Rating: 
Summary: A Bit of a Disappointment
Review: This game may be made by most of the creators of the Baldur's Gate series, however, while the game interface may appear to be much the same, the story level certainly isn't.You completely create your full party (up to six characters), adding all of their feats and voices. Although it is possible that in Baldur's Gate you couldn't really fit your NPCs into your dream party, their vivid personalities clearly shone through and they bantered frequently. The player, in Baldur's Gate, was able to develop one character through a set of choices and actions. In IWD2, however, your characters seem to have as much depth as the goblins that they are killing. A handful of the NPCs have some interesting personalities, yet the ratio of hostile creatures/people to unhostile creatures/people is at least 10:1, meaning that you'll be engaged in a lot more killing and violence than dialogue and intrigue. The combat system is the same as in the BG series, which may come as a relief to some. However, the battles are much more difficult to the point of the game losing its fun. The experience, I felt, was slightly screwed up, as at times you would be fighting creatures that give perhaps 75 XP each. Then suddenly a crystal golem (uses the ice golem model) runs along and (eventually) gets killed by your party members, giving 4000 XP. The plotline itself seems to be lacking the depth of the Baldur's Gate series, with any other serious plot than a horde of goblins attempting to destroy the Ten Towns only appearing in the second to last chapter. Even then I felt the plot still had several holes even at the end.
I have to say that the new races and spells gave flavor that even Baldur's Gate did not have, and yet there is not one area, interior or exterior, that was designed so that the character would not have to travel through it. In other words, the creators did not create any more areas than they had to. In Baldur's Gate there were such areas as Durlag's Tower, the D'Arnise Castle, and Watcher's keep, each with a great deal of flavor and subplot. The only quests that do not directly pertain to the plotline can usually be solved in about five minutes or less.
It seems to me that the Baldur's Gate series was directed to be more like a book, such as The Lord of the Rings (except for the novelazations.... ugh) while Icewind Dale 2 was geared to be more like Diablo 2. If you enjoyed that game, then perhaps you shall enjoy IWD2. I, for one, would not reccomend it, however.
Rating: 
Summary: Last of the dying breed
Review: This is it. There will be no more of this type of RGP game as true 3D games are taking over. Black Isle does not contemplate an expansion to this, so I encourage folks to buy this game from Black Isle Studios. What makes this game unique from the original Icewind Dale and Baldur's Gate are the changes using AD&D 3rd edition rule. My favorite of all is the character class. Before, certain classes are restricted (clerics can't use blades and mages can't use bows or crossbows). Now, with the new 3rd edition rule, I can have my mage shoot arrows instead of throwing rocks at the enemies. Also new is the newfound flexibility in multiclassing. Now humans can be multi-class too (instead of the old dual-class). The monk and the barbarian from Baldur's Gate 2 are here, and clerics must now have an affiliation with a diety. Gone, however, are the kits that made Baldur's Gate 2 unique. For example, rangers no longer have the archer, stalker and beastmaster kits. I really missed that. There are lots of changes in the AD&D rule-set that it's worth buying the game to try it out. What remain are the gameplay, isometric design, and control from the Baldur's Gate series and Icewind Dale. These are tried-and-true and the interface is intuitive and easy to use. If you have played the previous Black Isle Studios games before, you should have no problem getting started. Another thing I want to mention is the availability of mods on the internet for Icewind Dale 2 (search for weidu). These mods has the potential to improve gameplay and streamline some of the nagging issues in the game. There aren't that many though, but they are worth checking out. In summary, I will miss this cluster of games from Black Isle Studios and I hope more will come.
Rating:
Summary: Nowhere near the others
Review: As far role-playing concerned, this game is awful. The replay value is nil, because the plot is too centralized to the game, and you can only go to one place at a time. That would be vaguely annoying if not for the forced play: The areas are not an expansive wilderness packed with quests to complete and people to help. The wilderness is packed with monsters, usually exclaiming the same thing every time they die, until you get to the big lead bad guy who just says "How did I fail?" Then collapses. Then you go back to town and get congratulated for saving everybody once again, or return to fix some problem, and start over, doing the same, monotonous thing over and over again. The dungeon crawls are bearable, but overall, I wouldn't suggest buying this game. It's a better waste of time to just replay Baldur's Gate 2, Torment, or one of those.
(Also, I couldn't find a single 2nd level spell scroll for my wizard after playing through the game twice. What's up with that?)
Rating: 
Summary: Not black isle's finest hour
Review: Although the staff at black isle usually knows how to create magnificent plots and entertaining gameplay, this game is a major disappointment.
The main plot is ridiculous and the graphics disappointing. Though I must admit that some of the subplots are superbly crafted!
It seems to me like they made a couple of really good quests and decided they were going to patch them together...
It could have worked, but they failed.
Yet... the game is playable on account of 3rd edition rules, super subplots and good voice acting. (Spoiler) Cambions feelings got hurt and they decide to wage war... come on!
Rating:
Summary: an old standard, if you like retro
Review: While I like this ype game, I found myself thinking I was on the wrong side. Premaking all fighters takes some of the fun out of building a team, such as in bauldars gate. I soon lost intrest.
Rating:
Summary: A great sequel of a sequel!!
Review: Icewind Dale II is in essence a sequel of a sequel. I held off on getting this thinking it'd be overkill on a genre I love - but once we got it, we were hooked! Graphics are really good, in the Baldur's Gate/Icewind Dale style. The stone and mosaic templates around the screen, the character portraits, the books on the shelves, the trees in the snow. You're playing with the 3rd Edition of the D&D rules now, so you get skills, feats, and other great enhancements. You also get some new character types, including half orcs and dark elves (Drizzt!!). There are pre-made parties or you can create your own with up to 6 characters. Playing the other games helps get you settled in this world, but it isn't necessary. ID2 is 30 years after the original Icewind Dale, when a demon has come to wreak havoc on the land. You run into various characters from the first game, which is great fun. AI is great, and the quests are challenging and fun. You really get a sense that you're progressing through the world, meeting real, thinking opponents and having to struggle to overcome them. This isn't just a hack-and-slash, it's a game that involves you fully. Highly recommended!
Rating: 
Summary: A good CRPG
Review: If you're looking for some good classic D&D hack and slash action, this game is for you. Using the D&D 3rd edition rule set, there are many, many options to explore when creating characters and gaining levels. Several different races, classes, feats, skills, abilities, and also hundreds of powerful items and spells. Explore your options with anything from a mighty barbarian to a powerful wizard, and everything between, there's no getting bored with this game. The only downside is the plot element. The story is ok but it's not quite as good as it could have been.
Rating:
Summary: Icewind Dale II is awesome!!!
Review: I think Icewind Dale is so much fun because you get to fight so many different creatures and the spells look totally rad! I suggest this game to many RPG fans, buy this game!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Note to game designers: RPG stands for Role Playing Game!
Review: This game is just like Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel in that they both have absolutely no story and no real Role to Play. If you like mass combat with no reasoning or brain hurting dialogue (in other words you use the phrase GROG SMASH! more than twice a day) you will love this game. If you want storyline and such, might I direct you to Planescape Torment, Fallout, Fallout 2, or even (shrudder) Baldur's Gate 2 instead. You'll thank me later. I can't believe Black Isle made such a motarded game...
Rating:
Summary: Great, one of the best AD&D computer games of all time.
Review: This is a wonderful and fast paced game. It is very difficult and almost as action packed as a Diablo game. This game takes a lot of strategy to beat and will keep you plugging away for months.
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