Graphically Icewind Dale is a bit of a mixed bag. The bitmap backgrounds that are used are often lush and usually very gorgeous, but it is often difficult to get any feeling of perspective. In some areas it is particularly hard to identify which areas your characters can traverse and which they can't -- and this leads to random mouse clicking to try to navigate your party. At times the backgrounds can also seem rather sterile and empty. The character models are nearly identical to those used in Baldur's Gate which I consider a bit of a shame. They just don't seem to have much personality. This problem is compounded by the fact that equipping unique items and armour does not make a huge difference to your character's appearance. The variety and quality of the monster models is impressive, however. Special mention should go to the boss monsters you will face -- Black Isle have done an excellent job on these. An option to use OpenGL acceleration has been included, but doesn't alter the appearance of the game very much; some of the spell effects look slightly different but not hugely improved. The game is restricted to a resolution of 640x480 which is a disappointment, but not a huge issue.
In my opinion, Black Isle can do no wrong when it comes to the aural component of their titles (aside from the annoying voice samples in Baldur's Gate!). The musical score in Icewind Dale is perfect. No matter what environment or situation your party is in, the music is always highly appropriate and never jarring. The sound effects used also reach the high standard set by the score. Ambient noises are exceptionally well, and often sparingly, used. Heated battles sound great as spells crackle and swords clash. Some of the voice samples used for the characters in your party can be a little repetitive, but I didn't find this too problematic. Dialogue between your party and non-player characters is brilliantly executed. Bad voice-acting is one of my biggest gripes with many games and it is a pleasure to listen to the convincing and appropriate voice talent that is used in Icewind Dale.
The minor gripes that I have with Icewind Dale are the things which will most likely stop it from appealing to a wide variety of gamers and keep it in the realm of the hardcore RPG fan. First of all the story is very traditional. While it suits the game perfectly, you do often get that sensation of "I've seen this before," which can result in waning interest levels as the story develops. On top of this the game does not lend itself to short sessions; to really appreciate it you have to try and immerse yourself in the storyline. There are a few minor bugs as well such as disappearing inventory items and incompleteable side quests. A patch is available and it is likely that these issues have been addressed in it. There is no question that this game is a must-have for RPG fans, and gamers who can get past the few minor flaws will also discover an enjoyable gaming experience. It will be interesting to see how long it takes before there is a real contender to remove Black Isle from the throne of the RPG genre.
