Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn

Lore & Background

Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn continues the story of the protagonist, Gorion's Ward, shortly after the events of Baldur's Gate. The player's unique heritage draws the attention of Jon Irenicus, a powerful and sinister mage, and the storyline revolves around his machinations and the player's encounters with him. Much of the game takes place in and around Athkatla, a city in the country of Amn.

Development began in January 1999, with BioWare aiming to improve upon the first game in every way. A list of constructive criticism from fans, reviews, and internal suggestions guided the addition of features such as 800×600 resolution, 3D support, and character kits. Unlike its predecessor, the engine was already complete at the start of development, allowing the team to focus on content creation.

The game uses an isometric perspective and pausable real-time gameplay. The player controls a party of up to six characters, one of whom is the player-created protagonist. Non-player characters can be recruited from the game world, and they may bicker, romance, or interject into conversations. The central quest takes about 50 to 60 hours, while the full game including side quests is estimated at 200 to 300 hours.

Reader's Guide

Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn received critical acclaim for its gameplay, artwork, and voice acting. GameSpy, GameSpot, and IGN each awarded it their 'Role-Playing Game of the Year' award for 2000. The game sold more than two million units. An expansion pack, Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal, was released in 2001, adding a large dungeon and enhancements while concluding the main storyline. Shadows of Amn and Throne of Bhaal have been included together in various compilations. In 2013, an enhanced version titled Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition was released, using an updated version of the Infinity Engine. A sequel, Baldur's Gate 3, developed by Larian Studios, was released in 2023. The game's legacy endures as a benchmark for computer role-playing games, influencing the genre through its depth, character interactions, and adherence to Advanced Dungeons & Dragons rules.

Did You Know?

• The game includes over 300 spells available for memorization.
• The protagonist's class determines the type of stronghold the player may join or take over.
• The game can be paused to issue commands to controllable characters.
• An existing character from Baldur's Gate or its expansion Tales of the Sword Coast can be imported.