Preview: Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition

 

Baldur's Gate Enhanced Edition Preview

I am a huge fan of the Baldur's Gate series.  I can remember getting it for the PC back in 1998 and being completely absorbed into one of the best RPG experiences ever -- yes, Baldur's Gate is still one of the best RPGs to this day.

Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition, an upgraded, added to, and improved version of the original Baldur's Gate, was announced about a year ago. Not only is it being released on PC and Mac, but an App version is coming!

The developers have completely retooled and even improved the Infinity Engine (the engine BG runs on) for the iPad.  It just makes sense, doesn't it?  On the PC you click to move your characters, and on the iPad you will simply tap the screen.  The intuitive nature of the iPad controls integrates seamlessly into the pinch, swipe, and tap mechanics of these devices.

The Black Pits in-app purchase

Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition for iPad contains the following enhancements:

• New Adventure: The Black Pits
• New Character: Dorn Il-Khan as an in-app purchase
• New Character: Neera the Wild Mage as an in-app purchase
• New Character: Rasaad yn Bashir
• New Player Voice sets as an in-app purchase
• New Player Portraits as an in-app purchase
• Gamecenter Support allows you to keep track of your friends and invite them to play with you

For the uninitiated, these additions are pretty huge.  You're going to want to drop money on those in-app purchases because they will greatly enhance your gameplay.

It's also worth noting that the iPad version costs $9.99 compared to the $19.99 price tag for the PC.  This gives you $10 to spend where and how you want on in-app purchases without paying more than other platforms.

Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition launches on iPad, Mac OSX, and PC later this month.  Android date TBD.

-Doug