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Summary: YOU WANT THIS
Review: If you have searched this title down and are thinking of getting it there is no doubt in my mind that YOU SHOULD GET THIS GAME. Excellent interaction graphics and playablity will enthrall you for weeks on end!
Rating: 
Summary: Bah! At least it was cheap...
Review: Thankfully, I didn't waste much money on it. My seller was alright and everything was there, including the cool cloth map. However, I had problems. For one thing, it took me the longest time to level up, even with all the sidequests. For another, the enemies were too blasted difficult, the magics tended to backfire in the worst way. I would face a wolf with a paladin, a druid, a cleric, and a bard. You would think that the druid would be about as strong as a wolf, but no, my first druid got killed of by a couple of goblins. Then I fired a burning hands at point blank range on these wolves and it killed my full-hp paladin, while barely scratching the wolf. My paladin has 10 or 12 hp and the wolf had 13 hp on average, which led me to believe that at least my paladin would make it against this critter. But three hours later, when I got to the cave, I had trouble beating orcs. I had to have my whole party gang up to beat one and there was a cave full. Then when my thief finally levels up, I never figured out how to increase hp or anything else for that matter. Having a 2nd level bard with as much or not much more hp and no discernible increase in effectiveness (he seemed _less_ able to fight orcs now) was the final straw. I had wasted enough time on this game. It would have been one thing if I was given enemies like that in later battles, but I had such enemies from the beginning. Furthermore, I had my biggest problem with the fact that point and click with the mouse was the only option, half the time, I killed my own party. I would recommend a multiplayer game if it was more like Neverwinter Nights: hands on tutorial, cursor keys enabled (if I remember correctly), totally customizable controls. If I wanted to set the format to call animals, to arm, and to use certain spells it was easy to do. Level up increasing was easy as well.
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Summary: AD&D? There is a sequal out? and an expansion?
Review: The Bioware Infinity engine, the same game engine that powered old classics such as Baldur's Gate and Planescape: Torment, is still in use today. The latest use of that very engine was Icewind Dale 2. This package of the game is completly watered down, not including the thick manual that was supposed to come with it. Also, the "DVD style" box, started by EA's Medal of Honor: Allied Assault makes for a skimpy package. Those who have never played any Infinity Engine games will be completly confused at first, for the manual is on the CD. It is much better to read a hard copy of a manual. Interplay also does not replace Icewind Dale manuals. However, the money that you spend will go to a full version of Icewind Dale, with no expansion. Amazon offers a bundle of Icewind Dale and its expansion, Heart of Winter. I do believe that it is called "Icewind Dale: The Collection." Heart of Winter is not really worth the money and cannot be found anywhere except in the packaged version with the stand-alone Icewind Dale, or at the Interplay-Store. Take note: Icewind Dale (IWD) is an extremely difficult game. It is easy to say that it is an Action Based Baldur's Gate, lacking in story, but filled with combat. This combat though is extremely hard. People new to the Infinity Engine will find even the first Ogre Boss in the prologue to be difficult. The first real boss, a topless snake woman named Yxunomei (spell?), is even more difficult. Many a time, one will find himself losing more than half his party to just one monster. Even with difficulty setting to "Very easy" it still is not such an easy game. The pace is not as fast as say Diablo 2. People new to AD&D, but veterans to games like Diablo 2 will find it strange that an attacking animation is shown, but the enemy is not hit. Utter confusion. Later in the game, there are creatures that must be phased before they can die and such. Games based off the Infinity Engine are not "click fests" such as Diablo 2, but more with strategy. Icewind Dale is a good game, despite its punishing difficulty. After a single gaming session, one will feel as if he (or her) has accomplished something. If you are to get the first IWD, then get the expansion, Heart of Winter, bundled with it. Heart of Winter offers a lot of features, which i think is valuable. Item clutter does get a bit off hand if items such as a Gem bag are not included. 800x600 resolution is also nice. There is also the feature to remove the interfacing with a single key stroke, keeping away those who talk, bashing the intrusive interface. However, if you are looking to a newer game, then I am sure that Icewind Dale 2 will satisfy your needs. It is not necessary to play the first IWD to understand the second. Every Icewind Dale game is extremely difficult. Along with Baldur's Gate 1, Tales of Sword Coast, 2, and Throne of Bhaal, all Infinity Engine games are long and difficult. A final word to leave you with. If you are afraid of difficult games that are long and can get tedious, but yet you want a game made from RPG masters? My final suggestion: Neverwinter Nights. It is no more than 60 hours for the single player and the difficulty is no where near any of the BG series or IWD series. Plus, its not based off the Infinity Engine, but a modified 3D engine. Make your decision or buy them all! (note if you do buy them all, expect to spend more than 1200 hours playing D&D CRPGs!)
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