Neverwinter Nights 2

The sequel to possibly one of the best Dungeons & Dragons role-playing games ever, Neverwinter Nights 2 was created by the same developers responsible for such classics as Baldur's gate. Neverwinter Nights 2 certainly does justice to its developers' names, combining a fascinating storyline with characters you actually care about. While not entirely free of problems, it comes a long way in making video games much like a cinematic experience with a solid plot.

As usual, you begin the game at character creation; along with the race, class and alignment, you also have the option of choosing a voice for the character. The plotline extends far beyond the usual "hero vs. bad guy" - you'll also experience intrigue, intricate political maneuvering, treason, and a whole bunch more. Along with the main plot, you'll also have the option to complete side quests if you want (or, conversely, ignore them entirely and keep your attention in one direction.)

The main difference between Neverwinter Nights 2 and other role-playing games lies in the way NN2 goes to great lengths to integrate your character into the story rather than the feeling of being dropped from the sky into a plotline. Morality also plays an important role, as you're given a number of options when interacting with other characters: the choices you make may not always be black-and-white, but they will always have consequences. Alliances can be broken by ignoring their advice, and choosing the violent approach to conflicts can mean trouble for your party later on. This makes re-playability a real option, if only to see how different conversations would have had different responses in the game.

Combat is greatly improved from the first version of the game. You can fight in real time, or pause the game and choose up to five actions to take place when you unpause it. Most battles can be fought just by running into the middle of the mob, however. If you die during the battle, don't despair: as long as one member of your party is still alive when it's over, you'll "re-awaken" and can restore your health.

When you're done playing with the various options of the main story, the game's customization options let you actually create your own scenario and upload them online for others to try. The editor program is so finely tunes that you can do virtually anything your mind thinks up. If you're even a little familiar with the software, you can test the editor program to its limits to create one impressive campaign. Considering how many people out there purchase the game just for this option alone, the replayability of the game can be literally endless.

Though it has improved features and gameplay, Neverwinter Nights 2 does, unfortunately, also have its share of technical difficulties. Many gamers who have been greatly looking forward to the sequel have found they can't play it, even with relatively new computers; so you don't learn this the hard way, you're going to need a halfway decent graphics card.

Some of the dialogue sequences also seem a bit rushed, with jerky movements and odd pixilation. This is a minor issue, but given the game's rather high system requirements, the developers should have taken a little more time to get the details right. The mood can be broken when you see your enemy approach you without actually walking, and they aren't a ghost.

Perhaps the biggest complaint from most users is the awkward camera angles. You have your choice of four, but you need to frequently switch the angles to keep up. Even the bird's-eye view isn't always adequate when you just need a solid close-up view but the camera won't work with you. With time you probably won't notice it, but especially at the beginning of gameplay it can be quite annoying.

All technical difficulties aside, Neverwinter Nights 2 is a spectacular sequel combining an excellent story line with memorable characters and white-knuckle action. Factor in the various customization options and multiplayer ability, you'll find yourself with a game that's well worth your money.