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. Devout_Buddhist
    Apr 6, 2016
    0
    I've been a BG fan since I was a little kid and BG occupies a special place in my heart....and this feels nothing like BG. This is horrible. A slap in the face to BG fans. Don't waste your money.
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. Unseen57678
    Apr 6, 2016
    0
    Soooo many glitches. Maybe it'll be fixed eventually, but for now stay away, save corruption is everywhere and it makes playing rather pointless.
    Even if you do manage to play, you quickly find that the writing is nowhere near the quality of the original. How do you slide backward when you have 10+ years to improve?
  5. 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.
  6. Valko
    Apr 5, 2016
    2
    The new scenario is so bad with all this feminism crap + a lot of bugs and text glitches. Thank God, not all of characters are super girls now, who help weak men to save Forgotten Realms. Too much of sexual propaganda + very weak scenario make new DLC unenjoyble.
  7. 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
  8. 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
  9. johnisreal
    Apr 5, 2016
    0
    If you like the original or it's sequel you're probably gonna like this. The UI is crap and there are a ton of bugs with no support. From a game play point of view the problems I have with are mostly nitpicks but they are enough to turn me off. BUT LIKE I SAID: If you like the original you'll probably only be nominally disappointed with this one. The story is bad, the writing is bad,If you like the original or it's sequel you're probably gonna like this. The UI is crap and there are a ton of bugs with no support. From a game play point of view the problems I have with are mostly nitpicks but they are enough to turn me off. BUT LIKE I SAID: If you like the original you'll probably only be nominally disappointed with this one. The story is bad, the writing is bad,

    Bottom line is if you're a new player then get the original first but be aware that it's dated. Game feels very late 90's to me but some people like that. If you're an old player and a completionist... check it out.    … Expand
  10. Endiss
    Apr 5, 2016
    0
    Completely broken multiplayer. Very poor writing in an expansion pack for a game widely-known for quality writing. Disappointingly linear. Regular bugs. And they somehow made the graphics worse while "updating" an eighteen year old game.

    So far I have only noticed hints at the political agenda that apparently becomes more blatant later on. But perhaps the developers should have spent    Completely broken multiplayer. Very poor writing in an expansion pack for a game widely-known for quality writing. Disappointingly linear. Regular bugs. And they somehow made the graphics worse while "updating" an eighteen year old game.

    So far I have only noticed hints at the political agenda that apparently becomes more blatant later on. But perhaps the developers should have spent less time worrying about showing how progressive they are and more time worrying about not desecrating the beloved game they had been entrusted with.    … Expand
  11. 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
  12. 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.
  13. 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.
  14. Vordrak
    Apr 5, 2016
    0
    This is a difficult one.

    I played the original Baldur's Gate back in the late 90s / early noughties, when I was still at University. It is a game I have never forgotten - in fact, even today nearly 20 years later I still have saved character files from the original CD-ROM version of the game. Baldur's Gate Enhanced Edition was an opportunity to allow fans to relive a great game, but    This is a difficult one.

    I played the original Baldur's Gate back in the late 90s / early noughties, when I was still at University. It is a game I have never forgotten - in fact, even today nearly 20 years later I still have saved character files from the original CD-ROM version of the game.

    Baldur's Gate Enhanced Edition was an opportunity to allow fans to relive a great game, but sadly it has added little to the franchise whilst there have been many complaints of bugs.

    Even so, I decided to give the new expansion Siege of Dragonspear Keep a fair try as it was on offer. After buying and installing the game, I fired it up. My first concern was that I still cannot import my characters from the original Baldur's Gate. A casual forum search reveals that this is by no means an uncommon problem and has been known about since 2012. For a product that owes so much to nostalgia, that is no minor flaw.

    The expansion coincides with the 2.0 patch for the 'Enhanced' version of the game. Unfortunately new settings introduced for animated characters are, to put it kindly, unaesthetic. Users have described this as making the game look worse, although it should be noted that the settings can be turned off.

    Finally, the writing in Siege of Dragonspear is clumsy in the extreme compared to the original. The game's writing includes a certain amount of political comment - not in itself unwelcome in any artistic genre. However, the heavy-handed preachiness is unwelcome as is the impression of an unfamiliarity with the game's setting. There is a jarring disconnect between the original game and the new DLC.

    As I already own a copy of the original game, I am left with the feeling I have gained nothing from my purchase other than wasted time and annoyance.    … Expand
  15. Etherlad
    Apr 5, 2016
    2
    Gamebreaking Bugs, hamfisted Story, bad Voiceacting and terrible Story.
    This is not what Baldurs Gate-Fans deserve. Best to keep sticking to the classics and Mods.
  16. 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
  17. Scotsmn1
    Apr 5, 2016
    2
    Boy, what a rollercoaster. I played BG1 as a young adult and enjoyed it, then a few years later played BG2 and absolutely loved it. Much later, Beamdog came out with the enhanced editions, and I liked the way they just fixed them up a bit, increased resolution, stuff that improved the games without taking away what made them the classics that they are today. That’s why when I heardBoy, what a rollercoaster. I played BG1 as a young adult and enjoyed it, then a few years later played BG2 and absolutely loved it. Much later, Beamdog came out with the enhanced editions, and I liked the way they just fixed them up a bit, increased resolution, stuff that improved the games without taking away what made them the classics that they are today. That’s why when I heard Beamdog was going to be making a game that sat in between 1 & 2 I was thrilled. They respected the previous games and had demonstrated they could get things done, so I came into this with high hopes of hitting that nostalgia button while being introduced to a new and hooking story. Well… for the most part I was disappointed. Don’t get me wrong, there were some parts of the game I truly enjoyed and the humor was pretty good, but the downsides of this game left a bad taste in my mouth overall. It’s quite buggy, which to be fair, is something a lot of games tend to be these days when they come out, so it’s a minor gripe. But, what bothers me the most is that parts of the game felt forced. I sorta had the feeling I was being led by the nose instead of being able to explore the world as I chose. The options presented during a lot of the dialog felt a bit flat and restrictive (not all, some of the writers were better than others). Overall, the story just felt like a let-down. It wasn’t bad, but considering the time between the last game and this one, the vast pool of ideas that could have been come up with during this time, it simply didn’t deliver in the way I had hoped. Also, and you have probably heard this in other reviews, there was a liberal/political slant to this game that I didn’t find attractive. I tend to be a conservative person, and with the inclusion of gay and transsexual characters I felt like the game was trying to force me into accepting this, not just in the game, but outside of it as well. That can taint an experience, and it tainted mine. The female NPCs are not likeable at all in that they are trying very hard to force dominant personalities onto them. It’s not necessary. Anyhoot, for the more liberal minded people out there, the game might be worth the $20 since hey, it’s all the Baldur’s Gate you’re getting, lackluster writing or not. For me, I’m just disappointed that Beamdog had to go there and make this a political type of game instead of concentrating on interesting story and FUN.… Expand
  18. Romanul
    Apr 5, 2016
    0
    The game is a tragedy. The writers chose to shove theit SJW propaganda down our throats. They have every right to do that and I have every right to expect a refund. Tldr avoid this at all costs.
  19. 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
  20. 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
  21. SpittlePig
    Apr 5, 2016
    5
    I found the modern vocabulary and lame humor taking me out of the game. Could not really connect with the game because of this. There is a 80's surfer dude fully voiced, people with southern accents and other very modern words and terms. They did a bad job on Safana, could not relate to her. The game was too dark and found myself having to hunt for party members. The main story was greatI found the modern vocabulary and lame humor taking me out of the game. Could not really connect with the game because of this. There is a 80's surfer dude fully voiced, people with southern accents and other very modern words and terms. They did a bad job on Safana, could not relate to her. The game was too dark and found myself having to hunt for party members. The main story was great and near the end when they got serious it felt more like a Baldur's Gate. The new U.I. looks bad and was frustrating. The bugs were not too bad. I don't know if it was me or the bugs that kept me from finishing many side quests. Near the end I gave up on them. Khalid was missing, guess it was a bug. Some real innovations using the Infinity engine for effects and quests. Over all I feel as a Baldur's Gate fan a little hurt by not trying to make it not feel like Baldur's Gate. Really could have been a great game if done with a little care for the cannon that was already in stone. The whole GamerGate thing is so crazy, all the hate being thrown out there by homophobic, racist and misogynistic people really put a damper on my enjoyment as well. Minsc, Viconia and Irenicus were well done and voiced beautifully. I think someone not well versed in the early games could enjoy it, for me it felt like not everyone working on this game were on the same page.… Expand
  22. LarsWS
    Apr 5, 2016
    0
    A garbled mess of sub-par writing that falls well below that the original Baldur's Gate series. I played and loved those back when they first came out. They are some of my favorite games ever. Siege of Dragonspear does not reach the knees of those games and should be avoided by anyone who wishes to retain their fond memories. I wish I would have never played this.
  23. psudonym55
    Apr 5, 2016
    7
    The game has some technical issues that certainly need fixing as soon as possible and the new UI was a really bad idea and could really use with some adjustment. The writing in Baldurs Gate 1 really wasn't all that special or fantastic to begin with compared to Baldurs gate 2 and I think this expansion at least matches the quality of the previous work. People complain that it breaks theThe game has some technical issues that certainly need fixing as soon as possible and the new UI was a really bad idea and could really use with some adjustment. The writing in Baldurs Gate 1 really wasn't all that special or fantastic to begin with compared to Baldurs gate 2 and I think this expansion at least matches the quality of the previous work. People complain that it breaks the fourth wall and ruins their immersion but Baldurs Gate 1 did that all the time anyway. At least half of Tiax's dialogue are quotes from the Simpsons and there are several encounters that are just references to the pop culture of the time. Some people have complained that a trans character doesn't fit the lore of the setting but there have been trans characters in the Forgotten Realms long before this expansion was released eg in faiths and pantheons and Elminster was turned into a woman several times also. The expansion has some issues but I don't think it's the train wreck that many others seem to have decided it is.… Expand
  24. 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.
  25. Copestetic85
    Apr 5, 2016
    2
    It plays like a Baldur's Gate game. That's about it. Story's kind of boring, and getting quite a few bugs; save often. There also seems to be some sort of political "agenda" being pushed. I don't care much about all that, though. Just kind of bad compared to the originals ( non-enhanced ).
  26. kamen22
    Apr 5, 2016
    0
    Honestly I'm not really sure where to begin, aside from the obviously grating SJW theme in the game i must say the overall poor writing and bad encounter design, reworking previously fine characters, all make for a pretty non enjoyable experience. What really gets me is the attitude these devs have that people somehow owe them something, as if they're fighting for the common good orHonestly I'm not really sure where to begin, aside from the obviously grating SJW theme in the game i must say the overall poor writing and bad encounter design, reworking previously fine characters, all make for a pretty non enjoyable experience. What really gets me is the attitude these devs have that people somehow owe them something, as if they're fighting for the common good or something when they're just cramming a pointless agenda down out throats.

    I don't hate gays or anything, people do whatever they want to make them happy IDC but this game...Man IDK.

    Terrible, 0/10, aside from the SJW still the rest of the writing sucks aswell and the encounter design is pretty much trash mob after trash mob.    … Expand
  27. SansVitriol
    Apr 5, 2016
    1
    Don't believe the astroturfing here, this expansion is rotten. No one likes forced agendas, but that aside, the writing in this is simply terrible. Avoid, even if it's free (your time has value, this expansion doesn't).
  28. 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!
  29. NaotaChanel
    Apr 5, 2016
    0
    Shoving "transgender" propaganda down peoples throats
    Bashing the original game and attacking the gamers who love it.
    Beamdog has hit a new low in game development.
    Their bullying should not be allowed to stand.
    Boycott any future products from these absolute nightmarish excuses for human beings.
  30. 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
  31. Mardukischta
    Apr 5, 2016
    0
    I suppose at this point everybody knows already that the developers try to push SJW propaganda down your throat in this game. People play games to get away from **** like this. Furthermore, it just seems really out of place in a medieval world when they discuss SJW fantasies, it takes away from the atmosphere and rpgs live from their atmosphere. I hope this game is a warning to every developer.
  32. 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
  33. AnduinX
    Apr 5, 2016
    0
    This game is extremely buggy and crashes frequently. If you dare to brave this game, I would suggest having MANY backup saves so you do not have to restart from the beginning. Multiplayer is non-functional. The personalities of well known characters like Jaheira have been changed to conform to some kind of political agenda by the writer. All in all, this is one of the worst games that IThis game is extremely buggy and crashes frequently. If you dare to brave this game, I would suggest having MANY backup saves so you do not have to restart from the beginning. Multiplayer is non-functional. The personalities of well known characters like Jaheira have been changed to conform to some kind of political agenda by the writer. All in all, this is one of the worst games that I have ever attempted to complete, and the injection of politics into the game only makes it worse.… Expand
  34. drthrax66
    Apr 5, 2016
    0
    Full of bugs and horrible writing. The original was good mostly because of the writing and the story, this is doesn't even come close to it. Thus there is no point in playing this since the gameplay itself is just meh and outdated
  35. MushroomKing
    Apr 5, 2016
    0
    Now also includes a bunch of anti Gamer messages, diversity for diversities sake so blatantly forced on the player that you are assured to go "what?" and changes the personality of already established characters cause the writers thought BG was too sexist.
  36. 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.
  37. 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)
  38. 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
  39. 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!
  40. slimbag
    Apr 4, 2016
    0
    Game is broken beyond repair, you are better off playing the original games if you actually want to play a good RPG and not some attempt to make a quick buck on the back of the fans.
  41. 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
  42. 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.
  43. logan0178
    Apr 4, 2016
    0
    Baldur's Gate was my all time favorite RPG series. What Beamdog has done here is nothing short of an atrocity. They've taken well established and popular characters and warped their personalities into a twisted mockery of what they were all in the name of the writer's political opinions. I only hope they will stop making these games and sell the rights to the Franchise to someone whoBaldur's Gate was my all time favorite RPG series. What Beamdog has done here is nothing short of an atrocity. They've taken well established and popular characters and warped their personalities into a twisted mockery of what they were all in the name of the writer's political opinions. I only hope they will stop making these games and sell the rights to the Franchise to someone who actually respects it and keep their own political views on Tumbler where it belongs. If you are a fan of Baldur's Gate or any RPG in general I recommend against this game from the bottom of my heart because it's an abortion of story telling and a mockery of the great characters Baldur's Gate was once known for.… Expand
  44. 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!
  45. 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." :)
  46. Trunkis
    Apr 4, 2016
    0
    Doesn't feel like Baldur's Gate at all.
    Linear progression through the game with previous areas becoming unavailable once you pass to the next.
    Lazy writing that lends to little roleplaying options.
    Bugs, bugs and more bugs.
  47. Joseman
    Apr 4, 2016
    0
    Unfortunately, this is a buggy and poorly written DLC for Baldur's Gate which delivers nowhere near the quality of the original game. Add in extremist political views forced into the game, and this is something that is not recommended.

    The developer has allegedly asked for fake positive reviews, so beware.
  48. sperril
    Apr 4, 2016
    1
    Well, I wrote a long review that gave the game a 3 and said specifically that I didn't care about the political debate one way or the other. My bad review was based on the terrible writing. The jarring use of modern slang taking the gamer out of the immersion of the well developed universe. I also praised this DLC for it's fantastic voice work. But my review, which was number 3 on theWell, I wrote a long review that gave the game a 3 and said specifically that I didn't care about the political debate one way or the other. My bad review was based on the terrible writing. The jarring use of modern slang taking the gamer out of the immersion of the well developed universe. I also praised this DLC for it's fantastic voice work. But my review, which was number 3 on the most helpful list last time I looked, has been deleted without any comment from metacritic. I put a lot of time and thought into it. I'm not going to put that much into it a second time. Changing the score to a 1 and moving on.… Expand
  49. whyteabro
    Apr 4, 2016
    1
    Ripoff that, for reasons unknown, is called expansion pack. With no new sprites, models and so on. Full of bugs and glitches. Truly a shameful attempt of reviving BG, that is. Boycott Beamdog's products.
  50. UselessThing
    Apr 4, 2016
    0
    As a fan of the original games I am highly disappointed with this product. It is not at all what I would have wanted from a follow up to a much beloved classic.
  51. Medowin
    Apr 4, 2016
    2
    The graphics for the game somehow managed to be WORSE than the original due to terrible line filters on the sprites. The length of the campaign is extremely short and the characters are so terribly written that it's cringeworthy and is completely irreverent to established characters.

    If you were hoping this campaign would revive the Baldur's Gate franchise, think again. What a terrible    The graphics for the game somehow managed to be WORSE than the original due to terrible line filters on the sprites. The length of the campaign is extremely short and the characters are so terribly written that it's cringeworthy and is completely irreverent to established characters.

    If you were hoping this campaign would revive the Baldur's Gate franchise, think again. What a terrible insult to a once great game.    … Expand
  52. 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.
  53. fartholomule
    Apr 4, 2016
    0
    A downgrade by any other measure. I can't believe this has been published, it really breaks my heart to see a game I loved so dear in this form. I only played about an hour of it before I had to tap out and get my steam refund.

    My two main issues: 1. The game is buggy as hell, within the first few minutes it froze for about 20 seconds inside the menu. I don't have a slow machine,    A downgrade by any other measure. I can't believe this has been published, it really breaks my heart to see a game I loved so dear in this form. I only played about an hour of it before I had to tap out and get my steam refund.

    My two main issues:

    1. The game is buggy as hell, within the first few minutes it froze for about 20 seconds inside the menu. I don't have a slow machine, it's about 3 years old and was pretty much top tier in its time. i7, GTX780, Windows 7 for reference. It crashed mid-game and I couldn't start it without a full reinstallation. That took an additional 10 minutes.
    2. Internet memes right off the bat. This turns a game form a classic to a passing fad. When will these writers learn some creativity?

    I uninstalled it before reaching the fabled politically loaded content, but if it is the case (and a lot of people are saying so), it's even more reason not to buy it. No one should buy games to get indoctrinated. Games should give you an experience you want, not whatever the authors want shoved down your throat.

    This will be my last BG game purchase. Farewell my old friend.    … Expand
  54. 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
  55. Saturday
    Apr 4, 2016
    1
    From a game POV this project is a mess. A cash in and a tarnishing to the Baldurs Gate IP

    1 Lots of bugs , the bugs have bugs. 2 Writing by someones infant weened on cringy daytime TV 3 Looks worse than the modding communities efforts 4 It breaks many mods 5 Not true to the lore 6 Multi player does not work Only reason it is getting a 1 is because David Warner (Irenicus) is    From a game POV this project is a mess. A cash in and a tarnishing to the Baldurs Gate IP

    1 Lots of bugs , the bugs have bugs.
    2 Writing by someones infant weened on cringy daytime TV
    3 Looks worse than the modding communities efforts
    4 It breaks many mods
    5 Not true to the lore
    6 Multi player does not work

    Only reason it is getting a 1 is because David Warner (Irenicus) is back and also does a voice set.

    Avoid    … Expand
  56. lythoc
    Apr 4, 2016
    0
    It's just insane and beyond pathetic what is happening here. Baldur's Gate 2 Shadows of Amn has one of the best writing and voice acting ever, yes that includes modern games like the Witcher. I was already a bit more than surprised at what Beamdog did in bg2ee with their new content. I mean how could wizards of the coast ok that? Trent must pull some weight in that community I guess. ButIt's just insane and beyond pathetic what is happening here. Baldur's Gate 2 Shadows of Amn has one of the best writing and voice acting ever, yes that includes modern games like the Witcher. I was already a bit more than surprised at what Beamdog did in bg2ee with their new content. I mean how could wizards of the coast ok that? Trent must pull some weight in that community I guess. But now... Beamdog made something appallingly bad and tries to blame the response to some invented 'gamer kids gay hatred'. It's just..I really am stumped and feel numb at this level of calculated stupidity.… Expand
  57. Folsomdsf
    Apr 4, 2016
    7
    Great encounter Design, decent main storyline. Some strong character, some weak(Safana rewrite was god awful). It's much worse in a story way than bg 1/2 and even ignores some of the longstanding canon to pander to the egos of the writers and what they think is right. It's a little disappointing but the game is still good fun and the 2.0 update is welcome.

    Some of the sidequests are    Great encounter Design, decent main storyline. Some strong character, some weak(Safana rewrite was god awful). It's much worse in a story way than bg 1/2 and even ignores some of the longstanding canon to pander to the egos of the writers and what they think is right. It's a little disappointing but the game is still good fun and the 2.0 update is welcome.

    Some of the sidequests are outright garbage btw, especially things like the 'vision quest' that looks better on **** than it would in a baldur's gate game. The game has a few bugs in singleplayer and the multiplayer has multiple and numerous crippling bugs.

    If I wasn't such a huge fan of baldur's gate and more fixated on the encounter I'd probably rate it lower. For me though, it's a solid 7 and enjoyable.    … Expand
  58. MaestroMaven
    Apr 4, 2016
    3
    With multiplayer that is broken, changes with the classic UI, moments of poor writing so bad it is immersion breaking, and a genuinely hostile response from certain members of the dev team towards critics, I cannot give this game better than a 3/10.
  59. CarlaMoney
    Apr 4, 2016
    0
    While the mechanics of the game are in line with the originals, the story falls short. It sacrifices the narrative and world building of the original Baldur's Gate in order to break the 4th wall and beat players over the head with messages about social issues with the grace and subtlety of a Saturday morning cartoon from the 90's.
    There is no problem with having messages about social    While the mechanics of the game are in line with the originals, the story falls short. It sacrifices the narrative and world building of the original Baldur's Gate in order to break the 4th wall and beat players over the head with messages about social issues with the grace and subtlety of a Saturday morning cartoon from the 90's.
    There is no problem with having messages about social issues in a game. The problem comes when one hijacks another franchise, gut out its soul and fill it with vapid maxims and fables in its place. That is one of the surest ways to kill off a franchise, and it is especially odious when it happens to a well-loved franchise.
    Want social justice? Sure, but stop hijacking the industry and make your own games. You're not going to improve the industry, you're just going to kill it from the inside out.
    Also way to go Beamdog vote brigading reviews, asking their fans for false reviews here and on GOG and steam, and banning members for legitimate concerns in their forums.    … Expand
  60. 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
  61. 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!
  62. IngoPech
    Apr 4, 2016
    0
    This is the 2nd time i'm posting this review because my first review was deleted. Apparently critic isn't allowed.
    First time i gave 1 point, now its going to be zero.
    Patch 2.0/Dragonspear made Baldurs Gate EE a worse game for a number of reasons. -random crashes -mods aren't working properly any longer -questionable graphic update (they managed to make a 16 year old game look    This is the 2nd time i'm posting this review because my first review was deleted. Apparently critic isn't allowed.
    First time i gave 1 point, now its going to be zero.

    Patch 2.0/Dragonspear made Baldurs Gate EE a worse game for a number of reasons.
    -random crashes
    -mods aren't working properly any longer
    -questionable graphic update (they managed to make a 16 year old game look WORSE than on release) I know, these are optional, but when i first started the game after the update i just couldn't believe it how ugly it looked. Funnily enough, the preview screenshots on gog and on steam don't show the ugly new sprites.
    -questionable difficulty changes. Why the f*** does the game lower the difficulty after a few reloads by itself, without asking. I realized this awesome "feature" when i reached the so called "Story mode" which sets all stats to 25 and adds a ton of immunity. Basically Godmode. Obviously i thought it was a bug and tried to reload my game again. Well, i figured it out eventually. What a terrible feature.
    -Voice acting The voice acting in the addon breaks the feel of the original game. I know, many people hate to read and prefer voiced dialogues. But Baldurs Gate has its own style and if suddenly whole dialogues are voiced it just feels out of place and you know immediately that it doesn't belongs to the game. It just feels wrong. They could have saved the money for the (mediocre actually) voice acting and spend it on fixing bugs.
    -Multiplayer Its working barely at best.
    So far this addon has been a huge disappointment. The worst thing is: Even if i refund it, the terrible patch 2.0 will stay. I guess i will let the EE games rest and play the original games with mods for a while. Maybe Beamdog gets their **** together and fixes the issues and i can enjoy playing EE. Hopefully this time it won't take them whole year.

    Steam Achievments are buggy as hell too. Some won't unlock. Others do unlock for the wrong quest... its a mess.    … Expand
  63. syn_dreams
    Apr 4, 2016
    2
    The game is buggy.
    The graphics are terrible
    The writing is atrocious.
    The devs are rude.
    In other words; go play the original Baldur's Saga if want to actually enjoy your time in the world.
  64. 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.
  65. 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
  66. 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.
  67. eiricur
    Apr 4, 2016
    0
    I had high hopes for this game, and the first impression was good despite the sprites looking a bit too cartoon-like. Unfortunately it soon became apparent that the devs have projected their own political views into this game, giving it a "politically correct makeover" so to speak. There's jarring Internet memes in it (which won't age well), and much of the new dialogue uses modernI had high hopes for this game, and the first impression was good despite the sprites looking a bit too cartoon-like. Unfortunately it soon became apparent that the devs have projected their own political views into this game, giving it a "politically correct makeover" so to speak. There's jarring Internet memes in it (which won't age well), and much of the new dialogue uses modern vernacular which seems entirely out of place. The devs also released an update which is riddled with bugs, and the multiplayer is broken. Strongly advice you to replay the classics rather than invest your money in this.… Expand
  68. 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.
  69. 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!
  70. 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.
  71. 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
  72. 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
  73. InvisibleJim
    Apr 4, 2016
    0
    It's a buggy horrible mess with issues transitioning between zones and multiplayer just blows up the client.

    It also has the worst writing that's ever been seen.
  74. 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
  75. 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
  76. 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
  77. 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
  78. ZeshinX
    Apr 4, 2016
    7
    I enjoyed Siege of Dragonspear. It was an enjoyable adventure that did a fairly decent enough job filling in the gap between BG1 and BG2.

    I found the writing a little weak and the plot/story was rather weak, but I suspect that'll happen when you try and squeeze an original story in the middle of a very well established plot line. In that regard, Beamdog did a pretty decent job. Not    I enjoyed Siege of Dragonspear. It was an enjoyable adventure that did a fairly decent enough job filling in the gap between BG1 and BG2.

    I found the writing a little weak and the plot/story was rather weak, but I suspect that'll happen when you try and squeeze an original story in the middle of a very well established plot line. In that regard, Beamdog did a pretty decent job. Not good, not bad. I would very much like to see what they can do when the "shackles" are off and tell a story all their own.

    I found nothing remarkable about the new joinable NPCs, as I avoided them almost completely except for Corwin (I needed a ranged warrior, and she fit the bill). I wasn't a fan of the new NPCs in the Enhanced Editions, so I just avoided them altogether in SoD (the returning and the new to SoD ones).

    The Shaman class addition is welcome (as are any character options), but one I will never use. Considering the class' main feature (summoning spirits) is not guaranteed to work right away...any shaman in the party will likely spend most of the game standing around (since they can't move when using this ability) crossing their fingers hoping they can contribute (before it's too late). Welcome, but not very useful.

    The UI. I don't mind the layout, though it needs some serious touching up (and frankly, the original layout is still better). The colour of it is horrid though. Just horrid. Devs, wherever your fetish for varying shades of black comes from, please stop. Return this UI to the blue stone/gold GUI we saw in patch 1.3 and I'd honestly have nothing to complain about (or an option to use either would be great).

    As for all the furor over purported gender/sexual identity agendas and political correcting of things....I don't really care. The day a video game can influence my own personal views about life, I have larger issues than what a video game (or its devs) believe.

    Overall, I very much enjoyed myself. I'm eager to see what Beamdog can come up with as a wholly original offering, without any particular constraints to an existing story. I'd still like to see Beamdog create some more (Enhanced) Infinity Engine D&D games, and they'll get my dollars for them.

    With the recent disaster that was Sword Coast Legends, Beamdog looks to be THE place to scratch the CRPG D&D itch for me.    … Expand
  79. 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!
  80. 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?
  81. 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...
  82. peekay00
    Apr 4, 2016
    0
    I loved the original baldur's gate games. I played through them a ton. This game was a huge let-down. It's not fun, buggy, UI is bad, and the writing is terrible. The role playing aspect of dialog forces you into stupid situations as well. Do not buy.
  83. cdrwrecorders
    Apr 4, 2016
    0
    Well, this is disappointment. PT, BG, Arcanum... those were the times. I always had a soft spot for 2D cRPGs. And now we get more after success of Pillars of Eternity. I was so happy to see new BG. But then i played it. The writing... the bugs...
    This is not worth any time and any money. Go buy or replay old games. You will have more fun.
  84. 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
  85. 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.
  86. 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
  87. jeremyalexander
    Apr 3, 2016
    7
    This is a great and seamless expansion that fits perfectly in between these classic games. Its score is brought down due to a very buggy release that did the company a disservice as they are gaining a reputation of buggy releases at a time when they are asking for the honor of doing a Baldur's Gate 3. This is unacceptable and they need to hone their programming chops to be taken seriously.This is a great and seamless expansion that fits perfectly in between these classic games. Its score is brought down due to a very buggy release that did the company a disservice as they are gaining a reputation of buggy releases at a time when they are asking for the honor of doing a Baldur's Gate 3. This is unacceptable and they need to hone their programming chops to be taken seriously. However, as I stated, it is impressive to just go in and meld a new experience to a game nearly 2 decades old and have it feel like it belonged there all along. Also, ignore the low score from the Gamer's Gate trolls that keep whining that the company has an agenda. The only agenda is from the loony fringe of the Gamer's Gate that thinks anything that isn't white and male is something to attack. I would also ignore the fanboy's giving this 10's. It is a very good expansion that I cannot recommend until they have shown the commitment to fix it's technical state. Once that aspect is under control, I can say that if you enjoyed this classic series this will feel both new and familiar in a positive way.… Expand
  88. 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.
  89. koriar
    Apr 3, 2016
    0
    I was originally going to just refund the game and move on, but since they are begging for positive reviews on their forums, I figured I should share my experience to balance that out.

    So first I tried importing my save into the game, but the game kept crashing every time I would do so. Eventually I did get in the game, only to find that none of my gear was there. Eventually I gave up    I was originally going to just refund the game and move on, but since they are begging for positive reviews on their forums, I figured I should share my experience to balance that out.

    So first I tried importing my save into the game, but the game kept crashing every time I would do so. Eventually I did get in the game, only to find that none of my gear was there. Eventually I gave up and talked a friend into starting a new character with me... Only to find that the multiplayer doesn't work. It crashes every time you try to save and seemed to randomly decide not to let you unpause. These two issues combined made playing the game in multiplayer impossible.

    I've heard that the expansion also breaks any and all mods for even the base game, but I was going to try the base expansion first so I didn't see those bugs myself.

    So eventually I just decided to play a plain single player game with a new character. And I don't know if it's because I spent the day fighting the game, or if it's a case of general video game writing trends going more in the direction of ME3 and away from roleplaying, but I could not stand the writing. The new UI is bad and I encountered yet more bugs, but the writing was the real killer.

    It was actually kind of a relief, because I knew that I wouldn't have to try to get it working again because there was nothing worth playing behind it all.    … Expand
  90. 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.
  91. tiblimoni
    Apr 3, 2016
    2
    Baldur's Gate was good as it was.

    There's no need to endlessly add to a nearly perfect game. Stop milking the cow before it's starting to be embarrassing. This expansion is mediocre and therefore, given the superb sage told in Baldur's Gate 1 and 2, quite misplaced. It is not entirely bad, but it doesn't deserve to carry the name Baldur's Gate. It simply doesn't. Either play the    Baldur's Gate was good as it was.

    There's no need to endlessly add to a nearly perfect game. Stop milking the cow before it's starting to be embarrassing.

    This expansion is mediocre and therefore, given the superb sage told in Baldur's Gate 1 and 2, quite misplaced. It is not entirely bad, but it doesn't deserve to carry the name Baldur's Gate. It simply doesn't.

    Either play the original games (-- I do love the enhanced editions by the same team --) or play newer RPGs like the Witcher.    … Expand
  92. 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
  93. Thrif
    Apr 3, 2016
    0
    Solid storytelling and gameplay that holds up. If you loved the original series you'll enjoy this one, because it's basically just more of it.

    Only downside is that they changed the UI into a downright mess for no apparent reason.
  94. enut_butter
    Apr 3, 2016
    0
    MP doesn't work at all.

    A bunch of politically correct nonsense jammed into the game for no reason.

    So if you were REALLY wanting to have a transexual as a party member, then this is the game for you.

    Otherwise, avoid like the plague.

    Also corrupts all the mods typically used to play the games.
  95. 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
  96. 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
  97. 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
  98. 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
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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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