Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn

Baldur's Gate II: Shadows Of Amn

Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn is a computer role-playing game developed by BioWare and published by Black Isle Studios. It is the sequel to Baldur's Gate, and was released for Microsoft Windows in September 2000. Like Baldur's Gate, the game is set in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting and is based on the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition rule set. The game uses BioWare's Infinity Engine, used also in Baldur's Gate, Black Isle's Planescape: Torment, and Black Isle's Icewind Dale series.

Baldur's Gate II opens shortly after the events of Baldur's Gate, and continues the story of the protagonist, Gorion's Ward, whom the player controls, and whose unique heritage has now gained him or her the attention of a new personage, Jon Irenicus. The game's plot revolves around the protagonist's encounters with Irenicus; and its setting, farther south than that of Baldur's Gate, is the country of Amn, mainly in and around the city of Athkatla.

The game received critical acclaim upon its release; in that year, GameSpy, GameSpot, and IGN each awarded Baldur's Gate II its "Role-Playing Game of the Year" award. According to BioWare, it has sold over two million units. An expansion pack, entitled Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal, was released on June 21, 2001. Besides adding a large dungeon to the game as well as enhancements, it concluded the Child of Bhaal saga, being the final installment. Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition, an enhanced version of Baldur's Gate II, was announced on March 15, 2012. It is being developed by Overhaul Games, and is scheduled for release in 2013.