Icewind Dale II
| Icewind Dale II | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | Black Isle Studios | ||
| Publisher | Interplay entertainment | ||
| Senior Developer |
Joshua E. Sawyer (Lead Designer) Chris Avellone David Maldonaldo |
||
| Erstveröffent- lichung |
November 2002 | ||
| platform | Windows | ||
| Game engine | Infinity engine | ||
| genre | RPG | ||
| Game mode | Single player , multiplayer | ||
| control | Mouse , keyboard | ||
| medium | CD-ROM , DVD-ROM , download | ||
| language | German | ||
| Current version | 2.01 (December 19, 2002) | ||
| Age rating |
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Icewind Dale II is a computer role-playing game for Windows from 2002. Like its predecessor Icewind Dale, the game comes from Black Isle Studios , a subsidiary of the American computer game publisher Interplay Entertainment . It is the last of the D&D role-playing games produced by Interplay that are based on BioWare's Infinity Engine, and at the same time the only one in the series that uses the newly introduced 3.0 rulebook as a basis. The narrative of the game is independent, but takes up plot aspects of the previous one.
action
The action takes place around 30 years after the events of the predecessor. Orcs, goblins and all sorts of other sinister creatures gather under the banner of the Chimera to take action against the Ten Cities. The group of adventurers is one of the few survivors of an aid expedition from Luskan trying to reach the besieged city of Targos. After breaking the siege ring around the city, the adventurers advance further into the area of the Ice Wind Valley in search of the reason for the campaign and the responsible masterminds. In addition to many new locations, you will once again travel to some places known from the previous part.
Game principle and technology
Apart from a revised set of rules, Icewind Dale II differs only slightly in terms of play from its predecessor and the other Infinity games. As before, the player commands a completely self-created, six-person group of heroes. The game is presented from an isometric overview perspective, the indirect control is based on the point & click principle . The combat system, which is essentially turn-based, is carried out in real time, but can be stopped at any time by pressing a button in order to analyze the situation and give instructions to the characters without any time pressure.
A modified version of the Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 rulebook was used , which differs in many areas from the predecessor's rulebook. In contrast to the randomly selected values of the second set of rules edition ( Advanced Dungeons & Dragons ), Icewind Dale II with D&D 3.0 has a so-called point buy system, in which the player can distribute given points at will when designing his character. In addition to the standard races (e.g. human, elf, dwarf), so-called sub-races such as dark elf or Aasimar were now available. In addition to the main classes, there were also new professional specializations to choose from, as well as the newly introduced talent system for learning new skills.
The game is largely linear and has a strong emphasis on combat. There are limited possibilities to solve tasks in alternative ways. A distinction is usually made between a “good” and an “bad” solution or fight and peaceful solution. As in the first part of the series, there are z. T. special dialogue options, which increases the replay value.
development
| 1998 |
Baldur's Gate |
|
| 1999 |
Baldur's Gate: Legends of the Sword Coast Planescape: Torment |
|
| 2000 |
Icewind Dale Baldur’s Gate II: Shadow of Amn |
|
| 2001 |
Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter Baldur’s Gate II: Throne of Bhaal Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance |
|
| 2002 |
Icewind Dale II |
|
| 2003 |
|
|
| 2004 |
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance 2 |
|
| ~ | ||
| 2012 |
Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition |
|
| 2013 |
Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition |
|
| 2014 |
Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition |
|
| 2015 |
|
|
| 2016 |
Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear |
|
| 2017 |
Planescape: Torment: Enhanced Edition |
Planning for Icewind Dale II began when the Black Isle Studios had to discontinue their previously announced role-playing game project Torn due to development problems. According to lead designer Joshua Sawyer, the idea for a sequel to Icewind Dale resulted from the pressure to implement a new, solid game project within a very short time to compensate for this project attitude. Due to the extensive experience of the employees with the Infinity engine, the choice fell on Icewind Dale , as a relatively short development period seemed possible here. The team was given the task of presenting a finished game within four months, while Sawyer was only given two days to create the entire plot. However, since the design of the play areas in particular could only be reduced slightly, the development period was extended to ten months. The aim of the project was to continue the concept of the first part, but the different focuses of the main game (dungeon exploration), the add-on Heart of Winter (use of the different character skills) and the free download expansion The challenges of the master of temptations (Puzzle elements) can be combined for the campaign of the game.
The Infinity engine was used for the last time in Icewind Dale II . The magic animation was revised again, but still didn't require 3D acceleration. The interface was completely revised due to the change of rules and was now freely assignable in parts. Due to the extension of the development period, the basic rules have been revised again and the game switched to the third edition of Dungeons & Dragons rules. The rules were changed at the urging of Sawyer, who saw it as an important selling point for the title, whose now outdated 2D technology no longer corresponded to the state of the art and competed with 3D titles such as BioWare's Neverwinter Nights .
Compared to its predecessor, the game included a number of new creatures, items, abilities and spells, some of which were taken over from Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn . Additional content was created exclusively for the game. The accompanying music for the second part was written by Inon Zur .
After the work was completed, the team members split between the Jefferson project, an unfinished successor to Baldur's Gate II , and the action role-playing game Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance 2 , both of which should be completed within a year. Therefore, there were no specific considerations about an add-on or a continuation of the series, but also because the engine was already showing significant signs of age.
reception
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Icewind Dale II received mostly positive reviews. The review database Metacritic aggregates 22 reviews to a mean value of 83. GameSpot found that the game is very similar to its predecessor in terms of appearance and game structure, but that the new Dungeons & Dragons version of the rules gives it more depth. The game engine is now antiquated and the graphics are very old-fashioned compared to role-playing games that were published at the same time, but in Sumem Icewind Dale II is still a great game, precisely tailored to the needs of role-playing fans.
Web links
- Icewind Dale II at MobyGames (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c Richard "Jonric" Aihoshi: Icewind Dale II Interview ( English ) In: RPGVault . IGN . February 4, 2002. Archived from the original on August 31, 2002. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
- ↑ Joost "Myrthos" Mans: Icewind Dale II Interview . In: RPGDot . June 11, 2002. Archived from the original on October 12, 2002. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
- ↑ a b Matt Chat 171: Josh Sawyer on Icewind Dale and Neverwinter Nights on YouTube
- ↑ Jon "Buck" Birnbaum: Icewind Dale / Icewind Dale II Interview (Scott Warner) ( English ) In: Gamebanshee . March 16, 2007. Archived from the original on April 14, 2015. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
- ↑ Jon "Buck" Birnbaum: Icewind Dale / Icewind Dale II Interview (Joshua E. Sawyer) ( English ) In: Gamebanshee . March 16, 2007. Archived from the original on April 14, 2015. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
- ↑ Bruce Ladewig: Inon Zur Interview ( English ) In: RPGPlanet . IGN . October 11, 2002. Archived from the original on March 15, 2013. Retrieved on August 27, 2011.
- ↑ Jon "Buck" Birnbaum: Icewind Dale / Icewind Dale II Interview (Chris Jones) ( English ) In: Gamebanshee . March 16, 2007. Archived from the original on April 14, 2015. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
- ↑ Jörg Luibl: Test: Icewind Dale 2 . In: 4Players . freenet AG . November 18, 2002. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
- ↑ Jeanne Kim Trais: Icewind Dale II . In: Computer Gaming World . No. 221, pp. 116-117.
- ↑ a b Gamespot.com: Icewind Dale II Review. Retrieved July 2, 2020 .
- ^ William Abner: Review: Icewind Dale II ( English ) In: GameSpy . News Corp . August 27, 2002. Archived from the original on October 28, 2004. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
- ↑ Icewind Dale 2 in the test. In: GameStar . November 1, 2002, accessed November 18, 2012 .
- ^ W. Korba: Icewind Dale II - Review . In: Gameswelt . December 10, 2002. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
- ↑ Barry Brenesal: Icewind Dale II Review ( English ) In: IGN . News Corp . September 5, 2002. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
- ↑ Continuation of the D&D role-playing game from Black Isle . In: PC Games . Computec Media Group . October 22, 2002. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
- ↑ a b Metacritic.com: Icewind Dale II. Retrieved July 2, 2020 .