The Concept

Developer: Black Isle
Publisher: Interplay
Heart of Winter official page: http://www.interplay.com/icewind/

We've been here before

Icewind Dale was just one of those games that was fun without being overly complex. Take out the plot from Baldur's Gate or the interesting characters from Planescape: Torment, and you have Icewind Dale. There's some vague evil threatening the land, and yes, it's up to you to save the world. True, there are probably better people to do it, and maybe violence isn't the only solution - but hey, you're Johnny on the Spot.

My first party

Uh-oh, they're all level 1, except my h4x0r character

Icewind Dale was hack and slash in its finest form, starting you out with a weakling party and leaving your group at a decent level and well equipped. It might not have been the most intellectually stimulating game, but it was certainly fun, and it managed to sell quite a few copies (ironically, more than the deep and well-thought-out Torment). No surprise then, that Interplay decided to follow it up with an expansion pack.

Trickstyle

Gimme the XP!

What's new in the expansion? Well, much like any expansion, it simply elaborates on what was there before. Heart of Winter (despite its price) is hardly the great leap forward that Baldur's Gate II was over Baldur's Gate. Oh there are some new features to thrown around, but unfortunately we don't see any new classes, kits or anything else that affects gameplay.

Ooh that's a fine lass in the green

Good stuff to buy too

The Tundra is a forlorn place

HoW starts your quest off talking to a barbarian shaman who has come to visit you. Apparently your little group of adventurers has been part of some great visions this shaman has been receiving lately. He invites you to take the short trip from the town of Lonelywood, to the barbarian encampent nearby.

The barbarians are restless. Their former king has risen from the dead, his body occupied by the spirit of Jerrod - the great barbarian hero. Having proven itself to the shamans of the Tribe of the Bear (now renamed to the Tribe of the Great Wyrm), this spirit has their total devotion and seems hellbent on conflict with the people of Ten Towns. The barbarians follow, as this is their long-dead hero... or is it?