Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear

 PC
  • Publisher: Beamdog
  • Release Date: Mar 31, 2016
User Score
3.8

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 577 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 194 out of 577
  2. Mixed: 30 out of 577
  3. Negative: 353 out of 577

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  1. Irenicus218
    Apr 3, 2016
    10
    For all of those who are wondering whether to buy SoD: go to youtube and watch someone play it. Do not listen to those who are loudest at the moment. The game in its current state has some bugs (yet minor), otherwise it is great fun if you loved the original games.

    The cry about 'politics being shoe-horned' into the game concerns one minor npc and a single line of text. I do not care.    For all of those who are wondering whether to buy SoD: go to youtube and watch someone play it. Do not listen to those who are loudest at the moment. The game in its current state has some bugs (yet minor), otherwise it is great fun if you loved the original games.

    The cry about 'politics being shoe-horned' into the game concerns one minor npc and a single line of text. I do not care. Even if you think transgender should not be part of a fantasy game, this is not a theme that you will encounter all through the game. Negative reviewers blow it out of proportion big time at the moment.

    Make up your own mind and do not simply listen to those hating on Beamdog right now.    … Expand
  2. mikkle
    Apr 3, 2016
    10
    Great in terms of content, fits in well with the original story, plus gives a nice refreshing feel. I like the new interface and content additions. Bug were and always will be during game releases, Beamdog is a small company so give them a break.
  3. GrimLefourbe
    Apr 3, 2016
    9
    This extension is good, it leaves me with the same feelings as the first one, intense fights, random moments of "oh damn, I opened the wrong door", laughter as I read the jokes and the character lines.

    There is 4th wall breaking in this game, and I like it, it's not overbearing but it's there. I would actually give this a 9.5, it's not exactly as Baldur's Gate, it's damn near    This extension is good, it leaves me with the same feelings as the first one, intense fights, random moments of "oh damn, I opened the wrong door", laughter as I read the jokes and the character lines.

    There is 4th wall breaking in this game, and I like it, it's not overbearing but it's there.

    I would actually give this a 9.5, it's not exactly as Baldur's Gate, it's damn near perfect, just as Baldur's Gate was, damn near perfect but not 10/10.

    If you liked the first and aren't triggered by 4th wall breaking, you'll like this.    … Expand
  4. Skeira
    Apr 4, 2016
    9
    I've been playing this game for several hours now, and it is running beautifully on my not-so-new laptop! I haven't encountered any bugs at all, which is strange for my usual luck. I loved the original Baldur's Gate games, and so far this one has been very enjoyable as well. I'm liking the new characters enough that I've managed to make room for one in my party (gasp!), and I'm a personI've been playing this game for several hours now, and it is running beautifully on my not-so-new laptop! I haven't encountered any bugs at all, which is strange for my usual luck. I loved the original Baldur's Gate games, and so far this one has been very enjoyable as well. I'm liking the new characters enough that I've managed to make room for one in my party (gasp!), and I'm a person who keeps the same people on every run through because I just can't bear to switch!

    So far my only small complaint is that the character graphics are a bit more cartoonish than I would like... or like they are in front of a green screen or something. But, I forget about it when I'm playing, so it isn't that big a deal.

    Thank you so much to everybody who put effort into making this expansion; it makes me so happy to play a new Baldur's Gate story now, so long after I first played the originals. Definitely worth the twenty bucks!    … Expand
  5. PrinceCharming
    Apr 4, 2016
    9
    What a blast I've had, playing this through the weekend!!! What a sweet, beautiful tale I got to take a part in with this game.

    Well, that is the short of it... In a way, it is difficult attributing a score to what is, by default and design, a game that cannot, and will not, compare to other present day titles in terms of graphics, presentation, and polish. But in the end, there is no    What a blast I've had, playing this through the weekend!!! What a sweet, beautiful tale I got to take a part in with this game.

    Well, that is the short of it... In a way, it is difficult attributing a score to what is, by default and design, a game that cannot, and will not, compare to other present day titles in terms of graphics, presentation, and polish. But in the end, there is no better criterion than the fun I had playing this game, as a veteran of Baldur's Gate and Icewind Dale from back in the day. The story is lovely; the new angles to this game not seen before in Infinity Engine games is refreshing, and the careful (mostly optional) changes to the UI are helpful.

    Some parts of the game remind me of aspects of Icewind Dale 2 in terms of scope and spectacle on screen, while the plot fits in seamlessly between Baldur's Gate 1 and 2. The new locales, the sheer number of NPCs, the new characters and the fleshing out of old characters make this a very colourful world and worthwhile addition indeed.

    One aspect which has received much attention here, as elsewhere, appears to be the not-merely-straight sexual identity/orientation of some of the new characters and the fleshing out of character relationships, which seems to infuriate a great many gamers. Indeed, the level of, for want of a better word, sheer hatred expressed in some comments is baffling. Now, I wonder who of those "critics" has actually played the game - if they had, they would recognise that this facet indeed is rather unobtrusive and minor. What's more, claims that this is breaking with the "spirit" of the original games apparently disregard the fact that a great level of diversity (for the time) has always a hallmark of the old Baldur's Gate games. (And if the "spirit" of the old games had truly been the embrace of a monoculture, of bigotry and of prejudice, would this really have been a spirit worth upholding?)

    There is a different, more nuanced level of criticism which I can at least somewhat relate to: In a fantasy world where there are so many options of altering one's physical form, a character with a sexual identity different from his physical body seems at least odd, and slightly in conflict with the game world's own logic. For this, and some other minor breaks of immersion, as well as for some bugs (none game stopping, in my experience) in the initial release, I am detracting a point from the score. But for the blast I am having (some 25 hours into the story), I can only recommend this wonderful new addition to the BG canon.    … Expand
  6. roachtbp
    Apr 3, 2016
    10
    Beamdog did what some doubted was possible - made a new Baldur's Gate game that lives up to the originals in every respect - great new characters, a story that surpasses the story of the originals (in my opinion), and the same game play we love (with significant improvements). The narrative bridges the gap between BG1 and BG2 amazingly. It is very well written and a pleasure to play!!!Beamdog did what some doubted was possible - made a new Baldur's Gate game that lives up to the originals in every respect - great new characters, a story that surpasses the story of the originals (in my opinion), and the same game play we love (with significant improvements). The narrative bridges the gap between BG1 and BG2 amazingly. It is very well written and a pleasure to play!!! BG fans are in luck!!!… Expand
  7. Ashkala
    Apr 3, 2016
    10
    Beautiful locations and art. Voice actors are top notch even after all these years they still manage to nail their performances of old. Personally I love the new UI. Pay no attention to the nonsense about "Gender politics" and such, it's overblown foolishness. A fitting expansion to one of the great series in recent memory. I highly recommend it.
  8. toggle101
    Apr 4, 2016
    9
    Beautiful environments, a UI that makes sense of the chaos that was there before, and old friends I didn't even know I've missed. Siege of Dragonspear is a fitting addition to the series
  9. purudaya
    Apr 3, 2016
    10
    If you enjoyed the Baldur's gate series, this expansion marks a welcome return - it's well written, highly polished, innovative, and uses voice actors from the original 1998 series. Great combat, awesome narrative, and roughly 30 hours of solid gameplay - this is Baldur's Gate in every sense of the word.

    Sadly, some people are giving 0 ratings because of a *single line* of optional LGBT    If you enjoyed the Baldur's gate series, this expansion marks a welcome return - it's well written, highly polished, innovative, and uses voice actors from the original 1998 series. Great combat, awesome narrative, and roughly 30 hours of solid gameplay - this is Baldur's Gate in every sense of the word.

    Sadly, some people are giving 0 ratings because of a *single line* of optional LGBT friendly text in a game filled with mountains of dialogue. Most of these people haven't even played Siege of Dragonspear and any suggestions that the game "preaches" or "forces" heavy handed messaging are completely inaccurate. Decide for yourself and don't let other's people's distortions deter you from buying a genuinely wonderful game.

    And if you liked the game, leave a review!    … Expand
  10. JohnMet
    Apr 4, 2016
    10
    Thank you beamdog for an awesome game! Much more satisfying and creative content than on the Enhanced Edition. All your hard work seems to have payed off! Now time for BG3!
  11. arthurja
    Apr 4, 2016
    8
    I finished the game before visiting metacritic to see what score people gave and was surprised to discover that SoG had received such a strong negative response. The game is not perfect by any means, but I dont think it deserves such a low score.

    By reading all the negative comments you would believe you are bombarded with 4th wall breaking LBGT propaganda. This is so strange because on    I finished the game before visiting metacritic to see what score people gave and was surprised to discover that SoG had received such a strong negative response. The game is not perfect by any means, but I dont think it deserves such a low score.

    By reading all the negative comments you would believe you are bombarded with 4th wall breaking LBGT propaganda. This is so strange because on my playthrough I could not see this. To find this you really have to be looking for it. There is one character people are mentioning, a transgender cleric in camp that heals you called Mizhena. I had to go back to find what out what she said that had provoked people. There was one line only, which to me did not give much reason to evoke so much anger;

    Mizhena: I am Mizhena, faithful of Tempus. Praise be to the Lord of Battles!
    CHAR: Mizhena? Thats an unusual name. I dont think Ive heard it before.
    Mizhena: I created the name myself several years ago. My birth name proved unsuitable.
    CHAR: What was wrong with your old name.
    Mizhena:: When I was born, my parents thought me a boy and raised me as such. In time, we all came to understand I was truly a woman. I created my new name from syllables of different languages. All have a special meaning to me, it is the truest reflection of who I am.

    Other than that there is an NPC named Corwin that is bisexual which she never said anything about. I think the only way to discover this is if you play as a female protagonist as I did not remember any banter where she proclaimed she was bisexual.

    It seems to me this is a sensitive issue to many gamers and I am sad that this gets more focus than the actual game. The actual game has a few bugs, I experienced 6 crashes during my playthrough, but nothing that detracts from the experience. The story was interesting and the antagonist was strong and left you asking yourself if she actually had a good cause and you in fact were the evil one. The ending was also in my opinion satisfying as it tied BG1 and BG2 together nicely.

    In advance I want to apologize for any grammatical errors as english is not my first language.    … Expand
  12. GiorgosM
    Apr 4, 2016
    10
    I just finished the game and I have to admit I was blown away with it. I purchased it hoping for a nostalgia trip, hearing 17 year old characters come back to life. The game was so much more than that. The story was awesome, the transition from the game to BG2 feels good, and all the new characters are well written. All these people giving zeros, I am wondering have you even played the game?
  13. BigBrainBrad
    Apr 4, 2016
    8
    Pretty good. A couple bugs but nothing game beaking. The shaman class is an awesome addition. Overall im happy with it. I hope they realse more content down the road.
  14. sffrrrom
    Apr 4, 2016
    10
    I would personally rate the expansion about an 8 for the following reasons:

    - Some bugs, more or less to be expected given how they are trying to push such an old engine, and a few less excusable ones, like multiplayer still functioning very poorly, if at all. - An interesting story, writing that largely exceeds the quality of BGI but probably falls short of BGII. - Voice work by    I would personally rate the expansion about an 8 for the following reasons:

    - Some bugs, more or less to be expected given how they are trying to push such an old engine, and a few less excusable ones, like multiplayer still functioning very poorly, if at all.

    - An interesting story, writing that largely exceeds the quality of BGI but probably falls short of BGII.

    - Voice work by many of the original voice actors, which was a pleasure, but voice acting by others also varies dramatically in quality.

    - Gameplay which generally is fun, with some very cool ambitious aspects, such as more involved group battles involving NPCs, but which also suffers at times from that same ambition. I cannot stress enough that the engine is really pushed to its limits here; sometimes it bends, and sometimes it breaks. Easy enough for a veteran of the series to deal with, much more difficult for new players.

    However, many of the reviews the expansion has received to date do not discuss the quality of the product, but focus only on several minor heavily politicized issues. Because I'd like to see more installments for this franchise, and because I don't approve of scoring a game poorly simply because of political issues, which I think should be left out of escapist entertainment (which applies to both the developers and reviewers), I have adjusted my score to a 10, since that seems the only way to adequately contribute to a more appropriate score for the actual product, rather than people's political battles.    … Expand
  15. Jlaw1988
    Apr 3, 2016
    10
    Okay lets get the most positive aspects out the way first: Its an expansion to a 17 year old game, and fits in perfectly. So often I was playing through this expansion with the exact same feeling as playing the originals all those years ago. The technical upgrades are self evident and dont need explaining, as after 17 years there was bound to be. There are some technical hiccups here andOkay lets get the most positive aspects out the way first: Its an expansion to a 17 year old game, and fits in perfectly. So often I was playing through this expansion with the exact same feeling as playing the originals all those years ago. The technical upgrades are self evident and dont need explaining, as after 17 years there was bound to be. There are some technical hiccups here and there but over the coming weeks and months I expect to see them stomped out. However I should point out that in about 30+ hours playing time I personally have yet to encounter anything game breaking or indeed little more series than a single crash to desktop.

    Beamdog have wrote a fun, engaging story and while its a little linear it IS an expansion pack, although with the amount of effort put in it sure as hell doesnt feel like it. Id most definitely put it up against Throne of Bhaal anyday to say the least and would go a step further in that in some areas it gives BG1 and Shadows of Amn a run for their money.

    Great to have so many old favourite characters back with their original voices.

    I just cant overstate how pleased I am with the work thats gone into this to make a worthy successor. I only hope Beamdog release some additional BG2 content. With the great improvements made and the fantastic job on the writing front it would be a travesty for them not to.

    Also finally Ill end on the biggest disappointment surrounding this game with sadly is of no fault of its own, It seems some people have taken offence to (no exaggeration) 30 seconds worth of content and decided to declare some kind of silly war on this game. I get annoyed by excessive "social justicey" nonsense as much as the next person but i can honestly say anyone who thinks this game is forcing such nonsense on anybody and is trying to attack it should seriously examine their priorities in life.

    If anyone thinks its worth trying to smear years of hard work thats gone into this game because they find the tiniest snippet not to their tastes - well I dont need to worry, Im sure real gamers out their know to discard their silly opinions.

    This is expansion is great and is Baldurs Gate in every sense of the word and as someone who started in 1998 I cant express how happy that makes me.    … Expand
  16. whateverlemur
    Apr 4, 2016
    10
    while there are difficulties with bugs and quite ugly looking UI (introduced to other games through 2.0 patch), i seriously think the game is quite good. Keep in mind that the original BG saga while great (and one of my personal favourite games) was no writing masterpiece, so this expansion follows in this vein at least.

    but bothers me most is people claiming LGBTQ characters contradict    while there are difficulties with bugs and quite ugly looking UI (introduced to other games through 2.0 patch), i seriously think the game is quite good. Keep in mind that the original BG saga while great (and one of my personal favourite games) was no writing masterpiece, so this expansion follows in this vein at least.

    but bothers me most is people claiming LGBTQ characters contradict lore (which is not true at all, wizards of the coast themselves acknowledge and detail their existence), or that medieval fantasy also does not support it. Implying that game that has talking dragons, evils of all sort, angels and all sort of crazy and morally questionable creatures and actions, cannot support transgendered, gay lesbian or whatever character. I wonder if the so called SJW-ism truly that worse than it's alternative- oppression and diversity?

    So yes, the game has it's amount of problems, but LGBTQ characters are definitely not one of them    … Expand
  17. Arcater
    Apr 4, 2016
    10
    I have been playing RPGs from the early Bard's Tale on Apple II+. Baldurs Gate and BG2 were amongst my favorites. Siege of Dragonspear captures all this excitement and delivers a thrilling story without the bugs which are so common at other games. Highly recommended and a real gem for any player!
  18. Augus1000
    Apr 3, 2016
    10
    this game is good i didnt expect that its so well written and its a fun game bring me back to my childhood. i dont care for the people that care too much with things that dont do anything to the main story per example the people who are complaining about a no sense, who cares that the female npcs are stronger than the ones in bg1 and bg2 i buy this game for a whole experience not forthis game is good i didnt expect that its so well written and its a fun game bring me back to my childhood. i dont care for the people that care too much with things that dont do anything to the main story per example the people who are complaining about a no sense, who cares that the female npcs are stronger than the ones in bg1 and bg2 i buy this game for a whole experience not for kiddos who compliant about nothing its ridiculous im a man and i want this characters in my games, if you dont want a social improvement in you game dont buy it, if you think that this is a new century buy it. Im a 31 years old and i know how to discern about a good and a bad game.… Expand
  19. Aiureah
    Apr 4, 2016
    10
    Midway through and I love it. Well designed and written it makes you want a Baldur's Gate 3. Do not believe the negative reviews, this game delivers as it promised.
  20. Verminous_Scumm
    Apr 4, 2016
    10
    A great addition to the Baldur's Gate series. Great story, characters and environment. I really like the new Shaman Class as well, it's a lot more fun to play than I had thought it would be. I would recommend this game for anybody that enjoys isometric rpgs.
  21. droogish
    Apr 4, 2016
    10
    Really good DLC expansion for the first BGEE game.

    Refactoring to produce such a polished end-result is a testament to the developers. I say well done sirs!

    I'm heading in with an Elf Ranger...I suspect there will be be many bodies full of arrows by the end of this...
  22. Jan_Jensen
    Apr 4, 2016
    9
    A very fun game with some fun characters. I got BGEE a couple weeks ago it was great so i purchased this expansion and I am extremely happy with it. The games flow together really well.
  23. fearless0
    Apr 4, 2016
    10
    I enjoyed getting a chance to play a new infinity engine game. New areas with enhanced background animations, lots of npcs on screen at the same time, familiar voice actors, music that fits with the style of game, enhanced ui with features that can be turned on/off depending on your preference. The new engine is great. Bring on BGIII. Most of the 0 score reviews have no place here as theI enjoyed getting a chance to play a new infinity engine game. New areas with enhanced background animations, lots of npcs on screen at the same time, familiar voice actors, music that fits with the style of game, enhanced ui with features that can be turned on/off depending on your preference. The new engine is great. Bring on BGIII. Most of the 0 score reviews have no place here as the majority of them don't mention anything about the game, only some beef people have and of course these people would rather see the world burn than add constructive critcism about the game. Enjoy the game for what it is - a chance to play another BG game, long may it continue and heres hoping it leads to a BGIII… Expand
  24. ellimar188
    Apr 5, 2016
    10
    Long story short: I am having a great time with Baldur's Gate, Siege of Dragonspear (SoD). Congratulations to Beam Dog on creating a very enjoyable game and a worthy addition to the Baldur's Gate series! Please note that I have not yet finished the game, nor have I tried the multiplayer. Also, after my actual review of SoD I will take some time to comment on the significant controversyLong story short: I am having a great time with Baldur's Gate, Siege of Dragonspear (SoD). Congratulations to Beam Dog on creating a very enjoyable game and a worthy addition to the Baldur's Gate series! Please note that I have not yet finished the game, nor have I tried the multiplayer. Also, after my actual review of SoD I will take some time to comment on the significant controversy surrounding the inclusion of a trans-gender character and the modification of an existing character. I feel like this game has been getting a lot of unwarranted criticism and I hope to bring up a few points in its defence. But, first, my thoughts on the game itself:

    Combat in SoD is pretty much the same as it has always been in IE games: both very enjoyable and at times rather difficult. Personally, I love the turn-based , isometric combat and I am having a great time with SoD in this regard. “Swords, not words!” as Minsc would say! So, if you liked the combat in BG 1 and 2, then you will probably enjoy combat in SoD. Although I also like how, if I want to, I can talk my way out of certain fights. I actually managed to resolve a siege by tricking the enemy commander into believing that my faction was giving up our supplies (little did he know that we were in the process of destroying them behind his back). Moreover, Beam Dog has included the Story Mode option (added in Icewind Dale Enhanced Edition), which is, in my opinion, a great addition. Story Mode essentially makes your characters nearly impossible to kill and much more effective in combat. I think it will allow newer players to ease into the IE experience, and it is also a good way to get through particularly challenging encounters. I have played both BG1 and BG2 and I still occasionally use Story Mode!

    A notable difference between SoD and BG1/2 is that the former does not place as much of an emphasis on exploring as the latter did. While the areas in SoD are just as large as those in the original and feel a lot more lively (there are a lot more NPCs running around, and I really feel like I am a part of a living world), the game forces you on a rather linear path towards your ultimate destination. I can see how this might bother some people. I, however, don't really mind: I like that the game has a sense of urgency that BG1 did not have (BG2 did, but also allowed you to explore, kind of the best of both worlds). Furthermore, I think it makes sense, given the events unfolding in SoD's story, that you are unable to wander to your heart's content. The people of Baldur's Gate are counting on your character to help lead them in defence of the Sword Coast. I doubt that they would welcome any random excursions into the wild!

    I am finding the story and writing in SoD very interesting. I am especially enjoying my character's encounters with the Hooded figure (we all know who he is!). The narrative seems fairly personal, as the antagonist, Caelar Argent, also possess partly divine blood. I find her motivation for doing what she is doing both interesting and, in a way, relatable: she is not a one dimensional antagonist. And, as I have already mentioned, the story has a sense of urgency that has kept me extremely invested thus far. The writing itself is pretty good. I mean, it is not the same calibre as something like The Witcher 3 (which is one of the best games that I have EVER experienced), but dialogue options are generally good, and the characters who I have interacted with are believable and interesting. I sincerely do not understand all of the fuss over SoD's writing. Also, I LOVE the voice overs! Minsc is even better when he is fully voiced!

    From a technical standpoint, I like the addition of grey-scale pausing and highlighted sprites. Both are helpful, as tracking exactly what is going on during combat can become difficult in IE games. However, you can disable these options if you want to play it classic. A lot of people have been complaining about game-breaking bugs, but I have yet to encounter any. I think it is important to remember that bugs are common with nearly every new game release. I mean, Bethesda (whose games I enjoy) consistently releases games with major bugs. So does Blizzard (again, whose games I also enjoy). I do not understand why people are so angry with SoD in particular.

    That is the end of my actual review of SoD. It has been a great experience for me so far! However, I want to address the controversy around the inclusion of a trans-gender character and the alleged LGBT/SJW “agenda” and “propaganda” present in the game. I think that these accusations are absolutely ridiculous. Unless by “agenda” and “propaganda” people mean the message that LGBT people and women are equal to men in all ethically relevant respects. But if this is what is meant by those terms, what is the issue? Yes, there is a trans-gender character in the game. Yes, one character was modified because Beam Dog felt that BioWare had written a character who was no longer acceptable by contemporary standards. Oh, God forbid that we make our games more inclusive! Being nicer to people is SUCH a burden! I hope that my sarcasm is obvious for those who, clearly, do not know how to formulate a coherent thought or argument. And before anyone asks, I am a white, heterosexual male.

    Now, to those who object to the inclusion of real-world social problems (or things just related to social-problems, as SoD merely INCLUDES a trans-gendered person) in fantasy video games/seetings, particularly Baldur's Gate and the Forgotten Realms, I have two responses. First of all, one of the major themes in what is likely THE MOST POPULAR series of Forgotten Realms novels is racism and dealing with prejudiced attitudes. I am, of course, referring to the Legend of Drizzt series, written by R.A. Salvatore. Second, one of the characters already in Baldur's Gate, Viconia DeVir, discusses at length the problems that she deals with due to her race. So it is not as if real-world social problems do not appear in the Forgotten Realms. Furthermore, I think that games (and any story-telling medium, for that matter) are better off for including/addressing these sorts of issues. Without them, I, personally, am not as engaged in the game. If I wanted to mindlessly go about killing things, I would play Call of Duty, NOT an RPG. I enjoy games that make me think, which force me to consider issues which apply to my own life. Fair enough if you do not, I suppose, but perhaps you should simply play a different game (or series for that matter).

    Finally, I find it ironic that changes and inclusions in video games which are deemed “too politically correct” by the Gamer Gate bro crowd result in accusations that developers are catering to people who are too easily insulted or sensitive: the people in this minority are the only ones complaining or feeling insulted. It is like developers cannot even mention certain social issues or include certain people (in this case, LGBT people) in their games without certain gamers taking extreme insult. Please, look yourselves in the mirror before you claim that other people are the problem.

    To everyone considering buying SoD: don't be deterred by the overwhelming prejudism of an extremely vocal minority of people! I am having a great time with the game. Taste is, ultimately, subjective, but the inclusion of a trans-gender character and the modification of an existing character do not seem like reasons to give this game a 0. I would give SoD something like an 8/10, but I am giving it a 10 to help counter the hate the game has been getting.    … Expand
  25. HamsterJustice
    Apr 4, 2016
    10
    I loved playing this game. I'm happy they brought back the original voice actors although I'm a little sad they couldn't find the actress who voiced Jaheira. It felt like the old Baldur's Gate that I played in the late 90's and early 2000's. I enjoyed the new music especially the track "Assault on Dragonspear", that one is especially awesome. The new backgrounds were rendered well, I'mI loved playing this game. I'm happy they brought back the original voice actors although I'm a little sad they couldn't find the actress who voiced Jaheira. It felt like the old Baldur's Gate that I played in the late 90's and early 2000's. I enjoyed the new music especially the track "Assault on Dragonspear", that one is especially awesome. The new backgrounds were rendered well, I'm sure the concept artists had fun creating them and I liked the new lighting effects.

    As far as the story is concerned, I enjoyed it although it is not as free as Baldur's Gate one or two where you could stray away from the main quest to explore other areas. It felt much more like Throne of Bhaal where the party was on a one-way confrontation with Melissan and there was not very many areas to explore that did not have to do with the main quest. It is my main criticism with the story for both Throne of Bhaal and Siege of Dragonspear although I still enjoyed them both immensely.

    The gameplay is just as fun as the original game and it looks like the AI for the characters has changed. Dynaheir and Jaheira would cast defensive and offensive spells without being told too. I think this is part of the default script they follow - I decided to leave it on as I progressed through the game. It was fun to see Dynaheir blast foes with magic missile without me clicking on her.

    I loved the new dialogue from Minsc, Dynaheir, Imoen and the Hooded Man (you know who). Minsc's new lines are hilarious and the Hooded Man's lines were great. I did not add Viconia to the group since I wanted to used Jaheira (despite the fact they kept her silent). On my second play through I will add Viconia since I'm curious of the new things she will say.

    As far as bugs are concerned, I did not encounter many except for one after meeting Khalid that made the game crash.

    Overall I found the game to be an enjoyable experience especially if you enjoy old-school rpgs. A good bargain for a twenty dollar game!    … Expand
  26. MrMcgoat
    Apr 4, 2016
    9
    Exactly what i wanted. Its a Baldur's Gate nothing else to say really. The user interface is improved as well as the AI scripts. I look forward to more BG games from beamdog.
  27. avelayne
    Apr 7, 2016
    10
    I really liked the game. Have the same feelings as about 15 years ago, when i was playing in both original ones. It's like a returning home after a long long absence.
    Hope that's not the last expansion. Would be nice to have actual BG3, with modern graphics
  28. TStael
    Apr 5, 2016
    9
    I must admit I am not extremely wild about the new content on EE, so managed my expectations quite low as not to be disappointed, but I'm genuinely enjoying the campaign. It essentially extends the BG gaming joy, and I would take any amount of that.

    + Old friends! Very impressed and thankful that so many of the original, well loved voice actors are back + I actually find the new NPCs    I must admit I am not extremely wild about the new content on EE, so managed my expectations quite low as not to be disappointed, but I'm genuinely enjoying the campaign. It essentially extends the BG gaming joy, and I would take any amount of that.

    + Old friends! Very impressed and thankful that so many of the original, well loved voice actors are back
    + I actually find the new NPCs quite interesting, and personally will have replay value there (wanting to ultimately bring everyone along)
    + Combat is quite challenging in a good way. Have needed some reloads on "core rules"
    + I'm genuinely keen to see how the story ends! I particularly love Irenicus story device, really enjoy all his appearances. Love that Imoen gets major attention and backstory.
    + Small AI improvement, but I like that healers heal you without prompted
    + Your main antagonist is a character one can respect, not typical "villainous villain"

    - It's quite linear but that's pretty much norm for expansions and DLC
    - Due to linearity, the replay cycle will be that much longer
    - Lame but I was really missing a trader in the starting dungeon

    Beamdog exceeded my expectations here, and this really feels like a Baldur's Gate campaign, a long over-due union with a good old friend.

    Vis-à-vis the zero scores: if you are a very delicate flower as a gamer and go ballistic over an optional line of dialogue that happens to be pro-inclusive immersion - stay away lest you wilt!    … Expand
  29. Mounster84
    Apr 5, 2016
    10
    This expansion was a complete delight. I loved hearing many of the old voice actors reprise their roles, and the new lines were awesome. The story itself was quite interesting and after I finished the expansion I had this goofy grin on my face. I absolutely loved the large battles and the mayhem that ensued when I engaged whole groups of enemies. The new UI took a little getting used toThis expansion was a complete delight. I loved hearing many of the old voice actors reprise their roles, and the new lines were awesome. The story itself was quite interesting and after I finished the expansion I had this goofy grin on my face. I absolutely loved the large battles and the mayhem that ensued when I engaged whole groups of enemies. The new UI took a little getting used to but was not a big deal. While a few people have encountered bugs I was fortunate enough to not encounter any.

    Overall if you liked Baldur's gate and its expansions, this one will bring you quite a few hours of delight. I heartily recommend it and advise all baldur's gate fans to try it, as it was a surprisingly satisfying experience... I only wish that ToB had some of the qualities of this expansion. Honestly I find the vitriolic response to 1 stupidly insignificant character disheartening and a bit depressing. Buy the game, play it, make up your own mind about it, and heck even write a review regardless of if you liked it or didn't. If you allow these reactionary buffoons to rob of you of a great gaming experience, its only your loss.    … Expand
  30. Rhelna
    Apr 5, 2016
    9
    Overall, great game. The story telling was solid. The immersion factor was incredible. This expansion really went well beyond my expectations. I also like the layout and design of the inventory screen etc. It was new and refreshing while still reminiscent of BG1.

    I expected bugs, but was presently surprised when I experienced next to none. I did come across one but that only occurred    Overall, great game. The story telling was solid. The immersion factor was incredible. This expansion really went well beyond my expectations. I also like the layout and design of the inventory screen etc. It was new and refreshing while still reminiscent of BG1.

    I expected bugs, but was presently surprised when I experienced next to none. I did come across one but that only occurred due to a mod I had installed and so uninstalling the said mod was all I had to do to fix the problem. There was nothing game breaking or disruptive to the game.    … Expand
  31. Flhardcore
    Apr 5, 2016
    10
    I have been a player of Baldur's gate for more then 15 years and this new episode is just awesome.
    Thanks Beamdog for your great work and wish there is more project on the table.
  32. Belnavar
    Apr 4, 2016
    9
    A fun return to the classic cRPG world of the '90s. BG is such a classic game, and SoD provides more of that gameplay, with lots of little improvements along the way. On the negative side, there are quite a few bugs, but I've yet to experience a game launch without any. Give it some time and these should be ironed out.

    Here's hoping for a BG2 expansion.
  33. Pilgrimzero
    Apr 6, 2016
    10
    A great addition to Baldurs Gate. The writing is fantastic and the game is just plain fun. If your a fan of the series and the type of gameplay you owe it to yourself to play this. It's rare to get a good game set in the Forgotten Realms now-a-days. don't miss out on this one.
  34. DeathPhoenix
    Apr 7, 2016
    10
    Great work done on a 2 decade old engine. It takes a lot of courage. I want Beamdog to keep up on providing content for my favorite game ever... Of course I'd like them to fire the women that definitely have a feminist agenda and tries to teach you about racism. The problem is mostly that, ok, one character can talk about it, but not 100% of the text! It's breaking immersion. Also, theGreat work done on a 2 decade old engine. It takes a lot of courage. I want Beamdog to keep up on providing content for my favorite game ever... Of course I'd like them to fire the women that definitely have a feminist agenda and tries to teach you about racism. The problem is mostly that, ok, one character can talk about it, but not 100% of the text! It's breaking immersion. Also, the writting is not fantastic. But the game doesn't really completely on it, besides, they agreed to change some of it. Let's hope they rewrite some of it to enhance the enhancements...

    Setting 0 to this game because of the text is completely unfair. Is multiplayer really the main feature? I hope it will be fixed for all of us really soon, but let's be realistic, I don't think Beamdog want to leave you with a Multiplayer that is completely broken...

    Note: Socially conscious isn't supposed to mean that you have to do social teaching. They should have avoided social uncouscious content instead of trying to discuss it in the game (extremely intemporal and not the goal of Baldur's Gate... There is forums for that) ;) hahaha It's a bad, imo noob call from the main writer...    … Expand
  35. Mando81
    Apr 5, 2016
    10
    Sensational game worthy of Baldurs Gate legacy.
    The writing of the story and characters are excellent. Don't pay any attention to the bunch of bigot trolls trying to bring this game down. Highly recommended.
  36. Meidrym
    Apr 5, 2016
    10
    It is an enjoyable add on to the series, with challenging gameplay and interesting characters and stories. Minor bugs are present, but the issues that have triggered the controversy are such that I didn't even notice them first time through.
  37. Kogorn733
    Apr 5, 2016
    8
    Despite my initial doubts, SOD has exceeded my expectations and dispelled most of my doubts about Beamdog's handling of the franchise.

    GRAPHICS: The engine appears to have received some noticeable tweaks and optimizations, and I was impressed how much more smoothly the game could run with a greater number of characters on the battlefield. Some of the environmental effects, such as fog    Despite my initial doubts, SOD has exceeded my expectations and dispelled most of my doubts about Beamdog's handling of the franchise.

    GRAPHICS: The engine appears to have received some noticeable tweaks and optimizations, and I was impressed how much more smoothly the game could run with a greater number of characters on the battlefield. Some of the environmental effects, such as fog and moonlight, are beautiful, and the backgrounds are far more animated than they were previously (i.e., moving lava). There were a couple of things that I didn't like, though they are minor. First, I disliked the "outlining" that was added around the characters. I never felt the characters were particularly difficult to see, especially after Beamdog added the "zoom in" feature, so I was confused why they felt this was necessary. However, this outlining effect can be turned off, so it wasn't too big of a deal. Second, the maps now have a black outlining past their borders, whereas originally the end of the map was where scrolling ended. I realize that this was probably done to more clearly display the boundaries of each map, but I feel it's unnecessary and somewhat immersion breaking.

    SOUND: The music I have listened to so far is superb, and changes in tone and timing are beautifully executed. I remember when I was leaving Baldur's Gate, it seemed epic and then triumphant, but then changed its tone to sound uneasy once a nobleman approached the player to question his lineage. It's the little things :) I also loved the new voice work. I'm both ecstatic and impressed that Beamdog was able to recruit so many of the original voice actors. Safana, Caelar, Minsc, and Viconia's new material is particularly good, as is the Scottish-sounding actor who plays several of the dwarf NPCs. There were some occasions where I heard some glitchy beeping..typically when I scrolled across large portions of the map. Not quite sure what the cause was. It happened rarely though, and wasn't too noticeable.

    GAMEPLAY/STORY: I have been very pleased with what I've played thus far. The initial quest to hunt down Sarevok's remaining supporters seemed believable and felt like an actual "hunt," with members of the flaming fist aiding the player. I also enjoyed the initial segment in Baldur's Gate, and being able to discuss the politics of Caelar Argent's invasion with the various Dukes. Although I'm early in the game, Caelar Argent is an intriguing figure, and I really enjoyed navigating through CHARNAME's first conversation with her. Many new NPCS in the game are given character and dialog, including many of the older companions who rejoin or otherwise encounter the player later in the game. For the most part, I have enjoyed much of the dialog so far and feel it matches the tone of the original game, with some very minor exceptions. I realize that some people have taken issue with some of the dialog in the game and, although I can see what they're talking about, it has been a very minor part of the expansion. I didn't even notice the one very minor character had dialog revealing that they were transgender until I read about it on the site, and while its inclusion seemed a little pointless, it was extremely minor and didn't affect the tone or overall feel of the game. Similarly, I had no problems with Corwin's daughter defending her (we probably all thought our parents were invincible when we were kids), or with Safana's new dialog (Safana still comes across as a seductive, manipulative tease to me). Really, the only "SJW" stuff that bothered me a bit was Minsc's allusion to Gamergate (though I probably would not have noticed this had I not been alerted to it), and the large number of times a female NPC would interject to tell the CHARNAME something along the lines of "[insert other female character here] is her own person and doesn't have to be spoken for/treated

    Anyway, I also noticed that the AI of both enemies and party members has been improved. Enemies now use spells more intelligently, and will try to target squishier party members or react to party members casting spells or heals. While it doesn't match up with SCS-levels of AI tweaking, the improvements are definitely noticeable and appreciated.

    BUGS: I've encountered some bugs during my playthrough so far, though none have been gamebreaking. However, I did begin my game by importing a final save. I understand many bugs have occurred due to mods, importing a character (rather than a save), or playing in multiplayer, so I probably avoided many of these bugs through the nature of my playthrough.

    CONCLUSION: It is clear that this expansion, despite some minor faults, was a labor of love, and I've definitely enjoyed it so far (and likely will continue to enjoy it). I want to commend Beamdog for the time, effort, and creativity that went into this expansion, and hope that the uproar going on in the background won't dissuade them from exploring other entries in the series.

    8.5/10    … Expand
  38. jwight999
    Apr 4, 2016
    10
    Great content, really bridges the gap well. If you liked the originals (or EEs) you'll love this. Improvements to UI and graphics were much appreciated and the story fit well in the BG world. Fingers crossed for further expansions, or even BG3!
  39. Selsenay
    Apr 5, 2016
    10
    Any bugs that the game has are easily overshadowed by how great the game makes me feel. Haters will hate, especially when a company tries to include trans characters in their beloved archaic games (don't get me wrong, I LOVED BG 1 and 2), but the game is actually quite charming and enjoyable. A great addition to the franchise!
  40. Mercator360
    Apr 6, 2016
    10
    Let me begin by saying that this a good game, in fact it is a very good game. Beamdog deserves a lot of praise for bringing a welcome addition to the Baldurs Gate Lore. The game does have some bugs but the company's track records indicate that they will be fixed in due time.

    Unfortunately a lot of reviewers are giving this game low scores because they disagree with the inclusion of a    Let me begin by saying that this a good game, in fact it is a very good game. Beamdog deserves a lot of praise for bringing a welcome addition to the Baldurs Gate Lore. The game does have some bugs but the company's track records indicate that they will be fixed in due time.

    Unfortunately a lot of reviewers are giving this game low scores because they disagree with the inclusion of a trans-gendered character and an emphasis on social justice in the story and dialog. Why is this bad or perceived as such? I believe you have a lot of people that consider the exercise of free expression by others an imposition on their way of life. But this is a game and an art-form designed to tackle modern problems and current issues as part of the overall story and lore of the game. Bioware itself was a leader in creating characters that were outside the mainstream at the time the game was made. This is in part what made them legendary developers. Unfortunately we have an active group of people who decry what they see as political correctness in the game media, what they in fact decry and can not stand is a society that embraces all. As I read their reviews I think to myself who can be against social justice? These reviewers scream about their freedom being infringed by having to deal with subjects and characters that challenge their world view. They in fact want to pigeonhole storytellers and developers, that is in itself a form of the same political correctness this gamer's decry . That is not what game developing as an art form should strive to be or be intimidated into becoming. The whole point of this art form is to open the world to all points or view, to create characters and worlds that challenge us and our imaginations. It should not bow down to those who want to restrict storytelling to the four corners of their small worlds. If you can not handle a character in an RPG do not talk to them or include them in your party, move on, enjoy the rest of the story. If your sensibilities are so assaulted try another game. I hope that the developers do not bow down to these internet bullies and produce the story and the game they want to create. I hope that the market will reward their courage and creativity.

    To most gamer's reading this review this is a game that deserves your support. It is a welcome addition to the Baldurs Gate saga. It has some bugs but the developer has a track record of fixing those. This game is worth your time and money.    … Expand
  41. HeavyLock
    Apr 4, 2016
    10
    A really great expension. I have played Baldur's Gate since its first release, and i was amazed to return in it, with 100% new content. The quality is here, and the new characters are great! I'm 12 hours in it, and its definitely worth of the name Baldur's Gate.

    I dont have any bugs at all on my version (PC)
  42. Harm81
    Apr 4, 2016
    10
    Before release i was afraid, Beamdog wouldn't manage to catch the atmosphere of the former BG Games. But they did! SoD is very BG and very AD&D, and the storyline fits perfectly between BG1 and 2. Good Work!

    I'm a little disappointed about the missing German version, and some little bugs, but its way better than the release version of BG:EE and BG2:EE.
  43. joshroby
    Apr 4, 2016
    10
    Absolutely awesome story experience and a true successor to the franchise. Loved every moment I experienced, and almost fell out of my chair when I encountered a trans character. Unspeakably heartwarming to see people like me portrayed in the games I play. Loved it! Want more!
  44. dave_wright
    Apr 6, 2016
    9
    Baldur's Gate and its sequel are two of the greatest role playing experiences imaginable. This expansion is a good cross in styles with returning friends and foes, a new intriguing story and an updated engine for a game that is nearly 18 years old. It was so exciting to hear the original narrator set the stage for what was to come, and it got better from there. I have a few niggles when aBaldur's Gate and its sequel are two of the greatest role playing experiences imaginable. This expansion is a good cross in styles with returning friends and foes, a new intriguing story and an updated engine for a game that is nearly 18 years old. It was so exciting to hear the original narrator set the stage for what was to come, and it got better from there. I have a few niggles when a quest didn't quite hang together or a character said something that caught me off guard but all in all it feels like a Baldur's Gate game. I think it would have been a 10/10 but for the fact its a little too linear and sometimes throws enemies at you the I feel were better saved until you truly felt like you had earned the right to take on properly (though the two instances I'm thinking of are optional and one comes with a plot item to help you through it). Having said that I haven't enjoyed something so simply old school in a long time, its full of fun ideas and puzzles and winks to what is to come, I couldn't recommend it higher to people that love these games.
    P.S. I tried to avoid the current controversy but just want to say to people who won't consider trying this game because of it that I didn't even think twice about the trans character, its a fantasy game and any one can be anything. It didn't even register to me until I saw all this nonsense about it, it is literally two lines in thousands that are optional. Please don't let peoples prejudices or stances sway you from a game that is well worth your time.    … Expand
  45. TheSnarkyShaman
    Apr 7, 2016
    10
    So I'm about ten hours in and I'm pleasantly surprised. A LARGE portion of the original voice cast are back in enriched roles that, for the most part, are true to character or expand on a one dimensional concept from Baldurs Gate 1. The world has gotten an ambience upgrade. The main antagonist is nuanced and convincing. Generally, I feel like it flows naturally as part of the Baldurs GateSo I'm about ten hours in and I'm pleasantly surprised. A LARGE portion of the original voice cast are back in enriched roles that, for the most part, are true to character or expand on a one dimensional concept from Baldurs Gate 1. The world has gotten an ambience upgrade. The main antagonist is nuanced and convincing. Generally, I feel like it flows naturally as part of the Baldurs Gate games and is a nice bridge. Combat is the same as the old games but with some extra bits thrown in (see again the bigger fights, more enemies on screen) and some new abilities to play with. Anyone who enjoyed the originals should enjoy this.

    It would be remiss of me not to mention the current drama, so let me be clear. There is a minor side character who, after TWO OPTIONAL dialogue prompts by the player, will tell you she is trans. The backlash is, as usual, about 'gamergate' types taking umbrage at that and (at this point) realising that the general populace don't support that and so shifting their criticisms to 'bad writing' (again, it's one optional line of dialogue).

    But don't take my word for it. Don't take their word for it. If you consider yourself a reasonable and autonomously thinking individual, gauge whether you can handle such an assault of 'SJW' values and just try the game yourself. If you're a fan of old school isometric RPG's and Baldurs Gate in particular, chances are you'll get some enjoyment out of this, or an integral new part of an old series at best. As it stands, I'm having a great time with it.    … Expand
  46. PacoRossi
    Apr 7, 2016
    8
    This is a solid addition to the series. The only significant downside I experienced were some bugs. If that's going to bother you a lot, wait a few months, and then the game will merit a 9-10 rating, on par with the original installments in the franchise.

    Many have argued that the writing is bad, which I disagree with strongly. The broader story arc is quite interesting with some    This is a solid addition to the series. The only significant downside I experienced were some bugs. If that's going to bother you a lot, wait a few months, and then the game will merit a 9-10 rating, on par with the original installments in the franchise.

    Many have argued that the writing is bad, which I disagree with strongly. The broader story arc is quite interesting with some surprises, and it is peppered with fun references to the original series and the lore of the Forgotten Realms.

    Most complaints seems to revolve around the character Mizhena, a very minor non-companion NPC who reveals that she is transgender if you ask her about her unusual name. It is true that she is not very well written, but I didn't find it remarkably bad, and she is not representative of quality of writing in the game more broadly. In general, the dialog is great. Many conversations involve a variety of legitimately different ways that the conversation can be resolved, and there are many more delightfully sarcastic dialog options than in the original series.

    Furthermore, the existence of one or some small number of poorly written small characters or dialogs hardly ruins the game. You might remember many poorly written characters and events in the original series, for instance:
    - Remember how evil companions got mad at you each time your reputation increased, even when you completed quests that promised powerful rewards and your behavior could be rationalized through self-interest and/or the pursuit of greater power? Remeber how "evil" in the original Baldur's Gate series was almost synonymous with "idiotic and masochistic."
    - Remember how Keldorn kind of wants to give up adventuring forever to be with his family but is willing to compromise and follow you indefinitely as long as you give him one full day off?
    - Remember when the Harpers chose to deal with Xzar the Zhentarim spy with an incredibly convoluted scheme that was intricately planned but somehow ready to set into motion when you randomly stumbled across an injured Harper in an alleyway?

    Just as these instances of poor writing did not ruin the original series, Mizhena does not ruin Siege of Dragonspear. In fact, Mizhena's dialog is much less blatant and easier to avoid than the above examples. If you loved the original series, you will probably enjoy Siege of Dragonspear very much, regardless of your political views.    … Expand
  47. aguyuno
    Apr 6, 2016
    10
    There are some glitches I will admit, and hopefully patches will fix them. But otherwise it's so fun and totally worth your money! I hope this group works on more projects in the future; they're clearly a great team.
  48. Tashiro
    Apr 4, 2016
    10
    I'm speaking out in support of the game, and Beamdog. In a fantasy game with dragons, beholders, and more, it is good to show that anyone has a place in this setting. Beamdog has done a brave thing, opening the fantasy setting to the LGBTQ community, and doing so has not 'ruined' the game. To those behind this game, "Thank you." :)
  49. Stargazer5781
    Apr 5, 2016
    9
    As someone who's played every infinity engine game several times, Siege of Dragonspear is everything I'd hoped for. The AI of both the party and enemies has improved dramatically, the writing is superb, the graphics have been improved, and the new characters fit seamlessly into the games. I'm around 15 hours into my first playthrough and can't get enough, and I'm looking forward to playingAs someone who's played every infinity engine game several times, Siege of Dragonspear is everything I'd hoped for. The AI of both the party and enemies has improved dramatically, the writing is superb, the graphics have been improved, and the new characters fit seamlessly into the games. I'm around 15 hours into my first playthrough and can't get enough, and I'm looking forward to playing from the start of Baldur's Gate 1 all the way through Throne of Bhaal with this expansion included.

    Complaints are minor. The pathfinding is still not good, though that has always been an issue with Infinity Engine games. The game has crashed three times so far, but it was a minor setback as I spam the quicksave feature anyway (which is much improved compared to the original). The numerous "0" reviews other users have contributed are completely unfounded. If you compare Siege of Dragonspear to the similarly-themed game "Temple of Elemental Evil," which is a fine game but so buggy that it's legitimately unplayable after a point, you'll see it has a User Score of 7.8. Siege of Dragonspear has nowhere close to that level of issues and is fun as hell. It deserves an 8 or 9 on this site, and hopefully after the political trolls have calmed down, the score will rise to where it ought to be.    … Expand
  50. JohnJsJ
    Apr 5, 2016
    9
    Im a fan of baldurs gate, ive played alllot of games like this and i dont understand why some are giving this a 0 just becuse it has a few lines that people dont like, hell Its not perfect. But i think the game deserves better.
  51. FranzKefka
    Apr 5, 2016
    10
    To those who think that including LGBT characters into a game is tantamount to shoving SJW propaganda down players' throats, newsflash: the only sexuality that is shoved down our throats is heterosexuality, and the only genders that are enforced are cisgender binary identities.

    Another newsflash: LGBT writers/gamers/developers are not infiltrators ransacking the last sacred preserve of    To those who think that including LGBT characters into a game is tantamount to shoving SJW propaganda down players' throats, newsflash: the only sexuality that is shoved down our throats is heterosexuality, and the only genders that are enforced are cisgender binary identities.

    Another newsflash: LGBT writers/gamers/developers are not infiltrators ransacking the last sacred preserve of heterosexual cisgender men everywhere. We have always been here, and we have always been avid fans of videogames. What has changed is that more of us are gaining the courage to speak out and get our voices heard in art.

    Games have never been just for you, existing only to cater to your personal whims. Sure, most games are designed to appeal to particular audiences, and there is an expectation that we should get some enjoyment and value-for-money out of the games we buy. But they're also collaborative works created by large teams of people from all walks of life, all with their own views, experiences, social background etc. which get reflected in some way in every game.

    We've had trans characters since the early days of console gaming, for example Birdo in Super Mario Bros. 2, and androgynous characters like Flea in Chrono Trigger, which happen to be two very highly-acclaimed games. What people have a problem with is POSITIVE representation of trans and gender non-conforming characters. Birdo and Flea, and other characters' confusion about their gender, are presented as a joke, which I think is why people don't have a problem with these games, because they simply reinforce their prejudices.

    If you feel 'put upon' by these politically-correct representations by SJWs, and feel somehow threatened by LGBT people, let me tell you: in that regard we have several centuries more experience than you. Our forebears were murdered and pathologised by their communities and their governments, and we still face the same hatred and bigotry today. But we won't go down quietly.

    Beamdog, keep up with the good work! But do fix the bugs asap.    … Expand
  52. DeciusMus
    Apr 4, 2016
    8
    I enjoyed Siege of Dragonspear quite a lot. The main story of the expansion is an interesting one, and provides a good explanation to 'fill in' the time between the end of the original Baldur's Gate and the sequel. Several of the new NPCs (particularly Corwin) are enjoyable enough that I wish there was a way to continue adventuring with them in BG2. The combats are challenging, andI enjoyed Siege of Dragonspear quite a lot. The main story of the expansion is an interesting one, and provides a good explanation to 'fill in' the time between the end of the original Baldur's Gate and the sequel. Several of the new NPCs (particularly Corwin) are enjoyable enough that I wish there was a way to continue adventuring with them in BG2. The combats are challenging, and provide a variety of encounters which were simply not possible at the time the original Baldur's Gate was released.

    With that said, I do have a few minor issues. I've encountered a few bugs (more of the annoying variety than game-breaking), and the way that the game handles your original party's gear can be unintuitive. The game also does seem a little overly fond of taking control away from the player to tell the story... which can be particularly a hassle leading in to a fight (since re-loading means watching the same unskippable scene play out several times over).

    Overall, the positives far outweigh the negatives. I'd count Siege of Dragonspear as money and time well spent.    … Expand
  53. Streetad
    Apr 6, 2016
    8
    Such an unexpected treat to get more official content for one of my all time favourite games. The content is fairly challenging and enjoyable, with a number of much larger encounters than the base game, and storywise it bridges the two games pretty well.

    The developers have been pretty ambitious with trying to get the most out of the ancient engine, which has led to a few frayed edges    Such an unexpected treat to get more official content for one of my all time favourite games. The content is fairly challenging and enjoyable, with a number of much larger encounters than the base game, and storywise it bridges the two games pretty well.

    The developers have been pretty ambitious with trying to get the most out of the ancient engine, which has led to a few frayed edges and minor bugs, but nothing that spoiled my enjoyment.

    There seem to be a large number of negative reviews here based on what is literally one optional line of dialogue from a minor NPC explaining that she was born a man. If that kind of thing offends you to the extent that it ruins your enjoyment of a perfectly good game, then by all means, you might not want to buy this one (or you know, just buy it and don't ask that one npc about where her name comes from).    … Expand
  54. jules_vern18
    Apr 4, 2016
    9
    Hi, Metacritic reader! You might have noticed that this game has been getting an awful lot of 0-1 reviews. That's because a group of angry people have gotten together in an attempt to sink this game because it includes one line of LGBT-friendly dialogue that they don't like. Some of them say this openly and claim that the game has a broad sociopolitical "agenda," while others post aboutHi, Metacritic reader! You might have noticed that this game has been getting an awful lot of 0-1 reviews. That's because a group of angry people have gotten together in an attempt to sink this game because it includes one line of LGBT-friendly dialogue that they don't like. Some of them say this openly and claim that the game has a broad sociopolitical "agenda," while others post about supposedly game breaking bugs. Neither of these are true. Remember when Dragon Age or Mass Effect got massive hate because they included LGBT characters? That's roughly what's happening here, except they're hurting a small independent developer instead of Bioware or EA.

    So, on to the review. I'm about 20 hours into the game and haven't encountered any major bugs aside from one or two crashes to desktop. As for the writing, most people who have actually played the game have found it surprisingly faithful to the original content - myself included. I've been having a great time playing Siege of Dragonspear so far: the new characters are fun, the plot is engaging, and hearing the original voice actors from 1998 reprise their roles has been a blast. Moreover, this game has modified the engine to handle large amounts of sprites on the screen at once, allowing for epic battles the size of which haven't been seen in a Baldur's Gate game ever before.

    As for the negative, there are occasional breaks in immersion when a minor character isn't voiced as well as you might expect or you wish you could have had a 4th or 5th dialogue choice in a conversation. There was one instance where I didn't know where to go because a doorway wasn't as clearly highlighted as it should be - little things. But if you're a fan of Baldur's gate, I would really consider giving this a shot - don't let the anti-LGBT people ruin it for you. Again, the motivation behind this backlash amounts to a single line of dialogue.

    Remember also that you can buy the game and get a refund if you don't like it. Try it out and see for yourself - as a Baldur's Gate fan since age 11, this has exceeded my expectations in almost every way. Happy Gaming :)    … Expand
  55. Toronado
    Apr 4, 2016
    10
    As a fan who has been waiting for a new Baldur's Gate game for the past 15 years, I was excited about the release of "Siege of Dragonspear." I was concerned that the writing would be sub-par compared to the original games but I must say I was not disappointed. It fits perfectly into the franchise and the changes made to the gameplay were great additions. Still getting used to the ShamanAs a fan who has been waiting for a new Baldur's Gate game for the past 15 years, I was excited about the release of "Siege of Dragonspear." I was concerned that the writing would be sub-par compared to the original games but I must say I was not disappointed. It fits perfectly into the franchise and the changes made to the gameplay were great additions. Still getting used to the Shaman class though.

    I feel like I'm finally getting to explore a hidden chapter in the lives of Gorion's Ward, Minsc, Safana, and so many other classic characters. Thanks Beamdog!    … Expand
  56. Borgratz
    Apr 4, 2016
    10
    Coming back to this after a decade, I felt like I had never left! It has the charm of the original, the systems of the original and if you are simply looking for more Baldurs Gate (and who isnt?) this is the thing for you!
  57. Bgilligan
    Apr 4, 2016
    10
    This game is absolutely amazing. The dialogue is very in depth, catches your attention, keeps you engaged. I would recommend that anyone and everyone play this game. Siege of dragon spear is one of the most interactive, and exciting games I have played in a long time.
  58. Chanceformer7
    Apr 5, 2016
    9
    There are a ton of negative reviews about political such and such that was "slipped" into the game. It literally can be completely ignored and you can enjoy the game for was it is. I actually want to give the game a 7/10 but i feel most of the negative reviews were made by the same 10 people who just keep making new accounts so they can bash on the 1 or 2 extremely minor details that theyThere are a ton of negative reviews about political such and such that was "slipped" into the game. It literally can be completely ignored and you can enjoy the game for was it is. I actually want to give the game a 7/10 but i feel most of the negative reviews were made by the same 10 people who just keep making new accounts so they can bash on the 1 or 2 extremely minor details that they don't agree with. So i gave it 9/10 to even things out.

    It is NOT as good as the originals, there's probably no way they could ever top those. HOWEVER i think the game ended up being exactly what beamdog intended it to be and that game is a very good game. I do have some complaints mostly about bugs but also some storyline issues.

    Bugs are abundant in this game. It's not a deal breaker but it is very frustrating. The game often crashes or needs a re-install just to play the game again. Some in game bugs are that i will suddenly hit a "Game Over" sequence, without there being any actual reason for that to happen. Like I'm traipsing about the camp trying to sell an item when suddenly i hit the game over sequence. No enemies in sight, no poison or disease or other ailments. Not even damage taken or showing that my main character died... just... game over.
    There's a glitch in the river map where your goblin shaman companion will start up useless dialogue infinitely unless you avoid a certain bandit encounter.
    The "quick-save" feature is screwed up, though this seems to be an intended update rather than a bug. Instead of there being one quick-save slot you repeatedly use and overwrite, it makes a quick-save slot 1, slot 2, slot 3, and so on. I use quick save every 30 seconds or so, so when i found i had like 30 separate save slots i was upset.

    Now with the story line. The encounters and battles of the main story for the most part seem very impersonal. You randomly wander into places and being like, hey we must be enemies so give me your lootz! In the originals it seemed like each zone you had a reason for being there, each boss you faced you had an individual reason for destroying, and with each triumph you came closer to your goal. With SoD i feel like the shining lady is one big bad boss and everyone else is just kinda in the way. With every bad guy i feel like the only reason they fight you is because i made a "your mom" joke. They say something like "For the shining lady" and you say, "Well she's ugly" and that's why you're fighting that person. It's just not as epic as say, Lord Jierdan Firkraag, who you fight cuz he's some douchebag dragon who just wants to mess with people cuz he can. and when you do fight and beat him you say to yourself, "that was fun! that was epic! that gave me some sick loot!" I never really got that feeling playing SoD.

    All in all I would still give it an 8 or 9 if they just patched all their glitches. It's worth a buy. (Just don't get the Deluxe or collectors editions)    … Expand
  59. Karl_Martell
    Apr 4, 2016
    10
    Siege of dragonspear ist the best expansion to the original saga i can imagine.
    From the very beginning of the story i got in the perfect "baldurs gate feeling" i enjoyed so much since my first runthrough back in 1998.
    The new areas are well designed and fit in perfectly with the existing ones. The new additions like new ui, new voiceovers, new effects like animated lava etc. add new    Siege of dragonspear ist the best expansion to the original saga i can imagine.
    From the very beginning of the story i got in the perfect "baldurs gate feeling" i enjoyed so much since my first runthrough back in 1998.
    The new areas are well designed and fit in perfectly with the existing ones. The new additions like new ui, new voiceovers, new effects like animated lava etc. add new flavours without pushing the game too far from its ancestor. The story and writing is great, with a lot of realmslore and a lot of own ideas as well added to the storyline. The new npc are all well written and good additions, but the main reason for me playing SoD was exploring new dungeons and slaying new foes with my old buddies like jaheira, khalid and imoen.
    So far, i didn't encounter any major bugs during my walkthrough.    … Expand
  60. hazsch
    Apr 8, 2020
    8
    Beamdog's 2016 DLC to a 1999 game is... surprisingly good. Most if not all of the bugs that were present at launch have been patched, too.

    I adore the Baldur's Gate series. I'm a total shill. So when I first heard they were making a 30 hours expansion to the original game, I was so hyped for it. When I finally played it when it released, I was pleasantly surprised. There are all new    Beamdog's 2016 DLC to a 1999 game is... surprisingly good. Most if not all of the bugs that were present at launch have been patched, too.

    I adore the Baldur's Gate series. I'm a total shill. So when I first heard they were making a 30 hours expansion to the original game, I was so hyped for it. When I finally played it when it released, I was pleasantly surprised. There are all new characters, with returning characters from the originals and the Enhanced Editions. Some stand outs for me were...

    - Corwin. A Flaming Fist archer who accompanies you on your journey. The first female bisexual character in the series. Her character is very grounded, and she's featured heavily in the game. I would adore her in BG2.
    - M'Khiin. This goblin showcases the new class Beamdog introduced with this DLC: the Shaman. It's really fun, and it's quite like a druid with the spell memorisation system of a sorcerer. She's a really solid character, and I'd love to see her return in some BG2 DLC.
    - Viconia, Edwin and Khalid. Yeah, you read that right. These returning characters from the originals have their original voice actors and they put on a fantastic show. Khalid actually sells us his character and makes him likeable, which only serves to depress us further when he dies at the beginning of the second game... thank you for making me hurt, Beamdog.
    - The hooded man. Oh yes, quite like "The Armoured Figure" in BG1, we have "The Hooded Man" in SoD. Hearing David Warner speak in character again after all these years gave me chills. I love it.

    The expansion itself is sizeable, but is VERY linear in comparison to the base game. For the 10 or so areas there are, there is a lot of content to enjoy in each one, but not so much that it feels unnatural. Not to mention, Siege pushes the Infinity Plus Engine to its limits with the amount of characters on screen at one time reaching heights we've never seen in an IE game, not to mention the graphics in general are just beautiful.

    I recommend Siege of Dragonspear to new players and returning ones.    … Expand
  61. Amsheagar
    Nov 27, 2021
    8
    Much as good as the original. I liked the story. The graphichs more upgraded but it doesnt hit from the old one. I will just start baldur's gate 2.
  62. chosen0ne
    Oct 7, 2021
    9
    It's a fun game that doesn't reach the highs of its predecessors. Don't go in expecting it to be as good as BG1 or 2 and you'll still have fun! It has some decent mechanics and fun maps to explore. I bought it in a bundle with the 2 enhanced editions and was happy with that purchase. It's been the subject of unfair review-bombing, so I wouldn't pay much mind to the user score. MassesIt's a fun game that doesn't reach the highs of its predecessors. Don't go in expecting it to be as good as BG1 or 2 and you'll still have fun! It has some decent mechanics and fun maps to explore. I bought it in a bundle with the 2 enhanced editions and was happy with that purchase. It's been the subject of unfair review-bombing, so I wouldn't pay much mind to the user score. Masses of people scoring it a "0" have an axe to grind.

    Overall, it's fun, classic gameplay in an already-established world. I loved the final levels and the artwork was great.    … Expand
  63. 7vtw8axu5do4
    Dec 13, 2018
    9
    I really like this game but then again im quite familiar with Baldurs Gate so its great for me. Playing it on my iPhone, really small UI is the issue but otherwise great.
  64. Verthiss
    Jan 16, 2017
    8
    Just finished it and I have to admit, it liked it very much. There are a lot of minor improvements to the game which make the game more enjoyable. NPCs are awesome and well written (especially Voghiln and Mkhiin), there are a lot of interesting quests, new class (shaman) is amazing, all that good stuff. Main story isn't anything mind blowing, but it's good enough. I'm not sure if I wouldJust finished it and I have to admit, it liked it very much. There are a lot of minor improvements to the game which make the game more enjoyable. NPCs are awesome and well written (especially Voghiln and Mkhiin), there are a lot of interesting quests, new class (shaman) is amazing, all that good stuff. Main story isn't anything mind blowing, but it's good enough. I'm not sure if I would recommend the game to somebody who never played original games (some systems in the game aged poorly and the character models are as ugly as they always were in the series), but I will definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoyed the series.… Expand
  65. Dodkong
    Apr 10, 2016
    10
    I finished the game yesterday and i was very happy about the job beamdog did porting the old infinity engine to 2016. The game looks really good, the old game- and battle mechanics are challenging as always, and it's certainly a "true" ad&d-game in terms of storytelling and balancing. I'm very saddened about all those negative views that have nothing to do with the game, so go and checkI finished the game yesterday and i was very happy about the job beamdog did porting the old infinity engine to 2016. The game looks really good, the old game- and battle mechanics are challenging as always, and it's certainly a "true" ad&d-game in terms of storytelling and balancing. I'm very saddened about all those negative views that have nothing to do with the game, so go and check SoD yourself and give it a fair chance… Expand
  66. oh_brother
    Apr 10, 2016
    9
    A great game that bridges a gap between BG1 and 2. You get another adventure with your Bhaalspawn...what's not to like? The characters are well written and it's great to interact with them (for me, including the ones that I had not spent much time with in the original) hear some of the old voices again, while the story is nicely focused.

    Unless you have an unusual passion for the    A great game that bridges a gap between BG1 and 2. You get another adventure with your Bhaalspawn...what's not to like? The characters are well written and it's great to interact with them (for me, including the ones that I had not spent much time with in the original) hear some of the old voices again, while the story is nicely focused.

    Unless you have an unusual passion for the immutability of gender you can safely ignore a lot of the anger on here. It was one line, in a minor PC that was optional and that in any case would not offend 99.9% of people. I don't say this to discredit valid criticisms people may have (some bugs, etc.), but I will say that most of the tone and intensity of criticism is focused through that prism. Very odd.

    All in all, you will know what to expect and you won't be disappointed. As some else mentioned here, if you want to get a feel for what the game does or doesn't do, go watch a video of someone plating it. That will probably tell you more than the reviews on here.    … Expand
  67. eldergnome
    Apr 25, 2016
    10
    A really solid game and a very enjoyable experience if you enjoyed previous Baldur's Gate games. I found this to be a great effort from Beamdog and I hope they continue adding to the BG series, one of my favorite game series ever. I've been playing the games since they came out originally from Bioware and all I can say is that Beamdog holds fairly well to the spirit of what was trying toA really solid game and a very enjoyable experience if you enjoyed previous Baldur's Gate games. I found this to be a great effort from Beamdog and I hope they continue adding to the BG series, one of my favorite game series ever. I've been playing the games since they came out originally from Bioware and all I can say is that Beamdog holds fairly well to the spirit of what was trying to be accomplished - an isometric AD&D ruleset based CRPG adventure game. If you like "old school" games and have faith that Beamdog will be fixing the few (non-game breaking bugs) then I guess you'll have a lot of fun with this title.

    I assume most of the negative reviews come from people concerned about supposed "controversy" in the game, which is laughable and a nonissue to most gamers, and/or younger gamers that really didn't know what they were getting into with the Baldur's Gate series in the first place. I mean, if you dislike the UI here then you probably never liked the Baldur's Gate UI to begin with - there aren't that many significant changes, etc.

    Overall - solid effort from Beamdog and a game I'm happy to add to my Baldur's Gate library. Here's to them being allowed to do BG3 and continue the story!    … Expand
  68. SpectralTime
    Jun 2, 2016
    10
    I am gonna level with you. I'm still playing through the "Baldur's Gate" portion of the game, with a new character, and I can review that part. It's pretty good. I like the new UI, for the most part, and the new options. Baldur's Gate will always be inferior to its sequel, but it's a good, technically-proficient translation.

    But it's not a ten. That ten's there out of spite, for    I am gonna level with you. I'm still playing through the "Baldur's Gate" portion of the game, with a new character, and I can review that part. It's pretty good. I like the new UI, for the most part, and the new options. Baldur's Gate will always be inferior to its sequel, but it's a good, technically-proficient translation.

    But it's not a ten. That ten's there out of spite, for all the people making this game the next battlefield in their pointless little war.

    Screw all of you.    … Expand
  69. TurnipKnight
    Jun 2, 2016
    8
    Here's an attempt at a balanced review, intended for those familiar with Baldur's Gate I and II:

    PROS --the Siege of Dragonspear expansion begins immediately after BG I and ultimately sets up BG II in a way that is, I think, logical and pretty cool. --the settings, particularly once the group is on the road, are classic AD&D. I liked the opponents--trolls and bugbears, displacer    Here's an attempt at a balanced review, intended for those familiar with Baldur's Gate I and II:

    PROS
    --the Siege of Dragonspear expansion begins immediately after BG I and ultimately sets up BG II in a way that is, I think, logical and pretty cool.
    --the settings, particularly once the group is on the road, are classic AD&D. I liked the opponents--trolls and bugbears, displacer beasts, etc.--that brought me back to my table gaming days.
    --the new items are imaginative and tend to reward unconventional class and race choices (bards, monks, stalkers, dwarves, gnomes, etc.).
    --the new shaman class works well, and my favorite new NPC is definitely the goblin shaman.
    --the game is an enjoyable return to Faerun (the Forgotten Realms setting) and the Sword Coast.

    CONS
    --as many have pointed out, the game is too linear. Let me join the Crusade if I want! Why not?
    --after an interesting opening dungeon, the encounters in the city of Baldur's Gate a pretty lame: NPCs that act strangely and won't join my party, simplistic side quests, etc. The game gets going, though, once the team is finally on the road.
    --there's some definite personality retrofitting of classic BG NPCs that is kind of distracting (what's up with Coran? and Skie?).
    --the new sprite outlines are indeed ugly (but can be disabled) and so is the shift to grayscale on pause (which also can be disabled).
    --the game can be glitchy, though I assume the programmers are working on that.

    All in all, the game is a solid addition to the Baldur's Gate saga. I highly recommend starting with BG I and moving into Siege immediately after. You can then continue with the mind-blowingly expansive BG II. It's classic RPG action--with the rudimentary graphics associated with a nearly twenty-year-old game engine. Immersion is everything in these games. If you let them, they'll fire your imagination and consume many, many hours of your life.

    One last word, on the "SJW" controversy and nasty review-bombing: yes, there is one explicitly transgender character, a very minor NPC. There is also a prominent bisexual NPC. Such people exist in our own world and have always been a part of Dungeons & Dragons and Baldur's Gate. This is truly no big deal.

    I'm inclined to give the game a 7 owing to current glitches, but I'll bump it to an 8 with the hope and expectation that these will be addressed and fixed in forthcoming versions. I'm certainly grateful to the creators for their incredibly hard work on this and am very frustrated by the unkind and unfair responses.    … Expand
  70. Calisthenicz
    May 11, 2016
    10
    I've played the original Baldur's Gate 1 & 2 since release almost 20 years ago, and Siege of Dragonspear is an excellent addition.

    Great atmosphere, story and gameplay. Definitely something I recommend if you enjoy crpg/rpg or adventure type games. User interface is greatly improved and I have still not experienced any bugs. All the negative aspects discussed regarding "Social    I've played the original Baldur's Gate 1 & 2 since release almost 20 years ago, and Siege of Dragonspear is an excellent addition.

    Great atmosphere, story and gameplay. Definitely something I recommend if you enjoy crpg/rpg or adventure type games. User interface is greatly improved and I have still not experienced any bugs.

    All the negative aspects discussed regarding "Social Justice Warrior" theme and other "controversial" characters are just bullcrap. The only way to notice these things is because you want them to be there, not necessarily because they are there.    … Expand
  71. EarX
    Apr 17, 2016
    10
    It's an expansion I never thought would have happened until I stumbled upon it a couple of weeks ago, and before trying it I wasn't even sure it would be a good thing. Sometimes old classics are best left in the past. Lucky thing that's not the case here. Clunky UI and dated sprite renders aside, Beamdog has done a great job with this, not least in subtly modernizing the experience for aIt's an expansion I never thought would have happened until I stumbled upon it a couple of weeks ago, and before trying it I wasn't even sure it would be a good thing. Sometimes old classics are best left in the past. Lucky thing that's not the case here. Clunky UI and dated sprite renders aside, Beamdog has done a great job with this, not least in subtly modernizing the experience for a modern audience.

    The game flows well and has good pacing, at the price of being somewhat linear. Though not as linear as you might fear, there is still an assortment of optional sub-quests and areas to explore within each chapter. More streamlined than the originals in other words, for good or ill. The writing, perhaps more important than anything else in any Baldur's Gate game, is very good and fits seamlessly with the originals. I was particularly impressed by how well they managed to flesh out the bare-bones NPC's from vanilla BG1, being both consistent and toning down some annoying aspects. I no longer feel the urge to send Dynaheir and Khalid to horrible deaths first chance I get, but they don't feel at odds with their original portrayals either. Very nice.

    So that's it for the game itself, well worth the money if you like Baldur's Gate or just enjoy quality D&D RPG's in general. There's this controversy going on about SJW and GG and such. I'll just point out that there's very little of any kind of social agenda in the game itself, at least that I could see. About 30 seconds of dialogue that I would have missed entirely if I hadn't been aware of it beforehand. If that's enough to ruin the *more than 30 hours of fun* that is the rest of the game for you then... steer clear I guess? You'll be missing out big-time though, just saying...    … Expand
  72. greywolf00
    Apr 18, 2016
    8
    TL;DR - Will buy another Beamdog developed RPG.

    Obviously this is a bridge between BG1 and BG2. Beamdog made some changes including increased size of enemy parties which definitely necessitates a more tank heavy approach. My PC was a fighter/thief, and I had to pair him up with Dorn and Viconia in melee in a fair amount of battles to keep the back line safe. There are some things    TL;DR - Will buy another Beamdog developed RPG.

    Obviously this is a bridge between BG1 and BG2. Beamdog made some changes including increased size of enemy parties which definitely necessitates a more tank heavy approach. My PC was a fighter/thief, and I had to pair him up with Dorn and Viconia in melee in a fair amount of battles to keep the back line safe.

    There are some things that SoD does better than the base game. I really liked the way they changed random ambushes with unique maps. The areas are larger, you can actually position your party, and most of the time there was a small bonus cave/reward. The number of enemies is much larger than the base game in several areas, and I really liked some of the new enemy additions. The maps are much more saturated with content than the original series. They added a lot of magic items to better round out offerings.

    I only played with two of their created characters through BG:EE and SoD, but they were both pretty good. Baeloth is a really useful mage addition, though I found his personality and dialogue in SoD fairly annoying. That was not an issue in BG:EE. Dorn is both a useful character and a really well written companion. Great addition to any evil party.

    A found a lot of the banter for SoD to be really well written. Edwin hitting on Viconia was great.

    As for the story, I thought it was really solid, until the very end. Had they finished the writing right after the close of the crusade, I think there’d be far less complaints. Even then, my complaint stems from it just not fitting the lore well rather than poor writing.

    The only UI change I really hated was the journal. Mixing completed quests and in progress quests together randomly just creates way too much clutter. If there's one thing they need to patch, this is it.

    I was not sold on Beamdog as a developer from their EE games. After playing SoD, I'll gladly buy another RPG they develop.    … Expand
  73. brotherTherm
    Apr 20, 2016
    9
    Despite a few stumbles I've found this expansion to be thoroughly enjoyable. I'm not going to touch on any of the Gamergate debacle (because every time I do my review gets deleted), but to say things have been blown out of all proportion is the understatement of the century.

    First off I'll address the negatives. Beamdog's intention is for SoD to act as a bridge between the first and    Despite a few stumbles I've found this expansion to be thoroughly enjoyable. I'm not going to touch on any of the Gamergate debacle (because every time I do my review gets deleted), but to say things have been blown out of all proportion is the understatement of the century.

    First off I'll address the negatives. Beamdog's intention is for SoD to act as a bridge between the first and second games. In the main they've done a pretty good job at this and it certainly addresses the abrupt jump between the two but I think they could have spent a little more time on the transition from BG1 to SoD. Imoen in particular is handled poorly in my opinion. Regardless of whether you dual classed her during the first game and had her casting level 5 spells by the end, she'll start SoD as an apprentice mage to one of the Dukes. It's nice that they offer an explanation as to why she was dual classed at the start of the second game if you kept her as a pure theif in the first, but it really breaks the immersion if you already dualled her. Considering that she isn't a party joinable NPC in SoD this may not be a big deal for people, but for me I think some extra work could have been done to consider player choice and consequence.

    Another gripe was with some of the writing. While the plot was enjoyable for the most part (if a little predicable), I often felt CHARNAME was constrained in their available dialogue choices. For instance, despite uncovering various plot twists during the course of the adventure, for some reason I couldn't alert any of the main NPCs to them. In one encounter I was practically shouting at my monitor "THAT GUY IS A TRAITOR DUDE, SOMEONE DO SOMETHING" but it seemed I and everyone in my party had selective amnesia.

    One last minor complaint was the overplaying of the Irenicus foreshadowing. One of the things I liked most about the opening to BG2 was the not knowing what was going on. Who is this guy, what does he want, and where am I. This is diluted quite heavily by the events in SoD with a robed Irenicus popping up all over the place, and while he never explicitly tells you who he is or what is motives are, if I was playing the series for the first time I'd have a pretty good idea who my captor is at the start of BG2. It was good hearing David Warner's distinctive delivery however so w/e.

    Finally, on a technical level there were also some annoying bugs although nothing game breaking on my run through. They're all being looked at by the devs but intermittently being unable remove more than one arrow at a time from a container was frustrating. Multiplayer was also a bit of a mess I hear although a patch has since been released that apparently fixes the issues.

    Now, the positives. They really have pushed the Infinity Engine to its limits. Not to spoiler it too much but you travel north at the head of a Flaming Fist company, and it really feels like you have a company of soldiers at your back. There are several big set piece battles; lifting a siege at a river crossing, a camp defence, and the assault on Dragonspear itself and they all feel appropriately weighty, especially that final battle. It was definitely a memorable experience leading the charge through the shattered gate into a sea of bads and you're going to have a lot of fun re-playing it a couple of times.

    Also of note were the level designs and artwork. The dungeon maps weren't as broad or deep as SoA, more akin to the ToB designs, but this was fine for what they needed to be, momentary diversions from the main path, not huge multi level affairs like Durlag's or Watchers. All the areas were beautifully rendered though and BD introduced some very nice new effects for some areas that really added to the ambience. All in all some top notch work and I'm looking forward to hopefully some more ambitious designs in the future.

    To finish with I also wanted to touch on some of the minor improvements that make a difference. First off is being able to switch between sword and shield and two handed load-outs without having to mess about in your inventory. My dual wielding F/M can now whip his crossbow out with a single button press and this really is the best thing ever. Then there are things like being able to talk to people without them then turning to face you all the time for 5/10 seconds after, the introduction of loot spots that only appear when certain conditions are met (rather than being able to find all the things because you're constantly mashing tab), and the new map and the silky smooth transition to and from it. These are just a few examples that come to mind now, but throughout I was constantly finding these little improvements and smiling. This is definitely a team that have actively played the series and understand all its quirks and know what needs looking at.

    So in conclusion I can honesty say I've enjoyed the experience and anyone not picking up a copy because of "politics" is missing out on a great addition to the series.    … Expand
  74. Marchel
    Apr 18, 2016
    9
    Having read the 'reviews' here by other users - I'm kinda in hysterics. The original Baldurs Gate was by no means Shakespeare, so lets not kid ourselves here and the story for Siege Of Dragonspear is certainly better than Throne of Bhaal and retains a lot of the humor from the original games. The voice-acting is again - no worse or better than the original series either.

    I played    Having read the 'reviews' here by other users - I'm kinda in hysterics. The original Baldurs Gate was by no means Shakespeare, so lets not kid ourselves here and the story for Siege Of Dragonspear is certainly better than Throne of Bhaal and retains a lot of the humor from the original games. The voice-acting is again - no worse or better than the original series either.

    I played Baldurs Gate when it originally came out - complete with massive bugs that were never going to be fixed in the "good old days" of CD-gaming and I played both games through often, up until the Expanded Edition release, which was a very welcome change, including the new UI, which wasn't very user friendly if you weren't a D&D 2nd Ed player.

    Scoring 9 because thats what I'd have rated the original, too.    … Expand
  75. masterfox3000
    May 18, 2016
    10
    Loved the inclusion of a transgender character, especially considering Black Isle always did have progressive writing especially being known to have the fallout series with a lot of gay characters.
  76. glenp5
    Aug 5, 2016
    8
    I finished this portion of the game and I completely enjoyed it. I did not encounter any of the game breaking bugs I had read about, even in the 2.0 phase. While the new UI is different it grows on you and is an improvement overall. Now I am just waiting on the iOS version for my second run thru.
  77. Snorc
    May 8, 2016
    10
    This is really good and fit perfectly between BG1 and 2. I absolutely recommend it. Please do not listen for haters that gave a 0 to this game. Because it justs reflect of 3 lines of dialogue that offended their extremely straight point of view. This game is a gem. The more I know Beamdog, the more I love them. They just manage to keep real rpg alive.
  78. Method__Man
    Aug 6, 2021
    9
    Ignore the haters. The game is incredible. I have loved the series for over 20 years, this game is VERY true to them
  79. Yury_Vashurin
    Nov 7, 2019
    9
    I played this expansion right after having completed BG1 for the first time and completely unaware of any scandals regarding it. And I found Siege of Dragonspear really satisfying. Perhaps some old fans of BG1 will consider my words blasphemous but I really like SoD more than the original game (but of course BG2 is much better, that's for sure). The story is decent, I don't have nothingI played this expansion right after having completed BG1 for the first time and completely unaware of any scandals regarding it. And I found Siege of Dragonspear really satisfying. Perhaps some old fans of BG1 will consider my words blasphemous but I really like SoD more than the original game (but of course BG2 is much better, that's for sure). The story is decent, I don't have nothing against this expansion to be linear (it's nothing bad when a sequel is more linear, just remember Ultima 7 with its Part Two being significantly more linear than Part One and still retaining its high quality), and the SJW thematics don't strike the eye at all comparing to ME: Andromeda, for example. I wouldn't call this expansion a masterpiece but it doesn't deserve at all to be rated so low.
    P.S. I imagine the situation if one of my childhood game would get an expansion nowadays - that would be excellent, marvelous, astonishing and I would be pretty forgiving towards its possible shortfalls. What's wrong with you, dear BG fans? Why are you so excessively critical?    … Expand
  80. Arkhan
    Sep 9, 2017
    8
    This game is a worth expansion for the original Baldur's Gate, which was not an easy thing to do. I can say its not as good as the original because there are some issues, but overall its very solid.
    The storyline is very good and very well placed and coherent with both BG1 and BG2 and the setting itself.
    The best thing of this game is the care they took to represent the environment, it    This game is a worth expansion for the original Baldur's Gate, which was not an easy thing to do. I can say its not as good as the original because there are some issues, but overall its very solid.
    The storyline is very good and very well placed and coherent with both BG1 and BG2 and the setting itself.
    The best thing of this game is the care they took to represent the environment, it is really coherent and feels alive, its full of great details and descriptions. And a good work has been done to relate places and history of faerun with what is going on in the personal story of the character.
    You can see there are very good ppl who has been involved into this, who really care about both the settings and the overall feeling of the game. There are even references to something you find in R.A. Salvatore novels of drizzt.

    I didnt like the high rate of combat in the central part of the game, especially on one map it was unrealistic to have so many fights one so near to the next.
    Same thing about some encounters: too many "important" encounters within a too short period of time (its not always like this, only in the central part). This is the only narrative flaw i can find here, they should give the right pace to important things to appreciate them, this is very important in an rpg. The rhythm in an rpg is not the rhythm of other types of games, which is the one most ppl are used to.

    Dialogs are ok, and the npc's have a good characterization. Voices are great for the most part, there are even old voice actors of the original series, except for one voice at the end which doesnt fit at all.....

    I didnt encounter any major bugs playing the entire game in these months (from may to september 2017).

    I have to spend some words about the drama of the "social justice" theme in this game, since it seems im one of the few that is reviewing the game having actually played it before writing.
    There are 2 lines of text of a minor npc, one among hundreds of npc, which is spoken only if u actively ask the npc to talk about her, and she will tell you she is transgender. Plus another 2-3 lines of dialogs that could be intepreted as "educational" or "social" if u really want to see it that way.
    For example, someone says that they dont trust orc allies because of their race, and a possibile answer is that you judge people for their action and not their race. That's a perfectly acceptable dialog and fits in the events that were happening in that moment.
    Another famously incriminated line: "Dont worry, mama can take care of herself". This is spoken by someone who was going to war, saying the last words to its child.
    Of course i hate the attitude to throw politically correct or forced educational concept in an rpg,
    but i also hate the attitude and need of some guys to criticize, and jump on the bashwagon just because they feel superior this way. And i think this last one is by far the major problem here, and its the general problem of my generation of the 30ties and even of younger people to find the pleasure in hating and seeing faults in others. I dont want to digress on this, you can make up your mind by playing the game and judge yourself.
    Having that said, developers should always remember not to throw social opinions or problems in games, especially games like this, but still i dont feel there shouldnt be a drama for this particular game and those lines, especially in the context they were used.    … Expand
  81. velsubek
    May 19, 2020
    10
    Although this game has poor writing, I must say it has the spirit of Baldur's Gate and tries its best at being an interlude between the two classics. When I treat it as a big modification to Baldur's Gate it is just fine, but when I think how much it costed on launch, it just makes me sad.

Awards & Rankings

24
#24 Most Discussed PC Game of 2016
79
#79 Most Shared PC Game of 2016

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. CD-Action
    Jun 29, 2016
    75
    Living up to such legacy seemed impossible but Beamdog understands Baldur’s Gate and created a game true to the original. Unfortunately along with the party you need to gather a band of patches, because bugs are crawling all over the place. [06/2016, p.40]
  2. Games.cz
    May 18, 2016
    70
    Decent expansion to the classic RPG, which -in addition to the inevitable technical limitations- suffers mainly due to the uneven quality of the script. All in all, it is a very good excuse to once again venture into the world of Faerûn.
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  3. Pelit (Finland)
    May 9, 2016
    80
    Beamdog’s expansion embraces both the past and the present. The adventure is inconsistent, ragged and the script could be a lot better, but at its best Siege of Dragonspear captures the essence of Baldur’s Gate - even if fleetingly. [May 2016]
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