time players, and considering the PC version for better controls.

Other player notes:
- Nostalgic early purchase (weight 0.03): Some players mention this game being one of the first they bought as a kid, indicating nostalgia.
- Developer and publisher info (weight 0.02): Players are interested in knowing more about the developer and publisher of the game.
- Font modification instructions (weight 0.02): There are detailed instructions provided by players on how to modify the game's font.

Emotions:
- Nostalgia (weight 0.25): Players feel nostalgic due to the game's classic status, childhood memories, and the enduring appeal of its old-school graphics and rich world. The game's historical impact, influence on modern titles, and the revisiting of beloved characters and mechanics from the original Baldur's Gate series evoke a strong sense of nostalgia.
- Frustration (weight 0.16): Players experience frustration primarily due to the game's outdated interface, complex and confusing AD&D rules, and various technical issues such as crashes and bugs. The steep learning curve, high difficulty, and lack of modern conveniences like controller support also contribute to this frustration.
- Excitement (weight 0.09): Players are excited about the game's rich storytelling, strategic gameplay, and the variety of character classes. The anticipation of character interactions, early game discoveries, and the engaging combat mechanics contribute to this excitement.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.09): Players enjoy the game's fun story, challenging combat, and immersive atmosphere. The freedom of exploration, strategic combat, and entertaining dialogues, along with the overall fun experience, contribute to their enjoyment.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.07): Players find satisfaction in the game's smooth gameplay experience, tactical combat, and successful combat strategies. The game's improvements, quality of life changes, and the ability to overcome challenges also contribute to their satisfaction.
- Disappointment (weight 0.06): Players feel disappointed due to the lack of significant improvements, bugs, and outdated elements in the game. Issues with combat mechanics, lack of character interactions, and the game's overall outdated feel contribute to this disappointment.
- Appreciation (weight 0.06): Players appreciate the game's depth, complexity, and lasting appeal. The rich storytelling, complex characters, and the game's influence on other titles in the genre are highly valued.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.04): Players are enthusiastic about the game's wonderful plot, character creation, and the classic CRPG experience. The detailed praise for various game elements and positive recommendations contribute to this enthusiasm.
- Admiration (weight 0.03): Players admire the game's impact on game creation, its status as one of the best RPGs of all time, and its great story and charming world. The game's depth, quality, and classic RPG elements are highly regarded.
- Joy (weight 0.03): Players experience joy from the game's enjoyable visuals and music, satisfying gameplay, and the timeless storytelling. The beautiful world and the happiness derived from every little success contribute to this joy.
- Positive (weight 0.02): Players express positive feelings due to the game's enjoyable and appreciative aspects, such as its story, roleplaying opportunities, and updated classic elements. The high praise for the game's addictive nature, combat, and exploration also contribute to these positive feelings.
- Amusement (weight 0.02): Players are amused by the game's humorous tone, funny one-liners from companions, and unexpected events like gender changes due to cursed items. The poor French voice acting and challenging combat mechanics also add to the amusement.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Players are pleasantly surprised by how well the game holds up and how engaging it still is. The game's ability to change minds on combat style and exceed expectations contributes to this surprise.
- Mixed feelings (weight 0.01): Players have mixed feelings due to the game's positive aspects like plot and freedom, contrasted with negative aspects such as grind and shallow gameplay. The game's age and clunkiness versus story appreciation also contribute to these mixed feelings.
- Interest (weight 0.01): Players are interested in the game's open world and character classes. Mentions of specific game elements and story details also pique their interest.
- Engagement (weight 0): Players are engaged by the game's story and side quests, which keep them invested in the gameplay experience.
- Respect (weight 0): Players respect the game's importance in the genre, recognizing its significant impact and influence on RPG games.}