One of the most prevalent (and valid) complaints when comparing BG1 and BG2 NPCs is that the BG1 NPCs have substantially less dialogue and interactions than the BG2 ones. While this is certainly accurate, I don't agree that this is entirely a drawback for the BG1 NPCs.
While the BG2 NPCs are more talkative, I've always felt that the BG1 NPCs projected the more interesting and memorable personas - i.e: Kivan as the quiet, no-nonsense tough guy (picture Dirty Harry with a bow instead of a magnum), Shar-Teel as a defiant, man-hating ultra-feminist, Eldoth as a charming scoundrel, Ajantis as a youthful, overzealous do-gooder, Safana as a conniving seductress, etc. By contrast, many of the BG2 NPCs, despite talking a lot more, often seem either forgettably bland (i.e: Keldorn, Mazzy, Cernd, Valygar), or just annoying (Anomen).
I'll admit that there are definitely times when playing BG1 that I wish the NPCs would interact more than they do. At the same time though, I also appreciate that the "less is more" approach of BG1 interactions allows you to form your own interpretations of the characters. For example, although not explicitly scripted, I've always imagined that there was a burgeoning romance developing between Kivan and Branwen, based on the obvious admiration that they show for each other (which is especially significant since Kivan never seems to have anything nice to say about anything else).
I also find that in many cases, the more a BG2 NPCs talks, the less likable or interesting they actually become. For example, the interactions between Mazzy and Valygar, while admittedly humorous, also make Valygar look like a lifeless wuss and Mazzy like a bit of a naive snob - which is not how I would picture either character otherwise. In BG1, Viconia presented to me as a sympathetic, persecuted character, and I was only too happy to accept her into my party and keep her under my protection. While she initially presents the same way in BG2, as soon as you rescue her, she starts berating Aerie (and also has some unkind remarks about Imoen IIRC), so much so that I just can't bring myself to accept her into my party (at least, not as long as Aerie is still in it). Likewise, Anomen is just such a flat out jerk to other party members that I often come to wonder whether I should keep him in, and whether I really should care whether he ever becomes a knight (heck, for the sake of the Order, I should probably not want him in it, LOL).
As I'm currently playing BG2 with BG1 NPCs imported through multiplayer, I currently have a party that is a mix of BG1 and BG2 NPCs, and I've been able to observe the differences side-by-side. While the interactions between the BG2 NPCs can make the game seem more spontaneous, I just can't bring myself to feel bonded to the BG2 NPCs the way that I am to the BG1 ones. For example, I recently swapped out Branwen for Anomen, but after playing with him for a while, I quickly felt so disinterested in him (and the game in general) that I revisited the save from prior to the swap and restarted playing without him.
So, if anyone out there has had the patience to read through this post, do you share any similar feelings?
While the BG2 NPCs are more talkative, I've always felt that the BG1 NPCs projected the more interesting and memorable personas - i.e: Kivan as the quiet, no-nonsense tough guy (picture Dirty Harry with a bow instead of a magnum), Shar-Teel as a defiant, man-hating ultra-feminist, Eldoth as a charming scoundrel, Ajantis as a youthful, overzealous do-gooder, Safana as a conniving seductress, etc. By contrast, many of the BG2 NPCs, despite talking a lot more, often seem either forgettably bland (i.e: Keldorn, Mazzy, Cernd, Valygar), or just annoying (Anomen).
I'll admit that there are definitely times when playing BG1 that I wish the NPCs would interact more than they do. At the same time though, I also appreciate that the "less is more" approach of BG1 interactions allows you to form your own interpretations of the characters. For example, although not explicitly scripted, I've always imagined that there was a burgeoning romance developing between Kivan and Branwen, based on the obvious admiration that they show for each other (which is especially significant since Kivan never seems to have anything nice to say about anything else).
I also find that in many cases, the more a BG2 NPCs talks, the less likable or interesting they actually become. For example, the interactions between Mazzy and Valygar, while admittedly humorous, also make Valygar look like a lifeless wuss and Mazzy like a bit of a naive snob - which is not how I would picture either character otherwise. In BG1, Viconia presented to me as a sympathetic, persecuted character, and I was only too happy to accept her into my party and keep her under my protection. While she initially presents the same way in BG2, as soon as you rescue her, she starts berating Aerie (and also has some unkind remarks about Imoen IIRC), so much so that I just can't bring myself to accept her into my party (at least, not as long as Aerie is still in it). Likewise, Anomen is just such a flat out jerk to other party members that I often come to wonder whether I should keep him in, and whether I really should care whether he ever becomes a knight (heck, for the sake of the Order, I should probably not want him in it, LOL).
As I'm currently playing BG2 with BG1 NPCs imported through multiplayer, I currently have a party that is a mix of BG1 and BG2 NPCs, and I've been able to observe the differences side-by-side. While the interactions between the BG2 NPCs can make the game seem more spontaneous, I just can't bring myself to feel bonded to the BG2 NPCs the way that I am to the BG1 ones. For example, I recently swapped out Branwen for Anomen, but after playing with him for a while, I quickly felt so disinterested in him (and the game in general) that I revisited the save from prior to the swap and restarted playing without him.
So, if anyone out there has had the patience to read through this post, do you share any similar feelings?