Well...I have not purchased it yet and I am facing some sort of choice...between NWN2 and Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic...
Is NWN2 a good game? Personally I would have bought it without question but now that it seems to contain a lot of bug and something and something more, I am beginning to doubt if it's really worth spending 50 Euro!
Someone please tell me how you feel about this game overall.
Thanks beforehand!

Well, I think it's a good game all and all, still in need of some serious patching. None of the bugs have been game stoppers for me, and I'm probably a little more than 1/2 way through the OC. At times it gets a little tedious to play through, but on the whole I'm finding it enjoyable.

But before you consider purchasing, this game has some significant hardware requirements. If you want to post your specs, I'm sure people will chime in to let you know what kind of experience you're likely in for.

Unless you have a state of the art PC already, I'd go for Kotor, hands down. Not only is it a fifth of the price of NWN2 right now, but NWN2 has VERY high system specs. If you have a sub-standard PC, don't even bother until you do. Kotor is an excellent game that you should be ashamed for not already owning, anyway. ;)

I'd wait until all the patches come out for NWN2, at least. Kotor will be more than enough entertainment for you until then.

NWN2 is a fun game, but as for replay value... it's about a 0/10. If you could start towards the end of chapter 2, the replay value would be siginificantly higher though :p . Parts of it are awesome, parts of it, you'll wish you could skip.

I think 0/10 is a little harsh, I'd give it a 3 - 4 personally. But, of course, this doesn't take into account the fan-made modules that should start hitting the scene in the near future. Not sure if NWN2 will do as well as original NWN in this respect, but it's something that most other game you purchase don't have going for them.

I'd agree that 0/10 is a little harsh, it's not brilliant replay value, but it's not THAT bad... I'd be happy if I could skip to the point where you leave the first town, but I've got tons of different character builds to try... like 9 levels ranger, 1 level bard, and 10 levels Red Dragon Disciple!

^ 1 Brd/9 Ftr/10 RDD would work better getting you through the game's insipid fights, seeing how fighter does better at TWF or ranged and magic in the game (ranger or anything else) is just a reason for headache. On the other hand, 0/10 sounds about right. No matter how many times you play that game, you'll find that it'll drag you through the same path like a San Francisco cable car.

But then, for me the initial playability of it was about 0/10, seeing how incredibly retarded and frustrating the campaign is when you play nongood.


And how ugly and broken the game is.

Its arguably one of the worst "roleplaying" games ever made in my opinion. No real choices, except for the ones you make when leveling up, crappy menu system. Crappy AI on your party members. Horrible voice acting. bellow average story. Way up there on the bug-record with temple of elemental evil. And of course way overpriced. I would recomend [snip] if you really have to play it. Better [snip].....

[And I would recommend that you read our forum rules. -Tal]

[ November 30, 2006, 12:03: Message edited by: Taluntain ]

Buy KOTOR. Great game. Buy NWN2 in six months when enough patches and community-made mods will fix its many bugs and flaws. It's flawed but fun but pales in comparison to KOTOR.

Thanks for the replies!

Here's the spec of my laptop:
Intel Centrino Duo T2300
1gb ram
ATI mobility radeon X1600

I think it meats the original requirement, but because it's a laptop, it still would have some difficulty running nwn2...no?
And it seems that whenever there's 3d blurring effect,(like the smoke which comes after a Fireball explodes, or like the sky under the HDR lighting effect) my pc gets slowd...is that a problem of my computer or what...? Does someone know something about that?

I think I got to reconsider buying it...[snip]? Sigh...

[As above. -Tal]

[ November 30, 2006, 12:05: Message edited by: Taluntain ]

I'm actually enjoying this game. I agree that if your system specs aren't up to par, I would hold off on buying it.

But overall, I'm enjoying the game, enjoying the story, enjoying the crafting, and some of the cooler managerial features found in Chapter II. I think the story is better than the original campaign from NWN, as well. Plus, having a larger party makes it feel like Baldur's Gate.

I'm looking forward to seeing content from the NWN community when it starts filtering out. Personally, if your system can handle it - it's worth the $$.

NWN2 is a fun game, but as for replay value... it's about a 0/10. Yeah, the game is way too linear. But other than that, I really like it so far. I have not played KotOR, so I can't compare them. Sorry, I'm not much of a Star Wars fan....

I would say that NWN2 is decent, maybe 7/10 overall, but it certainly is much better than the first one. I got extremely annoyed at the "errand boy" quests that you have in Chapter 1. The story also gets worse the closer to the end you get. I would get KOTOR and wait for them to patch up NWN2 and for potential expansion packs.

"Oh noes, a closed gate! What do we, the mighty Heroes, do now?!?"
"Lets run a dozen errand boy quests to get the gate open while gaining lots of exp!!$$$$"
Right...

The game is linear, but not overly so for a typical CRPG of this type IMO. There are many times you have multiple quests to perform, and you can do them in any order. There are often multiple new sites on your world map at the same time, and you can choose which one to go to, and I think at least a couple are completely optional. Once you get your stronghold, you can work on it for a while, or continue with the main storyline (and as much of each as you want).

EDIT: "Oh noes, a closed gate! What do we, the mighty Heroes, do now?!?"
"Lets run a dozen errand boy quests to get the gate open while gaining lots of exp!!$$$$"
Right...Heh. I love these kinds of arguments (and the "too linear" ones too). They're basically no-win situations for the developer. For every one who hates linearity, there's another who would complain that the game is too impossible because they skipped the part where they could become strong enough to handle the challenge. So, what would you do if you just broke into Blacklake? Probably get slaughtered by powerful priests, undead and demons.

^ That's just bad storytelling. A few games I remember have the "do X to gain passage to Y" quests, but they make the challenge feasible and interesting.

BG2 comes to mind. If you need a ship, you need a ship - so go get some moolah to hire one. There's just no other way. And by the time you get the ship, you're ready to face the challenges across (or maybe not so much, if you're quick at gaining passage).

Now, don't tell me I had to be a hero and gain 7 levels in a city guard/orc grind just to get over a fifteen foot wall. That's ridiculously bad storytelling.

I disagree with most of the posts in this thread. I am enjoying the game. Overall the story is good. I like the NPC's, their personalities, voice acting, etc... I barely meet the minimum specs for the game, and haven't experienced any problems. I am currently in Act II.
As far as replay is concerned I think 0/10 is way too harsh. The game has as much replayability as any IE game. The best experiance is the first time through because you don't know the whole story, where the tough fights are, where the best treasure is etc...

Heh. I love these kinds of arguments (and the "too linear" ones too). They're basically no-win situations for the developer. For every one who hates linearity, there's another who would complain that the game is too impossible because they skipped the part where they could become strong enough to handle the challenge. So, what would you do if you just broke into Blacklake? Probably get slaughtered by powerful priests, undead and demons.There is one simple solution, you adjust the enemies challenge rating dynamically, to reflect the characters current status. Of course, it would also shorten the game somewhat if the example above would be included as optional side quests. There is also a certain limit on how much you can include as optional, but as said above, you can simply use good storytelling.

Maybe I was *slightly* too harsh, since the game has some good things as well, like the NPCs. However, it does not get close to IE games.

Tiax says: "Infinity rules, make way!"

As far as replay is concerned I think 0/10 is way too harsh. The game has as much replayability as any IE game.
Explain to me how this is as replayable as any IE game. BG2 has so many options, 10 years after it came out, I've beaten it with 13 paladins and it hasn't ended or played through the same way yet. Not to mention the many other classes I've uses, probably 30 fighters, 2 rogues a few sorcs, etc.

This game I play through it one time, I'm stuck doing the exact same thing no matter what class/race/alignment I choose. You have options for separate quests maybe and possibly even whether or not to do a few, but the majority of gameplay requires you to do exactly this and that or you can't continue. Besides, I remember trying to fight Firkraag straight out of Irenicus' dungeon and I do recall getting my arse wooped hardcore style. But you know what? I had an autosave...(haha) something very rare in NWN2 :( .

Options make the game, I'd like to see anyone here tell me in all honesty, they don't like the BG series or Fallout series better than NWN2. (I actually like the graphics from BG2 best of all. The layouts were very very detailed without required high system req's since chains didn't dangle singularily and didn't need to).

The game is definately worth playing and I think eventually I'll be able to play a character to Neverwinter again, but for the time being it just kind've sucks playing through exactly the same thing I just did.

There is one simple solution, you adjust the enemies challenge rating dynamically, to reflect the characters current status.Ugh. I hate that. I'd much rather have the ability to get my ass kicked if I went somewhere with too-tough monsters. I'm perfectly capable of deciding I should go and do something else for a while :) A lot of people aren't though and get easily frustrated.

catbert has a point that it could have been done differently, but I didn't mind the whole "helping out Neverwinter" deal.

^ Gotta disagree with the dynamic adjustment too.

I fondly remember getting my bottom kicked in BG2 and Fallouts simply because I stuck my nose where I shouldn't have. Serves to prove that it's perfectly possible and not beyond human capacity to program adventures which allow for a lot of flexibility. It just takes some effort, some creativity.

In NWN2, the way I see it, no effort was made to achieve that. Second time through the game will be exactly like replaying Quake 2 or Half-life. You'll tread the same ground and kill the same monsters at the same places whether you like it or not. Your alignment will be determined by the story, and not by the role you are playing. You might use different NPCs, but in the end you won't need them for anything but firepower. Maybe you'd try to explore alternative paths and curiously click the dialog options you wouldn't have thought of using before and you'll inevitably discover how flimsy the writing of game is.

But then, it's an Obsidian product. Welcome to well-branded technologically lagging mediocrity. I'd love to torrent their next release just to see the point proven.

I guess I'm not seeing the alignment problems as much by playing an LG paladin...But I do agree the RP flexibility is quite rigid. I've helped Neeshka rob and loot a noble's mansion in Blacklake, I've travelled with a CE ranger, and Qara is a pyromaniac...Not exactly the group a pally would normally hang with.

Otherwise, my pally's diplomacy and actions have meshed pretty well with those of the overall story. Although I do have a giant spider living in my keep's basement!! :lol:

The dynamic adjustment was just provided as an example solution to the problem, I never said it was a good solution and neither would I like such a solution myself.

Unfortunately the game was far to linear. I was extremely dissapointed with the end. The story is good despite the bizarre ending. The graphics are excellent however and a good range of weapons, spells and classes are available. I still find it difficult to replay this game however. No mindflayers, underdark or drow to kill so a bit boring. Also a still cut scene with nasher in battle was dead boring to follow.

While BG2 has more optional side quests, the main story is just as linear as NWN2. You break out of the dungeon, collect the money, go to Spellhold, go to the Underdark, defend the elven city(no idea how to spell it), Fight Jon, game over. Yes, playing different characters will offer a different experience because of differences in class abilities, proficiencies, NPC selection, etc... But NWN2 has all those options as well, if not more, secondary to the flexibility of 3.5 rules.
BG2 also forced your hand in certain places as well. You had to ally with either the Shadow Thieves or Bohdi to get to Spellhold, something no Paladin would really do.

No, lol, it's not that linear, because the base story line is a faint little skeleton of the entire story line YOU create by taking on specific side quests in a specific manner.

In NWN2 there's no difference to how you handle anything the entire story line, except maybe one or two quests. You end up the same way doing the exact same thing at every objective of the story line without fail.

Everyone talks about how Linear the game is and how the game sucks.

I have to disagree. The game to me is not about the Official Campaign at all..not in the slightest. Its about the Fan made mods. Thats where things get amazing! The fans come up with better stroies then anything in the OC. The game is really just about the Toolset and the DM CLient. They just give us a set of rules, and a highly customizable game system. I think if we all wait a little while the Fans will be the ones to come through. Obsidion just has to keep plugging away at the patches and maybe a Expansion too ;)

Its about the Fan made mods I've never played a fan-made mod in my life. If I pay good money for a game, I want it to be good straight out of the box - not have to wait for a load of other people to make me a better game.

The game is really just about the Toolset and the DM Client.Then why are both so crippled?

You're thinking NWN1 here. NWN2 just happens to be made by a bunch of inept developers that can't even get their own campaign to be stable, not to mention provide a versatile devkit for expansive fanmade content.

Everyone talks about how Linear the game is and how the game sucks. I don't think the game sucks at all, but IMO, it is a very good game from what I've played thus far - I think I'm nearing the end of Act I, and I currently have a level 10 paladin. But I think the game could have been even better if it had been a bit more open-ended.

I love it so far.

The story seems great. Best story in a CRPG I've seen since the BG series. It's nice and epic, without seeming... rediculas, like NWN1 somehow managed.

I don't find it too linear at all. Unlike many other games (the IWDs, NWN1, many NWN mods, etc) where you can feel yourself been pushed in a certain direction, I didn't get that feeling with NWN2 in the slightest. It felt like I could control where I wanted the story to go, to a certain extent.

The camera controls, while they aren't brilliant, they're not killers for me. Takes a short while to get use to, but once that's done, I think it's certainly a step up from NWN1.

I'm slightly worried about what the multiplayer aspect will be like. There are a few things which did not ring well. Hopefully I've judged wrong though and it turns out great! Guess only time will tell.

I want whatever you smoke when you are playing that game

I'v incounted some graphics problems with the *%#@*! sky non-existant (just some random colours). Other then that, definately a good game

If it's being linear is a complaint, then KotOR is also pretty linear I'd have to say. However, I can't play NWN2 because my PC sucks asshairs but I have played KOtOR and KotOR2 several times and they rock. KotOR in particular because while it only has "extreme" good or evil choices (give the guy money/ignore the guy/take what little he has) it has the feel of a "complete" game, unlike the sequel which was rushed (and it shows). KotOR's story is good and the twist is excellent. One of my fave all-time games.