Baldur's Gate 2. The best isometric RPGs of all time

There is only one king. Each of the games above has one particular aspect that it completely nailed. Fallout 2 offers freedom and great dialogue (much like Arcanum). Torment can mess with your head and offers an emotional keelhauling. Divinity: Original Sin II has perhaps the best combat system in the modern history of the genre, a lot of good humor and crazy ideas. And Baldur's Gate 2 contains most of these features, on top of that combining them in great proportions.

In fact, from today's perspective, the weakest link is the character development system, but at least it's more interesting than in other positions based on Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, because we start from the eighth level of experience, which gives us access to a variety of spells, abilities that expand tactical options, and a ton of powerful magical equipment. But it also means that we can get our assess mightily whooped.

In Baldur's Gate 2, we are easily overwhelmed with the vastness of everything. Locations, dialogues, adventures, monsters, characters, artifacts, powers. But this multi-faceted fantasy collage is tied together by excellent design and an excellent, epic storyline. One that focuses on the main character's personal crusade, rather than saving the world. The protagonist is pursuing a cruel magician who has kidnapped them, tortured them, and displayed an unhealthy fascination with the power we they can awaken within themselves. Baldur's Gate 2 continues the story of the Child of Bhaal. Our story.

And it shows the dark side of high-octane fantasy. The world sure looks beautiful and fairy-tale-ish, but we wallow in betrayal and politics, and even if we do good, it is at great cost, and we often have to choose between lesser and greater of two evils. On top of that, we traverse locations filled to the brim with content – always fresh and intriguing. Each district, village or forest hides many attractions and we return to them to unlock yet another element. Athkatla is one of the most colorful cities in RPG history, and the plot expertly takes you through key events before letting you off the leash in a few chapters and opening up this rich world for you.

This amazing adventure is accompanied by Michael Hoenig's superb music, quite bombastic, when necessary, sometimes joyful and buoyant, and at other times moody and nostalgic. The picture is complemented by excellent vocal performances. Every aspect of this game is monumental. And the companions have more to offer than colorful voices. Although they are very archetypal, we perceive them as living people with problems to solve, and firm attitudes towards us and our actions.

And the graphics? Sure, it's 20 years old by now, but the designs, aesthetics, and pleasant, warm colors haven't got that old. Beamdog adjusted the engine for high resolutions and somehow it works even today. All the rest, on the other hand, have raised the bar so high that few games managed to match it since. And I don't mean only isometric RPGs.

1. Baldur's Gate 2 in our encyclopedia