Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition

 PC
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. PC Gamer
    Nov 13, 2014
    74
    Despite being only a minor advance, this is certainly the definitive version of Icewind Dale. That itself is a fun, tough quest that brings back nostalgia for the beauty of the engine and combat system of those days. That makes it a nice stopgap between here and Eternity.
  2. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Dec 3, 2014
    60
    Nicely done remake of RPG hit shows the time can’t be stopped. This piece will make fans very happy but only them thou. [Issue#247]
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Awards & Rankings

66
#66 Best PC Game of 2014

User Reviews

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User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 149 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 105 out of 149
  2. Mixed: 21 out of 149
  3. Negative: 23 out of 149
  1. okamimiyazaki
    Oct 30, 2014
    10
    If you've never played Icewind Dale at all, see the last part of my review for an explanation of what to expect with the game. First, I'llIf you've never played Icewind Dale at all, see the last part of my review for an explanation of what to expect with the game. First, I'll start with a review of the enhancement.

    This is a beautiful enhancement to an awesome game. It contains all of the expansions and content from Icewind Dale, plus some more. I know that many critics and users will complain, as always, that it doesn't add enough content to warrant the $20 price tag. I disagree ($20 is not expensive for a game) and IWD adds even more than BG1 and BG2 enhanced editions did. It's very similar to the latter two games, but since Icewind Dale originally didn't have very many class choices, you're given all of the kits from BG2 plus a few new ones. The new quests and content add about ~6 hours of play (there are $20 games out there that take this amount of time to beat) and much of it is drawn from deleted content that never launched with the original game, which is awesome to see, as a fan of IWD!

    The UI is beautiful. I have experienced no bugs at all and everything is running flawlessly. The release of the game came quickly and as a surprise.

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    IWD AS A GAME, WHAT TO EXPECT: Icewind Dale is a Dungeons and Dragons-based, isometric RPG that uses the Infinity Engine, with a combat system similar to Dragon Age: Origins. It is like Baldur's Gate but at the same time, very different. Icewind Dale is not dialogue heavy. In fact, there's very little dialogue, although the small amount that exists is well-written. The plot IS good but it is rather straightforward and basic, with a couple of twists towards the end. The game has very little city exploration or party banter. What it does have is the following: superb music, incredible atmosphere, top-notch level/dungeon design, beautiful artwork, extremely high replay value, a sense of adventure and wonder, and strategic, fun, challenging combat.

    The beauty of the game comes from the music, art and design. The fun of the game comes from two things: (1) combat - wish very well-designed fights that require placement, strategy and planning and can be very rewarding on higher difficulties; (2) party creation. If you HATE creating full parties and spending hours thinking about how your party will work, this is probably not the game for you. If you don't hate that, it's a lot of fun and adds a ton of replay value. If you're one of those people who hates being given "premade" characters that you can't customize or build from scratch, THIS is the game for you.

    You get 6 party member slots. You can decide how to play the game in whatever way you want. Solo with a sorcerer? Play with 6 archers? Duo with a 'decoy'/'tank' and healer? Make an all-evil party? An all-good party? A mixed party? Sure, you don't get the party banter of Baldur's Gate, but there's so much freedom. You can name all of your characters and make them from scratch, gear them up, give them different stats so that they work well together. I have spent hours devising ways to create an effective party, e.g., 2 melee, 2 casters, 2 decoy/tanks, or a mix of classes (multiclassing/dual classing is one of the best parts of D&D). If this appeals to you, it can be SO MUCH FUN.    … Full Review »
  2. orctown-troll
    Oct 31, 2014
    10
    Beamdog continues to do great work re-optimizing the old classic RPGs for a new generation. Each new 'enhanced' version is better than theBeamdog continues to do great work re-optimizing the old classic RPGs for a new generation. Each new 'enhanced' version is better than the last. I understand that there are a few nay-sayers who think $20 is too much to pay for an upgraded version of a 2001 game. Well, those people can simply be patient and wait a year to get the game on sale. For those with jobs who don't mind paying full price you won't be disappointed with this Greatly enhanced version of an old RPG classic.… Full Review »
  3. lifeofbrian
    Oct 30, 2014
    10
    It works very smoothly, the new spells are pretty neat, and its nice from a roleplaying standpoint to have all the kits available. They alsoIt works very smoothly, the new spells are pretty neat, and its nice from a roleplaying standpoint to have all the kits available. They also added in two new cleric kits. Supposedly the Priest of Tempus gets additional dialogue but I haven't yet played as one so I can't say how much that is. Still, its a huge improvement over the original (which I sparked up to compare it with) and it doesn't seem to me like its has the kind of problems that BG2EE currently has. The only fault I could maybe give is that they should have added in more kits, though these are relatively easy to mod in anyways.… Full Review »
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