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. 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
  2. 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?
  3. 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.
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. 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!
  8. 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
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. 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...
  12. 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.
  13. 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
  14. 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
  15. 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
  16. 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.
  17. avelayne
    Apr 7, 2016
    10
    I really liked the game. Have the same feelings as about 15 years ago, when i was playing in both original ones. It's like a returning home after a long long absence.
    Hope that's not the last expansion. Would be nice to have actual BG3, with modern graphics
  18. 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
  19. 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
  20. 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
  21. 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.
  22. 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.
  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. Pilgrimzero
    Apr 6, 2016
    10
    A great addition to Baldurs Gate. The writing is fantastic and the game is just plain fun. If your a fan of the series and the type of gameplay you owe it to yourself to play this. It's rare to get a good game set in the Forgotten Realms now-a-days. don't miss out on this one.
  25. DeathPhoenix
    Apr 7, 2016
    10
    Great work done on a 2 decade old engine. It takes a lot of courage. I want Beamdog to keep up on providing content for my favorite game ever... Of course I'd like them to fire the women that definitely have a feminist agenda and tries to teach you about racism. The problem is mostly that, ok, one character can talk about it, but not 100% of the text! It's breaking immersion. Also, theGreat work done on a 2 decade old engine. It takes a lot of courage. I want Beamdog to keep up on providing content for my favorite game ever... Of course I'd like them to fire the women that definitely have a feminist agenda and tries to teach you about racism. The problem is mostly that, ok, one character can talk about it, but not 100% of the text! It's breaking immersion. Also, the writting is not fantastic. But the game doesn't really completely on it, besides, they agreed to change some of it. Let's hope they rewrite some of it to enhance the enhancements...

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

    Note: Socially conscious isn't supposed to mean that you have to do social teaching. They should have avoided social uncouscious content instead of trying to discuss it in the game (extremely intemporal and not the goal of Baldur's Gate... There is forums for that) ;) hahaha It's a bad, imo noob call from the main writer...    … Expand
  26. 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.
  27. 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.
  28. 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
  29. 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!
  30. 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!
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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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