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
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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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