Flufflist: The Seven Greatest Original Game Soundtracks of the Past Ten Years

...The sound of music.

I love music. It is essentially tied with video games as my favourite hobby. I love playing and listening to it. So I thought it would be kind of interesting to dig through all the video game soundtracks I've listened to or own. I was about halfway through the Elder Scrolls III soundtrack when I realized I've never actually professed my love of game soundtracks on Marshmallow Fluff!. Oh the horror. So I thought this would be a good way to fix that. However, for a couple different reasons I decided it would be better to narrow my choices to the past ten years or so. I'll probably do a 'best of all time' list at some point, but this is a good jumping off point.

So without further adieu, here are the seven best video game soundtracks of the past ten years.

(Note: I take into account all the songs I can find from each game, not just their physical soundtrack releases. Some of the games don't even have one after all)

Honorable Mention - Fable

It was very hard for me to leave this off the top seven because it's just so good at giving a great musical context for the world your in. Few games soundtracks support their world as strongly as Fables did, though it lacks a true standout piece of music, unlike most of the other soundtracks that made it into the list. The thing the soundtrack does reallywell is distinguish the different areas of Albion that you visit. Oakvale has a very natural sound to it's associated music, while the music in Bowerstone sounds much more city-like. It won't ever win an award for being exceptional, but the Fable soundtrack is a great example of how music can add to the experience of exploring a new world.

Check Out: Summer Fields - A relaxing song that really puts on display the ability Fable's soundtrack has to really set a great backdrop for your journey around the world of Albion

#7. Advent Rising

Advent Rising is one of those games that had a lot of potential, but will likely never be able to show it. Originally supposed to be the first part of a trilogy, Advent Rising has built up quite the cult following. However, the one thing that Advent Rising should never be forgotten for is it's soundtrack. It's not original, it's not without obvious influences, but it makes up for that with impact. The opening track 'Muse' is one of the most hauntingly beautiful pieces of music in a game ever, and the rest of the soundtrack does an incredible job of keeping you immersed in gameplay. There are a lot of big budget movies and games that could learn from what Advent Rising does with it's musical score.

Check Out: Muse - Few games boast the kind of standout musical opening that Muse gives Advent Rising.

#6. Halo 3: ODST

It may not be the best Halo game, and it may not be your favourite, but ODST's soundtrack finally gave the complete package for a Halo soundtrack. The Halo series has always had some standout pieces of music, but they've always felt  a bit lacking, it never really delivered a whole games worth of epic music. Marty O'Donnell did a masterful job of changing up the soundtrack for the new campaign but also still finding a way to make it sound distinctly like it came from the Halo universe. The thing that places this soundtrack above all the other Halo games is how the whole thing stays with you. Everyone remembers the classic theme from Halo, but not many tracks are memorable outside of that. ODST's entire soundtrack will follow you around long after you've completed the game, something the main series of Halo games has never really done. The soundtrack itself does a masterful job of reflecting the mood of the setting. Walking around New Mumbassa City at night with that music will send shivers up your spine. It reaches out to you in a way none of the other Halo soundtracks have. In fact, this is the soundtrack all the other Halo games wish they had.

Check Out: Deference For Darkness - It might not be the Halo Theme, but it is defiantly on that level.

#5. Radiant Historia

Radiant Historia itself is one of those rare games that snuck under the radar. Once people realized how good it was though, the copies disappeared. Literally almost. They actually had to re-release the game because there are so few copies to be had right now. Among the the many things that Radiant Historia does right is it's soundtrack. Yoko Shimomura absolutely knocked the soundtrack to this game out of the park. While it doesn't quite reach the level of Nobou Uematsu and Yasunori Matsuda's work, it is certainly within reach of it. The various locations are brought to life with the music, and the combat scores are tense and pulse raising.  Each track brings something else to the table, and it is really something to hear what Simomura was able to create despite the Nintendo DS' very weak sound system. It puts to shame just about every other DS' game soundtrack. Radiant Historia will likely go down as one of the better JRPG's of all time, and the games incredible soundtrack will be right there with it. 

Check Out: An Earnest Desire Of Grey - This track really captures the ability this soundtrack has to raise your pulse a bit and make you feel like your in an epic struggle. 

#4. Mass Effect 3

The most recent release to grace this list, Mass Effect 3's soundtrack is one amazing piece of work. It takes the sci-fi elements from the first two Mass Effect titles, but also introduces a more orchestral arrangement to some of the more important tracks. While a few tracks are more ambient or background noise than anything, there are several standout tracks that really drive the emotion level through the roof. There are plenty of moments in Mass Effect 3 that will make feel a gamut of emotions and the soundtrack does a beautiful job at supporting the really big scenes. The final scenes of the game have one of the most incredible musical scores I have heard in a long time. Most missions still have the sci-fi style that Mass Effect usually brings to the table, and they do a great job of setting up combat sections and making you feel like your in the Mass Effect universe. This maybe the most recent Mass Effect game, but it also brings a detailed and strong soundtrack. A few tracks are forgettable, but the number of outstanding pieces of music far outweighs the ones that you'll forget. Also Faunts song "Das Maelfitz" as the end credits track is just a wonderful thing.

Check Out: The Fleets Arrive - This song takes the Mass Effect theme that has evolved through all three titles and turns into the track that you ride into the final battle on.

#3. Kingdom Hearts

From the opening menu theme, Kingdom Hearts soundtrack is a beautiful, mystical, and lighthearted set of music that paints the world of Kingdom Hearts perfectly. In fact, it might be a little too lighthearted. Very few of the tracks ever sound particularly dark, which kind of holds the soundtrack back from realizing it's full potential. That doesn't mean this Kingdom Hearts music is without sad or pulse raising moments. A few of the battle tracks have great power and force behind them. Kingdom Hearts also does a great job of mixing in Disney elements with it's soundtrack when the situation calls for it, something that could have been just as easily ignored or done halfheartedly. Instead it stays true to the source material, and every song that is affected by it benefits from the extra effort, especially Kingdom Hearts take on the Little Mermaid Song "Under The Sea." Ultimately this is one of those soundtracks that fans will remember for a long time, and although it doesn't have quite the variety of some of the other soundtracks on this list, it's superior quality more than  makes up for it. 

Check Out: Dearly Beloved - One of the most magical and mystical opening themes of all time. It sets the mood well for the entire game.

#2. Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind

The Elder Scrolls has become known for incredible soundtracks, and Morrowind is a big part of the reason for that. It's incredible what Jeremy Soul has done with Morrowind's soundtrack. Using the usual orchestral instruments, Soul creates a mystical and otherworldly musical experience. Though much of the music is on the ambient side, the opening title music has earned a place as one of gaming histories most iconic themes. Really that might be the only thing holding Morrowind's soundtrack back from true greatness. Sometimes the music is just so perfectly blended into the game, you don't even notice it. It almost becomes a part of Morrowind itself. Although that could also be praise, given that Morrowind is a bit different than the standard fantasy setting. Thats not to say the music is boring though. Prior to Morrowind I had never heard a game with this kind of a soundtrack. Both Oblivion and Skyrim have also provided excellent soundtracks for their games, but Morrowind still holds out as the best in the series because of how different it is from anything before it. Even today, few games have a soundtrack as original as Morrowinds.

Check Out: Morrowind Main Theme - Few games will ever have as epic a piece of theme music as this. Just listing to this will make you want to play the game.

#1. Bastion

Bastion isn't even a year old yet, but it will be a very long time before we get a soundtrack as strong and unique as Bastion's. Darren Korb really knocked it out of the park with this one. A very unique mix of western, electronica, and even some eastern Arabian themes may not sound appealing to the ears, but Korb found a way to blend all three elements into a soundtrack that paints the world of Bastion so masterfully that it's hard to imagine this soundtrack being part of any other game. It is rare for a soundtrack to actually make a game better, but Bastions does exactly that. From the simpler walking around tracks to the driving beats of the battle music, every track pulls you into the game world and keeps you immersed in the experience. Each of the theme tracks is also very well crafted, offering slower and quieter moments that will blow you away. The ending theme blending two of the main characters themes together into one of the most magically entrancing songs I have heard in a game. Not many soundtracks have the ability to be loved even without having played the game, but if there were ever a case for it, this is it. Make no mistake, Bastion may not be the greatest game ever, but the soundtrack will go down as one of the most unique and memorable of all time.

Check Out: Apart from the whole thing, Setting Sail, Coming Home is an amazing mash-up of two of the themes from earlier in the game. The result is otherworldly.


That was a nice update I think. Still working with some graphical things here, you'll notice the background for posts is white now. Thought it was easier on the eyes.

As always, comment, share, critique. I like hearing from people, even if I know you already (and I usually do.)

Until next time then!

Image Sources:
#1.
#2. http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/6/62830/1633300-fable_ost_super.jpg
#3. http://wallpapers.latestscreens.com/1024x768/adventrising/adventrising-01.jpg
#4. http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/2/23286/1148403-halo_3_odst_super.jpg
#5. http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/radianthistoria/backcover.jpg
#6. http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0uozuXJrF1r8fltpo1_1331688021_cover.jpg
#7. http://rpgfan.com/soundtracks/k-hearts/cover_l.jpg
#8. http://morrowindon.ru/uploads/posts/2010-06/1277866519_1871972.png
#9. http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/bastion/cover_l.jpg

Flufflist: Top Five Games I Can't Wait For

...My turn!

This is only my second Flufflist, but I wanted to do some kind of 'anticipation list." The problem is that I didn't want to make it sound like a countdown of the games everyone is waiting for, or make it sound like some kind of award. My solution? Make it my personal list of games I can't wait for. I tried to stick to only games currently set for release this year, but game development be a harsh mistress and I have no doubts at least one of these will slip into 2013 (much to my dismay.)

So here we go.

#5. Far Cry 3

The original Far Cry was one of the best shooters of the past decade or so. Far Cry 2 was a good successor that offered some cool changes and differences from the original, but at times felt like a boring and rather empty game. With Far Cry 3 I'm hoping that Ubisoft can find a good mix of the two. The gameplay trailer that we say at E3 is all we have to go on right now, but from what they showed it looks like Far Cry 3 will indeed be some kind of hybrid of the first two games. The main villain, Vaas, is something that stood out to me (I even discussed this after first seeing the trailer.) His animation is erratic and slightly unpredictable, his design makes him look just as insane as his actions are, and his voice acting is bewitching. The devlopers have said they really wanted to make the characters in this game memorable, and if they can do even half as good a job with the others as they did with Vaas, this game could have some surprisingly deep characters. The gameplay is also looking very solid. The one thing that I am curious about is the experience system that showed up in the demo. It could throw even more depth into the game. On the other hand it could be just a rehash of something similar to Call of Duty's. Only time will tell.

#4. Rhythm Thief & The Emperors Treasure

Odd choice? Perhaps, but if you own a 3DS this might be the first good rhythm game you'll get. Or maybe I should call it an action game. Adventure perhaps? If that description sounds odd, that would be because this game is shaping up to be a very unique experience. The gameplay revolves around mastery of several different music-based rhythm games that involve use of the stylus as well as the 3DS gyroscopic capabilities. The animation and visual style are obviously anime-inspired, I mean you could watch the cut scenes and mistake it for an anime. The story is about Ralph and his dog Fondue and their search for Ralph's missing father. He was taught to never steal by his father, but  the only way for Ralph to get the clues he needs to track down his dad is to steal works of art and antiques from museums and galleries. When your not thieving priceless works of art or tapping your way through a rhythm sequence, the game is a point and click adventure. You can interact with people and objects to collect information or medallions, which are used as in game currency. You will also collect sounds at times by clicking on certain objects but the developers have not yet revealed what purpose they are for (presumably another of the rhythm sections.) This game may not be on your radar yet, but it should be. If executed properly, this could be one of the best games on the 3DS this year.

#3. Bioshock: Infinite

Bioshock: Infinite could be one of the biggest game releases of the year. Unlike Bioshock 2, Infinite is being developed by the team that made the original Bioshock, and it appears that they have once again created an incredibly detailed fantastical setting that has been turned from an ideal place to live into a dystopian nightmare. The game takes place on the air-city of Columbia in 1912. The city had initially been created and launched as a kind of traveling World's Fair by the United States. People could live on the ship and travel the world in the air. However it is revealed to also be an extremely powerful battleship a bit before the game begins through an international incident. The US disavows any knowledge of the ship, and it's location is essentially lost to most of the world, with the ship showing up randomly here and there to impose its will on others. When the game begins, several factions have been fighting for control of the ship, but only two still stand. The Vox Poppuli, a sort of amalgamation of several smaller factions with similar views. They had at one point simply been seeing to restore freedom to the people, but now simply want to destroy the city. The other faction is the Founders, the last remnants of the people of power on Columbia. A woman named Elizabeth has become the central figure of the conflict, and the main character, Booker DeWitt, has been sent to rescue her. The game is extremely gorgeous and the combat seems just as fluid and fun as the original, if not more so. The story is incredibly complex and there seem to be a multitude of ways to work your way through it. Bioshock: Infinite is shaping up to be one hell of a game, and if it is just as good as it appears to be, it might be the best game coming out this year.

#2. Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning

Despite numerous critics, sites, and magazines praise of it, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning continues to go largely under the radar. That is a real shame because this could be a real dark horse for game of the year. I went over the game in my look at 2012, but to reiterate, Reckoning is a game developed by a new company called Big Huge Games and 38 Studios, which are owned by former MLB superstar pitcher and self proclaimed gameaholic Curt Schilling. Acclaimed fantasy author RA Salvatore has created the universe and lore, as well as penning some of the story. Todd MacFarlane, the cartoonist genius and figure and sculpture creator, is the art director, and Bethesda lead design vet Ken Rolston is the executive designer. Those are three brilliant men appear to have created the next big RPG based on what we have seen so far. The games visual style is impressive, detailed, and colorful. The combat has been touted as simple, yet intuitive and the mechanics have been one of the most impressive features of the game. The skill tree is also somewhat unique and different, offering different "destinies" that yu work your way up to that cover different skills and abilities. You can swap out different destinies throughout the game if you get bored with one, allowing you to essentially change classes if you wish, instead of being stuck with the same class the whole way through the game. The game world is refreshingly different, providing several different regions to explore along with a story that is also looking to be very solid. If this game isn't on your watch list, the upcoming demo will give you a chance to see this game in action for yourself so you can get it on there. It's one of the early releases of the year as well which might give it a chance before the bigger titles drop a little later.

#1. Mass Effect 3

This is the game I have been waiting for since I first played Mass Effect almost five years ago. Commander Shepard's story will end, one way or another, on March 6th. The story starts with  Reaper invasion finally occurring. Despite Shepards best attempts to delay them, they arrive quickly without warning and strike at Earth first. Shepard is forced to flee and rally the other races to stand against the Reapers, or the galaxy will be faced with extermination. All of the relationships with the characters you've met will play a part in how this story plays out, as well as your personal choices in many of the past two games missions. Combat will be very similar to Mass Effect 2 with some interesting and welcome tweaks. Melee has largely been absent in the prior Mass Effect titles, but that changes with the introduction of the omniblade, a knife that is generated by the characters wrist computer. The blade will have a different special attack depending on your class, and since this makes melee a real possibility to use, enemies focused on melee combat will also be introduced. Weapons are also no longer class restricted and along with many different models of each type to choose from you can edit them with different scopes, barrels, attachments, and accessories to personalize your weapon load out to how you want to play. Multiplayer will also be introduced in the form of a Horde-esque co-op mode. You can pick different races and classes and take on wave after wave of enemies with friends. This game will do something we've never seen before in a game series like this. You will see the decisions you made and will make through the Mass Effect 3 will determine how the story ends, letting you see how all of your actions changed the story. If executed correctly, this could be one of the absolute timeless classics that you'll want to play over and over and over again.


So there you go. You'll notice more than few high-caliber titles missing from this list, but there's only five slots after all. Next time I'll be talking about why we should stop our harsh words against the industry for a moment and reflect on how good we've got it in gaming these days.

So long until next time!

Image Sources (always go in descending order of appearance):
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#2. http://www.tfmx.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/FarCry_vaas_post.jpg
#3. http://nscene.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/rhythm-thief-the-emperor_s-treasure-contains-throwbacks-to-old-rhythm-based-dreamcast-games.jpg?w=640&h=392&crop=1
#4. http://media.pcgamer.com/files/2011/12/Bioshock-Infinite-hello-golden-man.jpg
#5. http://ps3media.ign.com/ps3/image/article/116/1165907/new_village_night_1304492429.jpg
#6. http://fronttowardsgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/mass-effect-3-teaser.jpg

Flufflist: The Top Five Western RPG's Of All Time

...No there is no Zelda here.

With the release of Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, western RPG's made a bold statement. Despite having no multiplayer whatsoever, it has been one of the best selling games this year. It is also one of the best reviewed, with over 50 perfect scores from critics, and the player reception has been just as good. It actually has me thinking about where it might end up in the all time RPG's list a few years from now. It also made me think about all the other western RPG's I've played, and their legacies too. So here, from me to you, is a list of the top five western RPG's of All Time (from my point of view)

Oh and spoilers and stuff....you've been warned.

Honorable Mention: Neverwinter Nights

Neverwinter Nights is a rare game in my mind, and it holds a special place with me personally because this was the game that really got me into RPGs. I had always been a somewhat casual gamer kid before I found my dad's copy of Neverwinter Nights, but I was hooked forever afterwards. At the time of it's release, Neverwinter Nights had some pretty decent graphics, but it was the turn-based gameplay based on Dungeons and Dragons 3rd edition rules that had people interested. The solid gameplay is every D&D fans dream when it comes to taking the pen and paper experience to the digital world. The story was solid, though it did slow at times. However, these all took a backseat to the multiplayer and mod community. The robust multiplayer allowed players to pick from a multitude of severs to play consistent campaign's, as well as the campaign that shipped with the game. But for me, the thing that sets this game apart is the mod community. Neverwinter Nights shipped with the Aurora Toolset, which allowed players to create their own campaigns to play in the game. Couple that with the people who made new items, hakpacks to use with the toolset, and custom audio, and some of these campaigns actually beat out the one that came with the game. There is practically YEARS worth of excellent gaming to be found on the internet thanks to the community that loves the game so much. And that's really what sets this game apart from the others on this list (except Morrowind perhaps) is that the community actively made improvements to the game. While the game shows some serious age now, it is still worth picking up, because there is still so much to discover through the community.

#5. Planescape: Torment

If you like to be evil, and you don't want any morality conflicting your decisions, then Planescape: Torment are right up your alley. The dark and emotional story are unlike anything else I've played in an RPG. The story isn't about happy endings or saving the world from evil. It's about a man simply named...uhh...The Nameless One, who he is unable to remember who he is when he wakes up in a morgue at the start of the game. As you play you learn that The Nameless One is immortal but every time he "dies" he forgets his past. Your free to discover the truth how you see fit, and the games dark setting and premise feel refreshingly different from usual RPG's. Really this is one of the stronger stories in a game, because it's more personal. Your choices in the game often times have unpredictable consequences and makes playing the game fun and engaging, You also have the ability to learn new abilities by "remembering" one of The Nameless One's past lives, which is a genius idea. The game had some incredible music and voice acting as well, and a lot of it still holds up today. The interface is also intuitive, even today, keeping menus and screens limited so you can focus on playing the game. The gameplay is also very solid, if a bit easy. While Planescape: Torment earned a great critical reception at release, people avoided it for some odd reason. Perhaps the dark story and setting were a little too different at the time. Whatever the case, Planescape: Torment is a cult classic that has never earned the attention it deserves, but that doesn't diminish how incredibly brilliant it really was and still is.

#4. Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind

Morrowind is the ultimate game for exploration. The story starts with you on a prison ship, as you are transported to a small port. The guards call you up from below the decks. They check you out in a ever so brief tutorial of how the game works, which doubles as your character creation process. They politely suggest you visit a man named Caius Cosades and then send you on your merry way. From that point on the island of Vvardenfell is your oyster. You can go anywhere, do anything, be anything. Join a guild, help one of the three big houses that run the province, go side questing, or just go run around the island until your bored. For me, I never was even able to finish the story until about two years after I got the game. I got so involved with the world and the various quests and people and places that I never felt a serious desire to wrap the main story up. This game is unlike the others on this list because the story and characters take a backseat in this one entirely. Storytelling has never been Bethesda's strong suit, and they wouldn't argue that. That's because The Elder Scrolls games have always been about doing whatever you feel like doing. But Morrowind made you just feel like doing something, even if you didn't know what. The world is incredibly detailed as far as aesthetics and content are concerned. And all you have to do is see the sheer number of readable books to know that there is a pretty detailed history to go through if you feel like it as well. Morrowind also has a fairly dedicated mod community that has made numerous improvements to the game that have kept the game fresh even after Elder Scrolls IV came out. Morrowind doesn't need a super detailed story to make it enjoyable. Sometimes, just firing up the game and knowing you can do whatever comes to mind on a given day makes it incredibly addictive.

#3. Mass Effect

Mass Effect is a prime example of excellent storytelling and world building in an RPG. While the gameplay is solid, and the graphics are certainly breathtaking, Mass Effect took a leap forward for games with it's story and characters. The story's premise is as follows: The Reapers, a sentient race of machine-like beings who sweep through the galaxy every 50,000 years or so and wipe all sentient life out of the galaxy. They've repeated this process for millions of years. Now it;s up to Commander Shepard and his crew to stop them once and for all. I have never played anything even close to what I get with Mass Effect when it comes to story. It's like playing a Sci-Fi movie, except your in the drivers seat. The world itself is spectacularly well put together. All the alien races have their own histories, the technology has interesting concepts, and the codex that builds as you explore the game world shows just how much effort Bioware took in building the galaxy you wander through. Really some of the history of the galaxy is so interesting it almost demands some games of their own. The characters are extremely memorable, and they all have different personalities, motives, and views on the universe and how things work. Wrex, a Krogan Battlemaster, enjoys fighting like most of his species, but is also one of the few who cares about his dying races future. Meanwhile you have Garrus, a Turian who hates to let the bad guys win. So much so that he is an "ends justify the means" type. He's also an extremely talented soldier, he's like Dirty Harry and Batman mixed into one package. Mass Effect's universe is so deeply detailed, it seems almost certain that we'll be playing in it long after Commander Shepard's story is finished this March. Just so long as we stay away from the elevators...

#2. Knights of the Old Republic

Back in 2003 Star Wars had already had a rich history when it came to games. Rouge Squadron, Dark Forces, the Jedi Knight games. But when Bioware were given the opportunity to create an original story in the Star Wars universe, they were given a golden opportunity to put their company on the map. It was also a big risk, taking on what became the biggest Star Wars game ever, which included a huge risk by setting the game thousands years before Darth Vader was even a whiny little brat named Anakin. But Bioware not only delivered a solid game, and they also didn't just delivere the most memorable Star Wars game ever. Bioware delivered on of the greatest RPGs of all time. The game wasn't just an RPG with Star Wars sprinkled in. Every second of the game feels like Star Wars.The gameplay was solid, if a little easy at times. The soundtrack was also incredible. They didn't rip tracks out of the movies, they created an original score that gave the game it;s own feeling, while also still sounding like something straight out of A New Hope or Return of the Jedi. But it was the characters and the story that really make this game memorable. Characters like HK-47 and Carth Onasi are just as beloved by Star Wars fans as Darth Vader or Obi Wan. They also develop very well, and have interesting back stories of their own. The story though, was what really made Knights of the Old Republic memorable. In my opinion, it's not just good, it's better than even the original trilogy of Star Wars movies. It's paced so perfectly, you never feel like things are rushing along or are moving too slowly. The side quests and companion quests are just as fun and detailed as the ones in the main story. And the big twist, that you are (or at least used to be) one of the most evil forces in the entire galaxy came so far out of left field you never saw it coming. It was like "Luke I am your father" all over again. My jaw had to be screwed back into place after it happened. Perhaps the biggest compliment one can give Knights of the Old Republic, is that it holds up so well. It does show it's age when compared against today's newer RPGs, but the characters, the story, even some of the gameplay, near the top of the pack. The only question left to answer now is will The Old Republic MMO live up to the legacy of the original?

#1. Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn

The oldest game on this list also happens to be the best. Simply put, western RPG developers have been trying to top this one for more than ten years, and while many have gotten somewhat close, no one has been able to fully top what this game did. It's main story alone is almost 70 hours short. Add in the side quests, class specific quests, an companion quests and this game is nearly 200 hours in length. The story is incredible in and of itself, taking a few twists and turns en route to a hell of a final showdown. The game, for it's time, was absolutely drop dead gorgeous, and even today, while clearly dated, they aren't half bad. The characers in Baldur's Gate II are by far some of the best in gaming period. Minsc (and Boo!) alone has earned a place in gaming lore forever, but add in characters like Imonen, the childhood friend of the protagonist, Yoshimo, the mysterious swordsman, and Edwin, a rouge wizard who enjoys insulting you (and gets transformed into a girl if you play through his side quests)  and you have a great party to adventure around with. In fact, even with room for five people to take with you, I found it difficult to choose from the extensive list many times. Add to all that the gameplay and leveling systems which were nearly flawless, and you have a game that just stands at the top of the mountain. The story is thrilling, the characters interesting and detailed, and the world is vast and deep. Nothing has quite reached the level of fun, depth and storytelling that Baldur's Gate II reached.

So there it is. I imagine more than a few of you are wondering are a few different games are here. So post up what you think in the comments. Did I get it really wrong? Do you agree? Let me know!

Until next time space cowboy...