Review NWN2 review at GameSpot - 8.6

[HardCode]

I'd have to say that anyone who reviews a game one day after it comes out is a moron, and no credibility should be offered.

 

[Whipporowill]

I'd have to say that anyone who reviews a game one day after it comes out is a moron, and no credibility should be offered.

Geenjus! But then again, there might be press copies set out in advance...

... common business practice and all.

 

[Voss]

You could adjust the difficulty sliders if you're a wuss.
(Easy reduces enemy damage and prevents crits on your party).

Options a 4th level fighter could have? Parry, power attack, expertise, knockdown, disarm, two handed weapons (for damage), sword and shield (for AC), ranged weapons, potions, buffs from other party members (UMD on scrolls if you don't have other casters). Nah. You can't have any effect on the fight at all.

 

[Volourn]

Azarkon, the combat *is* easy. I've died only once and it was simply me being stupid and not resting for like 3 dungeons in a row. LOL And, then rushing right in.

And, outside of the wussy and whiny girlie rogue falling unconcious; not much challenge at all.

Then again, wearing fullplate +2 and the NWN2 uber tower shield +1 for an ac of 26 at level 6 (actually level 4) probably is the reason.

R00fles!


"Options a 4th level fighter could have? Parry, power attack, expertise, knockdown, disarm, two handed weapons (for damage), sword and shield (for AC), ranged weapons, potions, buffs from other party members (UMD on scrolls if you don't have other casters). Nah. You can't have any effect on the fight at all."

Sounds like NWN1; but NWN1 gives fighters even MORE options. Called shot (two different versions) as a couple of examples.


L0LLERZ!

 

[Killzig]

Ladonna's post makes me think of a question - does anyone who can get dates care about cRPG romances? I sure as hell don't.

It'd be nice to have some NPC interaction that was as open ended as exploration. (I.E. develop personal relationships with any major npc character in teh game world, not just romances but friendships/contacts/enemies). Definitely not the Obsidian/Bioware model where Bastilla(?)/k2 love ladyandorKreia/Asian Lady nag you to talk to them to death until you listen to every stupid dialog option they have to offer to make them feel better about themselves.

 

[Killzig]

I'd have to say that anyone who reviews a game one day after it comes out is a moron, and no credibility should be offered.

don't review copies get sent out before the game ships? Or did Obsidian hold back on this one?

 

[Whipporowill]

I've heard the violence meter is set to "off" by default. What's up with that PG crap, and what does full violence entail - decapitations or just dull blood decals?

 

[WittyName]

Well the "rest" thing dates all the way back to the old gold box series. In fact, apparently people found it so tedious in the first few that later a "fix" command was added so that you didn't have to go through the hassle of memorizing spells, casting them on the players that needed healing, then memorizing them again, etc. Hitting the "fix" command only took one second in real time but it did progress game time by an appropriate amount. There were also limitations on where you could rest/fix, i.e., you couldn't do it in the middle of some dungeons, in a hostile city, and so on.

In terms of romances, I can see how it adds to the experience. However, I've never been much of a fan. In the gold box game "Treasure of the Savage Frontier" there were points in the game where a female or male npc would join your party to fight and, over time, the npc would start developing a relationship with one of your characters. As far as I could tell this had no impact on the game and there was no way you could influence the development of the relationship -- it just happened. The only place I find them interesting is where you would have multi-generational play as in Phantasy Star III -- who you marry determines the character you play in the next generation and his stats/abilities are a hybrid of the two parents.

 

[Pseudofool]

I have a patched copy, and the camera control is just fine, and took me all of ten minutes to get used to; I'm not sure if people are playing with the keyboard; but I've had nothing but easy mobility with the camera using the mouse only (be sure to turn Camera Lag waaay down and Mouse sensitivit up). And it's not like my system is a horse. 2.4ghz/1.25ram/x300 video card. So give me a break.

NWN2 is a LOT like BG games both in atmosphere and gameplay. The dialogue options seems better, and the side quests seem pretty extensive thus far (and I have yet to reach neverwinter!).

One drawback is the lack of assigning everything to the quick bars (like emotes, or i can't find a way to get my paladin's lay hands in there). But this is relatively MINOR complaint.

Get the game, no doubt, everyone here will find something to enjoy.

 

[Volourn]

NWN2 is NOTHING like those DEAD games. NWN2 is the sequel of NWN1 and plays, feels, and actrs like it more or less. To say otherwise is to be stupid.

Cameras are below bar.

I believe to get feaks or skills like 'Lay on hands' on the quick bar; you have to go into the section with them in the character sheet and drag them. It be better if you could right click a quick slot and do it that way but meh.

Story is nothing special. Not bad; but not 'WOW!". It reminds me A LOT of NWN1 (as wel as SOU, and HOTU).


"what does full violence entail - decapitations or just dull blood decals?"

Nothing special. Just some more blood.

 

[don_tomaso]

Ladonna's post makes me think of a question - does anyone who can get dates care about cRPG romances? I sure as hell don't.

Well, rpgs are about becoming something you cant IRL (at least thats how it works for me), like an über deadly warrior in another world.. So I guess, those who want romances are those cant get laid.. Simple as that

Or want some roleplaying except the massmurdering pshycotic kind.

It was just an example.. What I meant was that I dont look for things in RPGs that I can get in real life.. I like beeing a massmurdering thief, or a diplomat restoring peace between countries, because it´s really different from my life, but having a romance with a dwarf isn´t that much of a change, looking back at some of the women I´ve dated.. Then if it´s very very well implented, I can probably enjoy it.. Never seen that happen yet though.

 

[Voss]

Yeah, you can just drag feat icons off your character to the quick bar.

Manuals and tip boxes during tutorials do serve a purpose.

 

[Deacdo]

Actually, if you're playing on Hardcore or Very Difficult, just rushing into battle is suicide. It is more difficult to manage your party though because as far as I can tell there is no way to hotkey individual commands so you have to right-click *AND* hold for a menu to pop up where you have to select the "Give Order" tab then click the desired command.

Clunky to say the least.

I don't get it. Making the game harder via...bad controls?

If it isn't like that in the Normal mode someone will make a hack for it.

 

[Dregur]

Actually, if you're playing on Hardcore or Very Difficult, just rushing into battle is suicide. It is more difficult to manage your party though because as far as I can tell there is no way to hotkey individual commands so you have to right-click *AND* hold for a menu to pop up where you have to select the "Give Order" tab then click the desired command.

Clunky to say the least.

I don't get it. Making the game harder via...bad controls?

If it isn't like that in the Normal mode someone will make a hack for it.

Or, you know, you can press F2 or F3 or F4 (depending on party member) and command them like your own character.

-The Grinman :D

 

[Jason]

Games For Windows' Matt Peckham gave it a 5/10.

The dungeons feel especially stale, so linear and inorganic they might as well be graph-paper lifts filled with room after room of pop-up bogeymen (Doom put them in closets; NWN2 just makes the closets bigger). Maybe you'd rather chat with the dumb NPCs that speak and sound like extras in a bad Saturday morning cartoon? Oh, boy -- there's the portrait "plus" sign! Time to shuffle another party member (improved to four simultaneous) through the level-up grinder, which you can click "recommend" to zip past&but then, what's the point?

edit: Almost forgot the line you'll love:

I'm cruising for a bruising (don't I know it), but NWN2 is a splash of cold water to the face: A revelatory, polarizing experience that -- in the wake of newer, better alternatives -- makes you question the very notion of "RPG by numbers."

Hmm, wonder what that newer, better alternative is.

 

[kris]

Obsidian need to send more cash to reviewers.

 

[Jed]

Sounds like NWN1; but NWN1 gives fighters even MORE options. Called shot (two different versions) as a couple of examples.

NWN2 is NOTHING like those DEAD games. NWN2 is the sequel of NWN1 and plays, feels, and actrs like it more or less. To say otherwise is to be stupid.

NWN is DEAD, Volourn.

 

[Ryuken]

Games For Windows' Matt Peckham gave it a 5/10.

What a brilliant move of 1Up some months ago that they didn't allow users to give a "Thumbs Down" to an article anymore. You can only give a "Thumbs Up".

 

[Shannow]

how is power attack implemented in NWN2?
is is still the NWN way, where you had to activate it every time and the fight was mostly over before the game reacted? or is it done in the IWD2 way, where you could choose the power of your attack and have it on constantly?

 

[Jed]

edit: Almost forgot the line you'll love:

I'm cruising for a bruising (don't I know it), but NWN2 is a splash of cold water to the face: A revelatory, polarizing experience that -- in the wake of newer, better alternatives -- makes you question the very notion of "RPG by numbers."

Hmm, wonder what that newer, better alternative is.

Goddamn, I sure could use some "RPG by the numbers" these days ... I'm really tired of all this INNOVASHUN.

 

[aweigh]

The ultimate RPG without numbers = an FPS.

No camera problemas, no combat system quibbles!
10/10!

 

[Volourn]

Power attack stays on for the most part though once, and awhile it seems to have to be reclicked.

 

[TheGreatGodPan]

Romances are a option to character development.

You all push for PS:T but what about Annah, Deionarra and Ravel that loved the Nameless One?

Its only bad when its done for the heck of it, KotOR2 is a example of it.

They always suck, including in PS:T.

 

[aboyd]

/me shrugs

I liked the PS:T romance option for Annah, which wasn't much other than a hot flash or two. I also liked the Viconia romance in BG 2. I've still never managed to convert her to neutral alignment, and I'm still hoping to do that a few years from now, when I revisit it one last time.

I guess I'll go on the record as being the guy who likes romance options in games. Sorry for screwing up the bell curve for the rest of you.

 

[Limorkil]

Ladonna's post makes me think of a question - does anyone who can get dates care about cRPG romances? I sure as hell don't.

I agree. After a long day choosing the correct responses to give my wife, the last thing I want is some computer generated tart expecting the same thing.