The world of role-playing games was born when  J.R.Tolkien  issued  his
marvelous novel “Fellowship of the Ring”. This novel has changed  the  world
of teenagers. Many role-playing clubs all over the world opened their  doors
to countless Tolkien admirers. In parallel, the industry of  computer  games
has been conquering the world of entertainment,  and  it’s  not  a  surprise
that these two branches have merged into one priceless gift to the  world  –
computer role-playing games. Of course,  people  still  play  in  elves  and
gnomes using table and dice, but nothing  is  comparable  with  perfect  and
fascinating 3-dimensional computer game.
   The best game that can represent this genre is Baldur’s Gate. Issued by a
few of the strongest computer game companies, Baldur’s Gate is  a  beautiful
combination of style, excellent graphics, captivating subject and  scenario,
and, of course, it submits to all laws of role-playing games.
   A very high quality of graphics can please even the most demanding judge.
The picture itself is very detailed. Little houses, trees,  grass,  animals,
castles and characters are seen almost like in a real world  from  above  at
some height. The quality  of  graphics  allows  us  to  view  characters  in
exquisite detail – down to skin and hair color, clothing, weapon and  armor.
Every individual in the game has  its  own  style  and  color  of  garments,
constitution, and even  a  face.  Also  you  can  see  a  portrait  of  each
character  by  clicking  on  the  appropriate  button.  Portraits  are  made
masterfully, colorfully, and they reflect the personality of each hero.  All
the colors of game are  combined  in  balance  and  harmony,  and  are  very
pleasant to the eye. One thing about graphics of  Baldur’s  Gate,  which  is
very important, is that it does not consume a lot of memory  and  it’s  very
compact.
   You will be amazed, seeing the beauty of a landscape and  buildings.  The
map, almost the most important thing in  all  role-playing  games,  is  very
detailed, convenient and easily readable. If a traveler is  tired,  he  goes
to the inn. If he wants to relax,  drink  golden  ale  and  listen  to  some
useful news, he goes to the tavern,where he can also  buy some food for  his
future travel. Sometimes it is very  interesting  to  visit  the  houses  of
townspeople. Robbery and theft are a good way to get extra  money,  but  you
have to be very careful, because the guard in a town can  imprison  you  and
confiscate all that you have. The scenario  is  developed  so  unexpectedly,
that you can be confused: strangers come to speak to you, ask  for  help  or
offer it, that is how you get new quests and companions. The other  side  of
this world are various pirate’s  dens,  castles  of  spiteful  mages,  caves
where the unseen horror lives.
   A very structured and diverse system of enemies does not give the  player
a rest. Unlike DOOM, where your enemies are just ugly and  stupid  monsters,
Baldur’s Gate acts in a more sly and cunning way. The more you  investigate,
the more you discover dangerous intrigues behind  your  back.  Something  is
wrong with the world you are living in, something is wrong with  people.  At
the end, you begin to understand everything. Do you know that for your  head
some very powerful person gives fifty thousand gold? No? Now you have to  be
even more careful.
   And, finally, the humor and smart dialogs between all characters  impress
a  player  by  wit  and  endless  diversity.  Each  character  has  its  own
personality, point of view. They can argue or even kill each other, and  the
player is unable to do anything, because when your  characters  are  enraged
you cannot stop them. That’s  why,  when  you  gather  a  company  for  your
adventure, you must choose characters with similar attitudes  and  adherence
to a type of magic. When I played, my  command  consisted  of  a  very  kind
paladin, a druid woman,a fighter, a thief, a black  mage,  and  his  friend,
who was half-gnome and half-man. They quarreled all the game and at the  end
they almost killed each other, but it was very curious and  funny  to  watch
how they squabble and blaspheme.
   There’s no other game that represents role-playing games so correctly and
precisely as Baldur’s Gate. This game is ingeniously composed.  We  all  can
be proud that mysterious world of  fantastic  heroes  and  mean  mages,  the
world of our dreams that  was  created  by  J.R.Tolkien  is  resurrected  in
computer games.The world, that is so rich, so interesting and  almost  real.
Baldur’s Gate is the best of its kind.