3 stars (Great story, graphics, and sound. Subpar control & gameplay.) - I recently bought a Mac and have decided to try computer gaming. I've been playing console games since NES, and have used computers for music and work, but I never mixed the two. The first game I bought was Neverwinter Nights as I love console RPGs and Action/RPGs. This is a cool game, with great graphics, but the gameplay is rather restrictive if your a console gamer.
I am trying to stick with this game, as I like the story and enjoy the general look and atmosphere of the game, but this is nothing like any console RPGs that I've played. You don't control your character directly the way I am used to with console games. I feel more like your character is an NPC and your sort of give him suggestions. There exists a layer of abstraction between you and your character, so you don't feel as though he is your onscreen representation (as you would with a Zelda or FF game) but rather a separate entity that you direct (another way to put this is, in a Zelda game for example, I would say "I'm trying to hit this enemy" or "I just ran across that bridge", In Neverwinter I'm more likely to say "I'm trying to get him to move" or "I want to get him to the other side of town"). You control your character by pointing him in the direction you want him to go with your mouse, he decides the path he takes and his exact movements himself. You click on enemies to attack them, but he doesn't attack when you click, but rather when he's good and ready, resulting in many an untimely death. Combat feels very forced and unruly - it's this element of the game that comes very close to ruining the whole experience. I'm progressing at a snail's pace, and will abandon this game if it doesn't become more fun in the near future.
Overall this seems like it could be a great game, if this sort of gaming experience fits your fancy. As a console gamer I just feel to detached from the action and not in enough control. I often find myself in situations (especially combat) where I'm thinking "If I could only control my character directly, or attack at will, this would be great fun". This game comes across allot closer to something like starcraft wrapped in the trappings of an RPG - I would almost call it an RPG/Sim. If your a computer gamer, this sort of thing might be your bag, but if your a console gamer, I'd be weary. I can tell there's a great game underneath it all, and that's why I'm plugging away at it though the fun has yet to start (I'm almost 10 hours into it without completing a single quest) - that and I spent 39 bucks on it, so I've got to at least attempt to get my money's worth. I would reccomend Neverwinter Nights to anyone who enjoys this sort of indirect control gameplay, as all other aspects of the game are top notch. I wouldn't reccomend it to someone from a console background.
P.S. There is a control scheme that tries to give your more control over your character, but it really doesn't work out so hot. You can tell how this game "wants" to be played, and it's not by direct control. Though it's borderline agonizing, your best off with the mouse.
4 stars (Will Rule Your Free Time) - It took a while for me to get this game mainly because I had a lowely 16 MB graphic card and after reading some reviews didn't think my 400 MhZ could run it. So with a 1.2 MhZ Sonnet upgrade and a 128 MB graphics card, Neverwinter Night runs well. One of my other inhibitions was from playing Baldur's Gate II and other RPG's that let you control and entire party instead of just one character. However, after playing NWN, I quickly got over it. The 3D graphics and ability to circle and tilt the camera, along with the raidial and hotkey menus, make game play simple. I played it through the first time with a monk, and he did die frequently even with the help of a henchmen, eventually he became awesome and able to quickly dispatch nearly any foe. Perhaps my only complaint is that the game isn't that long, but with two modules to add on and a slightly different experience depending on the class of your character, Neverwinter Nights is worth checking out.
5 stars (Amazing Storyline and Gameplay) - Wow. Neverwinter Nights totally blows away all other r.p.g.s out for mac today. Terrific graphics and gameplay are just part of the package. The real gem quality in this game is its storylines and quests. Compared to Dungeon Siege, the intricate storylines provide a real feel for the world. It is almost as if you have been sucked into a really great fantasy novel, playing the main character. The A.I.s, for the most part, actually engage in conversation with your character and you can choose how you speak to them and deal with them. I really enjoy the large number of quests that you can pick and choose to complete. The ability to mold your character's personality through your words and actions is also a really great, fun feature. Overall, despite this game's flaws (of which I think there are few), I think the stories and characters make this game an amazing way to keep yourself out of touch with reality. |
