Neverwinter Nights is another part of the Forgotten Realms games made by BioWare. Released summer 2002, this game takes place in the world of the Forgotten Realms, where magic, demons, young women and brave heroes exist. First we had Baldur's Gate, then came Icewind Dale, and both of these games had some expansion packs as well as a sequel made. Now BioWare starts the game a new place: In the city of Neverwinter. This time the game has a large multi player part and the single player game works only like a tutorial.
As a new recruit of the Neverwinter training academy, you're thrown into battle just as you graduate. In the services of Neverwinter, you need to find 4 creatures in order for the magician Khelben Blackstaff to make a potion, which will liberate the city of Neverwinter from it's ongoing plague. Playing as elf, half-elf, man, dwarf or other types, you must now try to find your way through the game - and you have to decide whether you'll focuse on magic, clerical abilities, thievery or simple sword-bashing.
The graphics in the game is very good! One has the ability to change the views from close up to a more strategic view. The characters, buildings and light is very nice - especially when you look at Neverwinter, which definitely looks like a city in deep pain with it's gloomy streets and people.
What was particularly remarkable about Icewind Dale and Baldur's Gate, was the beautiful music surrounding the environments. Whether you were in a old, haunted elven fortress, or in the middle of an icy plain, the music fit it's scenery perfectly! Luckily, this legacy has been continued in NWN! The sound of a rotten city is perfect, giving you an idea as to why the city is like it is! In the multi player part for the game, you have the ability to create your own environment, and one thing that is great about this, is that you thereby can create your own sound and vision.
There are two aspects about the gameplay in NWN: Single and multiplayer! The single player part is not so difficult: One character and a henchman, controlled by the computer (and yourself, by giving directions) have to fight monsters. That's not so tough. In the multi player part, however, it is quite different! Many players playing at once, controlled by the DM, is a little bit confusing at the beginning of the game, but in the end, it is funny!
NWN is the game for people, who, using a template, want to create their own world in the wondrous environment of the Forgotten Realms. Many sites on the net, including BioWare's own website, contain many modules for single- and multi-player gaming. This means that while you might be satisfied by the in game single player game, you have also an opportunity to play new modules every day. A great feature!
Neverwinter Nights is beautiful game, full of beautiful graphics, astonishing sound and so on. While this game is a year old as of this review, it is still the best RPG game for the PC I've played. Buy it - you won't regret it.
 
| Neverwinter Nights | ||||||||||
| Story/Plot: | 8 | Graphics: | 9 | Sound: | 9 | Gameplay: | 8,5 | Misc.: | 10 | 9 |
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