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Rating the Dale

A lot of reviews about Icewind Dale have passed in time. Here are a few (some of the text has been edited for length):

3dfxgamers.com

A dungeon crawl in the best sense of the phrase, and another title that shows Interplay's continuing dominance over the CRPG genre.

The Adrenaline Vault

Rating:(4 out of 5 stars).
Despite my misgivings for the engine, I am a huge fan of Icewind Dale. It's the perfect example of how good design can mitigate technological shortcomings and still produce a great game. Bottom line is this: anyone who enjoys traditional fantasy role-playing games will love Icewind Dale.

C/Net Game Center

Rating: 8 out of 10
The good: Fast-paced and action packed; utilizes the strengths of the AD&D rules system; plenty of depth.
The bad: Trite story; resolution-constrained graphics; bad pathfinding; slow performance; reactive AI.
The bottom line: A tried-and-true mix of action and RPG.

Crackednuts

Rating: (4 out of 5 stars).
The recent crop of Infinity Engine AD&D games is reminiscent of SSI’s gold box series from the late ‘80s. While each new SSI game looked pretty much like the previous one, gamers bought them for the chance to experience a rich, new AD&D adventure. The same goes for Icewind Dale. While technically it offers very little new eye candy, it’s a solid game using a familiar and user-friendly engine. Fans of Baldur’s Gate should definitely not hesitate to purchase this game. It’s great fun, and will definately pass the time until the next RPG epic comes along.

Daily Radar

Rating: Direct Hit.
A top-notch RPG, Icewind Dale is a terrific romp that will keep you entertained for many, many hours. If you're hungry for the kind of deep RPG that will present you with a compelling quest and lots of character growth, Black Isle has cooked up a feast.

Daily radar UK

Rating: Hit.
Fundamentally, Icewind doesn't improve vastly over Baldur's Gate, a game which only seems to raise in people's estimation as time passes. The plot - which makes or breaks an RPG of this type - is often uninspired, and the action can become repetitive. Minor annoying faults such as shoddy pathfinding and occasionally crude graphics will annoy in a minor way. However, Icewind Dale's pedigree shines through, and makes it a creditable dungeon-crawling romp through an atmospheric world. Next time, though, we want to see a little more effort.

Firing Squad

Rating: 84%
The list of cons is fairly long, but they're lesser annoyances that added up, none of them gamebreakers. Even with those in consideration, Icewind Dale remains a fun RPG with strong action and strategy elements thrown in.

GA-RPG

Rating: 91%
Icewind Dale is a surprising title that should keep the more traditional RPG fans happy with the multitude of hybrid RPGs released this summer. Although the game doesn’t revolutionize the CRPG, it does offer one of the better gaming experiences of the summer. If you’re a fan of single player games or don’t mind the mutliplayer you found with Baldur’s Gate, then you should grab this one. The only real problems the game suffers from are the difficulty level and the low-resolution graphics. Being put on store shelves the same day as Diablo II was an interesting move on Black Isle Studios part, but depending on the type of gamer you are then you can’t go wrong with either title. If I were to pick up one of them then I’d take Icewind Dale without a doubt because I actually like a story.

Game Power

Rating: 3.5 out of 4.
Overall, Icewind Dale offers a well-paced adventure with serious thrills and chills. Hard-core AD&D fans are advised to give it a whirl while waiting for Baldur's Gate II. While the game makes its debut in the heat of July, it is so well-crafted that you can almost feel the cold winds blowing over the frozen glaciers and from the Vale Of Shadows.

Game Pro World

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
The last few years have been good to RPG fans and Icewind Dale is certainly another reason to celebrate. Anyone looking for a classic AD&D gaming experience to hold them over until Baldur's Gate II arrives should definitely check out Icewind Dale.

Gamers Pulse

Rating: 91%
If you are on the fence between Diablo 2 and Icewind, I would suggest picking both up!

Gamesmania

Rating: 85%
Despite a few shortcomings, AD&D enthusiasts and all computer RPG lovers will definitely enjoy this authentic and gratifying interactive experience.

Game Spot

Rating: 8.6 out of 10
Ultimately, its story makes Icewind Dale all the more satisfying, and its exciting action makes its occasional problems negligible. There's always a purpose behind all the hacking and slashing, which makes the gameplay seem rewarding and challenging, rather than like a cheap thrill.

Gaming Age

Rating: A-excellent.
I had sincerely been craving a really good PC RPG lately. Icewind Dale doesn't quite reach the depth of Planescape: Torment, but it never intended to. It does make vast improvements on the existing Baldur's Gate formula, which makes it an example of the possibilities of Baldur's Gate II. I found myself hopelessly addicted to this pseudo-dungeon crawl, and I have a feeling it isn't just me.

Gaming Spy

Rating: 82%
I'm so in love with this game. If you liked Baldur's Gate or Planescape: Torment, you'll love this game. If you're a fan of RPGs or strategy, or better, both, pick this title up, as well as the previous two I mentioned. I'm of the mindset that anything Black Isle makes is gold.

Happy Puppy

Rating: 8.5 out of 10.
As a single-player game, Icewind Dale is pure gold. With gameplay that's addictive and rewarding, you'll find yourself playing it into the wee hours of the night. I've already completed it twice, and I'm still staying in the office way too late to play it a third time. If that doesn't tell you that this game has the goods, then nothing will.

IGN Review

Rating: 8.8 out of 10.
Once in a while, a game comes along that completely takes over your life. StarCraft, Baldur’s Gate, and EverQuest were all like that, and now Icewind Dale arrives to flush productivity right down the toilet. Despite the somewhat cookie-cutter story, the game will have you playing long into the night the whole time saying to yourself, “Just one more dungeon, just one more dungeon!” It’s an exciting dungeon crawl that I recommend to any true RPG fan that is looking for a meaty quest to hold them over until the epic Baldur’s Gate II is released.