NWN2 Vault Reviewer Likes Mysteries of Westgate
NWN2 Vault Reviewer Likes Mysteries of Westgate
Review - posted by Edward_R_Murrow on Thu 9 April 2009, 00:03:21
Tags: Neverwinter Nights 2: Mysteries of WestgateA module reviewer on IGN's Neverwinter Nights 2 Vault posted his impressions of Ossian Studio's premium module, Mysteries of Westgate. The reviewer is highly positive and praises Mysteries of Westgate on all fronts, only critical of certain flaws it inherits from NWN2 itself and some minor bugs.
Quests are nicely varied ranging from FedEx missions to going mano y mano with other opponents in the Quivering Thumb Arena. Ossian has done a very nice job of setting them up so that they make sense within the setting and story. They've also done a nice job of not completely spoon-feeding the player. Some quests will require additional knowledge or actions on your part not spelled out in the journal. In one instance, one of your contacts sends you out to gather information on a suspicious ship's cargo. How you're supposed to get out to a ship anchored in the middle of the harbor, she doesn't say. It's up to you to figure out transportation arrangements.
[...]
Speaking of companions, they're a mixture of religious zeal, lost hope, and streetwise cynicism. As mentioned above, there's some tension between them, which means that pleasing one will likely lead to irritation on the part of the others. Still, they are generally well-written, and their conversations reflect their personalities and purpose in the game quite well.
[...]
Well, fear not as choices and consequences abound in this campaign. Skill and attribute checks are used heavily throughout MoW, both in conversation and in action. Dialogue is well written, usually with several choices and/or checks.
Your race, class, and gender will also be recognized in certain instances. For example, in one quest that involved entering a dog track, my PC's were searched for potions of speed that might be used to unfairly affect the races. Additionally, my wizard was warned that she would be watched and "visited" by the bouncers if she was seen to cast a spell.
There are often multiple ways of getting through a quest or even large chunks of the story. You start out the game with a choice of who to work with in order to begin your infiltration of the Night Masks. Will you work with the Church of Lathander or the rival Ebon Claws? Choose one, and the other option closes off. Your statements and actions will influence your companions, and in at least two cases, will determine if an NPC will live or die. For all the flavor of choice given by MoW, there is often a nice bouquet of consequence accompanying it.That all sounds wonderful, however (surprise, surprise!) Mysteries of Westgate has been delayed again.
Contrary to what some have implied, we really are waiting on Hasbro's approval. That approval has not come, apparently, because of concerns regarding some of the European distributors. I don't know enough to be more specific as to the nature of these concerns. The result is the same regardless.
What that means is that you North American customers could be playing right now, but everyone (Ossian included) has always desired a simultaneous release. The question is whether the approvals will take long enough to warrant a staggered release or if we should continue holding up everyone to wait for the concerns to be addressed. I don't know which direction it will go.It looks like there is more waiting in store for those wishing to play the game, but the module may be worth the wait, if the review is to be trusted.
Spotted at: Gamebanshee
Quests are nicely varied ranging from FedEx missions to going mano y mano with other opponents in the Quivering Thumb Arena. Ossian has done a very nice job of setting them up so that they make sense within the setting and story. They've also done a nice job of not completely spoon-feeding the player. Some quests will require additional knowledge or actions on your part not spelled out in the journal. In one instance, one of your contacts sends you out to gather information on a suspicious ship's cargo. How you're supposed to get out to a ship anchored in the middle of the harbor, she doesn't say. It's up to you to figure out transportation arrangements.
[...]
Speaking of companions, they're a mixture of religious zeal, lost hope, and streetwise cynicism. As mentioned above, there's some tension between them, which means that pleasing one will likely lead to irritation on the part of the others. Still, they are generally well-written, and their conversations reflect their personalities and purpose in the game quite well.
[...]
Well, fear not as choices and consequences abound in this campaign. Skill and attribute checks are used heavily throughout MoW, both in conversation and in action. Dialogue is well written, usually with several choices and/or checks.
Your race, class, and gender will also be recognized in certain instances. For example, in one quest that involved entering a dog track, my PC's were searched for potions of speed that might be used to unfairly affect the races. Additionally, my wizard was warned that she would be watched and "visited" by the bouncers if she was seen to cast a spell.
There are often multiple ways of getting through a quest or even large chunks of the story. You start out the game with a choice of who to work with in order to begin your infiltration of the Night Masks. Will you work with the Church of Lathander or the rival Ebon Claws? Choose one, and the other option closes off. Your statements and actions will influence your companions, and in at least two cases, will determine if an NPC will live or die. For all the flavor of choice given by MoW, there is often a nice bouquet of consequence accompanying it.
Contrary to what some have implied, we really are waiting on Hasbro's approval. That approval has not come, apparently, because of concerns regarding some of the European distributors. I don't know enough to be more specific as to the nature of these concerns. The result is the same regardless.
What that means is that you North American customers could be playing right now, but everyone (Ossian included) has always desired a simultaneous release. The question is whether the approvals will take long enough to warrant a staggered release or if we should continue holding up everyone to wait for the concerns to be addressed. I don't know which direction it will go.
Spotted at: Gamebanshee
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