Heart of Winter is an expansion pack to Black Isle Studios' previous release, Icewind Dale, so we're using the modified version of the BioWare Infinity Engine that was used for Icewind Dale with improvements from Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn and a few others developed by Black Isle Studios. Heart of Winter is not a standalone game that mean you must have a copy of Icewind Dale installed on your computer in order to play the expansion, but you don't have to have played the original Icewind Dale in order to play the new areas in the expansion. The story for Heart of Winter is actually much more fluid and deep than that of Icewind Dale. The campaign involves a barbarian leader, a formidable warrior named Wylfdene who has arisen from the dead, claiming to be possessed by the spirit of Jerrod, a revered hero who sacrificed his life to save the barbarian tribes from an invasion of supernatural demons. At his behest, the normally independent tribes are gathering in preparation for a war to regain the land that was once theirs alone. They are encamped near Lonelywood, the smallest and most remote of the Ten Towns. A barbarian shaman named Hjollder has foreseen in a vision that this war would be both bloody and senseless. Risking the wrath of his ruler, he has sought out your party of heroes and asked you to intervene. Heart of Winter features New Portraits, New Player Character Sound Sets, New Experience Point Cap for All Character Classes, Allowing Them to Reach 30th Level, New Experience Point Tables for Druids, Allowing Them to Advance to Much Higher Levels, Higher Resolution 800 x 600 - and even more detailed resolutions for the especially brave (although these higher resolutions are not officially supported), Drop Away Interface, Gem Bags, Potion Bags, and Scroll Cases, Cool New Special Abilities for Bards, Thieves, Paladins, Druids, and Rangers, New Priest, Druid, and Wizard Spells, New Spell Progression Tables, Hot Key That Highlights Normal Doors and Ground Items, Ability to Buy Multiple Items from Stores and new Special Abilities for Paladins, Rangers, Thieves, Bards, and Druids. In addition the game contains five new major areas, including the beginning town of Lonelywood. Each of these areas has numerous sub-locations, so gather your exploring gear and wrap your cloak around you - some of these new locations are pretty chilly. So you still don't know if this expansion disk is worth to buy? Well, Heart of Winter adds several new features and roughly 20 hours of playing time as you save the Ten Towns from a barbarian threat. That length seems to be rather disappointing given the nearly full price tag of $30, but if you liked Icewind Dale then you are likely to enjoy this expansion.