LADYDRAGON.COM - Icewind Dale

Interplay a few years ago has created a RPG division called Black Isle Studios which developed title like Fallout 2 and Planescape:Tourment. Now they are back again with an outstanding new title called Icewind Dale.

This new epic adventure takes part deep into the Spine of the Worlds mountains on the Faerûn continent. Icewind Dale takes place within the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'Forgotten Realms.

Black Isle build this game with the Bioware Infinity Engine a refine version of the one for Baldur's Gate. This gives it a special cachet to it with weather affect like snowing while you play and visual effect like seeing realistic fuming fire of fireplaces.

World Map

When you start the game you can either play a single or multiplayer game. The Multiplayer game can be played with up to six players at a time.

When you are ready to start you will create your own character by choosing their gender, portrait, race, class, ability scores alignment, proficiencies, racial enemy, appearance, wizard's spells or your thief abilities. It even possible to write your own biography if you want too.

Then your ready to start your adventure. You will begin into the Winter's Cradle Tavern then move on from there.

Everything is well presented the interface is easy to understand, you can select any buttons that will give you information like your inventory, what part of the land you have discovered and the overall map of the world.

The combat system follows closely the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'Forgotten rules if you are not familiar with them, they have included a book that explain them to you in order to help you out.

Nice graphics

Create your character

Make sure before you start playing you get the latest patch it will fixed several bugs and if you want to play with a 800x600 resolution the original version only supports the 640x480.

You will also find that some characters you create can be much less effective against some enemies.

The game is quite challenging for the new comers of this type of RPG and also some monsters are really hard to kill but when you master it, you will appreciate the game even more.

The book also has extensive information on everything else like the spells and the special items and treasures.

Icewind Dale strength lies into its story line and original setting. You are playing an adventure into regions that are mostly frozen or covered of snow, it refreshing compare to other the RPG out on the market. The game is full of monster that can appeared anything time a total of 150 can be encounter.

Explore at night

The control are easy to master when you know the rules of combat. The soundtrack for the ambiance is simply outstanding where ever you are you have multiple sounds effect surrounding you plunging you into a lively atmosphere. But where you will be amazed is at the graphics. When the game start a book of artwork introduce the story line then through the game you will see well define texture specially the lighting of the fires.

Black Isle has put on the market an other RPG game that is must if you are a fans of that type of game and if you always wanted to play a good RPG game Icewind Dale will surely be a nice treat to you.

Companies

Developer
Blackisle

Publisher
Interplay

Category
Role Playing

Notes

Originality: 96%
Gameplay: 94%
Interest: 93%
Graphic: 92%
Control: 90%
Sound: 95%

TOTAL: 93%

Requirements

Operation System
Windows 95-98

Processor
233 MHz Pentium

Memory
32 RAM

Hard Drive
300 MB