SKALD: Against the Black Priory is a neat little retro-style RPG all about doom and destruction. It employs a unique RPG system built from familiar DNA, with a well-woven story that knows exactly when its welcome has worn out. The biggest issues are the clunkiness of the battle system at early levels (which arguably only enhances the game’s theme and atmosphere) and depressing plot. Skald is not a grand 100+ hour JRPG, but a short and competent RPG module.
Icewind Dale is the final game created in the Infinity Engine using Dungeons & Dragons 2e rules, after Baldur’s Gate and Planescape: Torment. Despite being made after those games, it doesn’t stack up to any of them. Baldur’s Gate provided a balanced experience and Planescape: Torment focused heavily on story. Icewind Dale, on the other hand, is a combat slog, and that descriptor should tell you what I think of it.
While I enjoyed Baldur’s Gate I & II and understood why they made a big splash when released, they were notably dated and I didn’t think they rose to the level of a masterpiece. Planescape: Torment, the next game developed in the same Infinity Engine, is a masterpiece. It’s also notably dated and far from perfect, but it explores weird, interesting and unique ideas with intelligence and well-crafted writing.
In discussions of CRPGs, Baldur’s Gate is often held up as the holy grail. It was celebrated by its fans for being expansive and deep, and maintained a dedicated fanbase through its modding community. Release of the Enhanced Editions in 2013 helped maintain modern interest, and Baldur’s Gate 3 proved to be a massive hit. By how well do the original games hold up now, especially without any nostalgia to view the games through?
