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Although it has lost much of the renown it garnered over the course of its nearly three decades of existence, Bioware is still remembered fondly by legions of role playing fans as the creator of some of the most memorable RPGs ever made. So, without further ado, here are the games that defined the golden age of Bioware.
Baldur’s Gate (1998)
Bioware’s second game (the first being the mech sim Shattered Steel for MS-DOS) was the one that put the Canadian developer on the map and established it as a master of the action-RPG genre. Based on Advanced D&D 2nd edition and set in the Forgotten Realms© universe, Baldur’s Gate capitalized on the foundation laid by Blizzard’s Diablo, which had released nearly two years prior. Baldur’s Gate received overwhelmingly positive reviews upon release and is considered a role playing classic.
Though Bioware is no longer helming the franchise, the Baldur’s Gate series looks set to return in the very near future, with Baldur’s Gate III already in early access.
Knights of the Old Republic (2003)
Fans of the original Xbox likely need no introduction to this smash hit RPG, which took home the lion’s share of “Game of the Year” awards the year it was released. KOTOR established the Light/Dark alignment system which was considered innovative at the time and which Bioware would go on to refine in some of its later games.
Set 4,000 years before Star Wars: Episode 1 – The PHantom Menace, KOTOR took players to Tatooine, Taris, Rakata Prime and other Star Wars locales. And the best part was that you didn’t need to be a Star Wars buff to appreciate the game’s brilliance.
Jade Empire (2005)
A cult classic—and an underrated gem you should absolutely try if you haven’t already—Jade Empire is emblematic of Bioware in its prime: bursting with inspiration and unafraid of treading new ground. Jade Empire was definitely one of the more convention-defying RPGs of its time, both in terms of gameplay and aesthetics.
Set in a mythologized version of ancient China, the game employs a moral alignment mechanic in which players walk one of two paths: that of the “Open Palm” or the “Closed Fist.” How the player interacts with the world will seriously affect the story’s outcome.
All told, Jade Empire was a breath of fresh air for the genre and to this day stands as one of Bioware’s best efforts.
Dragon Age: Origins (2009)
While the series as a whole is worth high praise, it is the first installment that seems to garner the most acclaim (though admittedly this is very much contestable!). Dragon Age: Origins marks Bioware’s return to a more traditional “dark heroic fantasy” setting with an all-new IP that took inspiration from fantasy classics like The Lord of the Rings and A Song of Ice and Fire.
The result: yet another role playing smash hit for Bioware, with stratospheric review scores and impressive sales figures. All of which was par for the course for Bioware at its pinnacle.
Mass Effect 2 (2010)
The middle game of the Mass Effect Trilogy, and many would say the best. Once again, Bioware’s action-RPG mastery was put on full display with Mass Effect 2, and once again fans were treated to an instant classic that was lavishly praised in gaming media. It won numerous awards including many “Game of the Year” nods.
Mass Effect 2 was a significant improvement over its predecessor, with an overhaul of the role playing mechanics and a greater emphasis on the combat/shooting aspect of the game. It proved again that Bioware wasn’t afraid to take chances with a proven IP.
What Happened to Bioware?
Looking back at this “Bioware’s Greatest Hits” list—and considering where the developer is today—one is inevitably led to ask: “what the hell happened to Bioware?” How much of a role EA’s 2007 acquisition ultimately played in Bioware’s decline is a question for another day, but suffice it to say that the Bioware of today is not the same Bioware that created the classics featured here. Bioware certainly would not be the first great game developer to lose its way. But it also wouldn’t be the first to find it again, and there is the silver lining for fans of Bioware’s games.
