Just like we did with BGEE, BG2EE and IWDEE, it may be a good idea to gather all reviews in one thread. Everyone can post a review they find, with some snippets and the overall score
Post your links here, they will be added to the OP
Yep, those are mostly pretty solid reviews and this is one of those times where you'll get a more unbiased opinion if you read reviews from the critics rather than the community. I'm sure a certain group is bombarding the review sites with negative comments even though a lot of them probably haven't even played the game.
@bengoshi Are we allowed to post our lengthy steam reviews here to be added to the blog/user reviews if they're aiming for objective rating? If so, wouldn't you mind me sharing mine as it's 8k characters?
Are we allowed to post our lengthy steam reviews here to be added to the blog/user reviews if they're aiming for objective rating? If so, wouldn't you mind me sharing mine as it's 8k characters?
I think this thread should be left for non-user reviews. Meanwhile, if you post your review on your blog, the link to it could be added to the OP.
THE GOOD Detailed, involving storyline that includes around 35 hours of gameplay Brilliant script, dialogue, and voice-acting Reunites virtually the entire cast of the original Baldur’s Gate Same challenging, tactical combat with the usual rogues’ gallery of D&D monsters Improvements to the Infinity Engine visuals leads to larger-scale combat
THE BAD The somewhat linear plot gets in the way at times and prevents some question completion A few bugs and hiccups with the dated Infinity Engine interface
I was soon dragged into the events of the plot and held spellbound for over 35 hours of play. Quests were a nearly perfect blend of generic delivery jobs and suitably creepy or epic assignments, accompanied by the slow-but-steady level-and-loot advancement and the usual range of monsters--from aerial servants, to evil mages, to myconids, to zombies. Sometimes it was nice to zone out and acquire a bear pelt or collect a few unique items for a reward and easy XP. Sometimes it was nice to focus in on the brutal battles that accompany exploring the temple of a traitorous dwarven lich, or to take on a group of necromancers creating undead with the possible help of a spectral dragon, or to cleanse a druid’s grove of stinky evil. Nothing was dragged out too long, either. Everything that I was tasked to do had a sensible purpose, which kept my interest every step of the way.
Returning home to Baldur’s Gate makes Siege of Dragonspear one of the most enjoyable RPGs that I have played in a long time, both for the nostalgia factor of revisiting an all-time favorite and for the impressively designed and involving narrative that captures nearly everything that fans love about traditional D&D. Even though the engine creaks in spots, the overall experience is everything that a hardcore D&D fan could ask for, and a superb expansion of one of the most legendary franchises in all of roleplaying game history.
And another review from a major gaming site - http://www.pcgamer.com/ has given 71/100, which is very close to the aggregate score of this thread.
"It seemed fine in 1998. It even worked in the Enhanced Edition, where, despite the frustrations, it felt important to hold true to the original experience. But as a new campaign, released in 2016, the rougher edges feel more pronounced. As much as I once loved the Infinity Engine, that style is being replicated more smoothly in games such as Pillars of Eternity and Divinity: Original Sin. For those not desperate for more of a 15-year-old game, I'd recommend either of those over this."
HERESY!
"Overall, though, the writing's good. There are some duff moments, like the time new companion Corwin mistook my few curt responses to her questions as romantic interest. There is, however, some great stuff. In particular, Caelar Argent. There's a great depth to her emotional range. She's not a pantomime villain, despite the damage she's wrought.
As a Baldur's Gate adventure, Siege of Dragonspear works well. While it's not entirely tonally consistent with the original series, it does a good job of inserting itself into the middle of the story without feeling like sacrilege. As a result, though, it requires that you still be invested in that story. The fact is, a decade and a half later, there are much smoother, more enjoyable RPG experiences available.
Beamdog has proven they can continue the Baldur's Gate story. In doing so, they replicate the antiquated nature of the Baldur's Gate games."
Gamespot's review about playtime is extremely spot on. It took me 40 hours to get from the beginning of BGEE to SoD. (including every single sidequest, Durlag's Tower and TotSC) By the end of SoD my BGEE had 75 hours (so 35 from SoD) total.
Actually after reading through the entire PCgamer review, that's his only real complaint, and that for him hed recommend the newer infinity inspired games over this one... Which is fair enough, though id say he was a little harsh on his score in the end.. While 71 is still good, the scoring system in the video game industry as something around 70 is average, while a lot of people consider 50 to 60% poor, even though its technically an "average score"..
Point is, I'm all for scoreless reviews in the gaming industry
He complained about the interface too actually. I think its a bit unfair to mark down a bridge game for BG for using the same system deliberately. On the whole though the latest two reviews are very positive and I care about none of those negatives.
@Mikey205 Yeah I did see that... While it has been redesigned I sort of lumped that complaint into the fact is old as well.. But beamdog could have done a few things better with the UI for sure
Ugh. What an awful reading. That review... Well, let us say that it is not even a review. It is full of nonsense, contradictions and generic stuff.
Multiplayer.it is like GameStar, the German site mentioned by @Buttercheese. In the past, its reviews were written by professional people. Now they just post some random and generic stuff/screenshots about the game and they pretend to be professional. *Sigh*
I highlighted the nonsense sentences:
Good: You would never expect so much content from an expansion The main quest is unexpectedly good Some dialogues are well written
Bad: Bugs They should have improved the UI (er... did you notice that the UI has been vastly renewed?) (Another bad point, but it has no sense even in my language )
Overall: Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear is a good expasion. We do not need it, but we understand its purpose.
I asked the author to improve his review because it is bad written. I hope to read more professional Italian reviews, because this one just sucks.
Wow this review is very accurate although the reviewer us wrong in that you can turn off the sprites and I never saw a gnoll character u can recruit. He agrees with me that Safina is is irritating and that a lot of the chat choices are lame though
I still think I could rewrite ninety percent of the chat options and be more real to DnD and have more wit and of course cool rp thespian anger like a mad man is fighter blackguard Bezerker chaotic baddy should be
Beamdog could have gotten much more favorable reviews and made much more income off of rich fat forty something white guys if they had just sent me a list of the chat options to edit. Instead they lose a ton of the ole fat guy sales because of thier crusade to be modern and assert thier ideals over the HOLLOwEd ETHOS of 1998 Baldurs gate. I still had a realitively fine time playing but sadly I have to agree with the review that the expansion is not as good as the original 3 BGS well four if u count ToftSwrdCst
Heh, the reviewer from http://www.gameskinny.com didn't like Zaviak (even managed to spell him incorrectly - "Zoviak"), while I actually liked this chap a lot, he'd been my favourite minor NPC from the EE content in BG2EE, and I was glad to talk to him in SoD.
Heh, the reviewer from http://www.gameskinny.com didn't like Zaviak (even managed to spell him incorrectly - "Zoviak"), while I actually liked this chap a lot, he'd been my favourite minor NPC from the EE content in BG2EE, and I was glad to talk to him in SoD.
I really don't see why people have a problem with Zaviak's accent. It's no stranger than Caldo and Krumm's deep southern accent in the original BG
Good: You would never expect so much content from an expansion The main quest is unexpectedly good Some dialogues are well written
Bad: Bugs They should have improved the UI (er... did you notice that the UI has been vastly renewed?) (Another bad point, but it has no sense even in my language )
Overall: Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear is a good expasion. We do not need it, but we understand its purpose.
I asked the author to improve his review because it is bad written. I hope to read more professional Italian reviews, because this one just sucks.
The last bad point that @Aedan is mentioning connects to one of the good points: where in the latter there was "Some well written dialogues...", the former says "...and some that are not".
Although there is only 1 negative currently,I suggest removing it because most of the points he criticized are elements form the original games.Makes me doubt he ever or really played the originals before?
Now it's like:
Adding something new:No~~~~this in not my Baldur !!! You are dishonoring the series,I'm pissed,RAAGHRR!!!
Faithful to the originals:blah,generic,medicore,nothing new,too late.
"I kept my expectations low in an effort to preemptively soften the blow if the game failed to live up to years of memories and nostalgia.
Fortunately, that blow never came. I am tremendously happy to say that Beamdog crafted a compelling story for players to immerse themselves in, and I’m even willing to admit that, while it isn’t better than Baldur’s Gate II, it does outshine the original – a feat that I consider impressive even by the standards of modern games, and a compliment that I have scarcely uttered about even the best modern titles.
Though my view on the subject may be a tad idealistic, many early reviewers seemed to believe the opposite and complained that the inclusion of a transgender supporting character was somehow out of place within the world of Baldur’s Gate. Personally, however, I found Mizhena (the character in question) to be an excellent homage to the diversity that Dungeons and Dragons offers players, and am proud to see characters that represent the diverse spectrum of the LGBT+ community make their way into mainstream fantasy.
While Baldur’s Gate: Siege of Dragonspear might not be a complete philosophical match for the Enlightened Adult Gamer™ I grew up to be, it was nice to see that the series had grown up alongside me. I highly recommend picking up Siege of Dragonspear to any nostalgic gamers that may crave a return to the days of old-school RPGs. Furthermore, I also look forward to Beamdog’s future releases, and I truly hope that the enormous outcry on behalf of a bigoted minority does not dissuade them from continuing to include characters from all walks of life in the incredible and colorful world that is The Forgotten Realms."
The review is harsh about writing in SoD, but this part is unique:
"New companions also have some good moments attached to them. The skirt-chasing Skald Voghiln and the sarcastic Halfling Glint are not too bad, but feel a bit muted compared to the other two additions. The first is the controversial single mother Corwin, another member of the cast accused of pushing a social justice agenda. However, Corwin has depth and layers to her character that make her both flawed yet compelling, she is somewhat cold and prejudiced, but has moments of introspection that give her dynamics I did not expect. The real standout however is the Goblin shaman M’Khiin; her characterization is so pitch perfect the game, through both story and mechanics, reflects her role as a “monster amongst men” stereotype while not softball issues of prejudice. She becomes, in my mind, a character arguably on the same level as the likes of Edwin and Minsc in terms of being memorable." @AndrewFoley
Comments
(Dibs on "sshole!")
THE GOOD
Detailed, involving storyline that includes around 35 hours of gameplay
Brilliant script, dialogue, and voice-acting
Reunites virtually the entire cast of the original Baldur’s Gate
Same challenging, tactical combat with the usual rogues’ gallery of D&D monsters
Improvements to the Infinity Engine visuals leads to larger-scale combat
THE BAD
The somewhat linear plot gets in the way at times and prevents some question completion
A few bugs and hiccups with the dated Infinity Engine interface
I was soon dragged into the events of the plot and held spellbound for over 35 hours of play. Quests were a nearly perfect blend of generic delivery jobs and suitably creepy or epic assignments, accompanied by the slow-but-steady level-and-loot advancement and the usual range of monsters--from aerial servants, to evil mages, to myconids, to zombies. Sometimes it was nice to zone out and acquire a bear pelt or collect a few unique items for a reward and easy XP. Sometimes it was nice to focus in on the brutal battles that accompany exploring the temple of a traitorous dwarven lich, or to take on a group of necromancers creating undead with the possible help of a spectral dragon, or to cleanse a druid’s grove of stinky evil. Nothing was dragged out too long, either. Everything that I was tasked to do had a sensible purpose, which kept my interest every step of the way.
Returning home to Baldur’s Gate makes Siege of Dragonspear one of the most enjoyable RPGs that I have played in a long time, both for the nostalgia factor of revisiting an all-time favorite and for the impressively designed and involving narrative that captures nearly everything that fans love about traditional D&D. Even though the engine creaks in spots, the overall experience is everything that a hardcore D&D fan could ask for, and a superb expansion of one of the most legendary franchises in all of roleplaying game history.
http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/baldurs-gate-siege-of-dragonspear/1900-6416408/
"It seemed fine in 1998. It even worked in the Enhanced Edition, where, despite the frustrations, it felt important to hold true to the original experience. But as a new campaign, released in 2016, the rougher edges feel more pronounced. As much as I once loved the Infinity Engine, that style is being replicated more smoothly in games such as Pillars of Eternity and Divinity: Original Sin. For those not desperate for more of a 15-year-old game, I'd recommend either of those over this."
HERESY!
"Overall, though, the writing's good. There are some duff moments, like the time new companion Corwin mistook my few curt responses to her questions as romantic interest. There is, however, some great stuff. In particular, Caelar Argent. There's a great depth to her emotional range. She's not a pantomime villain, despite the damage she's wrought.
As a Baldur's Gate adventure, Siege of Dragonspear works well. While it's not entirely tonally consistent with the original series, it does a good job of inserting itself into the middle of the story without feeling like sacrilege. As a result, though, it requires that you still be invested in that story. The fact is, a decade and a half later, there are much smoother, more enjoyable RPG experiences available.
Beamdog has proven they can continue the Baldur's Gate story. In doing so, they replicate the antiquated nature of the Baldur's Gate games."
http://www.pcgamer.com/baldurs-gate-siege-of-dragonspear-review/
Point is, I'm all for scoreless reviews in the gaming industry
Summoning @Aedan or @Davide to translate it into
commonEnglishIt was about time!!!
I am going to translate the most important parts.
Multiplayer.it is like GameStar, the German site mentioned by @Buttercheese. In the past, its reviews were written by professional people. Now they just post some random and generic stuff/screenshots about the game and they pretend to be professional. *Sigh*
I highlighted the nonsense sentences:
Good:
You would never expect so much content from an expansion
The main quest is unexpectedly good
Some dialogues are well written
Bad:
Bugs
They should have improved the UI (er... did you notice that the UI has been vastly renewed?)
(Another bad point, but it has no sense even in my language
Overall:
Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear is a good expasion. We do not need it, but we understand its purpose.
I asked the author to improve his review because it is bad written.
I hope to read more professional Italian reviews, because this one just sucks.
Wow this review is very accurate although the reviewer us wrong in that you can turn off the sprites and I never saw a gnoll character u can recruit. He agrees with me that Safina is is irritating and that a lot of the chat choices are lame though
I still think I could rewrite ninety percent of the chat options and be more real to DnD and have more wit and of course cool rp thespian anger like a mad man is fighter blackguard Bezerker chaotic baddy should be
Beamdog could have gotten much more favorable reviews and made much more income off of rich fat forty something white guys if they had just sent me a list of the chat options to edit. Instead they lose a ton of the ole fat guy sales because of thier crusade to be modern and assert thier ideals over the HOLLOwEd ETHOS of 1998 Baldurs gate. I still had a realitively fine time playing but sadly I have to agree with the review that the expansion is not as good as the original 3 BGS well four if u count ToftSwrdCst
Thanks for the clarification.
I personally find it very genuine and agree with almost everything he says.
So I will be getting it after it gets patched
SOD got its first patch yesterday. It is in a very good shape and playable with no breaking bugs
Now it's like:
Adding something new:No~~~~this in not my Baldur !!! You are dishonoring the series,I'm pissed,RAAGHRR!!!
Faithful to the originals:blah,generic,medicore,nothing new,too late.
"I kept my expectations low in an effort to preemptively soften the blow if the game failed to live up to years of memories and nostalgia.
Fortunately, that blow never came. I am tremendously happy to say that Beamdog crafted a compelling story for players to immerse themselves in, and I’m even willing to admit that, while it isn’t better than Baldur’s Gate II, it does outshine the original – a feat that I consider impressive even by the standards of modern games, and a compliment that I have scarcely uttered about even the best modern titles.
Though my view on the subject may be a tad idealistic, many early reviewers seemed to believe the opposite and complained that the inclusion of a transgender supporting character was somehow out of place within the world of Baldur’s Gate. Personally, however, I found Mizhena (the character in question) to be an excellent homage to the diversity that Dungeons and Dragons offers players, and am proud to see characters that represent the diverse spectrum of the LGBT+ community make their way into mainstream fantasy.
While Baldur’s Gate: Siege of Dragonspear might not be a complete philosophical match for the Enlightened Adult Gamer™ I grew up to be, it was nice to see that the series had grown up alongside me. I highly recommend picking up Siege of Dragonspear to any nostalgic gamers that may crave a return to the days of old-school RPGs. Furthermore, I also look forward to Beamdog’s future releases, and I truly hope that the enormous outcry on behalf of a bigoted minority does not dissuade them from continuing to include characters from all walks of life in the incredible and colorful world that is The Forgotten Realms."
http://elotalk.com/baldurs-gate-siege-dragonspear-nostalgia-satisfaction-aplenty/
This is the highest score for SoD in reviews, and it brought the overall rating to 74/100.
@Cahir , we need you again
The review is harsh about writing in SoD, but this part is unique:
"New companions also have some good moments attached to them. The skirt-chasing Skald Voghiln and the sarcastic Halfling Glint are not too bad, but feel a bit muted compared to the other two additions. The first is the controversial single mother Corwin, another member of the cast accused of pushing a social justice agenda. However, Corwin has depth and layers to her character that make her both flawed yet compelling, she is somewhat cold and prejudiced, but has moments of introspection that give her dynamics I did not expect. The real standout however is the Goblin shaman M’Khiin; her characterization is so pitch perfect the game, through both story and mechanics, reflects her role as a “monster amongst men” stereotype while not softball issues of prejudice. She becomes, in my mind, a character arguably on the same level as the likes of Edwin and Minsc in terms of being memorable." @AndrewFoley
http://techraptor.net/content/baldurs-gate-siege-dragonspear-review-old-old
@AndrewFoley... They ruined our baby!!!