It's not easy being a child of a godYour character quickly comes to this conclusion after being imprisoned and tortured by a wizard with an unhealthy interest in your parentageSo begins Baldur's Gate II: Shadow of Amn, an ambitious role-playing game based on the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game.

Shadow of Amn is not really a sequel to Baldur's GateInstead, Baldur's Gate was merely a prelude to Shadow of AmnShadow of Amn develops the plot lines, characters, and events introduced in the first game into a mature, genuinely interesting fantasy talePlayers who thought the original game shallow will be pleasantly surprised by Shadow of Amn's bold story arcsMajor events are afoot, and the characters' choices have a real impact on the Forgotten Realms.

In the same way, Baldur's Gate served as a proving ground for the refined game mechanics evident in Shadow of AmnThe game's artificial intelligence has been vastly improved, and players have many more choices for NPC AI scripts and party communicationKeeping with Shadow of Amn's more mature theme, the party interaction even includes possible love interests for your character.

Those who played through the original Baldur's Gate can import their character into Shadow of Amn, or can choose to create a new character Character kits such as the Mageslayer and Swashbuckler add variety, and the game even includes the Monk, Sorcerer, Barbarian, and Half-Orc options from the new Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition rulesWhether you import an old character or create a new one, you'll begin the game as a fairly advanced character--unlike most RPGs, you won't have to spend hours slaying puny critters and instead are plunged into a high-stakes plot against powerful foes.

A strong plot backed by strong technology makes Shadow of Amn stand out as one of the best RPGs we've ever playedFans of AD&D will love the classic AD&D feel, and fans of the popular Forgotten Realms setting will delight in the people, places, and politics found in Shadow of Amn--Michael Fehlauer

Pros:

• High-level power gaming
• Quality voice work
• Improves the already great Baldur's Gate interface
• Character kits and D&D 3rd Edition races and classes add variety
• Advances the plot begun in Baldur's Gate

• Based on obsolete AD&D 2nd Edition rules
• Character animations are stiff
• Player's character starts out less powerful than other party members

Baldur's Gate II: Collector's Edition includes four custom CD-ROMs, featuring the complete Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn in a jewel caseAdditionally, the Collector's Edition features a special bonus disc containing exclusive weapons and armor as well as tracks from the original game soundtrack; a cloth map displaying the Kingdom of Amn in vivid color; a set of eight collectible Character Trading Cards (one of two sets randomly distributed, 16 trading cards in all); and a Black Isle Studios writing tablet, all appropriately ensconced in a hinged, book-style serialized box.

In Baldur's Gate II: Shadow of Amn, you face an uncertain future, with a lineage that tempts the unscrupulous to use you, and the ignorant to fear youYou will face a foe that views you as no more than chattel and that toys with you at every turn, a villain whose goals go beyond a quest for power and who threatens to use a lost companion as a tool for unparalleled destructionThe choices to be made will not be easy, and you may have to align with the lesser of evils, even though all evils may seem equalIn the end, you will have mourned lost loves, celebrated new ones, and experienced adventures that profoundly shaped the Realms.

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