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
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Awards & Rankings

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

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
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.
    Read full review
  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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