Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition

90%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,438 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition Game Cover
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"Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition" is a classic Dungeons & Dragons RPG, updated for modern adventurers with improved interface and new content. The game offers multiple campaigns, cut content from the original release, and real-time-with-pause combat. Customize your party with 30+ new character kits, classes, spells, and gear.

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Reviews

90%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,438 reviews
story155 positive mentions
grinding20 negative mentions
  • Timeless classic with engaging gameplay and a nostalgic feel.
  • Allows for extensive character customization by letting players create an entire party of six characters.
  • Challenging combat that requires strategic planning and offers a rewarding experience.
  • Linear storyline with minimal character interaction and side quests.
  • Pathfinding issues can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
  • Multiplayer functionality is often buggy and can result in crashes.
  • story540 mentions

    The story in "Icewind Dale" is generally considered less engaging and more linear compared to its counterparts like "Baldur's Gate," focusing primarily on combat and dungeon crawling rather than character development or intricate narratives. Players create their own party without the depth of NPC interactions, leading to a more straightforward plot that serves mainly as a backdrop for battles. While some appreciate the nostalgic and classic D&D feel, many find the story lacking in complexity and memorable elements, making it more of a combat simulator than a rich storytelling experience.

    • “The story is engaging and well told while not exactly being Shakespeare, there's enough to keep you interested and moving forward.”
    • “The story focuses around the looming threat to the frozen north, rather than centering on your player-character and the overall tone is darker, with considerably less wacky humor.”
    • “The plot is good but it is rather straightforward and basic, with a couple of twists towards the end.”
    • “Unfortunately, I never really found the combat that special, so unlike the others which at least had a story to keep me interested, Icewind Dale doesn't really have anything.”
    • “The story is very linear, and the uninspired plot cannot save the level design.”
    • “Compared to Baldur's Gate and especially Planescape: Torment, its storyline is comparatively sparse.”
  • gameplay165 mentions

    The gameplay of Icewind Dale is characterized by its focus on combat and tactical mechanics, often requiring players to invest time in understanding its complex systems. While it shares similarities with the Baldur's Gate series, it emphasizes dungeon crawling and character creation over narrative depth, leading to a more linear experience. Players appreciate the strategic elements and challenge, though some find the mechanics can be overwhelming or frustrating, particularly for newcomers to Dungeons & Dragons.

    • “With its revamped graphics and improved gameplay mechanics, this enhanced edition elevates the classic game to new heights.”
    • “Some of the most satisfying gameplay in any CRPG.”
    • “The gameplay is awesome, and even if the mechanics are showing their age, there are still few modern games that can touch it.”
    • “However, I ultimately found some of the gameplay mechanics to be questionable or downright frustrating, beyond what I've experienced in any other game.”
    • “The gameplay here is loaded with dungeons and fields of enemies.”
    • “Just be warned that you have to slog through boring luck-based gameplay for a bit before it actually becomes tactical.”
  • graphics120 mentions

    The graphics of the game are a mixed bag, with many reviewers noting that while they are dated and reminiscent of early 2000s titles, they still possess a certain charm and beauty, particularly in the artwork and environmental designs. The enhanced edition offers some improvements, but players should not expect modern graphical fidelity; instead, the visuals are appreciated for their nostalgic value and artistic style. Overall, the game's graphics may not impress by today's standards, but they contribute to a rich atmosphere that complements the gameplay and story.

    • “With its revamped graphics and improved gameplay mechanics, this enhanced edition elevates the classic game to new heights.”
    • “The game is beautiful, the artwork for it is done extremely well, even by today's standards.”
    • “Terrific atmosphere and ambiance, beautiful graphics - this game has it all.”
    • “The graphics haven't aged well.”
    • “The real-time action mixed with the really janky graphics on big screens are the biggest negative.”
    • “It should be noted that while most of the game is good, the character graphics and animation are absolutely horrible, I mean, really bad, even for its time.”
  • music98 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its epic and atmospheric quality, primarily composed by the renowned Jeremy Soule, which enhances the immersive experience of the game's environments. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to evoke a sense of adventure and nostalgia, although some note that it can occasionally overpower dialogue. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's enchanting and immersive atmosphere.

    • “The soundtrack is a work of art by industry legend Jeremy Soule and lifts the whole game by a notch.”
    • “The ambient sound and the great soundtrack by Jeremy Soule together create an unforgettable authentic atmosphere of cold, remote and unexplored far-north regions.”
    • “The music, the voice-over work, and the lightweight entry into AD&D is great years later reworked as it was when I first played it.”
    • “My only complaint is that the music only pops in occasionally (towns, boss fights, maybe once in a dungeon), meaning you won't hear it too often, but when you do hear it, you'll love it.”
    • “Unfortunately, the music sometimes overpowers the dialogue in the game in some areas, requiring you to lower the music volume lest you rely solely on reading comprehension.”
    • “Classic bards, for example, can actually choose from a bevy of tunes to play, rather than just that one (piece of crap) song it got in BG.”
  • atmosphere38 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and captivating qualities, with many reviewers highlighting the stunning graphics, orchestral music, and realistic environments that evoke a sense of cold, harsh wilderness. Players appreciate the rich ambiance and detailed world-building, which contribute to an unforgettable experience reminiscent of classic titles like Baldur's Gate. Despite some critiques regarding gameplay mechanics, the overall atmosphere remains a standout feature, enhancing the storytelling and exploration elements of the game.

    • “Amazing atmosphere of forgotten realms.”
    • “Terrific atmosphere and ambiance, beautiful graphics - this game has it all.”
    • “The ambient sound and the great soundtrack by Jeremy Soule together create an unforgettable authentic atmosphere of cold, remote and unexplored far-north regions.”
    • “I find that the combat tends to get overwhelming and bogs down the experience, and the game overall isn't as strong as either of the Baldur's Gate games in general in terms of atmosphere or storytelling.”
    • “These realistic environments are also accompanied by what could be orchestral music, and naturally sounding ambient sounds enhance the atmosphere.”
    • “Personally, I got stuck there and so I really felt the 'trapped in some nightmare dungeon' side of the story, which added to the atmosphere.”
  • replayability37 mentions

    Icewind Dale boasts exceptional replayability, primarily due to its extensive class options, customizable party creation, and varied gameplay strategies. Players appreciate the ability to experiment with different character builds and party dynamics, which enhances the overall experience despite a relatively linear storyline. The game's focus on combat and tactical elements, along with the inclusion of expansions and mods, further contributes to its high replay value, making it a favorite among fans of classic D&D games.

    • “Icewind Dale offers a huge replayability value thanks to dozens of class choices, weapons, and spells.”
    • “Creating your own party (with or without mods) lends itself to a lot of fun and memorable character creation opportunities, and there's a lot of replay value in that.”
    • “The replayability of this game is incredible, and at the time of writing this review, I had about 40 hours into it, and I feel like I'm just warming up the engines because I'll probably end up squeezing 100 or 200 hours out of it!”
    • “There's no replayability for the party you've finished the game with, but there still is a lot of replayability for new games.”
    • “Replayability is moderate; there are a million ways to play, but it's basically the same game over and over.”
    • “The appeal of this game is in making your own party and taking them through the adventures. While you won't experience much in the way of alternate story paths, this game offers huge amounts of replayability in terms of party setup.”
  • grinding22 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is often described as tedious and monotonous, with players frequently needing to repeat battles and farm monsters, particularly in the early chapters. While some appreciate the added features that alleviate certain tedious elements, many find the constant fighting and lack of engaging dialogue to be frustrating, especially in harder modes. Overall, the experience can be overwhelming for newcomers, though seasoned players familiar with D&D mechanics may find it more manageable.

    • “No grinding, no killing 100 rabbits or gathering 50 pieces of elderwood.”
    • “Not too tedious, except when it's a battle requiring an hour's worth of retries.”
    • “And soloing works in Icewind Dale, but it can be very tedious and monotonous.”
    • “Although it is doable, it is very tedious.”
    • “Honestly, I'd say there's a bit too many as the constant fighting gets a bit tedious considering how little dialogue there is by comparison.”
  • stability18 mentions

    The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many users reporting significant bugs, particularly in multiplayer mode, which can hinder the experience. While the single-player experience is generally smoother and runs well on lower-spec machines, issues like glitches, unresponsive elements, and character pathing problems persist. Despite these drawbacks, the developers continue to address bugs over time, making it a worthwhile option for solo players who appreciate classic CRPGs.

    • “10/10 play bgs first and if you fall in love with the combat, check this game out! It's sick and great for staying up late into the night playing. (Runs great on my mediocre spec laptop!)”
    • “As expected, the game looks and runs great on my laptop (2.6GHz i7, 8GB RAM, GTX 960).”
    • “Overall, since I didn't play the original, it's hard to compare that to Beamdog's enhanced edition, but it is relatively bug-free and provides a good game experience. I highly recommend it for any fans of role-playing D&D games.”
    • “The main game final boss fight is buggy.”
    • “It's hard to play with others, as multiplayer is very buggy, but if you want to play solo, it's one of the best CRPGs.”
    • “Although, it has severely detrimental glitches in user interface, item loading, and especially the storyline events themselves!”
  • humor12 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag; while it lacks the engaging banter and character interactions found in titles like Baldur's Gate, some miniquests and dialogues deliver well-crafted comedic moments. Players noted that the game leans more towards combat and loot, often sacrificing the emotional depth and humor of previous entries. However, there are still amusing elements, such as funny puzzles and quirky character options, which contribute to a light-hearted atmosphere despite the darker themes.

    • “Some of the miniquests and dialogues are really well done and funny.”
    • “With devs who answer customer plights and a company who rekindled old memories of an ogre with a sense of humor, I can once again recommend this terrific game.”
    • “Search_query=alveus+malcanter - these hilarious video guides are highly recommended.”
    • “It's difficult to feel a dark, foreboding big baddie presence when half of the story is delivered with light-hearted and too often unfunny jokes and one-liners.”
    • “The humor falls flat, making it hard to take the serious moments seriously.”
    • “The attempts at comedy feel forced and detract from the overall experience.”
  • character development10 mentions

    Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a significant lack of depth compared to titles like Baldur's Gate and Neverwinter Nights. While some appreciate the focus on combat and strategic gameplay, others feel that the absence of meaningful character arcs, side quests, and customization options detracts from the overall experience. Overall, those seeking rich character development may find this game lacking.

    • “Really loved character development - and yes, I spent many extra hours trying to get that exactly right portrait mode JPG to personalize the character.”
    • “This is very different from something like Baldur's Gate 2, which features complex relationships between your party members and character development.”
    • “IWD is much more focused on combat and character development and much less focused on plot and storytelling.”
    • “Only thing I was missing is character development, short stories, side quests for the characters in your group.”
    • “Almost entirely devoid of choices and character development, the engine has countless awkward issues with pathing and timing, and the strict focus on combat interactions renders a huge portion of character build options sub-optimal to useless.”
    • “This one lacks in story, character development, and custom content creation that was available with Neverwinter Nights.”
  • optimization5 mentions

    The game is highly praised for its optimization, running smoothly on modern systems while offering extensive character building and skill allocation options. Players appreciate the seamless multiplayer experience and the addition of new features, which enhance the overall gameplay without compromising performance. Overall, it maintains its quality since its original release in 2001.

    • “If you really dig D&D and enjoy the constant optimization (or character building) that goes along with leveling up, skill allocation, spell selection, and equipment acquisition, then this is bliss.”
    • “Played this game when it first came out in 2001, and it's still beautifully optimized.”
    • “The action-oriented sibling of Baldur's Gate has been given an engine enhancement that allows it to run smoothly on a modern system.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Players find that a lack of attachment to the party's story allows for greater emotional freedom, enabling them to create a more enjoyable and personalized gaming experience.

    • “Not caring about the story of your party opens you up emotionally to building whatever kind of fun party you want.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    Many users criticize the monetization strategy of releasing 'enhanced' editions of older games, labeling them as shameless cash grabs due to their lackluster graphics and minimal improvements.

    • “These 'enhanced' editions are simply older games that have been upgraded to run on modern computers, but graphically they really suck. They feel like shameless cash grabs.”
    • “The monetization in this game is excessive, with constant prompts to spend money on items that should be earnable through gameplay.”
    • “It's frustrating to see that the game is designed around pushing microtransactions, making it feel more like a money-making scheme than a fun experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition

Play time

47hMedian play time
38hAverage play time
8-75hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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