Early Views

swcarter · Post by **swcarter** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 5:49 pm

I'm going to write the GB review of NWN2 eventually, so I don't want to say too much, but here are a few comments.

Graphics: NWN2 looks much better than NWN. There is more detail (for example, characters have moving lips and eyes now), and the world no longer looks like it was created using an overly gridded toolset.

Options: NWN2 contains all of the races and classes of NWN and its expansion packs, and it adds more, so there are a whole slew of options for creating and developing characters, which is nice.

Campaign: I'm about 20 hours in, but so far the story is moving very slowly. I haven't seen influence play a large role with companions, I haven't seen any interesting bosses, and I haven't even seen any secret doors. So far the campaign has been comprised of a lot of fairly easy, fairly boring combat, which is disappointing.

SWC

fable · Post by **fable** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 7:12 pm

How's the character interaction, and the writing?

swcarter · Post by **swcarter** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 8:38 pm

So far I find myself not really liking most of my potential companions. I think Obsidian might have tried to make them all too colorful, and some of their plotlines seem familiar (like a dwarf you meet, who shares a lot of themes with Magnus from Arcanum). But I'm still in Act 1, so I'm probably still in the introductory stage with the companions, and maybe the (relatively few) conversations I've had with them will lead somewhere.

The writing and voice acting are fine. The best lines have involved barbs between the companions, but nothing so far has been moving or tried to provide an emotional impact, and I haven't even seen a hint of a romance. Maybe that will change as I go on, but so far I'd rate the dialogue of NWN2 somewhere below the KOTORs and the Infinity Engine games, but probably ahead of NWN, which I sort of remember as being overwrought.

SWC

fable · Post by **fable** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 8:49 pm

swcarter wrote:So far I find myself not really liking most of my potential companions. I think Obsidian might have tried to make them all too colorful, and some of their plotlines seem familiar (like a dwarf you meet, who shares a lot of themes with Magnus from Arcanum). But I'm still in Act 1, so I'm probably still in the introductory stage with the companions, and maybe the (relatively few) conversations I've had with them will lead somewhere.

Probably so, as you said. As I recall, PS:T also started deliberately slow, with only one companion and very limited interactions.

The writing and voice acting are fine. The best lines have involved barbs between the companions, but nothing so far has been moving or tried to provide an emotional impact, and I haven't even seen a hint of a romance.

I would expect the second to come later. Great to hear about romances, though. I personally feel they're a joke, and totally disruptive to any RPG.

Maybe that will change as I go on, but so far I'd rate the dialogue of NWN2 somewhere below the KOTORs and the Infinity Engine games, but probably ahead of NWN, which I sort of remember as being overwrought.

Interesting. I hated KotoR's stereotyped characters and their cliched dialog, but very much enjoyed that of KotoR2; but then, different developers will do that.

I look forward to seeing what Obsidian brings to the table, again. Thanks for the info.

Lady Dragonfly · Post by **Lady Dragonfly** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 9:18 pm

I am still in the tutorial, looking around.
The character creation is much more fun than in NWN. The voices and dialogs are good so far.

Tarmas the Wizard:
"Do you know they're actually granting prizes for the fattest pig? As if the creatures need encouragement."

Overall, I have a feeling that I am a 12 years old kid running around, with condescending adults smiling at me.

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 9:12 am

I just saw this review at Gamespy:
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Fans of games like Baldur's Gate and KotOR will be happy to know that the depth of character interaction found in those milestone RPGs is present in Neverwinter Nights 2 in top form. Through the expansive dialog options available in most interactions, you're able to role-play your character in a variety of ways -- principled, miscreant, reserved, rambunctious, or what have you. Also, depending on what "social" skills you choose -- such as bluff, diplomacy, or intimidation -- you can change the outcome of certain scenarios, to the extent that you can even bypass combat in many situations. What's more, most of the characters that you can enlist have stories and conflicts of their own, and depending on how much work you put towards nurturing your relationship with them, you can experience encounters and scenarios unique to them.

If this is indeed true (and who knows with reviewers), I'll definitely be buying NWN2 when I'm able to upgrade to a new computer. Hopefully sometime after Christmas.... *crossing fingers*

fable · Post by **fable** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 9:32 am

I've gotten through the tutorial area: pretty boring, but that's to be expected. It seemed very dumbed-down, and I can only hope that Avellone and company aim their sites rather higher in the real game than they did in the KotoR series. Everybody seems to be making games these days intended for 10 year olds. I really miss the puzzles and harder strategic choices of yesteryear.

Sorry for being such an old fahrt, but memories of Bioware's KotoR using a damned Tower of Hanoi puzzle as the summit of challenges ot a Sith candidate still make me scream in my sleep at night.