Larian Studios Forums General Chat RPG Chat Is Icewind Dale II worth it?

Could you guys give me some idea's?
I really enjoyed Baldur's Gate II and recently bought a budget edition of the expansion. Gotta replay it again, but don't have much time. I saw IWD2 in stores and I would like to know if it is good.

Some opinions?
Thanks!

I found it better than IWD - more puzzles and RPG than merely Hack+Slash like in the first game. But you do have to fight a lot - and die (my XP <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shame.gif" alt="" /> )
Kiya

Hmm. IWD2 was a fine game. It was challenging, with many battles yet it was better than IWD1. Note that Icewind Dale 2 uses D&D 3rd edition rules. I presume you can get it for cheap now.
If you're not tired from Infinity Engine yet, I'd reccomend IWD2. My $0.02.

There was a Review at RPGDot.com . The Reviewer wtrote that had had to reload quite often.

If you want to read it. then go to www.rpgdot.com , since I don't remember the exact link anymore. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for the comments!
I'll wait until I can get Lionheart here. I really am looking forward to that game. If Lionheart fails me, i'll buy IWD2 or replay BG2 with the addon I actually never played... I recently read the storyline in BG2 is much cooler and it's kinda boring, all those fights in IWD2 (review on www.spelletjesgarnaal.be)

I started playing IWD2. I never finished Act1 because it bored me too much. I did like the character creation though, 3E rules are better implented here than in NWN imho. But overall, it couldn't grasp me. See, if I play a game for the first time and it can't pull me past the first part, I drop it, even if it becomes better later on, the first time I play it, it has to grasp me.

Games that failed me in the past: Dungeon Siege, Master of Orion3 and IWD2.

I liked all the previous Infinity Engine games for that matter. Although I only played BG2 two times till the finish. BG I played several times, so too for PST and IWD. However for some reason, IWD2 couldn't pull me further.

I'll probably continue playing it someday, maybe till the end then, but not for now. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Like MastedD_Evil said.
Although I don't think IWD 2 is a bad game. It's fine, the game, but something doesn't go well. No idea what yet I cannot get arround and reinstall it.

Personally I think it has a lot to do with the fact that I feel I've seen it all before. I know it's hard to be original in your storyline, but heck, the cinematics in Diablo 2 (to me) made it's storyline more grasping than IWD2. The gameplay suffers the same fate though: make a party of six, kill weak creatures, run a few errands, kill slightly stronger creatures, level up, etc. Sure, most games do it that way, but IWD, BG & BG2 all look very similar in that aspect, by the time we get to IWD2, even with the interesting new rules and stuff, it's been done before.

Like DATD said, it's a good game still, but it's too old compared to what's available now and it repeats too much of it's predecessors.

Exactly. I perfectly agree with thee, mate <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />.
Baldur's Gate 2 is the best out of the IE games and 3rd edition D&D won't help IWD2 much. Some people loved it, though. Some massive strategical fights and such. Yet the characters are empty. In BG2 the NPCs had history, conversation, romance... In IWD2 they're like robots: when they do not fight, they are inactive.

The interesting is: I got through IWD (the first one), by imagining character interaction. That and it was release in between Diablo2 and BG2, I needed a fantasy fix. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />

MasterD_Evil, do you think buying Baldur's Gate I and the expansion for 10EUR is worth it these days? I loved BG2 but don't know if I am going to like the older version... They'll likely have very old D&D rules and you won't be able to play 800*600 resolution or something like that, right?

Could you inform me if BGI is worth playing today between the 'new' RPG games? Thanks!

10 EUR? A bit expensive. I don't really like BG1, I find BG 2 much better yet some people prefer the first one. The rules are the same though, but more limited, of course. You might download the demo somewhere or get BG1 on ebay. Mebbe for 1$ <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />.

MasterD_Evil, lol! Imagining the intereaction? You should have a good imagination, mate. Maybe you can post snippets in another topic <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />?

Well, if you played BG2, it's a lot less likely you'll enjoy BG. I know multiple people who played BG2 first and then BG1 later on and said they didn't like the first one as much. This is normal too for the reason DATD mentioned: The graphics in BG1 are a tad older, the rules are less expansive, it's a little bit more lineair too. Also, you start as level 1, don't forget, the max level in BG with expansion is like 7 or 8 (depending on your class). So you'll be mostly facing either weak monsters, or very strong bosses (since you're so weak still heh). If you're used to the power you wield in BG2, don't bother with BG, it's puny character time. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

So if you're willing to get a bit older graphics, a few lesser options and generally be a low level punk, go get it. Otherwise, don't bother. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> And €10 still is quite some, depending on which version you get. The original was on 5 cd's, +1 for the expansion heh. Nowadays it's €10 for 10 empty cd's (well, in regular stores that is, you can get em cheaper too), so getting 6 cd's for €10 isn't that bad. Unless of course they repacked the game now, since in the course of time (IWD, BG2) they found more effective methods of packing the files on cd's. Otherwise BG2 would have been on more than just 4 cd's <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />

As for snippets from my characters, it's been over 2 years I think, much of it has faded. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />

Though I did have a human fighter/mage, fighting with a staff or a sword, sort of in elderly mages voice, just not a picture of Gandalf <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />

I had a pure dwarven fighter, Kuldjargh, literally Dwarven for Axe-Idiot. It just so happens IWD had this voice set with just grunting. Give him an axe and we got a mean tempered dwarf who never retreats. He died a lot the poor guy <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" /> Got resurected everytime too, made like 50% or so of all the kills.

Then they had this funny voiceset, one full of sarcasm and so. I gave that one to a human paladin. I know it's barbaric, but it was funny having a paladin act that way. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> He used to hit on the party's thief, who then always hid in the shadows, starting to scout ahead instead of staying near the party heh.

The cleric was a woman too, the IWD avatar of the blond girl with the mace. The paladin didn't try to approach her because she was evil heh <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> Of course paladins wouldn't usually asociate with evil people, but in my game they had no choice heh. She also didn't learn resurrect spells, just to be mean, forcing us to retreat or buy scrolls heh.

I even went as far as starting with 1 character, then adding the others at a certain point in the game, to make it seem like they were rescued heh. My thief got picked up in the first act, where you go to find that caravan, I added her after killing the large ogre there and picking the chests, she was hiding in the shadows waiting to loot the chests herself heh. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Yes, I know, it's freaky <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/silly.gif" alt="" />

IWD was made by Black Isle only ;0).

Lol! I see you got more from IWD than the rest of us ;0).
Very interesting party, it sounds!
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wave.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

10 Euro ? Hm ... difficult to say.

One the one hand, it looks fair, but then ... I'd say the half.

(I still think in terms of german D-Mark, where 10 Euro would be approx. 20 Marks. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/delight.gif" alt="" /> )

IWD2 lacks a certain something. Let me put it this way: I played IWD 3 times, but for IWD 2, I felt that once was enough. The thought of playing it again frankly fills me with uncertain dread. Maybe it's the uninspiring plotline. Maybe it's the fact that most combat consists of: as many enemies as possible to fill the monitor swarming over you. IWD2 has its charms and good moments, but for the most part, it's not all that great. 3e rules are implemented far better than they are in NWN, though, this is certain.

BG1 has way, way too many "empty" areas. You know, areas where there are some monsters sprinkled, a meaningless NPC or two, and very little else. Space-fillers that aren't worth the time exploring. The NPCs lack personality and interaction the likes with which players of BG2 are familiar. The gameplay is limited due to the low level restriction. The story was quite okay, though. But I couldn't force myself to play it again, either.

Funny thing is, I played IWD three times too, but I couldn't even get myself to finish the first act in IWD2. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

As for BG too, you should still put it in its context though. Yes there's empty areas, yes there's the kinda bland NPC's, but on the other hand, it was the first game to use the Infinity Engine engine. BG2 is just the result of months of improving that engine compared to what it could in BG. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

One thingy though: Personally I liked the empty areas. Sure there wasn't much to find there, but heck, are you truly saying that in a fantasy world every square inch should have a quest or event attached to it? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" /> Even fantasy characters need a rest once in a while. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> Back then I just admired the nice graphics of nature, along with the nice ambient sounds it was kinda nice and calming to walk through those areas. Until a horde of sword spiders attacked you that is. Then I ran away as fast as I could. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

I wouldn't have minded the empty areas if my characters could move faster. There's an "always run" option in Torment, you know - something that every Infinity Engine game really should have. (Admittedly redundant in BG2 where Boots of Speed are a lot more abundant, though. Still...)

I loved Icewind Dale I . Great athmosphere, great setting, imagination and landscape.

It was spoilt by far too many fights.

I never finished it, - although I liked it *very much* because at one point the game seemed to consist merely of fights. So it seemed to me.

It would have been a great gime without the "must" to combat.

It seems to me as if some companies have mistaken RPG for "combat" (like RPG = combat).

They are so limited in their view that they seemingly aren't able to devedlop anything other.

And - what's more, I fear that combat, fighting, violence is in some countries - those which produce the most RPG games - a well-accepted way of (re)solving problems - kill, and your problem is no more.

I have posted this view in a short article and became more or less thrown out of their Forum.
They didn't want to discuss (about) that.

What's the difference between IWD1's athmosphere, setting imagination, landscape and BG's? Snow?


It was supposed to be Hack and Slash, mate. No one said it will be an open ended RPG.


It didn't *seem*, it *was* ;0).


(Previous answer)

Well, most players like games like diablo: 100% non-stop dull, one-click, combat and no interaction whatsoever.

It's very difficult to develop a true RPG so you're partially right, some companies cannot develop a true role playing game.

Well... I am even afraid to argue. We live in different countries so even if I say something I doubt it will help anyone :0\
I will be cautious and say:
You mean that most of the violent games are made in USA. One of the reasons is simple: many people either want to play something light to relax or simply they lack brainpower to play anything different <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />
[I do not intend to offend anyone in this post]


I never seen your article but this is childish and only prouves their limited view. Often people do not want to hear the truth even if they subconsciously know it.