Scalable Complexity
If you’re a Dungeons and Dragons novice, you’ll want to take a look at the tutorial that brings new players up to speed with the unique gameplay of Baldur’s Gate II.

“The tutorial is one of my favorite aspects of the game,” says Zammit, “followed by the graduated intensity of the levels that follow. Each level carefully prepares you for the next and teaches you how to play effortlessly.

“Furthermore,” she continues, “the game’s complexity is scalable based on how you choose to play. If you prefer hack-and-slash gaming, you can develop your party into a group of fighters and trudge through the dungeons without casting a single spell.

“If you’re a D&D pro, there are interesting player kits to play, like the inquisitor or the jester, that make the game more challenging. There are really enough options in this game to appeal to both novices and experts.”

Major Quest, Minor Sub-Quests
You begin the game a prisoner in the dungeon of an evil wizard and must escape with the help of a few fellow prisoners, including the aforementioned Imoen and Jaheira. There are plenty of monsters to kill along the way, including some nasty goblins.

Once you’re free, you’ll find yourself in Athkatla, the capital city of the kingdom of Amn, which lies south of the area covered by the original Baldur’s Gate. After you obtain what you need in the city, you’ll journey through the wilderness of Amn and even into the sinister caverns of the Underdark.

Along the way, you’ll encounter all manner of strange beasts, such as the evil elves known as Drow who live in underground cities, and the vampires who rule a local graveyard.

As in the original, there are several sub-quests you can complete during the story, including freeing some slaves and saving a castle that is under siege by trolls (its owner will join your party and help you). There’s even a ghost boy who wants his lost stuffed bear back.

But what is the ultimate goal of Baldur’s Gate II? Well, without giving too much away, we’ll just say that it has to do with your character’s lineage and why that evil wizard made you his prisoner in the first place.

The Catalyst
As Zammit likes to point out, there are many Macintosh owners who will appreciate a deep game with a complex storyline.

“We always choose content that we think Mac gamers will enjoy,” she says. “Baldur’s Gate II and Icewind Dale (which we will publish later this year) are, hands down, the best role-playing games out there. These games belong on the Macintosh, and that’s why MacPlay pursued them.”

And if you’re running Mac OS X on your computer right now, you’ll be glad to hear that Baldur’s Gate II will run on Apple’s operating system of the future without a hitch. That’s important to Zammit, who says that “Mac OS X is the catalyst that will transform gaming on the Macintosh. The most computer-taxing games require an advanced operating system to really shine.”

A sentiment with which the developers at BioWare heartily agree.

“We’re big supporters of the Macintosh,” says Zeschuk. “We greatly appreciate the efforts of MacPlay to bring Baldur’s Gate II and Icewind Dale to the Mac.”