BALDUR'S GATE JOINS THE RANKS OF REMAKES

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Category: Features

Published on Friday, 16 March 2012 12:00

Written by Shaun Watson

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So what does this mean for the game? Details are pretty thin right now but we do know it's being done by the same folks that gave us MDK2 HD. That probably isn't great for your confidence and, well, it shouldn't be.

 

Remake frenzy has been hitting Hollywood pretty hard and this may be a good indicator that it's going to hit the gaming industry pretty hard too. Just last month we had a podcast discussion about the pair of new X-COM titles being released. One seems like a genuine re-visioning of the original game whereas one seems like it's taking advantage of an established IP to make some easy money. Where does this "new" Baldur's Gate fall? The original released in 1998 so most anyone playing it back then is reaching their late 20s/early 30s now. Is it already time for us to be slaves to nostalgia? I suppose so - I'm reinstalling the original BG games and plan to use Destructoid's awesome Weekend Modder guide to enhance my experience - won't cost me a dime though.

Yet while there certainly is a lot to be said for just playing the original game instead of an "enhanced edition", my concerns aren't being filtered through my rose-tinted glasses. What worries me is how this new team will treat the title. The idea is to recreate the Baldur's Gate experience for established fans as well as introduce it to new gamers - to polish things up and make it a little easier to play. However crossing that line is indescribably easy. The worst case scenario here is one where we get a Baldur's Gate experience that is very much 2012 and not remotely 1998. It's a scenario where nostalgia will only get you as far as the title screen and the experience new gamers are getting is nothing like the original. Is this going to be a legitimate homage to one of (argued by many to be THE) greatest RPGs every made? Or is it going to be a half-assed doctoring of some visuals to rake in some cash?

I can only start to imagine what games we'll see remade next. If anyone has any particularly interesting or humorous ones, do share with us. Don't expect this concept to go anywhere any time soon. Nostalgia is powerful. It's easy to tap into it and once they've gotten in there they can, and most likely will, get into your wallet. If you told me I could buy something similar that had been done for Planescape: Torment or MechWarrior 3 - I'd have my debit card out already.