Icewind Dale
        Demo available through Zenobi Software œ2.99

                      Reviewed by Sue

The intro to Icewind Dale is spectacular and really draws you in.
It is presented as a tale from the past, told by a narrator who
has studied it for years.

He tells how Icewind Dale has been isolated from the rest of the
world by The Spines. A snow covered land, it is harsh and
unforgiving, originally the home of barbarians. But a mage arrived
who tried to enslave the barbarians by magic. They were about to
be conquered, but their shaman, Jarrad, called a council. They
united against the mage, Evercon, and were more than a match for
him together. He and his army fled, but he cast one last spell,
ripping a portal to the lower planes and demons poured out of it.
Together the barbarians and mercenaries tried to push the demons
back. Jarrad saw an omen from his god, Tempus, and ran through the
demons, into the portal. His blood fused with it, white light
exploded, the demons vanished and the portal closed. In its place
was a spinning disk with Jarrad's body fused into it.

Easthaven is one of the ten towns of Icewind Dale, a collection of
huts on the edge of Lac Dinneshere. Travellers sit in a tavern.
You and your party are among them. A fighter from Hillsfar comes
to talk to you - his name is Hrothgar. You introduce yourself and
he tells you where to get equipment, find lodging and asks you to
go and see him at his house when you are ready. When you do, he
tells you that he is getting together an expedition to go to the
Spine of the World Mountains. Evils forces are stirring, say the
people of Kuldahar. He and his party are going to investigate once
he's sorted out some other matters. When you enquire, he says the
caravan that brings stock for the weapons emporium is overdue, and
asks if you'll go and look for it, along the west shores of Lac
Dinneshere between Easthaven and Caer-Dinival. Then escort it to
town.

So, my party set off. I wandered round the town, did a few favours
for people. I cleared out an infested cellar and a warehouse. An
old drunk wanted some booze which I got for him and a townsman who
was plagued by dreams about a mysterious woman who could walk on
water was a lot happier after I explained that it was due to a sea
spirit who had something to return to him that had belonged to one
of his ancestors. Eventually I went to leave the town and look for
the missing caravan. As my party crossed the bridge, a little boy
came running up, in great distress. He'd been fishing and some
monsters had turned up and almost eaten him, though he thought
they were really after his fish. We offered to help him out by
getting his fish back, and walked over the bridge to encounter a
group of goblins.

And this is where my problems started. Y'see there's something
about me and the Baldur's Gate engine combat. We just don't get
on. It took me ages to sort out those goblins which Alex found
very amusing - as he pointed out, it's an easy fight. "I KNOW!" I
complained, wondering how I was going to manage when I met
monsters with REAL firepower. I went back to an earlier save and
rekitted the party, giving missile weapons to all who could use
them, increasing their defensive armour, and making sure they
stocked up on healing spells. I also sent them into battle with a
Bless spell active. Finally, I was partially successfully in that
I won the battle but lost two of my party.  Resurrecting them was
expensive but at least I could continue.

Following my initial instructions from Hrothgar, I left the town
looking for the caravan. It was easily found but had clearly been
in a severe fight. Reporting back to Hrothgar, we entered the next
phase of the game, leaving on our expedition to the Spine of the
World. Unfortunately we were attacked en route, and by the time we
got to the village, only my party appeared to be alive, and there
was no way back for healing.

One of the villagers warned of goblins which had taken over an
area by the mill, and once again I entered a fight. This time,
there were many more goblins, and, sadly, I had to admit defeat. I
just couldn't get past the monsters. Most frustrating and it means
that I can't tell you how much more there is to the demo.  I had a
chat to Julian Gregory who sent hints in this month for combat in
Baldur's Gate but even following his suggestions, I couldn't get
any further. One thing was that I couldn't seem to find any way to
pause the game when combat started. Maybe this doesn't work in the
demo. Or maybe I'm just too thick to find it!

Maybe if I started again, spent more time creating my characters,
perhaps tried a different balance in the party, and found the
blasted pause key, I do a bit better, but to be honest, life is
too short to spend struggling with a system that just doesn't seem
to suit me. There are lots of other games which I want to play so
Icewind Dale is out for me, and something which suits me better is
in.

Would I recommend the game? Strangely enough, yes, I would.  The
storyline is excellent, and the game itself atmospheric. The
graphics are good, with smooth movement, and the sound effects
work well. I even liked the music. But it just isn't my kind of
game.


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