Neverwinter Nights

Neverwinter Nights uses the Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition rules in (nearly) all their complex glory. It's the first game to attempt to fully support D&D 3E's customizable features, and more significantly, it's the first game designed to re-create the experience of playing tabletop D&D. You can play BioWare's extensive campaign alone or online with your friends, or you can use the included Aurora toolset to build your own adventure module and run it for your buddies with all the control you'd have if you were running a tabletop game. The powerful Dungeon Master client lets you put words in nonplayer characters' mouths, control monsters, alter the game world, and customize your adventure on the fly. If playing is your thing, you can join other people's games and play through encounters with other gamers around the world.

Everything works as it should and the game is beautiful to behold. BioWare has used a limited 3-D engine to allow you to spin your viewpoint around your character and zoom in on the action. During combat, Mages unleash spectacular spells, Priests raise their symbols to drive undead hordes back, and Rogues tinker with locked chests, while Fighters dodge, parry, and strike ferociously at any attacking beasts. The sound is topnotch, with BioWare's typically high-quality voice acting and music from composer Jeremy Soule.

But all isn't perfect.

The game makes a great effort of implementing the full D&D 3rd Edition rules, but doesn't quite succeed. In NWN, Paladins lose their Detect Evil and Mount abilities. Druids can shape change into animals, but can't change back to human form at will. Darkvision has no noticeable in-game effect. Troublesome issues for hard-core D&D fans, but it's understandable that some changes would have to be made in order to shoehorn a freeform tabletop RPG into a computer program.

Other issues are not so easy to understand: the camera controls are simple and will not allow the user to lower to decrease the camera angle--you'll never get anything approaching a character's-eye view of the world. Moving to a new section within a building or going from an indoor to an outdoor area takes you out of the game and presents you with a (mercifully short) "Loading" screen. There is an artificial limitation on how many henchmen you can hire in the single-player game: you're limited to one hireling, and Baldur's Gate fans will miss the squabbling party from earlier games. More significant are the problems that arise from trying to re-create a social experience like D&D in a computer game. Multiplayer games with strangers are confusing and not as fun as they sound and, like the tabletop game, they're really only as fun as the players and especially the DM you're playing with. Multiplayer NWN is only worthwhile if you have a dedicated group and a DM that knows what he or she is doing. The last drawback is the documentation. The manual is large and detailed but it omits key help in module creation; you have to buy a separate strategy guide if you want that information.

But though slightly flawed, NWN has indisputably won the holy grail of RPG gaming: getting the Dungeons & Dragons experience into a personal computer. The included campaign is fascinating and the tools are powerful enough to ensure a steady stream of module content from devoted fans. Make no mistake, Neverwinter Nights is an achievement and will likely change the way CRPGs are played from now on. It's a game no RPG fan, no D&D fan, should miss. --Bob Andrews

Pros:

• Almost perfect implementation of D&D 3E rules
• Deep single-player game
• Intriguing multiplayer game
• Powerful module creation tools

• Not quite perfect implementation of D&D 3E rules
• "Loading" screens
• Inflexible 3-D camera
• Only one henchman
• Multiplayer is dependant on quality players and DM

Neverwinter Nights (NWN) is not a Massively Multiplayer Game, it wasn't designed to be such. It is not a single-player Game although it will ship with a single-player campaign. NWN was designed for a small group of players (up to 64 currently) to play through 4-5 hour modules (adventures) very similar to the way Pen and Paper Role-Playing campaigns are structured.

One person controls one character either totally independently or under the supervision of a live DM that can control the playing environment (for instance scaling back an encounter that is too tough for the players).

To PnP roleplayers this game will be a dream come true, a chance to move into the computer game world and create modules without having to learn complicated graphic arts and computer programming techniques. It will also be attractive to the MMORPG player who is tired of the endless pointless series of combats who craves a Roleplaying experience. It will challenge Mod Designers who have up-to-now had their own private playgrounds due to the steep learning curve cost of entering the world of Module Design.

Will this lead to a plethora of modules being produced (most of them bad)? I personally hope so, because as with PnP roleplaying it was typically never the bought modules that yielded the memorable experiences.

Neverwinter Nights will not be Baldur's Gate and it will not be EverQuest. It will be something different, its own game.


What can I say   July 31, 2002
Steven Schlenske (Oshkosh, WI United States)
14 out of 16 found this review helpful

I have always wanted to get completly addicted to a game. I've seen my friends do it, talk about people they know on-line, make webpages, just go all out. Never been able to do that... till now. If you are a fan of RPG's, then you must have this game. I grew up with D&D and other role-playing games (took me years to convince my grandmother that I was NOT going to go on a killing spree because I played dungeons and dragons), and this is what it is all about. Granted, there are things you can do in the PnP (pen and paper) that you can't here, but it would be impossible to duplicate the human imagination onto the computer.

To tell the truth, the single player only gets about 3 stars. I enjoyed it, beat it in about a weeks time. Alot of plot twists and all. Also, I should confess, I did almost give up on the game when I first tryed multiplayer. Finding a random game is a mess on gamespy. Fortanly I found a web-site that matches real players up with games. I now run a weekly game that I built myself with the toolset, and play in a couple. Everyone roleplays, everyone stays in character. Nobody worries about what level their character is, just because the people I play with are more worried about the story being told to them. Yes, I have played everquest and diablo 2, and if the most important thing to you is making sure your character is a high level, then more power to you. This is a game about story.. but you have to find the right people (my e-mail should be up there, I will tell you the site to go to if you are a serious role-player).

Also, I have to mention the toolset. I have NO knowlage of the scripting, I do not have the world builders guild, but I had to start running the module that I made twice a week because of how many people wanted to play it and couldn't because my regular game was full. It takes a couple of hours of playing around, doing a search or two on the bioware forums if you need a qustion answered (or knowing someone who did it already), but after that, I can make a new dungeon with monsters and a plot to why the players would ever want to go there in about 20 minutes.

To end.. just get this game if you are a true role-playing game fan.


quality, quality, quality   March 12, 2003
Furiae (USA)
10 out of 11 found this review helpful

I had just quit Everquest after playing it for over 3 years. Those who know EQ know how rich and addictive it can be. I needed a game that I could play while I stuck out my retirement from EQ.

NWN did the job. I'm a fantasy RPG fanatic at heart, but I still like action. Dungeon Siege was too hack and slash, so I decided to try NWN. I played the singe-player campaign with my husband through multiplayer, and we had a blast charging through the plot just to see what happens next.

This game is like playing a book. You can't compare it with EQ, Dungeon Siege, Baldur's Gate, or Diablo. First off, it's not a massive multiplayer online game. Next, the richness of content is the jewel of this game, not the 'uber l33t' capabilities (sorry, powergamers).

The pathing is pretty decent- props to the developers. You can lead a summoned creature, an animal companion, and a henchman. You can only control your own character, but the other companions follow instructions pretty well.

The Aurora client included with NWN is worth the cost of the game itself. You can create your own world, play your own modules, make your own equipment, make dialogues for NPCs- everything. It's just plain awesome. The adventure doesn't end with end of the campaign.

NWN is a game with terrific replay value, especially if you go and make your own mods. You can let your friends download your module, you can download theirs, and you can all play together in multiplayer. You can also visit Bioware's NWN site for excellent support, forums, fellow NWN fans, and download modules made by other fans. Bioware even released another campaign called "Witch's Wake" you can download and play, which is very RP heavy.

I'm not a big gamer, but I'm always on the lookout for the next enjoyable thing. What I require is a nice playable game and visionary content. I'm not a hack and slash fan (as fun at it was, Dungeon Siege was definitely hack and slash and cannot be compared to NWN, as a few people here have done). I like immersing and engaging content. I adore the Aurora client and I've fallen in love with making my own worlds and modules.

The technical stuff: Setup was a breeze for me, and I'm on a pretty humble system- 866mHZ, 384megs of RAM, win XP (had played it on ME before I upgraded to XP, and a geforce2 vid card. The game didn't give me any troubles. It comes with 3 (or 4) installation CDs, but you only need to keep one of them out (the play disc) to play the game.

My only gripe is concerning the character models. They all look a little subpar, and the elves look downright goofy. Aside from the asthetics of the player chars, everything else was gorgeous. The voice acting was very well done, as well.

I'm definitely looking forward the expansion.

Bottom line: If you like a good plot, rich content, a downright stellar RPG, this is your game. If you'd like to create your own D&D mod or campaign, this is what you want (no other game available gives you the versatility of NWN's Aurora client). If, however, you don't like reading through and listening to a story- if you find stories and plots more tedious than enjoyable- then this is NOT the game for you.

My experience with Bioware was refreshing from my long time prior experience with Verant (EQ). Bioware's entire attitude is about catering to what customers want, not as focused on making a quick, big buck. This is my first Bioware game, but just from the quality they put in their games and their customer-centered support pages, I'll definitely be buying another game from them.


The best adaptation of pen and paper roleplaying to computer   November 29, 2002
D. Proto (Atlanta)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

As is said in the title, Neverwinter Nights is thus far the best adaptation of Pen and Paper roleplaying (and more specifically, D&D rules as a whole) to computer thus far. It should be said that the single player game is in fact not the best. The storyline is decent, though mediocre compared to the likes of Planescape: Torment and Baldur's Gate. The plot is rather linear, and as has been said in previous reviews, much more akin to perhaps Icewind Dale (though yes, it does have more "brains" than Diablo). The graphics are immersive, though I have seen better. Sound is a truly great aspect of the game, and aids incredibly in helping you become a part of the environment. The dynamic lighting system is also incredible.

However, what truly makes this game unique (and worthy of my 5 star rating) is the multiplayer. Simply put, the options for enjoyment are unlimited. At the time of this review, there are 1000+ modules for download and play either alone or in a group, and nearly as many servers online catering to all types of gameplay. There are local and server vault worlds, high and low powered campaigns, role play enforced or hack-n-slash communities, etc. The list truly is endless. And if you don't like what's out there, then just use the provided in-game tools to make your own NWN experience. Port that nearly forgotten gold box game or classic AD&D module from back in your gaming days to a more advanced medium, or simply start from scratch and create your own world.

Quite frankly, any review of NWN that weighs the single player experience more heavily than the multiplayer is defunct. The game has always been touted for its multiplayer versatility, and the single player game really does seem as more of an add-in. If you ONLY plan on enjoying the single player aspect, then you would honestly be better off either waiting for the price of the game to sink a bit, or buying another product altogether. However, if you even think you'll be using the online resources of NWN (which are furthered by great official and non-official sites out there, such as neverwinternights.com, neverwinterhaven.com, the neverwinter nexus, etc.) then make a purchase that you will not soon regret.

As for issues concerning hardware compatibility: I myself have not once experienced such an issue with this game, though I know that many real problems did exist. However, with the latest patch, and a little computer maintenance you should be quite fine. So long as you support the game's minimum requirements (and possibly even come up a small ways short) you will indeed be in the clear.


Enough user-created content to make it a worthwhile purchase   June 9, 2003
David Lim (Hobart, Tasmania)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

It would be fairer to compare this story to the original Baldur's Gate, instead of the sequel Baldur's Gate 2. The storyline to NWN is not as strong as Baldur's Gate, as your own character is another "nameless adventurer", and therefore has very little personal stake in the story's events. It's best to think of the single-player campaign as a showcase for the Bioware developers, to show what the game-engine is capable of doing.

The graphics engine is much more advanced than the Infinity Engine used in Baldur's Gate and Icewind Dale. Everything is portrayed in a 3D-environment. This is especially evident in the flame effects from objects as mundane as torches, to the flames emanating from an approaching demon. Spell effects are spectacular - the best being area effect spells. Even spells as mundane as "Hold Undead" display a mighty impressive light show.

The interface is also much less cluttered than the older Bioware games. Some of the commands come from a radial interface, which can be activated by right-clicking the mouse. The rest (eg. Journal, Inventory, Spellbook) come from a small menu on the right-hand side of the screen. The other 90% of the screen is clear, which makes it possible to watch the rest of the action without being distracted.

It is possible to switch between different camera view modes from within the game menu. You can also zoom in and out using the mousewheel (if your mouse has one). This feature is particularly useful when fighting foes, and you want to examine the battle up close.

One of the most glaring differences between NWN and Baldur's Gate, is the lack of multiple characters in your party. In Baldur's Gate 2, there was space for up to five extra characters. This made for some interesting moments, especially if some of your characters had different alignments. I think the reason for this may have been the difficulty of implementing this "multiple-character" feature in the Aurora toolset, and making it user-friendly enough for the casual mod-creator. Hopefully, NWN will implement this feature in a sequel to NWN.

I would strongly recommend this game to newcomers to the RPG genre of PC gaming. NWN's interpretation of the 3rd Edition rules is incredibly easy to master, as so many of the mechanics (eg saving throws, attacks of opportunity) are calculated behind the scenes without any intervention from the player. A new player can quite literally hack and slash their way through this game ala' Diablo, if they chose to. However, for experienced players of D&D there is enough depth in the single-player game to keep them amused for a few hours.

However, Neverwinter Night's greatest strength has only become self-evident over the few years since it's release - and this it's customisable tools. The Aurora toolset gives users the power to create their own adventures and distribute them to other players on the internet. I strongly recommmend Penultima series (created by Stefan "Twoflower" Gagne's) as a terrific jump-off point. Penultima can best be thought of as a send-up of the RPG games that Bioware are famous for. Every single convention of RPG-gaming is skewered mercilessly. It's very much inspired by the Discworld-series of Terry Pratchett novels, and is well worth the download. And Penultima is only the tip of the iceberg. There are countless other examples on the internet, of adventures that have been created by devoted fans of NWN. In some cases, like Penultima, the originality and flair of the storylines outshine the original campaign created by Bioware.

Please note, that a tutorial and detailed documentation on the Aurora toolset, is available for free download on the Bioware website. There is no need to purchase the strategy guide. In addition, the NWN internet community has posted many articles and tutorials on the Aurora toolset.

When NWN was first released, many players were complaining of the "lack of content" in the game. They felt that there wasn't enough depth to the single-player campaign to warrant its purchase. It's now obvious that Bioware were taking a huge gamble, hoping that whatever "depth" was lacking in the campaign, would be more than compensated for by the huge numbers of fan-created modules that would follow. In the end, it paid off, as any visit to Bioware's NWN website would so effectively attest to. NWN has a thriving internet community, and in the end, it is this that makes the game such a worthwhile purchase.

One final note, for those with older PC's. The game is best viewed and played on a relatively fast PC. This game was reviewed on an AMD Athlon 2000+ XP with 512MB RAM and GEForce 4 videocard. Sound effects (and there are plenty) are best experienced on a 3D-effects capable soundcard, such as a Soundblaster Live!