My only problem with icewind dale 2 is that you ignored my advice, which im pretty sure I sent several emails about. The game would've sold millions if youd named it "Icewind Dale 2: Dale Harder"
Seriously. Years ago I wondered why people were not modding this game esp with new adventures, and I still do wonder as the missing code does not rule out many things that can be done. Love the character creation and development more here than any other 3e video games, which there are many. Would be something if Obsidian would make an updated IWD2 or IWD3.
Icewind Dale 2, along with all other Infinity Engine games are some of the very best games I've played in my entire life (about 30 years or so of gaming). The pacing of the games' combat was fluid (no clunky, slowness of most of nowadays' 3D rpgs), the interface was very close to optimal and the art style and stories were beautiful and very inventive (in a big way also thanks to the grand locales of the forgotten realms) and the balance between seriousness and the eventual quirkiness in the dialogues was always spot-on. I knew Obsidian was behind Project Eternity but I didn't realize the lead of Icewind Dale 2 was also the lead here and that makes me very happy. I know you guys have one heck of a challenge to live up to all these major expectations Joshua, but I hope you pull it through in a major way and I wish you'll all take some major inspirations from the D&D system in the form of amount of class variations/combinations and the sheer immensity of spells available ("polymorphs", "create weapons", "status afflicting spells", "no-save spells", "time stop", "summons", sooo many things beyond the usual "do X damage of Y type" of most rpgs) to make Project Eternity as infinitely replayable as the Infinity Engine games (I probably play each of them at least once per year). Finally, once again, thank you for giving us Heart of Winter and Icewind Dale 2, those games shaped my youth/young adulthood and continue to do so even today (in fact, I found this video while looking for some tips for IWD2 on Gamebanshee. I'm having a bit of trouble fighting ol' Sherincal with my solo Paladin of Mystra/Sorcerer on Heart of Fury!)
@2 Metres Above It's a continuation of IWD, so it's hard but since you have gotten the system down you should like it. It's a much expanded version ( 3rd Ed. Rules vs 2nd ed.) so you have much more classes to choose from. Try a Paladin of Mystra / Wizard build for fun.
There was a lot of criticism concerning IWD2. So much, that as a BG2 fan I almost decided not to try it out in fear of severe disappointment. The criticism included but was not limited to: No character interaction which is a supposedly huge let down in terms of immersion, boring story, mindless monster hacking, too linear, etc. But when I finally decided to give it a shot I immediately loved the game. It is more combat focused than BG2 and admittedly does not feature this exceptionally epic story and brilliant character interaction. But it did everything else right. IwD2 is awesome and I cannot believe they put this together in about a year or even ten months. It has a different focus than BG2 but the gameplay is absolutely competitive if not even better. And it is NOT too long. The game is so much fun and I never got bored. How can there be too much of something so good? Measure IwD2 against BG2 + ToB and BG2 wins. But which rpg (except planescape) was ever the equal of BG2 + ToB? Personally I even prefer it over Planescape Torment and to me it is the best rpg (plus expansion) ever created. But compare IwD2 to the myriad of other rpgs released in the last decade. It is brilliant. There are quite epic large scale battles that last minutes and invovles armies of conjured monsters, fire storms, mass destruction and god knows what else. There were so many moments where I was blown away by how much fun it is to unleash your advanced (hof) party's combined powers against armies of evil monsters. The game was so much fun that I never once thought: "I really miss character interaction so much that it just isnt as much fun." Even though I simply love BG2's interaction. Personally I would recommend this game to any rpg fun as a must. I have finished it a couple of times already and started a new party again two days ago. I'd rate BG2 + ToB with 10 out of 10. Yes, it is that good and so far unmatched in its glory. Anything less than a 10 would insult this rarerity. Icewind Dale 2 I would rate with a 9 out of 10.
kenshiro katana I tried bg2, as I expect I won't blend with such awful equipment system and items. Yes I know its an old game lol but I just can't handle how clunky it was. Iwd2 I think did better than bg2 becuz yeah it release years after bg2. And I think never winter night2 is pretty good despite not being good against bg2 in terms of story, but the rest of it , it does did well.
well both iwd games have mods that add a party with actual characters in them with banters like bg 2. it makes me somewhat enjoy the iwd series as i find them really repetitive otherwise.
I know this is an old comment, but I want to draw you back to this video so I can ask you if you have played Pillars of Eternity. I personally think it's Josh's (and Obsidian's) masterpiece. One of the best isometric old school RPGs of the modern age
@@Katalmach11b I liked it a little, but it hasn't gripped me at all as well as previous IE games. Still can't play through it. It's linear, you only have a single avatar to create. A great game sure and welcome but ... nah.
@@TheVanillatech The game having only one character to create is not its weakness. I much prefer to make one character - as a self insert - and then pick up other characters as you go along. In my opinion they give you too many characters from the beginning. Two companions in the starting town, and then another right after? And another right after that? It's ridiculous.
I never really got into the D&D games back in the day, but I downloaded Icewind Dale 2 from GoG last year and I love it. I don't have a lot of time to play games, or anything else for that matter, so i really take my time with it. I think i bought it in December and I'm only in Chapter 3 now. I'm glad it's a long game. I treat it like a big book, it takes time to really take it all in. I've always been a huge Tolkien fan since i was young, and this game feels like a Tolkien book. Excellent voice acting, elaborate world, and awesome character design. Having loads of fun playing Icewind Dale 2, even if it is a 10 year old game, i find it's so much more satisfying than any game that's being released these days. Looking forward to an Icewind dale 3?
not just playing this gem, I've been living and breathing it for 12 years. Anyone who loves to immerse into a world of tales and mysteries would worship the Icewind Dale and Baldur's Gate series for centuries. Thank you Josh.
IMO the infinity engine games were to the 2000s what the SSI "goldbox" games were to the 90s. I remember writing an article for an old D&D e-zine where I said that interplay should've license the engine out and let others make games for it. All of the titles that used it were some of the best RPGs of the 90s/2000s and are still played to this day.
Over time I did some work on modding IWD2, mostly on restoring cut content, so I basically know that a lot of things did not make it out in the final version of the game.Some were extremely funny, like tricking Goubliks and his giants to go dragon hunting against Sherincal, I am just wondering if the game ever had a planned expansion, even in words among the developers. I would also dearly love to see some enhanced edition of the game, like the ones made for BG1&2.
Replayed IWD2 few months ago, and it's as good as i remember it being. It has some chapters that feel like they drag a bit (ice palace) but overall, the game is a masterpiece.
I loved Icewind Dale 2! Thank you & your team for all your hard work & effort! I always wondered: Was Icewind dale 1 & 2 set in or near the same time as the Baldur's Gate series?
I have very good memories of IWD2, played through it in full two times. I still keep the characters from my second playthrough, even wrote backstories for them and everything (and reused them in BG:EE's Black Pits. My only real complaint with it is the UI and even that's just a minor one. Can't wait for the EE version, gonna play it again then :)
Thank you. I still play it today, HOF with mods that enhances the game new items, randomize, damage reduction from armor which in standard dont have. Overall, the fact i still play it today, it was AWESOME. The feats needs improvement but compare to other games, they were nothing compared to IWD2. Storywise still relevant even more today
People often talk about other people (normally celebrities) they think they could sit down with and chat for hours. As somebody who’s spent over 35 years playing D&D, primarily in the forgotten realms, I can honestly say I could happily sit and listen to you talking about these games. Your honesty and integrity shine through, even when your admitting to mistakes. I have never been a lover of Icewind Dale, but Baldurs Gate, Baldurs Gate 2 and Icewind Dale 2 are probably the best pc RPG’s ever made imo (bg1 holds a special place in my heart as when I left the military in 98 I used my army savings to buy my first pc and the first game I bought was bg1). It’s such a shame beamdog are not able to EE IWD 2.
I really have to disagree about Isair and Madae. To me they were really compelling back then and even more so upon replaying the game today. There is just enough in the game to make us understand why they are the way they are and did what they did. It's really unfortunate that the whole story seems to be building up to a point where it makes sense that there would be an option for us to join them. The dialogue itself almost builds up to the point where we should be able to join them and end the game like that. Perhaps you guys back then weren't as confident in that you did in fact create one of the greatest CRPGs ever.
IWD 2 is SO underrated. But maybe I'm just nostalgic. It was the first "classic" CRPG I ever played. The heavy emphasis on combat helped me *DOMINATE* BG1/BG2 when I went on to play them. I usually call IWD 2 "a puzzle game, where each encounter is a combat puzzle".
Out of all the Infinity Engine games, IWD2 is one of my favourites. I just like basically everything about it, the engine itself was very polished at that point, and the with introduction of the 3'rd Edition of the D&D ruleset, it made it even better. Even with the emphasis being combat in the IWD games, I felt the story in the game was pretty epic as well. I remember well when I stumbled upon a guide on gamefaqs called "Ultimate Power Gaming Party" after having played the game through once or twice, and it made me appreciate the game In a whole other way once again. It was basically a huge document breaking down exactly what Race/Class combination to choose for each party member, and every talent / spell to essentially make your party a lean mean killing machine, and boy.. did it deliver!
***** Still that means you will lose your kits...unless they found a way to insert prestige classes somehow.that would be awesome.Like in NWN but make them faithful to the 2nd edition ruleset.
***** Βtw, there was a project (a mod) to make bg2 into iwd2 engine, 3dr edition and all that, just like they did with iwd in bg2 engine. I dont know if it is still a work in progress or just scrapped
you should have worked at major studio and produce another outstanding game like ice wind dale 2. ice wind dale 2, the best rpg game. star ocean 2, ice wind dale 2, and final fantasy 8 are my all time favorites. thank you josh for making this incredible game
Interesting to hear your thoughts.. I was and am one of those infinity fans you mentioned that needed to be presented with a challenge and thats what made Icewind Dale 2 shine for me.. I remember the bridge fight in particular had me reloading for several hours, wiping countless times but I never even considered lowering the difficulty because I was having a great time trying to perfect my strategy. I love the combat in the infinity games and mods like sword coast stratagems has me still playing after all these years. Another thing I really liked about Icewind Dale was the full party creation as it really suits my minmaxing, powergamer mentality. As much as I appreciate an open world to explore at my leisure it can make later combat somewhat trivial and for a game like IWD2 which had a bigger focus on combat I think the linear approach served it well. If Pillars of Eternity becomes a hit and the combat is fun, which I kind of expect, maybe a similar game more focused on harder combat for players that are familiar with the engine, ruleset and what "works" would be an idea? Just a thought.. :p
Loved Icewind Dale 2 and Josh Sawyer is amazing! No one makes RPG's like Obsidian! Loving Pillars Of Eternity so far, can't wait to play the final version!
+kozzy420420 I dont like POE so much than BG I, BG II e IWD I e II, the creation of the chars are very limited and it seems little compared to the others... However IWD 2 its AWESome!!!!!!!
+kozzy420420 I dont like POE so much than BG I, BG II e IWD I e II, the creation of the chars are very limited and it seems little compared to the others... However IWD 2 its AWESome!!!!!!!
Leandro Sales Fair enough, I might not have liked it as much as those old calssics to but hey it was still very very well done, not to mention the second expansion pack is fantastic also. I am just glad my favorite genre is back, and they have all been godo quality (some might like one more than the other,etc..) Divinity Original Sin, Pillars, Wasteland 2, Shadowrun Hong Kong, Torment,etc..
+kozzy420420 Indeed! i agree and be very happy for the back of our favorite true RPG! I dont play the expansion WM 1/2 and do not know waht it have of new stuff
Leandro Sales The first expansion pack is not to bad but the second one is excellent. Sort of reminds me Icewind Dale in some ways these two expansion packs. Will be interesting to see what they do for a Pillars Of Eternity 2. Can't wait till the new Torment is finished up, the writing looks to be very good.
Actually Josh the game was fantastic. Sometimes you just want a game that guides you like NWN 2 did for us. Even though it's linear there was still a ton of things in each area to discover and the 3e ruleset was a great change at the time. It was and still is a great game. I am replaying it today over on Gog.com and I really really enjoy it.
i loved this game. i do recall thinking the budgetary issues were kind of on its sleeve - sparse music and so on. i also recall the combat balance was great at first but by the end you had +4 and +5 swords raining down on you from the sky. also you should have lied and told wrathraven you named "The Sword of [charname]" after him on the forums.
I was 11 or 12 when I played IwD2. Character creation was... quite overwhelming for a kid, who didn't hear about D&D and never played D&D games before. And damn, the game was hard. I remember that lazy mercs kicking my ass in some dirty tavern over and over and over again. Still a game really dear to my heart to this day. I'll be honest, I've never finished it, though. And now, I think the version of D&D used in IwD2 is so much better compared to the first IwD and BG1 (haven't played the second one yet, so I don't know). leveling up is so much more fun.
I am now 29 years old. And iwd2 was one of my first rpgs. Loved it. But I was young and rolled a bad party because I had no idear of the class / character system, I could not finished it had no thief no idear of the cleric spells... So on. I now bought it again on gog, and now I will finish it. For 10 month development, an epic great game. Please make an enhanced edition with an good addon or so. And I will buy this again. :) greetings from Austria :)
I have to agree with Malovon in saying that IWD2 still remains one of my favourite games along with Baldur's Gate 2. From a level design perspective it was a step up from the first game. One other thing I'd like to mention is; while I agree that you guys could have fleshed out Isair and Madae better --- they also remain as one of my favourite villains of all time (I just really like their backstories; being the driving point of their cause in the game).
If you mouse over the time bar so you get the mini preview then sweep along to the right, his head goes waababababbabababababbabab. It is quite amusing.
BG2 is one of my favorite games of all time, but the first part of ID2 defending Targos and then securing it from future threats is the best piece of gaming in the infinity ending.
IWD2 was great. BG2, ID and ID2 are my 3 favorite games ever. None of them are too long. The saddest part is that they had to end. I still want more of the IE style games. I was excited for BG3 until i heard that it was a Larian project. I knew it would be DOS with a BG label slapped on it. Not a surprise that we got DivinityGate.
Just to balance the comments out, I am an old-school gamer that didn't like Icewind Dale 2. I got it back then, expecting I am going to play an RPG, but it ended up as fight after fight - tiresome and infinite. I did not really know that much about DnD rules back then, as in my country we played a DnD clone. So my party was not really optimized for combat. It even had a bard :D What a disappointment it was to find yet another fight after the fight that I've just barely survived, and again and again.
I liked Icewind Dale 1 for what it was. Definitely combat centered, but still with that fun Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition ruleset, lots of nice and interesting locations in a vastly different setting than the Sword Coast or Amn. Not feeling the sequel unfortunately. Yes, it's impressive for a game created by a skeleton crew within 10 months - but it had big shoes to fill and as you stated it, as a consumer you mostly care about the end product. The UI overhaul made it clunky and unintuitive. The 3rd DnD ruleset is vastly inferior to its predecessor (no fault on your teams side for that one) and thus the character development and combat is also flawed. Glad to get some insight into the background how things came to be, though.
I wanted to thank you not only the video, but also your job as lead designer. I still remember the game in its release, but after last year couldn´t enjoy a proper full run and wow, need to say that didn´t seemed longer for me but thanks to the incredible change of pacing in every new area. I really appreciate it how different feels and how always the game surprises you with something unexpected. That kind of things was a major improvement of IW1+HoW, but also makes the game really memorable. Sometimes I have the feeling of some cut stuff and time constraints like enemy models (since later in game there is more use of palettes instead full models like the goblin army, the barghest, etc.) but overall, game feels really cohesive and completed. Is there any place where cut content (areas, sidequests, etc.) has been already told? Thank you all!
The ONLY significant fault of IWD2 is that it wasn't Baldur's Gate (2). That set the bar so high that you were never going to match it. But take it for what it is and it's a great game. Let's call it value for money rather than too long. But Battle Square - well maybe a tad OTT.
I'm big fan of first ID, but ID2 was terrible and very annoying to play, Targos was boring AF, didn't like any location and I hated new D&D edition, mage with 2h sword was too much for me
And i was wondering why is this game so harder than Torment or Dale I, now i know - the developers deliberately made it harder! I would welcome this challenge had the game mechanics been not buggy.. IWD2 has huge problems with NPC waypoints in selecting movement path and surrounding an enemy, it's almost "broken level", just short of it.
Hi Josh! I appreciate the video, I personally think the length of the game was great, it is one of very few games I've played (of its length) that I actually played through the whole way through, and one of a number of similar games I can count on a few digits that I've actually gone through to play multiple times after. A lot of very interesting insight and I appreciate the details. Beamdog has recently made a call out to fans in an effort to dig up the source code for a potential Enhanced Edition release. If you may be able to help point myself or them in the right direction, it would be well appreciated by me and many others if you had the time to do so. Again, thanks for this video, I've often wondered about these kinds of details and topics of discussion about one of my favorite games, and as a software developer, it still blows my mind what you and your team were able to pull off in 10 months.
I regret playing Iwd 2 first, cuz by the time I got around to playing bg and iwd 1 I was already spoiled by how polished the 2.5e dnd engine compared to the 2e engine.
Gotta agree that Icewind Dale 2 felt far too long for what it was - a combat focussed DnD RPG. The first Icewind Dale (including HOW - which proves that length doesn't make a great expansion) had such a coherent story by comparison - you always knew why you were doing what you were/fighting who you were. The Second game just seemed like a bunch of sidequests cobbled together - like in Chapter 3 where you have to get through the forest by helping Wandering village - there's no way you can say that chapter was anything but padding.
I would prefer Icewind dale 2 to be longer. I like the characters and combat, but didn't like a few of the finicky quests like that herb thing in the bottom of the lizardmen caves. Most of the game was very fun.
That's a matter of subjective opinion. There were a few things I didn't like about the game, but I did enjoy it, and I didn't feel that it was too long.
I liked ID2, the only problem I had with is was the bugs and the broken things that didn't work as intended or... at all. Other things are just minor gripes. The difficulty for me was a bit too easy, but then again I'm one of those hardcore IE games freak Josh was talking about here, so yea...
Icewind Dale 2 is awesome. I had never been a fan of D&D before as i knew nothing about it, but that game converted me, i still play it; i was playing it this morning in fact
The graphics are detailed and the user interface is polished. I feel motivated to go forward to see the next land. But the difficulty is brutally hard, even compared to the first installment. I don't really enjoy playing the engine, and taking advantage of technical quirks, or reloading before every battle. The way enemies attack in a group adds to immersion, but jesus. I've an almost minmaxed party, max HP per level on, and I'm getting slaughtered. Old tricks like hoarding plus arrows are insufficient. Whatever happened to OpenGL rendering of transparency? How did people play it in 2002 if area effect spells turn everything to a slideshow on a more or less period computer?
i want ice wind dale 3. i want to play old school d&d with old school interaction like the game 'Order of the Griffon" for Turbo Graffx 16 bit. i mean not exactly but similar, just like iwd was different but kind of the same combat style. i want pretty much icewind dale in HD.... i'll give you money? lets roll some digital 20 sided dice with amazing artwork and many different choices that make the game totally custom to how i like to role play. NPCs that i will remember for the rest of my life like minsc and boo... mazes. dungeons, traps, tricks, puzzles, magic, might, stealth, good, evil, and everything in between, Underdark, Ten Towns, Baldurs Gate, Neverwinter, Dorns Deep, Kelvins Cairn, make like one or two new places gimme a desert and some mountains and we'll call it good nuff. With that being said I ask you this : Is it safe for my party to rest here?? p.s. exp cap at lvl 40ish, dont need to make another super long game, just give more exp for doing things or let me grind goblins until im level 10 because i will do that, i will pay you 50$ to let me do that plus another 30$ for the expansion and i will make my friend buy it too so we can play together or i will buy it for him....
Too long? it felt rushed after the first half was over. I would've liked to be able to have more of BG2's openness in it though. As a kid i was exited for all Infinity Engine games as in "lets see what they throw at me" story wise and combat wise. I specially wanted to have more time in the upper levels (12+) before going up another level to enjoy the newfound powers, etc. Would've definitely enjoyed the chance to reform the Legion of the Chimera as their core tenet seem good and moral to me.
playing icewind dale II rigth now, just deafeated the guardian in cult with lvl 12 team paladin fighter cleric monk rogue sorc took 4 tries to get him. Thank you for dreating theese kind games they will always's be my favourite.
There is one question that had bothered my mind since I've first played Icewind Dale 2: Why is there so many dead cats? I have found several of them. At one point I thought there is some secret reward if I find them all, something like dead cat armor +10 or something. But no, just several dead cats, stored in random places.
IWD2 was an absolute great experience to me, so much that i have returned to it time over again only to learn new aspects of the game. Ofcause this colminated in reading the guides UPP :) and later JUPP aswell. The story line is very linear, but i think this was very well n line with IWD1 so for me i settled with it, and had so many great experiences. Thanks for this evaluation of it as well!
Josh i got to say icewind dale 2 targos is literally one of the best feelings and environments to a game i have ever experienced and that includes pillars/tyranny/bg2 etc etc.The music and the quests in the early game make it feel like your in a real town run by someone and your in general trying to make your way through, even on twitch now when my friend runs the game from time to time we always talk about how good targos feels and how well done it was. The next area that stayed with me for years and i never forget was that blasted ice temple, fantastic area with a couple of cool puzzles and challenges, and the battle squares when we re ran it in 2018 on insanity had us there for about 12 hours grinding away trying to get the items :D :D :D . Icewind dale 2 is a classic and if there was ever a game i would love to see you do, it's icewind dale 3. I played more of pillars of eternity and have really enjoyed it the start was a bit rough but the game opens up nice, and White march sooooooooooooooo reminded me of icewind dale, durgans battery etc is just masterfully done the areas are beautiful and a great feel. You have done some awesome stuff man and i will get onto pillars of eternity 2 soon and write back on the channel.
Mr. Sawyer, greetings and salutations, I came across your channel purely by accident. But it's a pleasure to meet the lead designer for Icewind Dale II. I know there were some things about the game you regret. But make no mistake in my humble opinion you did an absolutely fantastic job on the game. I beat it a couple of times and i think you did a tremendous job with the game. And i wish you nothing but the best for the future and hope to play more of your work.
The Icewind Dale series has a special place in my heart. In my opinion both games were better than BG 1 and 2. But that is just me. I never understood why IWD II was not better received, it was a great attempt at DnD 3.0
I think one of the main problems with Pillars compared to the old IE games is that it's not set in Forgotten Realms. FR has had so much work and input over so many years it's extremely difficult to make a setting as interesting as it.
hey I heard that you are a historian.that so fucking awesome.I am in my last year in history and philosophy.what advice can you give me as a elder historian?
This game was my first radio with the infinity engine and dungeons and dragons. I got mostly because I wanted to understand other character class systems than the one that Diablo II gave me. I always loved the concept of IWD2 and the various environments you visit, but I really feel the concept of a game where you control an entire party in a RTS battle system can vastly be improved upon. For me, it plays too slow and too clunky and that goes the same for all the infinity engine games for me. But IWD2 was the only game that I ever put a lot of time into and I did reach Isiar and Madae, but I wasn't able to defeat them. I think my party just sucked or I didn't fully understand the buff system that the cleric could provide.
My party was wiped out in their first battle against Isair and Madae... but I reloaded from an earlier save and prepared more effectively and defeated them that 2nd try! :) That said, I had some experience with AD&D from playing the pen & paper version of the game and doing a fair bit of reading of the AD&D books, and from the start, I treated the game as an exercise in maximising the combat effectiveness of my party.... Even then, I experienced some major challenges even before the battle against Isair and Madae... but I enjoy a challenge! :D Scott89878, I bet you can defeat Isair and Madae! :D
absolutely loved icewind dale 1. ive written my characters stories in their bios and commited it to memory making me attached to them. please need enhanced icewind dale 2.
For me, I found certain things like stealth for instance in IWD2 (the hide skill) was completely broken. In the BG series stealth was bordering on broken in my opinion but not completely game breaking. This was one of the biggest things that ruined the challenge for me. After repeatedly getting my butt kicked by the skeleton cleric and his minions in the first stanza (Targos area) I found out my rogue could pre-stealth outside, proceed to enter the room with all the skeletons (breaking her stealth) yet still manage to make it all the way to the cave trap door completely undetected before her "invisible" supply ran out (Yes when she stealthed the game literally said she was "invisible") This mind you with a character that was just starting at level 1 with perhaps 3-4 ranks of hide. She then easily killed all the goblins in the cave tunnels with a rank of Dash, by kiting them around shooting a crossbow. This was made easier because the goblins literally stopped chasing as soon as my character went around a corner out of their sight. I could have easily killed them all this way by just ducking around corners and sniping. But add in the broken stealth and it was literally a cakewalk running around them undetected and sniping them to death. The poor buggers. The only reason it took awhile was because she was level 1 with no skill in crossbow. Otherwise it was god awful easy, too easy in my opinion. The skeletons on the other hand were a bit faster, a bit tougher.... but... After realizing this flaw in game mechanics I found out my level 1 paladin with 1 rank in Hide could stealth outside the caves (becoming completely invisible in full armor), enter the cave and walk straight up to any skeleton undetected, smoke a cigarette, then bash them in the skull with a mace and quickly run out of the room before they could counter., then rinse and repeat. After killing all the minions and running the cleric out of spells using this technique of running out of the room while it was casting (yah I know its cheesy) I was able to easily clear out the entire place. So anyway I stopped playing soon after the first area. I found the game to be too easy to beat, and cheesy tactics and flawed game mechanics too prevalent to simply ignore or not utilize. There was positives about IWD2 don't get me wrong, the story and voice acting superb, albeit a bit too linear for my tastes as mentioned by the dev, the BG series was perfect in my opinion as far as offering the option of exploration, the IWD series should have copied this method. I decided to take time to write this rant because I had high hopes for IWD2 and would have enjoyed playing it through had it not been for these issues.
My only problem with icewind dale 2 is that you ignored my advice, which im pretty sure I sent several emails about.
The game would've sold millions if youd named it "Icewind Dale 2: Dale Harder"
What did you do with the source code Joshua!!!???
Seriously. Years ago I wondered why people were not modding this game esp with new adventures, and I still do wonder as the missing code does not rule out many things that can be done. Love the character creation and development more here than any other 3e video games, which there are many. Would be something if Obsidian would make an updated IWD2 or IWD3.
BG, BG2, ID, ID2 - love them all.
Icewind Dale 2, along with all other Infinity Engine games are some of the very best games I've played in my entire life (about 30 years or so of gaming).
The pacing of the games' combat was fluid (no clunky, slowness of most of nowadays' 3D rpgs), the interface was very close to optimal and the art style and stories were beautiful and very inventive (in a big way also thanks to the grand locales of the forgotten realms) and the balance between seriousness and the eventual quirkiness in the dialogues was always spot-on.
I knew Obsidian was behind Project Eternity but I didn't realize the lead of Icewind Dale 2 was also the lead here and that makes me very happy. I know you guys have one heck of a challenge to live up to all these major expectations Joshua, but I hope you pull it through in a major way and I wish you'll all take some major inspirations from the D&D system in the form of amount of class variations/combinations and the sheer immensity of spells available ("polymorphs", "create weapons", "status afflicting spells", "no-save spells", "time stop", "summons", sooo many things beyond the usual "do X damage of Y type" of most rpgs) to make Project Eternity as infinitely replayable as the Infinity Engine games (I probably play each of them at least once per year).
Finally, once again, thank you for giving us Heart of Winter and Icewind Dale 2, those games shaped my youth/young adulthood and continue to do so even today (in fact, I found this video while looking for some tips for IWD2 on Gamebanshee. I'm having a bit of trouble fighting ol' Sherincal with my solo Paladin of Mystra/Sorcerer on Heart of Fury!)
Loved IWD2. Would pick it over Pillars any day.
Game was too long? nonsense.
thing that you love can't be too long
the game wasn't to long for my either
zadrot2008 totally agree, I wish they could remastered it so it would look more modern
@2 Metres Above It's a continuation of IWD, so it's hard but since you have gotten the system down you should like it. It's a much expanded version ( 3rd Ed. Rules vs 2nd ed.) so you have much more classes to choose from. Try a Paladin of Mystra / Wizard build for fun.
@2 Metres Above Length I think is about the same.
Icewind Dale 2 is a beautiful game. I hope it gets enhancement.
Neanderthal 119 I hope it gets remastered , enhancement - usually means just HD mode.
I hear it can't be because it would be too expensive since the source code got lost somehow.
@@Bumra Well it didn't sell well enough and wasn't as liked as it deserved. I don't think we will ever see a remastering or even an HD mode.
Perfect time to do a enhanced version of it. I'm sure Beamdog has got the money for it
Nice, I'll have to track down that widescreen mod!
There was a lot of criticism concerning IWD2. So much, that as a BG2 fan I almost decided not to try it out in fear of severe disappointment.
The criticism included but was not limited to: No character interaction which is a supposedly huge let down in terms of immersion, boring story, mindless monster hacking, too linear, etc.
But when I finally decided to give it a shot I immediately loved the game.
It is more combat focused than BG2 and admittedly does not feature this exceptionally epic story and brilliant character interaction. But it did everything else right.
IwD2 is awesome and I cannot believe they put this together in about a year or even ten months. It has a different focus than BG2 but the gameplay is absolutely competitive if not even better. And it is NOT too long. The game is so much fun and I never got bored. How can there be too much of something so good?
Measure IwD2 against BG2 + ToB and BG2 wins. But which rpg (except planescape) was ever the equal of BG2 + ToB? Personally I even prefer it over Planescape Torment and to me it is the best rpg (plus expansion) ever created.
But compare IwD2 to the myriad of other rpgs released in the last decade. It is brilliant. There are quite epic large scale battles that last minutes and invovles armies of conjured monsters, fire storms, mass destruction and god knows what else.
There were so many moments where I was blown away by how much fun it is to unleash your advanced (hof) party's combined powers against armies of evil monsters. The game was so much fun that I never once thought: "I really miss character interaction so much that it just isnt as much fun." Even though I simply love BG2's interaction.
Personally I would recommend this game to any rpg fun as a must. I have finished it a couple of times already and started a new party again two days ago.
I'd rate BG2 + ToB with 10 out of 10. Yes, it is that good and so far unmatched in its glory. Anything less than a 10 would insult this rarerity.
Icewind Dale 2 I would rate with a 9 out of 10.
kenshiro katana I tried bg2, as I expect I won't blend with such awful equipment system and items. Yes I know its an old game lol but I just can't handle how clunky it was. Iwd2 I think did better than bg2 becuz yeah it release years after bg2. And I think never winter night2 is pretty good despite not being good against bg2 in terms of story, but the rest of it , it does did well.
well both iwd games have mods that add a party with actual characters in them with banters like bg 2. it makes me somewhat enjoy the iwd series as i find them really repetitive otherwise.
IWD 2 had the best art design of that series.
Vaught it really did. Hasn’t been topped since.
And maybe one of the best sound design (and probably top one for me). But there was a fierce competition.
I miss the good days baldurs gate icewind dale fallout 1 & 2 those were games not like the shit that they make nowdays
I know this is an old comment, but I want to draw you back to this video so I can ask you if you have played Pillars of Eternity. I personally think it's Josh's (and Obsidian's) masterpiece. One of the best isometric old school RPGs of the modern age
@@Katalmach11b I liked it a little, but it hasn't gripped me at all as well as previous IE games. Still can't play through it. It's linear, you only have a single avatar to create. A great game sure and welcome but ... nah.
@@TheVanillatech The game having only one character to create is not its weakness. I much prefer to make one character - as a self insert - and then pick up other characters as you go along.
In my opinion they give you too many characters from the beginning. Two companions in the starting town, and then another right after? And another right after that? It's ridiculous.
@@spritefroggy Yeah see I'm OLDSCHOOL. I wanna create my entire party. Not a fan of picking up NPC's.
Different strokes for different folks of course!
Get an old pc and some of those gems in big box format, place a small retro place in your house with your old pc set-up and crt and never look back.
I never really got into the D&D games back in the day, but I downloaded Icewind Dale 2 from GoG last year and I love it. I don't have a lot of time to play games, or anything else for that matter, so i really take my time with it. I think i bought it in December and I'm only in Chapter 3 now. I'm glad it's a long game. I treat it like a big book, it takes time to really take it all in. I've always been a huge Tolkien fan since i was young, and this game feels like a Tolkien book.
Excellent voice acting, elaborate world, and awesome character design.
Having loads of fun playing Icewind Dale 2, even if it is a 10 year old game, i find it's so much more satisfying than any game that's being released these days.
Looking forward to an Icewind dale 3?
You know, even though the story was crafted in two days, I think it was really compelling nonetheless!
I enjoyed IWD2 and I still enjoy some AD&D computer games that are ~25 years old: the SSI Gold Box games! :D
Love Icewind dale 2. Playing it now. This Joshua dude deserves a reward.
10 MONTHS! For making one of the best ever, and my favourite, CRPG of all time?!?! Superb job, guys.
not just playing this gem, I've been living and breathing it for 12 years. Anyone who loves to immerse into a world of tales and mysteries would worship the Icewind Dale and Baldur's Gate series for centuries. Thank you Josh.
Well said!
IMO the infinity engine games were to the 2000s what the SSI "goldbox" games were to the 90s. I remember writing an article for an old D&D e-zine where I said that interplay should've license the engine out and let others make games for it. All of the titles that used it were some of the best RPGs of the 90s/2000s and are still played to this day.
Over time I did some work on modding IWD2, mostly on restoring cut content, so I basically know that a lot of things did not make it out in the final version of the game.Some were extremely funny, like tricking Goubliks and his giants to go dragon hunting against Sherincal,
I am just wondering if the game ever had a planned expansion, even in words among the developers. I would also dearly love to see some enhanced edition of the game, like the ones made for BG1&2.
Well, the first Ice Wind Dale just got released with an Enhanced Edition, so it's possible!
F**** awesome game. Still love playing it.
the only regrettable thing is the lost source code thus impossibility of remaster/enhanced edition that could have fixed everything.
Christmas in February who woulda thought
Replayed IWD2 few months ago, and it's as good as i remember it being. It has some chapters that feel like they drag a bit (ice palace) but overall, the game is a masterpiece.
I loved Icewind Dale 2! Thank you & your team for all your hard work & effort! I always wondered: Was Icewind dale 1 & 2 set in or near the same time as the Baldur's Gate series?
I have very good memories of IWD2, played through it in full two times. I still keep the characters from my second playthrough, even wrote backstories for them and everything (and reused them in BG:EE's Black Pits. My only real complaint with it is the UI and even that's just a minor one. Can't wait for the EE version, gonna play it again then :)
BG, BG2, IWD, IWD2, PST are just amazing games I love so much to this day and have completed each of them twice reading pretty much every dialogue.
Still one of my favorite games of all time. Why subsequent rpgs did not have the combat depth or skill selection always saddened me.
lendial times are changing, nowadays kids just want to get in, kill everything, and move on
Pillars of Eternity!
Thank you. I still play it today, HOF with mods that enhances the game new items, randomize, damage reduction from armor which in standard dont have. Overall, the fact i still play it today, it was AWESOME. The feats needs improvement but compare to other games, they were nothing compared to IWD2. Storywise still relevant even more today
People often talk about other people (normally celebrities) they think they could sit down with and chat for hours. As somebody who’s spent over 35 years playing D&D, primarily in the forgotten realms, I can honestly say I could happily sit and listen to you talking about these games. Your honesty and integrity shine through, even when your admitting to mistakes. I have never been a lover of Icewind Dale, but Baldurs Gate, Baldurs Gate 2 and Icewind Dale 2 are probably the best pc RPG’s ever made imo (bg1 holds a special place in my heart as when I left the military in 98 I used my army savings to buy my first pc and the first game I bought was bg1). It’s such a shame beamdog are not able to EE IWD 2.
I really have to disagree about Isair and Madae. To me they were really compelling back then and even more so upon replaying the game today. There is just enough in the game to make us understand why they are the way they are and did what they did. It's really unfortunate that the whole story seems to be building up to a point where it makes sense that there would be an option for us to join them. The dialogue itself almost builds up to the point where we should be able to join them and end the game like that. Perhaps you guys back then weren't as confident in that you did in fact create one of the greatest CRPGs ever.
I bought the game like 20 minutes ago and i’m PUMPED. Love the classics you made man, you’re a legend!
I need an update. I've never played an infinity engine game before
IWD 2 is SO underrated. But maybe I'm just nostalgic. It was the first "classic" CRPG I ever played. The heavy emphasis on combat helped me *DOMINATE* BG1/BG2 when I went on to play them. I usually call IWD 2 "a puzzle game, where each encounter is a combat puzzle".
Out of all the Infinity Engine games, IWD2 is one of my favourites.
I just like basically everything about it, the engine itself was very polished at that point, and the with introduction of the 3'rd Edition of the D&D ruleset, it made it even better.
Even with the emphasis being combat in the IWD games, I felt the story in the game was pretty epic as well.
I remember well when I stumbled upon a guide on gamefaqs called "Ultimate Power Gaming Party" after having played the game through once or twice, and it made me appreciate the game In a whole other way once again.
It was basically a huge document breaking down exactly what Race/Class combination to choose for each party member, and every talent / spell to essentially make your party a lean mean killing machine, and boy.. did it deliver!
***** No that would suck! I want my kensai,cavalier kits!
***** Still that means you will lose your kits...unless they found a way to insert prestige classes somehow.that would be awesome.Like in NWN but make them faithful to the 2nd edition ruleset.
***** Βtw, there was a project (a mod) to make bg2 into iwd2 engine, 3dr edition and all that, just like they did with iwd in bg2 engine. I dont know if it is still a work in progress or just scrapped
IWD in Bg2 is fully operational, bug free mod! Try it!
No problem. I currently have the 7th version installed. It works pretty fine :) Be well.
you should have worked at major studio and produce another outstanding game like ice wind dale 2. ice wind dale 2, the best rpg game. star ocean 2, ice wind dale 2, and final fantasy 8 are my all time favorites. thank you josh for making this incredible game
I hate to admit it, but Icewind Dale 2 was my favourite iteration of the infinity engine generation of games. And I played and finished them all.
All of us "old school" gamers absolutely love all your previous work, I think I can speak for us all when I say we're so happy we still have you.
Interesting to hear your thoughts.. I was and am one of those infinity fans you mentioned that needed to be presented with a challenge and thats what made Icewind Dale 2 shine for me.. I remember the bridge fight in particular had me reloading for several hours, wiping countless times but I never even considered lowering the difficulty because I was having a great time trying to perfect my strategy. I love the combat in the infinity games and mods like sword coast stratagems has me still playing after all these years. Another thing I really liked about Icewind Dale was the full party creation as it really suits my minmaxing, powergamer mentality. As much as I appreciate an open world to explore at my leisure it can make later combat somewhat trivial and for a game like IWD2 which had a bigger focus on combat I think the linear approach served it well.
If Pillars of Eternity becomes a hit and the combat is fun, which I kind of expect, maybe a similar game more focused on harder combat for players that are familiar with the engine, ruleset and what "works" would be an idea? Just a thought.. :p
i really loved IWD2. it felt SO clean with its implementation of 3.5
Loved Icewind Dale 2 and Josh Sawyer is amazing!
No one makes RPG's like Obsidian! Loving Pillars Of Eternity so far, can't wait to play the final version!
+kozzy420420 I dont like POE so much than BG I, BG II e IWD I e II, the creation of the chars are very limited and it seems little compared to the others...
However IWD 2 its AWESome!!!!!!!
+kozzy420420 I dont like POE so much than BG I, BG II e IWD I e II, the creation of the chars are very limited and it seems little compared to the others...
However IWD 2 its AWESome!!!!!!!
Leandro Sales
Fair enough, I might not have liked it as much as those old calssics to but hey it was still very very well done, not to mention the second expansion pack is fantastic also. I am just glad my favorite genre is back, and they have all been godo quality (some might like one more than the other,etc..) Divinity Original Sin, Pillars, Wasteland 2, Shadowrun Hong Kong, Torment,etc..
+kozzy420420 Indeed! i agree and be very happy for the back of our favorite true RPG! I dont play the expansion WM 1/2 and do not know waht it have of new stuff
Leandro Sales
The first expansion pack is not to bad but the second one is excellent. Sort of reminds me Icewind Dale in some ways these two expansion packs. Will be interesting to see what they do for a Pillars Of Eternity 2. Can't wait till the new Torment is finished up, the writing looks to be very good.
I'm in the apparent minority that thinks Icewind Dale 2 is far superior to Icewind Dale.
Actually Josh the game was fantastic. Sometimes you just want a game that guides you like NWN 2 did for us. Even though it's linear there was still a ton of things in each area to discover and the 3e ruleset was a great change at the time. It was and still is a great game. I am replaying it today over on Gog.com and I really really enjoy it.
i loved this game. i do recall thinking the budgetary issues were kind of on its sleeve - sparse music and so on. i also recall the combat balance was great at first but by the end you had +4 and +5 swords raining down on you from the sky. also you should have lied and told wrathraven you named "The Sword of [charname]" after him on the forums.
Dragon's Eye........ eurgh. I love IWD2 but Dragon's Eye goes on forever!
Dear Mr. Sawyer - I consider Icewind Dale II one of the best RPG's I ever played! Thank you for your hard work on it!
I was 11 or 12 when I played IwD2. Character creation was... quite overwhelming for a kid, who didn't hear about D&D and never played D&D games before. And damn, the game was hard. I remember that lazy mercs kicking my ass in some dirty tavern over and over and over again. Still a game really dear to my heart to this day. I'll be honest, I've never finished it, though. And now, I think the version of D&D used in IwD2 is so much better compared to the first IwD and BG1 (haven't played the second one yet, so I don't know). leveling up is so much more fun.
haha overwhelming? yeah i didnt know wtf i was gonna do xD killed a few orcs but its very fun too plan ahead xD
You're missing on the biggest baddest most epic adventure yet with Baldur'sGate2+Throne of Bhaal !!!
i dont care , after i am done with icewind dale 2 i prob take on baldur too
I am now 29 years old. And iwd2 was one of my first rpgs. Loved it. But I was young and rolled a bad party because I had no idear of the class / character system, I could not finished it had no thief no idear of the cleric spells... So on. I now bought it again on gog, and now I will finish it. For 10 month development, an epic great game. Please make an enhanced edition with an good addon or so. And I will buy this again. :) greetings from Austria :)
IWD2 is one of the most fun rpg's i've ever played. I prefer the more combat oriented rpg's, i played IWD2 4-5 times so far.
I have to agree with Malovon in saying that IWD2 still remains one of my favourite games along with Baldur's Gate 2. From a level design perspective it was a step up from the first game. One other thing I'd like to mention is; while I agree that you guys could have fleshed out Isair and Madae better --- they also remain as one of my favourite villains of all time (I just really like their backstories; being the driving point of their cause in the game).
If you mouse over the time bar so you get the mini preview then sweep along to the right, his head goes waababababbabababababbabab. It is quite amusing.
BG2 is one of my favorite games of all time, but the first part of ID2 defending Targos and then securing it from future threats is the best piece of gaming in the infinity ending.
IWD2 was great. BG2, ID and ID2 are my 3 favorite games ever. None of them are too long. The saddest part is that they had to end.
I still want more of the IE style games. I was excited for BG3 until i heard that it was a Larian project. I knew it would be DOS with a BG label slapped on it. Not a surprise that we got DivinityGate.
I'm on a save now. And introducing it to my little brother soon.
This game has been my favorite for yeears
Just to balance the comments out, I am an old-school gamer that didn't like Icewind Dale 2. I got it back then, expecting I am going to play an RPG, but it ended up as fight after fight - tiresome and infinite. I did not really know that much about DnD rules back then, as in my country we played a DnD clone. So my party was not really optimized for combat. It even had a bard :D What a disappointment it was to find yet another fight after the fight that I've just barely survived, and again and again.
I liked Icewind Dale 1 for what it was. Definitely combat centered, but still with that fun Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition ruleset, lots of nice and interesting locations in a vastly different setting than the Sword Coast or Amn.
Not feeling the sequel unfortunately. Yes, it's impressive for a game created by a skeleton crew within 10 months - but it had big shoes to fill and as you stated it, as a consumer you mostly care about the end product. The UI overhaul made it clunky and unintuitive. The 3rd DnD ruleset is vastly inferior to its predecessor (no fault on your teams side for that one) and thus the character development and combat is also flawed.
Glad to get some insight into the background how things came to be, though.
I wanted to thank you not only the video, but also your job as lead designer. I still remember the game in its release, but after last year couldn´t enjoy a proper full run and wow, need to say that didn´t seemed longer for me but thanks to the incredible change of pacing in every new area. I really appreciate it how different feels and how always the game surprises you with something unexpected. That kind of things was a major improvement of IW1+HoW, but also makes the game really memorable. Sometimes I have the feeling of some cut stuff and time constraints like enemy models (since later in game there is more use of palettes instead full models like the goblin army, the barghest, etc.) but overall, game feels really cohesive and completed.
Is there any place where cut content (areas, sidequests, etc.) has been already told? Thank you all!
Huuuge Icewind Dale 2 fan here, amazingly fun game with infinite replay value.
The ONLY significant fault of IWD2 is that it wasn't Baldur's Gate (2). That set the bar so high that you were never going to match it. But take it for what it is and it's a great game. Let's call it value for money rather than too long.
But Battle Square - well maybe a tad OTT.
wow i didnt know that IWD2 had such a short production time!
What a good game it turned out to be..
Great game. Please make Icewind Dale 3.
IWD2 is my favorite PC game ever.
I'm big fan of first ID, but ID2 was terrible and very annoying to play, Targos was boring AF, didn't like any location and I hated new D&D edition, mage with 2h sword was too much for me
I love your Pillars of Eternity game.
9:15 - That insight on how to manage a team of content-generating designers is fantastic.
And i was wondering why is this game so harder than Torment or Dale I, now i know - the developers deliberately made it harder! I would welcome this challenge had the game mechanics been not buggy.. IWD2 has huge problems with NPC waypoints in selecting movement path and surrounding an enemy, it's almost "broken level", just short of it.
Hi Josh! I appreciate the video, I personally think the length of the game was great, it is one of very few games I've played (of its length) that I actually played through the whole way through, and one of a number of similar games I can count on a few digits that I've actually gone through to play multiple times after. A lot of very interesting insight and I appreciate the details.
Beamdog has recently made a call out to fans in an effort to dig up the source code for a potential Enhanced Edition release. If you may be able to help point myself or them in the right direction, it would be well appreciated by me and many others if you had the time to do so.
Again, thanks for this video, I've often wondered about these kinds of details and topics of discussion about one of my favorite games, and as a software developer, it still blows my mind what you and your team were able to pull off in 10 months.
I regret playing Iwd 2 first, cuz by the time I got around to playing bg and iwd 1 I was already spoiled by how polished the 2.5e dnd engine compared to the 2e engine.
Gotta agree that Icewind Dale 2 felt far too long for what it was - a combat focussed DnD RPG. The first Icewind Dale (including HOW - which proves that length doesn't make a great expansion) had such a coherent story by comparison - you always knew why you were doing what you were/fighting who you were.
The Second game just seemed like a bunch of sidequests cobbled together - like in Chapter 3 where you have to get through the forest by helping Wandering village - there's no way you can say that chapter was anything but padding.
I would prefer Icewind dale 2 to be longer. I like the characters and combat, but didn't like a few of the finicky quests like that herb thing in the bottom of the lizardmen caves. Most of the game was very fun.
That's a matter of subjective opinion. There were a few things I didn't like about the game, but I did enjoy it, and I didn't feel that it was too long.
I liked ID2, the only problem I had with is was the bugs and the broken things that didn't work as intended or... at all. Other things are just minor gripes. The difficulty for me was a bit too easy, but then again I'm one of those hardcore IE games freak Josh was talking about here, so yea...
Icewind Dale 2 is awesome. I had never been a fan of D&D before as i knew nothing about it, but that game converted me, i still play it; i was playing it this morning in fact
The graphics are detailed and the user interface is polished. I feel motivated to go forward to see the next land. But the difficulty is brutally hard, even compared to the first installment. I don't really enjoy playing the engine, and taking advantage of technical quirks, or reloading before every battle. The way enemies attack in a group adds to immersion, but jesus. I've an almost minmaxed party, max HP per level on, and I'm getting slaughtered. Old tricks like hoarding plus arrows are insufficient.
Whatever happened to OpenGL rendering of transparency? How did people play it in 2002 if area effect spells turn everything to a slideshow on a more or less period computer?
i want ice wind dale 3. i want to play old school d&d with old school interaction like the game 'Order of the Griffon" for Turbo Graffx 16 bit. i mean not exactly but similar, just like iwd was different but kind of the same combat style. i want pretty much icewind dale in HD.... i'll give you money? lets roll some digital 20 sided dice with amazing artwork and many different choices that make the game totally custom to how i like to role play. NPCs that i will remember for the rest of my life like minsc and boo... mazes. dungeons, traps, tricks, puzzles, magic, might, stealth, good, evil, and everything in between, Underdark, Ten Towns, Baldurs Gate, Neverwinter, Dorns Deep, Kelvins Cairn, make like one or two new places gimme a desert and some mountains and we'll call it good nuff. With that being said I ask you this : Is it safe for my party to rest here?? p.s. exp cap at lvl 40ish, dont need to make another super long game, just give more exp for doing things or let me grind goblins until im level 10 because i will do that, i will pay you 50$ to let me do that plus another 30$ for the expansion and i will make my friend buy it too so we can play together or i will buy it for him....
Too long? it felt rushed after the first half was over. I would've liked to be able to have more of BG2's openness in it though. As a kid i was exited for all Infinity Engine games as in "lets see what they throw at me" story wise and combat wise. I specially wanted to have more time in the upper levels (12+) before going up another level to enjoy the newfound powers, etc. Would've definitely enjoyed the chance to reform the Legion of the Chimera as their core tenet seem good and moral to me.
Is it possible that wil be a Icewind Dale 1 and IWD 2 remake (made on Pillars of Eternity engine maybe ) in far future?)
\o/ new vidyaaaaa!!
playing icewind dale II rigth now, just deafeated the guardian in cult with lvl 12 team paladin fighter cleric monk rogue sorc took 4 tries to get him. Thank you for dreating theese kind games they will always's be my favourite.
There is one question that had bothered my mind since I've first played Icewind Dale 2: Why is there so many dead cats? I have found several of them. At one point I thought there is some secret reward if I find them all, something like dead cat armor +10 or something. But no, just several dead cats, stored in random places.
IWD2 was an absolute great experience to me, so much that i have returned to it time over again only to learn new aspects of the game. Ofcause this colminated in reading the guides UPP :) and later JUPP aswell. The story line is very linear, but i think this was very well n line with IWD1 so for me i settled with it, and had so many great experiences.
Thanks for this evaluation of it as well!
Josh i got to say icewind dale 2 targos is literally one of the best feelings and environments to a game i have ever experienced and that includes pillars/tyranny/bg2 etc etc.The music and the quests in the early game make it feel like your in a real town run by someone and your in general trying to make your way through, even on twitch now when my friend runs the game from time to time we always talk about how good targos feels and how well done it was. The next area that stayed with me for years and i never forget was that blasted ice temple, fantastic area with a couple of cool puzzles and challenges, and the battle squares when we re ran it in 2018 on insanity had us there for about 12 hours grinding away trying to get the items :D :D :D . Icewind dale 2 is a classic and if there was ever a game i would love to see you do, it's icewind dale 3. I played more of pillars of eternity and have really enjoyed it the start was a bit rough but the game opens up nice, and White march sooooooooooooooo reminded me of icewind dale, durgans battery etc is just masterfully done the areas are beautiful and a great feel. You have done some awesome stuff man and i will get onto pillars of eternity 2 soon and write back on the channel.
Mr. Sawyer, greetings and salutations, I came across your channel purely by accident. But it's a pleasure to meet the lead designer for Icewind Dale II. I know there were some things about the game you regret. But make no mistake in my humble opinion you did an absolutely fantastic job on the game. I beat it a couple of times and i think you did a tremendous job with the game. And i wish you nothing but the best for the future and hope to play more of your work.
The Icewind Dale series has a special place in my heart. In my opinion both games were better than BG 1 and 2. But that is just me. I never understood why IWD II was not better received, it was a great attempt at DnD 3.0
I still hold IWD2 as the pinnacle of tactical, party-based RPGs.
Still playing it. Did some fanart for it. It's a hard game, but it's fun. Still. Loved the story. Converted it to our D&D campaign.
I think one of the main problems with Pillars compared to the old IE games is that it's not set in Forgotten Realms. FR has had so much work and input over so many years it's extremely difficult to make a setting as interesting as it.
Get off Tumblr Josh! It's a trap!!!!
hey I heard that you are a historian.that so fucking awesome.I am in my last year in history and philosophy.what advice can you give me as a elder historian?
This game was my first radio with the infinity engine and dungeons and dragons. I got mostly because I wanted to understand other character class systems than the one that Diablo II gave me. I always loved the concept of IWD2 and the various environments you visit, but I really feel the concept of a game where you control an entire party in a RTS battle system can vastly be improved upon. For me, it plays too slow and too clunky and that goes the same for all the infinity engine games for me. But IWD2 was the only game that I ever put a lot of time into and I did reach Isiar and Madae, but I wasn't able to defeat them. I think my party just sucked or I didn't fully understand the buff system that the cleric could provide.
My party was wiped out in their first battle against Isair and Madae... but I reloaded from an earlier save and prepared more effectively and defeated them that 2nd try! :) That said, I had some experience with AD&D from playing the pen & paper version of the game and doing a fair bit of reading of the AD&D books, and from the start, I treated the game as an exercise in maximising the combat effectiveness of my party.... Even then, I experienced some major challenges even before the battle against Isair and Madae... but I enjoy a challenge! :D
Scott89878, I bet you can defeat Isair and Madae! :D
Dude I loved IWD2. So much fun
That game made my childhood. And now you guys saving me with your Pillars of Eternity games.
Thank you!
Dude! I didn't know you have your youtube account. SUPER SUBSCRIBED
My only problem with Icewind Dale 2 was the Dragon's Eye dungeon.
absolutely loved icewind dale 1. ive written my characters stories in their bios and commited it to memory making me attached to them. please need enhanced icewind dale 2.
Hey Joshua, do you think the source code of IWD2 is gone for good? :(
Great game!
extremely challenging, I never finished and went back to it 2 times.
What I don't like in RPGs there are too many items.
I am more a Baldurs Gate guy but IWD 1&2 were awesome too.
i've spent countless hours playing iwd2, one of the best games ever
For me, I found certain things like stealth for instance in IWD2 (the hide skill) was completely broken. In the BG series stealth was bordering on broken in my opinion but not completely game breaking. This was one of the biggest things that ruined the challenge for me. After repeatedly getting my butt kicked by the skeleton cleric and his minions in the first stanza (Targos area) I found out my rogue could pre-stealth outside, proceed to enter the room with all the skeletons (breaking her stealth) yet still manage to make it all the way to the cave trap door completely undetected before her "invisible" supply ran out (Yes when she stealthed the game literally said she was "invisible") This mind you with a character that was just starting at level 1 with perhaps 3-4 ranks of hide. She then easily killed all the goblins in the cave tunnels with a rank of Dash, by kiting them around shooting a crossbow. This was made easier because the goblins literally stopped chasing as soon as my character went around a corner out of their sight. I could have easily killed them all this way by just ducking around corners and sniping. But add in the broken stealth and it was literally a cakewalk running around them undetected and sniping them to death. The poor buggers. The only reason it took awhile was because she was level 1 with no skill in crossbow. Otherwise it was god awful easy, too easy in my opinion. The skeletons on the other hand were a bit faster, a bit tougher.... but...
After realizing this flaw in game mechanics I found out my level 1 paladin with 1 rank in Hide could stealth outside the caves (becoming completely invisible in full armor), enter the cave and walk straight up to any skeleton undetected, smoke a cigarette, then bash them in the skull with a mace and quickly run out of the room before they could counter., then rinse and repeat. After killing all the minions and running the cleric out of spells using this technique of running out of the room while it was casting (yah I know its cheesy) I was able to easily clear out the entire place.
So anyway I stopped playing soon after the first area. I found the game to be too easy to beat, and cheesy tactics and flawed game mechanics too prevalent to simply ignore or not utilize.
There was positives about IWD2 don't get me wrong, the story and voice acting superb, albeit a bit too linear for my tastes as mentioned by the dev, the BG series was perfect in my opinion as far as offering the option of exploration, the IWD series should have copied this method.
I decided to take time to write this rant because I had high hopes for IWD2 and would have enjoyed playing it through had it not been for these issues.
I don't remember there is a cleric class enemy in Targos, let alone an undead one
Thanks for answer Josh, it was very interesting.
Im playing IWD 2 right now. I love you.
did beamdog created the Icewind dale 2?
Josh is such a cool dude.
algorithm
Dat awesome volkswagen cap tho
2018 and playing IWD2 again.