Icewind Dale

"Black Isle delivers an epic"

When Baldur's Gate was released in December of 1998, it quickly rose through the ranks and won several RPG/Game of the Year awards for '98, this despite the fact that it came out two days before Christmas. Now, one and a half years later, Black Isle has released Icewind Dale, featuring Baldur's Gate's ''Infinity Engine,'' and this new adventure has proven to be just as good as the first

Graphics/Sound (9.5/10)
While the graphic perspective in Icewind Dale is very similar to the view in Diablo II, these graphics are one or two steps above Blizzard's newest release. Everything from the backgrounds to the spell effects are done to perfection. The music is likewise both well done and appropriate.

Story (8/10)
Whereas Baldur's Gate was extremely nonlinear, Icewind Dale is fairly linear. This does not detract from the game, however. The feel of the game is sort of like reading one of Salvatore's Icewind Dale novels. In fact, the cinemas take place 'within' a book. The plot is interesting and captivating.

Gameplay (9/10)
Simply excellent. The menu and interface are extremely easy to use, and the manual that comes with the game covers all of the nuances of playing the game. The shortcut keys make the game much easier to play.

Challenge (6/10)
This is a fairly subjective scoring. Some players may find this game more difficult, and some may find it less so. Part of the difficulty comes from knowing how to put together a good party. There is a difficulty slide-meter in the options meter, but this doesn't affect the game much.

Fun-Factor (10/10)
Incredibly fun. This game is one that I will play over and over and over. The replay value is tremendous, and the first play through is simply encaptivating.


The Bottom Line:
If you liked Diablo or Diablo II, buy this game and prepare to be amazed. If you liked Baldur's Gate, you should already have this game. If you're looking for something new with an epic storyline, this is your game.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 07/20/00, Updated 07/20/00