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. DarkStation
    Dec 19, 2014
    90
    For someone looking for a game like the Baldur’s Gate titles but with more emphasis on spending time fighting monsters and delving through dungeons, this may be just the thing.
  2. Gameplanet
    Oct 30, 2014
    90
    Beamdog has delivered the definitive Icewind Dale experience.
  3. Pelit (Finland)
    Dec 15, 2014
    88
    A gem of a game. A bit more straightforward than the Baldur's Gate games, but Icewind Dale is a classic RPG in its own right. Beautiful artwork, great soundtrack and responsive combat make for a great game. [Dec 2014]
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  5. CD-Action
    Jan 9, 2015
    85
    Canadians responsible for this edition restrained their own creativity almost completely, delivering a polished product true to the original game. [13/2014, p.63]
    All this publication's reviews
  6. Ragequit.gr
    Oct 31, 2014
    85
    A satisfying Hack & Slash game that requires a tactical approach rather than mindless clicking in order to enjoy it in full. The use of the rule-set, tables and classes from Baldur's Gate II Enhanced Edition turns an already huge game in a replayable heaven. My only gripe would be the path-finding of characters, something that has plagued all Infinity Engine games since their inception.
  7. Meristation
    Oct 31, 2014
    82
    A better approach from Beamdog, giving us an improved version of Icewind Dale focused on polish more than novelties. Perfectly executed and with the neat additions of classes and kits to give a great game more depth.
  8. IGN Italia
    Oct 31, 2014
    81
    The best possible version of what still is an RPG from more than a decade ago. There's also some new content for people who need it.
  9. Softpedia
    Dec 15, 2014
    80
    Icewind Dale isn’t a perfect game, but it’s one of the best RPGs of all times. Obviously, the Enhanced Edition is also among the best in the genre, but it only brings minor improvements into the mix.
  10. The Digital Fix
    Nov 28, 2014
    80
    It may not have the narrative thrust of other Black Isle titles or the likes of Bioware’s slick epics, but Icewind Dale remains an important part of the adventuring landscape for those willing to brave its frosty depths.
  11. Multiplayer.it
    Nov 18, 2014
    80
    Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition is the best way to play this classic role-play game made with the Infinity Engine.
  12. 3DJuegos
    Oct 30, 2014
    80
    Icewind Dale is a wonderful RPG that retains its quality nearly 15 years after its launch. The bad news is that this Enhanced Edition doesn't add much new content.

Awards & Rankings

69
#69 Best PC Game of 2014

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 135 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 95 out of 135
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 135
  3. Negative: 23 out of 135
  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.

    ****************************************************************************************************

    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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