This is a thoroughly enjoyable expansion. Many of the original voice actors have returned, and the new game designers have done a fantastic job of making it feel a natural extension of the original game. The UI is easy to use, the level of challenge is just right, and the story engaging and fits well with the plots of BG1 and BG2. Well done Beamdog.
I really enjoyed playing BG when it first came out, and I enjoyed playing BGII when it was released, and I've loved revisiting all my favourite places with the Enhanced Editions, and playing this expansion has captured some of what I felt when I first played the games all those years ago. Its magic!
So if, like me, you loved BG and you loved BGII and you've loved revisiting everything with the enhanced editions, I would definitly recommend giving this game a go, and maybe, like me, you'll love this too!
Warning: I didn't finish the game yet, but what I've seen already is thrilling. The plot is very interesting, the UI change are very good once we're used to them (and backported for free to BG:EE and BG2:EE), we can see really crowded places, an actual army in the game, and overall good writing for my tastes (much better than 2012 BG:EE new content to my opinion). How NPCs recruitment is handled is also most excellent, they are not our puppets anymore, and I am actually caring for them, something that does not happen in original BG (and therefore BG:EE since they do not have right to touch original content).
There may be bugs left (especially with multiplayer) but do not forget that BG:EE is still offering new patches four years after its release - how many game company still support games that long? I'm pretty sure a new patch will come soon to address the most serious issues remaining.
My main regret is how foreign languages are handled by Beamdog in all EE games, but this does not apply to SOD which is English only anyway.
This is an absolutely awesome addition to the BG series. Dialogues, story, quests and combat "mechanics" (the new advanced AI, for example, is GREAT) make it now my favourite, even before BG2.
BG2 is bigger, and has an emotional attachment to it, but SoD feels less rushed, there are more "cross-banters" and it makes up in "depth" what it lacks in breadth.
I'll never thank enough the developers for bringing me back on the Sword Coast in such an awesome way. No mod to the original games, so far, was able to give me that trill.
I love the art in the game, the voice actors really stepped up after being away from these characters for so long and it was good to hear them again. The game itself is very fun and I find myself enjoying the UI changes, it make everything feel more streamlined and fluid than the originals.
I enjoy the new characters introduced both enemy and ally, the gameplay is classic Baldur's Gate, so if you loved stomping (or sneaking if that's your preferred method) through nasty dungeons and fighting horrid creature then this is for you. I recommend it highly.
Sadly I supposed the "controversy" must be addressed. I'll be brief, it's and extreme overreaction to a nearly meaningless NPC and a joke line from a popular character that isn't supposed to be taken seriously. It has no effect on the game itself which is pretty dang good. I'm sharing my personal feelings on various review sites because I want this game to succeed greatly, it deserves to succeed and is finely crafted and fun to play.
By the way, I do own it, but I got it on Steam sadly. :P