Data4
Arcane
If anyone is still waiting for more impressions of the game, this thread is for you. If anyone wants to offer their impressions of the game without starting a bajillion NWN2 Impressions threads, this is for you, too.
I'll start.
I've basically been playing for the better part of the weekend and overall I'm very pleased. Initially, I was ecstatic, because I was worried about the Oblivion effect, so I was willing to overlook some of the issues with the game. Now that I've progressed pretty far into it, I think I have a more reasonable, non-fanboyish opinion of it.
I'll try to keep spoilers out of it, but this is no guarantee that there won't be any herein, so consider that a warning if you're trying to keep yourself pure before playing. I'll list key areas and my opinion of them to make this easier.
Story:
Simply put, it's very good. It's not Shakespeare, but it does a good job. It started off kind of abruptly with a major event happening right after the tutorial. I thought it started off a bit too soon, but I guess it satisfies the need for people to "get into the shit" quickly without putting the more slow-paced gamers like myself off. The presentation is what I'm really impressed with, as the dialogues are great. The voice acting was a bit flat in places, but overall adequate. Personally, I can do without voice acting in general, but since it's here, it's worth mentioning that it's not bad and much better than that "O"ther game.
The way the main quest merges with the side quests is also nice. It gives a sort of cohesiveness to the world. [MINOR SPOILER] For example, getting into the Blacklake district to address a specific part of the main quest requires you to do some sidework on either side of the law. The path I'm taking has me doing stuff for Neverwinter crime lords and it's taken me out of the city for a nice little jaunt against some orcs.[/SPOILER]
All in all, I have to say that so far, the story and related elements get a thumbs up.
Characters/NPCs:
Some of them I like. Some of them I hate, but not for reasons that would be a black mark against Obsidian. Some of the characters you come across are downright annoying, but within the scope of their characterization. An annoying singing gnome is exactly that, for example. The tiefling that has already been mentioned is also irritating, but she's growing on me. I swapped her out for someone else and found myself missing her. She's an asset to a party for those in need of a good rogue. Since my character is also a rogue, it seemed a bit redundant, but I'm developing him into more of the smooth talker type, so Neeska's trap dectection and disarming comes in handy.
Graphics:
They work. They're not photorealistic, and there's some clipping issues, but I would never suggest to anyone to let the graphics of the game be a determining factor on whether or not you purchase it. Where it may lack in bling, it makes up for in substance in spades. The camera does like to get caught up in scenery, though, and I know this isn't news. It is worth mentioning, though, and maybe with Patch 2, it will be addressed.
I'm also going to include the UI here. I think it's fine. Sure, it takes a little getting used to if the radial menu in NWN1 has become second nature, but I dropped that game long before finishing the OC. It reminds me a lot of WoW with the quick slots and all. It's functional and allows me to customize it appropriately to my playing style. A UI is a very subjective thing, I'll admit, but for me it works, so that's all that matters.
Misc:
Annoyances will fall here, but not every miscellaneous thing I'll say will be negative. To be fair, though, there are some things I just have to say, and there will be some minor spoilers.
First, there's the Tomb of Betrayers. Unless it serves a use later on in the game, right now it's just contrived. So far, the only purpose to it I've seen was for a wink-wink moment at the end, where you fight the ghost of someone familiar to NWN1 players. I do remember a locked door that neither I, nor Neeska could open at the time, so maybe there's more to it. I know it's a sequel and all, but I'd rather the game rely on it's own new stuff instead of looking back. That particular quest was a pure sidequest, however, so I guess it's not too terrible.
I'm a bit disappointed in the city of Neverwinter itself. I didn't play the first game all the way through, and I'm getting the impression the city was destroyed or damaged significantly before the game was over. I suppose it would explain how the city looks different this time around, but I'd love to have seen the Beggar's Nest and Prison districts return. I suppose the Back Alley is a substitute for the former, but it's more of a dungeon than a part of the city. Also, the Temple of Tyr is way, way different. It looks like a small priory, rather than the expansive hall that served as an infirmary during the plague. Again, if this is a rebuilt temple after being destroyed, I understand. It's also not a gamebreaker by any means, but I thought it needed a mention.
My biggest gripe, however, has to be the utter lack of any other tavern/Inn than the Sunken Flagon. Neverwinter is supposed to be a very large city. True, there are buildings that have signs indicating they're taverns of some sort, but you can't go in them.
Well, I guess that's all I can think of for now. I'll post more later.
-D4
I'll start.
I've basically been playing for the better part of the weekend and overall I'm very pleased. Initially, I was ecstatic, because I was worried about the Oblivion effect, so I was willing to overlook some of the issues with the game. Now that I've progressed pretty far into it, I think I have a more reasonable, non-fanboyish opinion of it.
I'll try to keep spoilers out of it, but this is no guarantee that there won't be any herein, so consider that a warning if you're trying to keep yourself pure before playing. I'll list key areas and my opinion of them to make this easier.
Story:
Simply put, it's very good. It's not Shakespeare, but it does a good job. It started off kind of abruptly with a major event happening right after the tutorial. I thought it started off a bit too soon, but I guess it satisfies the need for people to "get into the shit" quickly without putting the more slow-paced gamers like myself off. The presentation is what I'm really impressed with, as the dialogues are great. The voice acting was a bit flat in places, but overall adequate. Personally, I can do without voice acting in general, but since it's here, it's worth mentioning that it's not bad and much better than that "O"ther game.
The way the main quest merges with the side quests is also nice. It gives a sort of cohesiveness to the world. [MINOR SPOILER] For example, getting into the Blacklake district to address a specific part of the main quest requires you to do some sidework on either side of the law. The path I'm taking has me doing stuff for Neverwinter crime lords and it's taken me out of the city for a nice little jaunt against some orcs.[/SPOILER]
All in all, I have to say that so far, the story and related elements get a thumbs up.
Characters/NPCs:
Some of them I like. Some of them I hate, but not for reasons that would be a black mark against Obsidian. Some of the characters you come across are downright annoying, but within the scope of their characterization. An annoying singing gnome is exactly that, for example. The tiefling that has already been mentioned is also irritating, but she's growing on me. I swapped her out for someone else and found myself missing her. She's an asset to a party for those in need of a good rogue. Since my character is also a rogue, it seemed a bit redundant, but I'm developing him into more of the smooth talker type, so Neeska's trap dectection and disarming comes in handy.
Graphics:
They work. They're not photorealistic, and there's some clipping issues, but I would never suggest to anyone to let the graphics of the game be a determining factor on whether or not you purchase it. Where it may lack in bling, it makes up for in substance in spades. The camera does like to get caught up in scenery, though, and I know this isn't news. It is worth mentioning, though, and maybe with Patch 2, it will be addressed.
I'm also going to include the UI here. I think it's fine. Sure, it takes a little getting used to if the radial menu in NWN1 has become second nature, but I dropped that game long before finishing the OC. It reminds me a lot of WoW with the quick slots and all. It's functional and allows me to customize it appropriately to my playing style. A UI is a very subjective thing, I'll admit, but for me it works, so that's all that matters.
Misc:
Annoyances will fall here, but not every miscellaneous thing I'll say will be negative. To be fair, though, there are some things I just have to say, and there will be some minor spoilers.
First, there's the Tomb of Betrayers. Unless it serves a use later on in the game, right now it's just contrived. So far, the only purpose to it I've seen was for a wink-wink moment at the end, where you fight the ghost of someone familiar to NWN1 players. I do remember a locked door that neither I, nor Neeska could open at the time, so maybe there's more to it. I know it's a sequel and all, but I'd rather the game rely on it's own new stuff instead of looking back. That particular quest was a pure sidequest, however, so I guess it's not too terrible.
I'm a bit disappointed in the city of Neverwinter itself. I didn't play the first game all the way through, and I'm getting the impression the city was destroyed or damaged significantly before the game was over. I suppose it would explain how the city looks different this time around, but I'd love to have seen the Beggar's Nest and Prison districts return. I suppose the Back Alley is a substitute for the former, but it's more of a dungeon than a part of the city. Also, the Temple of Tyr is way, way different. It looks like a small priory, rather than the expansive hall that served as an infirmary during the plague. Again, if this is a rebuilt temple after being destroyed, I understand. It's also not a gamebreaker by any means, but I thought it needed a mention.
My biggest gripe, however, has to be the utter lack of any other tavern/Inn than the Sunken Flagon. Neverwinter is supposed to be a very large city. True, there are buildings that have signs indicating they're taverns of some sort, but you can't go in them.
Well, I guess that's all I can think of for now. I'll post more later.
-D4