Depending on how you want to play BALDUR’S GATE II – SHADOWS OF AMN will affect how much you get out of it. With a minimum 60 hours of game time for whiz kids and 200 – 300 hours for those who like to complete every aspect you’re going to have to put in some serious midnight oil sessions however you play. 

There’s certainly no chance of you getting bored with this one. It’s immersive and engrossing with a richness of characters, scenarios and sub plots to go at – more than 100 in fact, although some of them diversify from the main theme of the game, and some could prove very dangerous, the point is that they are there to be explored and enjoyed. 

This is a game of magic and combat in the true tradition of classic RPG’s. Real time action keeps you on your toes as you build up your experience points and your team through encounter and exploration and there are hundreds of items, both mundane and mystical, to discover along the way. Actually acquiring them is a different story…! The adventure is set in the Forgotten Realms region of Amn and is packed with deadly locations such as the Elven Forests of Tethir, the Cloudpeak Mountains, the Astral Plane, the Abyss and even underwater cities.   

Everywhere you roam danger will be close by – usually in the form of Djinni, Elementals, Vampires, Wraiths, Golems or any on the other 150-plus monster types in the game. Fortunately, as well as your weapons and your team, you have magic…! Lots of it…! More than 300 spells are packed into the gameplay, including over 150 new ones, and they all make use of some stunning special effects. I hate the term ‘Eye Candy’ but this is one game it can certainly be applied to. 

As a single player game the possibilities are extensive but with the ability to have 6 players cooperating in multi-play they are boundless. Firstly though, you have to get out of the cage in which you are imprisoned…! No weapons and no key – so get your thinking caps on…!