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Phenomenal...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 9
Date: August 22, 2000
Author: Amazon User

There's no other way to describe this RPG. It is excellent in nearly every way. The graphics are breathtaking, the music is inspiring, and the plot is great. As for the length of the game, it will take you at least as long to finish as Baldur's Gate, but instead of wandering about endless wilderness you'll be seeing things that are a LOT more interesting. You get far more experience than in BG as well, which means faster leveling up (which you will need). The monsters are detailed and include some of the biggest (and toughest) AD&D entities. Spells have been expanded to the 7th level, with a few findable scrolls of 8th and 9th level spells. All of the spells have been redone from BG's rather repetitive graphics, making spellcasting a great deal of fun even though most of it is similar. The thing that surprised me most of all was the multiplay. Baldur's Gate was notorious for crashing and massive lag problems when played on a slow connection, but this game runs as if you're playing by yourself when you're using a 56k modem! Load times, ever a pain in BG, have been reduced drastically. I'm rather astonished that they managed to fit all this onto only 2 CDs. On that note, you only need one CD to play, so no more swapping either. My only complaint is that the game resolution is stuck at the old 640x480, supposedly because 800x600 is reserved for BG2. At any rate, GET THIS GAME. You will not regret it.

Don't Miss This One!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 9
Date: September 19, 2000
Author: Amazon User

After my 3 months spent with Baldur's Gate I was desperate for another game that would consume me in the same way. I searched desperately and bought many that I loaded on my computer, played for a few minutes then un-installed... disappointed. Not so with Icewind Dale! The only complaint I have is that it is very time consuming to go back to areas you already left (there are only certain places you can move to different areas). Other than that... I have never been so mad, intrigued, happy, pi**ed off, TERRIFIED, or challenged the way I was with ID. It took me about 3 weeks of CONSTANT game playing to finish the game (although the ending is kind of cheesy) and I was left (once again) wanting more. Although it will probably be a long time before I go through the whole game again, it will be one I keep for years. If you want a game that challenges your mind AND keeps you entertained, Icewind Dale will fix you right up.

Very fun game, surprisingly replayable, but bug-ridden

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 8 / 9
Date: October 13, 2000
Author: Amazon User

I've had this game for about three months now and have only now reached the point of getting tired with it. It's basically Advanced Dungeons & Dragons on your computer. You create a party of up to 6 characters, who can be different classes: fighters, clerics (priests), magic users, thieves, and so on. You can equip them with different weapons, learn different spells, and so on. Then you go and kill a bunch of monsters. The tougher the monster is, the more experience you get. As you get more experience, you rise in level and become more powerful -- you are harder to kill, you find it easier to hit opponents, you can learn more numerous and more powerful spells, and so on.

The game is linear, so it's the same each time you play it. Still, there's enough variation in the different character classes that playing it again isn't as boring as you might think. I started with a party of 5, won, tried a party of 4, won, tried a party of 3, won, and tried a party of 1, and won. (I did cheat a bit on the party of 1 by arming him with the best armor and weapons that I'd come across in earlier games -- the game lets you cheat like that.)

Note, however, that the game is VERY bug-ridden. It's crashed dozens of different times, and some of the bugs can't be fixed simply by rebooting. There is a patch available for the game, but it does not solve all of the problems (and may cause others). It is imperative that players of this game check one of the available websites devoted to "Icewind Dale" for technical assistance.

Otherwise, the game is fast-paced, addictive, and has great graphics.

A great role playing experience

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 9 / 11
Date: August 11, 2000
Author: Amazon User

This is one of the better role playing games to come out in several years. The graphics are something to behold. You can tell the designers went to great lengths to provide a rich and beautiful gaming environment.

What appealed to me was the chance to create six characters on my own. This added more excitement to the game by not having to rely on weak NPC who don't have the skills you desire for your characters throughout the game. Your characters have the options of having a variety of weapons, armor, and spells to use, which is definately a bonus for role players.

However, the game does have a few problems. First, the pathfinding in the game is horrible. On numerous occasions I would look for one of my characters and they would be busy running into walls. Its frustrating when you have to take the time to guide your characters step by step to a specific spot on the map. Hopefully a patch will fix this as soon as possible. Second, the game will lock up from time to time. As before, i'm sure a patch can fix this problem.

YOU WANT THIS

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 71 / 190
Date: May 29, 2000
Author: Amazon User

If you have searched this title down and are thinking of getting it there is no doubt in my mind that YOU SHOULD GET THIS GAME. Excellent interaction graphics and playablity will enthrall you for weeks on end!

No Drizzt but still good.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 12
Date: July 21, 2000
Author: Amazon User

This is a must buy for all fans of Baldur's Gate or Planescape Torment. Unlike both Planescape and BG however, it relly reminds me of table top Dungeons & Dragons because of all the doungin crawls. Although you still cant have two wepons weilded at the same time, and you cant play as a Drow, there are considerable inprovments to magic. There are almost all the spells from BG and 6th,7th,8th,9th level spells for Mages and 6th,7th spells for priests, and all of the magic graphics have changed (some of the best eye candy that Ive seen are the Colorspray and Entangel). The monsters, unlike BG seem to be alive, say for instince the Goblins. After they swing at you with there axe, they stand up and yell and seem to fall naturaly unlike the strange falling down death of BG. The music is unlike any other game Ive herd before that changes from place to place. Myself, like many other fans of the Dark Elf Trilogy were upset by the fact that there was no Drizzt. But all in all, buy this for your RPG cravings, not Diablo II

A fantastic RPG, not just another BG wannabe

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 10
Date: January 20, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I'm a huge fan of the Forgotten Realms novels, especially salvatores so i was indeed exited when i saw this game (since it's based on Salvatores gorgeous novel "The Icewind Dale"

I've seen a few really bad RPG games. And although in appearance they DO look like Baldurs Gate (BG as an example) they don't have the same depth or the same gameplay experience, it's hard to explain but i've never found a game that can give me the same feeling as BG and BG2.

Vampire The Masquerade was marvalous, but still not Baldurs Gate. Now i've found it's match, better if anything.

The Icewind Dale. The appearance is very nice, the "quests" are fun to play and can be tricky.

and although i haven't played even halfway through it, i think i can still write an accurate review on this great game.

The music is great, the spells look nice, the weapons are cool, all the environment is just so great. in short it's a good game experience for people that appreciate these kind of games. i have nothing to say except that it's very fun to play it, and it'll keep you glued infront of your screen for hours with a smile on your face.

AD&D? There is a sequal out? and an expansion?

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 6 / 7
Date: January 03, 2003
Author: Amazon User

The Bioware Infinity engine, the same game engine that powered old classics such as Baldur's Gate and Planescape: Torment, is still in use today. The latest use of that very engine was Icewind Dale 2. This package of the game is completly watered down, not including the thick manual that was supposed to come with it. Also, the "DVD style" box, started by EA's Medal of Honor: Allied Assault makes for a skimpy package. Those who have never played any Infinity Engine games will be completly confused at first, for the manual is on the CD. It is much better to read a hard copy of a manual. Interplay also does not replace Icewind Dale manuals. However, the money that you spend will go to a full version of Icewind Dale, with no expansion. Amazon offers a bundle of Icewind Dale and its expansion, Heart of Winter. I do believe that it is called "Icewind Dale: The Collection." Heart of Winter is not really worth the money and cannot be found anywhere except in the packaged version with the stand-alone Icewind Dale, or at the Interplay-Store.

Take note: Icewind Dale (IWD) is an extremely difficult game. It is easy to say that it is an Action Based Baldur's Gate, lacking in story, but filled with combat. This combat though is extremely hard. People new to the Infinity Engine will find even the first Ogre Boss in the prologue to be difficult. The first real boss, a topless snake woman named Yxunomei (spell?), is even more difficult. Many a time, one will find himself losing more than half his party to just one monster. Even with difficulty setting to "Very easy" it still is not such an easy game. The pace is not as fast as say Diablo 2. People new to AD&D, but veterans to games like Diablo 2 will find it strange that an attacking animation is shown, but the enemy is not hit. Utter confusion. Later in the game, there are creatures that must be phased before they can die and such. Games based off the Infinity Engine are not "click fests" such as Diablo 2, but more with strategy.

Icewind Dale is a good game, despite its punishing difficulty. After a single gaming session, one will feel as if he (or her) has accomplished something. If you are to get the first IWD, then get the expansion, Heart of Winter, bundled with it. Heart of Winter offers a lot of features, which i think is valuable. Item clutter does get a bit off hand if items such as a Gem bag are not included. 800x600 resolution is also nice. There is also the feature to remove the interfacing with a single key stroke, keeping away those who talk, bashing the intrusive interface.

However, if you are looking to a newer game, then I am sure that Icewind Dale 2 will satisfy your needs. It is not necessary to play the first IWD to understand the second. Every Icewind Dale game is extremely difficult. Along with Baldur's Gate 1, Tales of Sword Coast, 2, and Throne of Bhaal, all Infinity Engine games are long and difficult.

A final word to leave you with. If you are afraid of difficult games that are long and can get tedious, but yet you want a game made from RPG masters? My final suggestion: Neverwinter Nights. It is no more than 60 hours for the single player and the difficulty is no where near any of the BG series or IWD series. Plus, its not based off the Infinity Engine, but a modified 3D engine.

Make your decision or buy them all! (note if you do buy them all, expect to spend more than 1200 hours playing D&D CRPGs!)

This game is still Baldur's Gate

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 5 / 6
Date: July 04, 2000
Author: Amazon User

After playing Baldur's Gate and Planescape: Torment, my expectations for this game was very high. While it is a solid game, I must say that it fell short of my expectations. This game could have been called Baldur's Gate 1.5 -- it has almost exactly the same graphics, interface and gameplay. I greatly preferred the larger sized characters in Planescape. The sound and music are better and the spell effects have also been improved. Path finding still seems to be flawed. Buy this game if you can't get enough of Baldur's Gate. Otherwise, you may want to reconsider.

Great hack and slash

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: November 20, 2001
Author: Amazon User

This is a game for people who love to dungeon crawl. It is linear, it is challenging, and it has nice visuals and excellent music. People may say it gets too hard, or that it doesn't have enough story or it is too linear, and other derogatory things like that. This game was obviously not meant for them. They are also missing the point. This game was made to be hard, straightforward, and have more combat than any other forgotten realms game. This is a game if you love to level up, battle creatures, and increase your ablitities. I personally loved this game. I love the endless dungeons, traps, and bosses. They were very impressive to me. 5 stars for what it is, 4 stars for what people were expecting.

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